My 2021 New Year’s Resolutions

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It’s difficult to comprehend that the 2020 is almost over – it feels like it only just began! There’s so many things I wanted to do in this time, but it’s flown by so fast that I’ve been unable to focus on anything specifically.

We all need some motivation for the oncoming 2021, and I figured the best way for myself to stay motivated and accomplish my goals would be to share them to the public. Hopefully, my resolutions encourage you to create and work on your own, if you haven’t already!

#1: Learn American Sign Language

Language is something I’m fascinated by, and I want to expand my horizons by learning a different language from what I’m used to.

I’ve wanted to learn sign language for so long, but have never gotten around to it. However, I’ve finally decided to take the bull by the horns this year.

I’ve found some great online ASL courses that I’m interested in, and feel I’m ready to take on this new project!

#2: Run Every Morning

I used to love running – it’s one of the only sports I can enjoy without stress. Over the last couple of years, however, I’ve been so busy with other things that I’ve never taken the time to go for a run around my neighborhood.

I especially want to spend more time in nature, and figured that running would be the best way for me to do that. It’ll take quite some effort to get used to running often again, but I know I have it in me and I’ll make sure to push myself until I’m satisfied with my workout routine!

#3: Spend More Time in Nature

This correlates with the second resolution, as already mentioned, but I think that this resolution definitely deserves its own part in the list.

I’ve felt very disconnected with myself for a while now, but enjoying nature and the scenery always brings me back to reality, while simultaneously allowing me to feed and strengthen my imagination.

We’ve all probably gotten to spending more time on technology because of the state that the world is in, and it can feel quite suffocating and isolating at times. So why not separate yourself from the internet once in a while and enjoy the beauty of the present?

#4: Read Every Evening

Has anyone else’s attention span shortened quite a bit since the beginning of the year, because mine sure has!

It’s much harder to focus on a book when so many things are bouncing around the back of your mind at once, distracting you from an activity that’s supposed to be enjoyable.

Every evening in 2021, I’m going to open a book and try to forget about the world for the time being, instead letting myself become immersed in the story.

#5: Express My Creative Side

Imagination brought into reality is a beautiful way to share our inner thoughts, and to make the world a more connected and positive place.

There are so many creative activities that I love to do – painting, drawing, writing stories, poetry, and songs, and generally just creating things that mean something.

Throughout 2021, I’m going to spend a chunk of my time using the creative side of my mind. I’m going to put my story ideas to paper, use a brush and canvas to express my ideas, and invest more time towards using my imagination.

I consider resolutions a very important part of learning and growing. Whether you participate in this yearly tradition or not, making goals and motivating yourself to keep them is extremely important for success.

The goals I’ve chosen aren’t just ones that correlate with my physical well-being and my education, but also for my mental health and positive mindset. This year has left me feeling like I lack purpose, and these goals are things that I’m fully committed to doing, because I know that my future self will thank me for them.

If you have any goals you’re striving to reach but just can’t find motivation, I encourage you to use this new year to your advantage, take action, and make those positive improvements to your lifestyle!

Photo by Danil Aksenov on Unsplash

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6 Reasons I Look Forward to Fall

Elli4 Comments

It seems like this year’s gone by so fast, and it’s hard to believe fall’s already here. However, there are so many things to look forward to as the colder weather starts to appear again!

#1. Autumn Leaves

By far, one of my favourite parts about fall is the leaves. All of the trees slowly change colours to make a beautiful sea of yellows, oranges, and reds.

It’s so lovely to sit outside in the slightly chilly atmosphere with a cup of tea (or whatever beverage you prefer), surrounded by the beautiful wildlife.

It’s this time that I’ll start going outside more often and enjoy the scenery. Being surrounded by nature during autumn is such a different experience compared to the other seasons, which is what makes this time of year so unique.

#2. Cooler Weather

Summer can get frustrating because of the searing heat. It’s definitely not my time of year, to say the least.

