Wow it's sure been awhile...

The mountains of Charlottesville are so pretty,
especially when the leaves are changing colors.

But I have a reason for it, I promise. I've been super busy with all sorts of stuff. Classwork, as always, takes up a huge chunk of time, but luckily, Thanksgiving break is coming up. That means that CHRISTMAS BREAK is ALMOST HERE! As much as I love the holidays though, I wish fall would go on forever. Or at least fall weather and colors. I can't get enough of the cool, crisp air. Of course, it is still in the 70s here... But the cooler temperatures have to be just around the corner, right? It doesn't seem far for the weather to switch from Virginia's unbearably humid summers to the gray drabness of February without at least a couple weeks of wonderful fall weather. The kind that screams football, and sweaters, and hot apple cider. Where are the blustery days that make me wish that my dorm room had a cozy fireplace? I have cute mittens and scarves saved up for the very occasion. So fall, don't fail me now!

11 Lessons That Dogs Can Teach Humans

1. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

3. Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.

4. Run, romp, and play daily.

5. Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.

6. On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

7. When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

8. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

9. Never pretend to be something you’re not.

10. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
11. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

Because we all need to laugh a bit more :)

The Pursuit of Happiness: 15 Lessons to Keep in Mind

1. The only person that can ever truly make you happy is yourself. Stop depending on everyone else.

2. People lie, stuff happens. Don’t take it too personally.

3. Want people to think you’re amazing? Start believing you are, and then they will too.

4. Smiling is the ultimate anti-depressant. Smile and laugh out loud, it doesn’t look stupid, I promise.

5. The world is never just black and white, right or wrong, one way or another. Try and see things from as many points of view as possible.

6. Let everything happen to you. Beauty and terror just keep going; no feeling is final.

7. Have empathy.

8. Gossip, problems of the past, events you cannot control, negative thoughts and negative people; time spent on these is time poorly wasted.

9. When you're jealous or find yourself filled with hate for someone/something, stop. The only person its hurting is you.

10. Although the newest, most expensive material things may make you feel as if you’re a better person, they won’t hold you at night or listen to you when you need it. Make sure your priorities make sense.

11. Step outside your comfort zone- it’s when you’ll really feel alive.

12. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, the people who really matter, don’t mind

13. Let your emotions out sometimes, humans have them for a reason.

14. Celebrate the things you have. Think only positively of the things you don’t (but would like to have) and they too will come.

15. Love unconditionally ♥.

Advice From Somewhere

ONE.

Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO.

Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE.

Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR.

When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE.

When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX.

Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN.

Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT.

Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE.

Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN.

In disagreements, fight fairly. Please No name calling.

ELEVEN.

Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE.

Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN.

When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN.

Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN.

Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN.

Remember the three R's:
      Respect for self;
      Respect for others;
      Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN.

When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY.

Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE.

Spend some time alone.

The World--According to Doctor Seuss

1. A person’s a person, no matter how small.
2. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself, any direction you choose.
3. Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.
4. From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.
5. Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.
6. Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way.

7. If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.

8. I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent.

9. So the writer who breeds more words than he needs, is making a chore for the reader who reads.
10. And will you succeed? Yes indeed, yes indeed! Ninety-eight and three-quarters percent guaranteed.

11. Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

12. The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
13. Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.
14. Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!
15. Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.