Dressing It Up

If you are already with me on this ride then get yourself ready for more wonderful news, and if you are just joining this journey for the first time strap yourself in it is about to be great.

Now that we are in communication with others I think it is important to add on to the things people see as they discover us. Growing up you may have heard that it is not about what is on the outside that matters but it is what is on the inside that counts. This statement is very true but sometimes we like to play with the concept of dressing up because the world provides us with so many wardrobe opportunities. What I have learned is that even though clothing is not important it can however benefit us on the inside. So, for this one time only I am going to analyze how to take the outside and connect it with the inside through a list.

Shirt - Find a size that is not too big or small, but hugs your body just right. This says I am not trying to over show or hide aspects of myself but am comfortable with the body I have been given. 

Bottoms - This can be anything from pants to shorts. You want to pick something again that hugs your physique just right. You want to be sure they are something you can sit, stand and walk in because if you can complete those tasks successfully then you are more likely to move through your day relaxed. It will be one less worry if you do not have to think about holding the bottoms up or about them popping open from being too small.

Shoes - Again, make sure they fit your foot specifically. If they are too small you risk hopping around in pain from sore muscles and blisters. If they are too big you most likely will not be able to walk proper and could chance running behind or slipping up.

Accessories - The point of an accessory is to add to the main focus not be the main focus. Keep it simple yet noticeable. Look in a mirror while wearing your main attraction with your accessory, if the first thing your eyes jump to is the accessory then it is too much. You want it to be something that can turn into a side compliment throughout your encounter with someone.

If you take all of these aspects into consideration to form one solid outfit, you are golden. You can easily become the comfortable, confident and approachable person you hope to be every time you put yourself together to explore the world. If you feel great about what you are in then you can spend more time focusing on the conversation you are going to engage in.

TIP: Look great. Feel Great. Be Great.

From the Hello to the Heart

So, there I was standing face to face with the idea of being in the unknown. The pressure was on to make a name for myself here and establish new friendships. Without those friendships college would be an awfully lonely place and lonely is not what any of us signed up for in the whole college agreement. The more I pondered the idea that it is on me alone to complete these tasks the more I panicked. Luckily for you though I panicked myself into a solution to accomplish this. Take a second to think about the following situation.

You have a mandatory meeting for an organization but this is the first one of the year and nobody knows each other yet. Minute by minute more people keep piling into the room. They all have blank facial expression and then one person walks in smiling from ear to ear. Which person would you more likely want to talk to?

I am assuming you would choose the smiling person, because that is exactly who I would want to introduce myself to. This is the solution I came across. When someone walks around smiling, others cannot help but notice because it intrigues you to want to know what made them so happy. So if you walk around always sharing your smile people are likely going to approach you over others. Once they approach you the seed for a friendship has been planted. Now, with that smile you have made it past the hello step and can begin watering the seed so it grows into discovering the heart of each other. Then, BAM.. you totally kicked out the lonely option from the college agreement that we all worry about.

So far this has worked marvelous for me on a personal level and I can now walk around the unknown arm in arm with people who are more than just a hello. As I water these seeds I challenge you to get planting.

TIP: Share your smile with everyone, especially the people you have yet to meet.

Entering Into the Unknown

At some point in life each of us has venture off into the real world. It's the one place we hear about every day but never really know what it is like until it smacks us right in the face. Nineteen days ago I loaded up everything that ever meant anything to me into my jeep and began the next page of my journey. This next step is known to last four years, is categorized as some of the best years of your life and goes by the name of college.

The college I picked is located seven hours away from the last place I called home. It is in an area I have never seen with people I have never met but you know what? That is perfectly fine with me. We need to fly the coop and spread our wings. Each and every one of us needs to start discovering our own likes, dislikes, morals, goals and most importantly our identity. They say college is where all that takes place, so instead of fearing the unknown I am making it a point to embrace it. Hopefully, all of you will continue this journey with me, so I can send my joys of life in your direction.

TIP: Don't ever be scared. The world is limitless and free. Explore!