Fall has the perfect weather in my opinion, because you still get some sun, but also a cooling breeze to keep you from sweating through your clothing. This is a great time of year to go on runs around the neighborhood and spend time with friends.

#3. Hoodies/Scarves/Any Warm Clothing

Summer clothing isn’t that comfortable in my opinion. If I had a choice, I would only wear warm clothing, since it’s more fun to dress up and easier to keep cozy.

In hot weather, there isn’t much you can do when you’re too warm except turning the fan on and hoping for the best. But in cold weather, you can just keep layering until you’re satisfied.

#4. Cuddles With Pets

My cat always becomes more needy as the weather gets colder, and there’s nothing like having a loving pet curled up with you while you read a book and sip on some hot chocolate.

#5. More Creativity

It’s so much easier to generate ideas and be creative during the cool weather. Breathing the fresh air clears your mind and helps you focus.

During summer, I’ve always felt groggy and tired because I could never escape from the heat, but autumn wakes me up and reminds me that I can’t just sit around lazily all day.

#6. A Wake-Up Call

Vacation is over, summer is coming to a close, and a new round of seasons is coming our way. Fall is a reminder that the previous seasons are ending, as demonstrated to us by the dying leaves, colder weather, and shortening days.

However, you know that endings always give way to new beginnings and fresh starts.

It’s like a wake-up call telling you that if you want to accomplish anything, there’s never a better time than right now.

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

My 3 Favourite Things About Blogging

Elli3 Comments

When I started blogging, I wasn’t sure what it was going to be like. I was unsure whether I wanted to take part in it, but it quickly became one of my favourite hobbies.

There are so many things I like about blogging, and I thought I’d share those things so that anyone else considering starting a blog would be more inclined to do so, and also to see whether other bloggers agree with me on my points!

#1. Having an Outlet

This is definitely high on the list for the reasons I love blogging. It’s so freeing to be able to share your ideas and thoughts with others, and to get to write about what you love.

I often felt stressed before making this blog because I didn’t have an outlet. But now, I have a place to write about things that are important to me and get to be involved in this community of lovely writers.

#2. Reading Other People’s Blogs

One of my favourite things to do on WordPress is to read other people’s blogs. I love to read people’s blogs because not only do you see them as a writer, but you also see parts of their personalities shine through.

There are so many fantastic writers out there, and I love being involved in a community full of such passionate people.

#3. Creativity and Variety

There are so many different branches of blogging for any of your interests! I absolutely love reading other’s opinions on different topics, and learning more about the world through the posts I read.

I’m also able to be creative with my ideas and write about things that I wouldn’t be able to share anywhere else. The blogging community is so unique, and I’m happy I have my own little corner of the internet and get to be a part of it.

For anyone considering starting a blog, I highly recommend you try it out!

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5 Fun Hobbies to Reduce Stress

Elli5 Comments

#1. Keep a Journal

I started journaling a few years ago, and I can’t express enough about how much it’s helped me organize my thoughts and calm me down.

Journaling is a great way to reduce stress, especially if you already enjoy writing. You can write about what’s stressing you out, how your day has been, or even just your random thoughts at the moment.

I’ve come up with so many ideas by keeping a journal, and my personal experience with it has been great. I’ve managed to keep my emotions in check by expressing them through writing, and highly recommend this hobby to anyone who just needs a way to vent their feelings.

#2. Unleash Your Creative Side

Painting, drawing, sculpting, or any other art form is an extremely helpful way to reduce stress. You allow yourself to express your emotions through artwork, and it’s a relaxing hobby for anyone who needs some time to themselves.

I will admit, art can be frustrating and stressful as well, and it occasionally is for me. But eventually I learned to just relax and enjoy what I’m doing, even if I’ve made a mistake.

If you have a creative side that you’re itching to express, then pull out a pencil, paint brush, or whatever tools you need and let your imagination do the talking.

#3. Play an Instrument

If you have a background in music, or want to learn how, then music is a great way to deal with your stress.

Playing an instrument lets you forget your worries and only focus on the task at hand. It’s also extremely fun, stimulating, and satisfying once you’ve accomplished your goal.

If you don’t know how to play an instrument but want to learn, then take up lessons in your local area or learn from videos online how to play. Also, if playing an instrument isn’t your thing, then listening to music is also a good way to reduce stress (as long as you listen to the right kind of music).

#4. Crack Open a Book

Reading is a way to explore a new world, educate yourself more, and live through a story as if it were through your own eyes. If you need somewhere to escape to, then reading is the best way to do just that.

Reading helps me forget about my worries and focus on doing something else. I’ve always loved it because it feels like you’re going on an adventure, even if you never leave your room.

We should all make time to read each day, because we once you settle down to open your book, all of the stress just disappears and the only thing you have to pay attention to is the story.

#5. Get Moving

Any type of exercise will do as long as it suits you. I prefer flexibility workouts or running for reducing anxiety, since I can zone out and not have to think about anything. Either that, or I can also use the time to think about something important, as well.

Exercising is both great for your mental and physical health, and the majority of people who exercise regularly and healthily will probably agree that it helps keep stress away.

#6. Meditating

I know we’ve all heard this before when we ask what reduces stress, but it’s true. Meditating has helped so many people, including myself, to clear their mind and focus on the important things.

I don’t meditate often, but when I do I feel so much more relaxed and am able to think clearly. It’s a great way to improve your focus and I recommend giving it a try.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

4 Ways to Deal With the Stress of Growing Up

Elli1 Comment

It’s pretty nerve-wracking when you come to the realization that your childhood is almost over. We all reach the age where we begin to wonder what we’ll do with our life, what new responsibilities we should take on, and that we need to keep a firm eye on our grades.

I think that the only way we’ll be able to handle this sort of stress is to talk about it, so that’s what I’m doing today, and I recommend you all do it too.

1. Having A Passion is More Rare Than You Think

Until recently, I’ve always thought that my passion will come to me on my own, and that I should wait it out. But I’ve only just realized that a passion isn’t something you’re born with; you make your passion, or at least most people do, anyway.

When it comes to passion, it doesn’t matter what you choose, it only matters that you put all of your dedication into whatever you’ve chosen. A passion doesn’t choose you, you choose it.

What do you do if you have to choose between something you love and something you’ll make money from?

You could make a lot of money from something, but be miserable every day, or choose something you love, but not make enough money from it, leading to you also being miserable every day. People say that money can’t buy happiness, but something to keep in mind is that not having money can also extinguish happiness. The perfect career lies somewhere in the middle.

If you can’t decide what you want to do, then it’s important not only to weigh in something you make money from or love, but also your skill set, commitment, interest in the topic, and so much more.

What do you want to bring to the world? Do you want to make a difference? Make sure to choose a passion that, at the end of the day, you’ll be proud of.

2. Don’t Fill Yourself With Doubts

We all doubt ourselves time to time, and it’s important to do this so that we can have a backup plan and see all of the outcomes.

However, it is damaging to our health and our mindset if we let these doubts keep us from doing anything.

You may notice that I haven’t posted in a while. That’s because I was scared that people would judge me, that it wouldn’t be worth my time, etc. What if I can’t do it? Am I even a good writer? I really despise those thoughts, by the way.

However, now that I’m back, I’d forgotten how much I love writing. I love helping others through my posts, contributing to the online community, and letting inspiration flow from my fingertips. I’ve since gotten rid of my doubts and am much happier!

We should put in our best effort to make sure we don’t regret anything we didn’t do, and instead live life to the fullest; fully aware of the possibilities of failure, but using those fears to propel us forward in a more prepared manner.

The truth is that anyone can accomplish anything they put effort into, as long as you commit to it and enjoy the process.

3. Failure is Necessary

Failure gives you the worst feeling. It makes you question whether you should give up, whether you’re even capable of what you want to do.

But whenever you have to face failure, remember that every successful person has also had to face failure. It’s inevitable.

Failure is the only way for us to grow, to learn, and to innovate. Being successful on your first try is a rarity, if not impossible.

Learn to embrace failure, mishaps and mistakes, because each failure brings with it an important lesson that will teach you how to improve. Once we accept mistakes as a normal part of life, we’ll always come back stronger to try again, thus leading to eventually becoming successful.

4. You’re Not Alone

It may feel like everyone has already figured things out and know what to do with their lives, but reality is that everyone’s scared. No one truly knows what the future will bring. It’s okay and normal to feel unsure about your future, because everyone’s on the same boat, including me.

Believe me when I say this; You’re not alone, and everything will be okay. There will be many ups and downs, and there will be times when you want to give up, but as long as you try new things, experience life to the fullest, and remind yourself that it’s okay to fail, then you’ll be alright.

Photo by nikko macaspac on Unsplash

4 Common Blogging Myths That You Thought Were True

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When I started blogging, I had a very different idea of what it would be like.

The truth is, blogging isn’t always what others perceive it to be, and is a lot more complicated than it seems.

If you’ve been blogging for a long time now, you’d probably agree with a lot of these myths. If you’re thinking about beginning a blog or are new to the blogging community, then you’ve come to the right place!

1. Myth: Blogging is Easy

Blogging, at least for your first time, is far from easy. Most beginner bloggers (including myself) will begin to realize after a month or two that there are a lot more things we need to pay attention to than we thought.

Blogging isn’t just creating a post, publishing it, and watching the views appear. There are so many little things that we have to keep in mind when we work on our blogs.

Keeping from Accidentally Stealing Images

When I first began blogging, I assumed that we could just take an image off the internet and use it for our featured image. I’ve now realized that this is far from the truth. We need to pay attention to everything we post and make sure we’re not accidentally stealing somebody else’s art, work, or photos. A way to avoid this is by using websites that allow photographers to upload free images that can be used by anyone.

Creating a Nice-Looking Website

Though WordPress gives us easy access to free templates for websites, changing them to suite our own style can be difficult. When I first began blogging, I went through so many different website designs until I settled on the one I use now. Be ready to spend hours deciding how you want your blog to look before you actually get started (though you can always change it later, too).

Coming Up With A Name

Coming up with a name took me way to long to decide on. It’s a difficult process, especially if you’re not sure what you want your niche to be just yet. I assure you though, if you take a little time to wait, a good name will pop up in your head eventually.

Constantly Thinking of New Ideas for Posts

Constantly Thinking of New Ideas for Posts: When I first began blogging, I had so many ideas for what to write about. But after a few months, these ideas were used up, and I had to spend more time thinking of new ones. This caused me to go through a slump where I didn’t feel like blogging any more, even though I was passionate about it. I felt like I didn’t have anything worth sharing. Now, however, I’m able to think of ideas quickly and easily. All it takes is practice, and letting your creativity fly free. I even have to carry a pen and paper with me wherever I go, because who knows when inspiration will strike!

2. Myth: An Audience is Gained Quickly

The truth is, growing an audience for your blog takes a lot of time. And by a lot of time, I mean a lot of time.

When beginning your blog, I recommend only doing it because you’re passionate about it for the first little while. This will let you get used to the feeling of blogging.

If, right off the bat, you want to be a famous blogger after 4 blog posts, then I’m apologize but that’s rarely ever a possibility.

Instead, you should first get to know other people in the blogging community and make yourself noticed by doing kind things like reading other people’s blogs in your niche and leaving helpful comments. Try guest posting as well, and take advantage of other social medias to make your blog more well-known.

Viewers don’t just appear, you have to make them. You may make great content, but what good is it if you never find ways to share it with others?

Be willing to put in time and effort. Even though there may be points where you want to give up, it’ll all be worth it in the long run.

3. Myth: You Don’t Need to do Research Before Starting A Blog

I’m a little bit of a freak when it comes to researching topics I’m interested in, and when I first began blogging I spent hours upon hours of searching random information about creating and running a blog.

At the time, I thought that I was just being silly, and that all the research was unnecessary, but now I’m so happy that I took the time to plan in advance and understand how blogging works.

There’s so much useful information from skilled people out there on the internet, and I recommend searching some questions you have about blogging if you need advice.

4. Myth: The Blogging Community is Competitive

Though extremely professional blogs may be competitive with each other, the blogging community is surprisingly welcoming!

It’s a little scary to publish your first ever blog post, but it’s so nice to hear all of the feedback on what you’ve written!

Almost every blogger I’ve met has been friendly, and the kindness people have shown me is what helps me feel more confident in my work.

It’s fun to be surrounded by supportive people and people in your niche, and there are so many amazing bloggers out there! When you start blogging, be sure to explore other peoples’ websites, too. Not only will you gain knowledge from their posts, but you might even meet a new friend, as well!

Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash

How do Books Influence Our Daily Lives?

Elli4 Comments

Books are all around us. They are an indescribable amount of books and stories, and I’m sure you can find one on any topic if you need to.

The beautiful thing about books is that they’re universal. Some popular books are even known all across the world, with fans of the story in every country. It gives us a feeling of unity, and shows how we’re all in some way interconnected.

Books have a unique way in impacting our life, in more ways than you think.

They Change Our Attitude

Reading can greatly change our attitude toward others, and mostly in a good way. I will admit that it really depends on what you’re reading, but overall stories are extremely beneficial toward our health and attitude.

While we read books, we’re able to understand and sympathize with the characters in them. We’re forced to view the story from a certain point of view, to try to understand what’s going on and how the character is feeling.

When experiencing these stories, we are strengthening our ability to empathize with people in the real world, as well.

It’s important to be able to understand what people are going through, and be kind to them. Doing so makes us more respected by others, since we’re not afraid to show compassion or stand up for someone.

We Learn From Mistakes That Aren’t Ours

When we experience stories from different perspectives and form our own opinions based on what the words tell us, we tend to notice a lot of mistakes that characters make, mistakes that we wish we could stop them from doing.

If a character messes up, you feel the regret as if it’s your own. After all, you were with them through the entire story. It almost feels like you could have done something, even though you really couldn’t have.

Seeing these issues will help us learn from them. If we ever face a similar problem in our own life, we clue in as to what to avoid. We’ll think before making a decision so that our outcome isn’t the same as the character’s.

Isn’t it convenient that we get to learn from other peoples’ mistakes instead of having to make them ourselves?

Our Personality Changes

Even if just a little bit, the way we behave and what we do are changed depending on the books we read.

For example, after reading the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, I learned to value my friends more. After reading Sherlock, Hound of the Baskervilles, I’ve practiced being more aware of my surroundings. After reading Animal Farm, I’ve paid more attention to keeping myself from being influenced by greed or power.

Little things change after we read a book, and this very change is what helps shape who we truly are. Every story is meant to influence us, and helps us find ourselves one book at a time.

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7 Tips to Stop Wasting Time and Use it Productively Instead

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Have you ever felt like you haven’t been using your time to the best of your abilities? That you’re wasting it by doing something unproductive when you could be working instead?

Believe it or not, everyone has felt this way before.

There are some surprisingly easy ways to stop this habit, even if you feel it’s hopeless.

1. Plan in Advance

If we don’t know where to start on a project, how are we ever going to feel motivated enough to begin?

To know what you should be doing, use a planner or journal and write down all of the things you need to accomplish each day.

Set times for these plans, so that you can easily know when you’re supposed to start and finish something!

2. Clear Out All Distractions

Any technology that you don’t need, any games or hobbies to distract yourself with – clear them out!

A great way to get rid of distractions is to put them somewhere where it will be harder to access them. Because of this, your brain will just decide that it’s easier to work while you’re at your computer than go grab your phone that’s two rooms away in the closet.

If social media is what distracts you, find an app that temporarily blocks these sites! When the sites are inaccessible, the only thing left for you to do that fills up your time is to work.

3. Do Something to Put Yourself in a Productive Mood

Some things that you can do that make people feel more energetic and awake are to splash water on your face, find things to be happy about, exercise, eat a healthy breakfast, drink enough water throughout the day, look at things that inspire you, and create a list of who you want to become.

Do whatever puts you in a productive mood every day, since you don’t want the motivation to fade over time! I’ve noticed this happening for myself, since I tend to have a short attention span when it comes to projects. To fight this, I constantly remind myself of my goals and who I want to be. After doing so, I’m surprised at how much more energetic I become.

4. Think of People Who Inspire You

There are many people that I look up to, and I’m sure you can think of some for yourself, too!

Find a person who’s reached a similar goal to yours already, and try to understand a little more about how they did it. The way people accomplish things and motivate themselves is different for everyone, but getting an idea of where to start will help you in the long run.

Though I will warn you that you shouldn’t idolize someone too much. Don’t ever change yourself or your personality to try to be more like someone else, since 1: That’s not a possibility, and people will know that you’re trying to pretend to be someone you’re not, and 2: You’re special because you’re you. Think about it; There’s not a single person in this world that’s exactly like you (unless you have a clone, of course) so why would you want to give away what makes you special?

Create a list of people that inspire you, and use it as motivation to be more productive. If they’re able to accomplish their goals and dreams, then you can too.

5. It’s Okay to Have a Break

If you’re ever tired, or have been working a lot, know that it’s okay to have a break. Breaks are good for your health, and keep your energy up for when you come back to work.

Don’t put yourself down if you’ve been working every day but feel like you need to do more. Don’t do anything that would hurt your health, like sleeping less, not eating enough, or avoiding friends. This will only negatively affect your attitude and ability to concentrate.

However, you also don’t want to take such a long break that it seems like you’re slacking off. There’s a healthy balance between work and personal life, and it’s important that everyone finds it to be their best selves.

6. Know That Other People Feel the Same

Do you feel alone, like you’re the only person who isn’t doing anything productive? All of your friends and family and coworkers are always on the go, while you’re sitting around procrastinating?

Fun fact: Almost everyone has experienced the same thing.

Everyone has gone through a slump at least once in their life, if not more. We’re all a lot more similar than we think.

Remember that so many other people are feeling the same thing, and let that feeling inspire you. Maybe you’re optimistic attitude or productive routine will inspire them to become better, too!

7. Don’t Wait for the “Right Day”

Everyone has struggled with motivating themselves at some point. It’s what the term “lazy” refers to. But the truth is, feeling unmotivated doesn’t necessarily make you lazy.

You want to do something, but feel too crappy, tired, or tell yourself that you’ll wait until tomorrow. This isn’t because you’re lazy, it’s because you can never seem to find the right time.

Well, can I tell you a secret?

There’s never a right time. Ever.

You’re never going to magically be able to do everything one day because it was the “right day”. It’s a little harder than that.

Instead of waiting, the best thing for you to do is get up, go to your workspace, and start. You may tell me that it’s not that easy. But trust me, though the motivation may be a little behind, once you start working on your project and stay focused, it’ll catch up with you.

Photo by Ocean Ng on Unsplash

How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Reach Your Goals

Elli4 Comments

We all have a dream. A clear picture in our head of who we’d want to be if anything was possible.

Some people want to have an amazing job, change the world, or become famous, but no matter what, I’m sure we all have an image of our best self.

Instead of feeling discouraged and thinking that these dreams are unlikely to be accomplished, we need to keep taking steps forward.

Goals are Unobtainable Without Effort

When planning your future in advance, a good thing to remember is that goals can’t be reached unless you work toward them every day.

If you want to be an entrepreneur, you may research how to do this by watching videos and reading about the topic, but you’ll never actually have a chance to get there until you take the first real step.

To do this, you can’t just hope you make it. You have to remind yourself that it is possible, and you can accomplish more than you think if you put enough effort, planning, and work into it. Visualize yourself doing it to make it seem more real.

Come up with an idea, brainstorm how to get there, and plan things involving finance, your education, and time in advance. You’ll then have a clearer idea of how you’re going to get there.

There are plenty of other resources online that can help you get an idea of how to reach your goals.

Everyone has the Power to be Successful

Every successful person started out as a child, with dreams and aspirations. Every successful person had to put effort into reaching their goal. Every successful person fought through the failures and pushed themselves to keep trying, no matter how difficult.

Some people are luckier than others when it comes to being successful, it’s true. But I like to think that every human has the power to change the world for the better.

In the end, we’re all the same. Human. It’s hurtful to your self confidence if you tell yourself that you can’t do something simply because you aren’t as smart, as skilled, or as talented. Everyone starts from the bottom. It doesn’t matter when or where you start, but that you keep going.

You Are Unique

The word “Successful” means something different for every person, so you should try to reach the goals you dream of instead of the ones others do.

A bad goal to set is one where you try to be someone else. The truth is that being the same as someone else is just not possible. Everyone is different, and to reach your goals you need to harness and express what is uniquely you.

We all love different things, come from different backgrounds, and have different ideas. Those differences are what makes us special, and will help us each change the world if we choose to keep pushing ourselves to get there.

No matter how small the goal, if it’s important to you, then you shouldn’t put it aside and procrastinate about it. If you’re passionate about something and don’t know where to start, here’s a tip; Just start. It’s harder than it sounds, but actually starting is the only way we can each stop doubting our abilities and create something beautiful.

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Why it’s Important to Read Books that Deal with Difficult Topics

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A loss of a loved one, body shaming, mental health – these are just some examples of topics that are difficult to write about.

When a writer is creating their story, they may decide they want to add something into it that will make a person sympathize with the characters on a deeper level. Maybe the writer just likes generally sad books because they feel touched by them, and want to write their own, or they’ve experienced something similar in their life and want to express their feelings in their writing.

Making the reader feel strongly about something is what all authors strive to do. Why are the best stories so popular? They have a way of captivating you, of making you feel like this is a true story and that you need to know what happens next. If a writer fails to do this, then until they learn how, they’re simply not a good writer.

I think we’ve all read that one story that just… breaks us. That breaks our heart to its very core. That’s still on our mind after we’ve finished it.

Some people hate reading books like this, because they make you feel for a character that isn’t even real.

But at the same time, no matter how sad it makes us, we know we’ve experienced something unique that we won’t find anywhere else. Something changes in us. We look at the world differently because of it. Books like this are rare, and the fact that an author managed to make us feel as if the characters from their imagination are real is astounding.

But why is it important that readers experience books that deal with difficult issues? Why don’t we decide to instead only write books about happy topics, books that always have a perfect ending?

Inspirational Characters

Reading stories that you can relate to in some way can give you an emotional outlet.

A way of doing this is to have inspirational characters. Having characters that you can relate to will help you feel less alone, and you’ll have someone to look up to when you need them most.

Just like every character in a story, every human faces obstacles that they need to get past. If we begin to lose hope, it can be uplifting when we read about a character similar to us who faced roadblocks.

A New View of the World

In a book, we get to see from a specific character’s perspective how the plot plays out in their eyes. This means that we’re probably taking the side of said character, since it’s the only point of view that we’re reading the story from.

But once we get to read from another character’s perspective, and choose which one we agree with most, we start to become more empathetic.

While we’re reading, we’re also developing our skills in understanding and empathizing with characters, which in turn will help us in real life situations.

When reading books that deal with difficult topics, we can begin to understand how people who face similar problems may feel. We start to see the world around us in a different light, not just by what we’ve experienced, but by what a story’s characters have as well. This gives us an opportunity to form our own opinions and empathize with others on a stronger and deeper level.

Life Isn’t Meant to be Perfect

The beautiful thing about books is that, no matter how fictional, it still captures an essence of real life.

Stories find ways to seem real to the reader, and part of that is by the issues that characters have to overcome throughout the story. The book just wouldn’t be good if the main character hadn’t run into a problem or two along the way.

Even if the story is fictional in the end, it still impacts each of our lives in very real ways, and it’s nice to know that we’re not alone.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash