Tired of being tired

So for the past three or so nights I just cannot get to sleep! I feel so drained and I wish I could just rest for a day but the truth is, I have so many things to study for including PAT's. PAT's are basically a bunch of ginormous tests you take every three years to compare your school to others. But it also counts as your final for the year! So it is hard to rest when there is so much to worry about. My first test is May 11th and the rest don't start til June, I am not sure how to stop worrying about it and I haven't had a decent nights sleep forever! 

Easter Break

This past week has been good but somewhat frustrating because I have been ill and it feels like since Christmas I have constantly been ill. I was sick on Christmas day! Yes you should feel sympathetic even though it's been like months since but I couldn't even eat my Christmas dinner.. So for me that is just something I was completely ripped apart about haha. But that's over and hopefully I will enjoy dinner more next year ;)

In the week I've been off school. We went to York again. Because I love York. It is hands down my favourite place in England. As for Spain.. Alcudia is my favourite place there (just throwing it out there)

In York we went to Betty's Tea Room for breakfast and then we went again for a drink break later in the day. It is like a posh tea room.. but also a restaurant. It does THE best homemade raspberry lemonade. I will post some pictures.

Also I'm so grateful to live so close to a beach. One of the best in the country. That is an actual fact.. and I can testify of that statement. I love the beach.

But this post is dedicated to  Jesus Christ, York and the beach.

Three of my favourite things.

Lots of pics

Conference

I have never seen LDS conference in the actual conference center. But today we traveled over 11 hours to come and listen to it in person. Temple square is amazing.  We were able to go to the morning session.

THE START OF SOMETHING NEW

22/3/15

Dear blog,
these past few weeks have been something new, after 2 whole school years of the same repetitive routine times are finally changing and life is becoming more meaningful to me. I'm not going to lie and say that everything is running smoothly and everything is so perfect, because of course it is most definitely not. But most things are good. It is safe to say I'm exited for the future and the way it seems to be beginning to form because of the choices I have been requested to make and commit to recently... what choices you ask?

GCSE'S

Last week, we were given our forms after a HUGE build up of exams, advice sessions & lectures - blaaaah. It is nice to finally feel appreciated by teachers and not to be spoken to like children anymore, I'm not saying we are fully grown humans yet, but you probably know what I mean. We were talked through the different bands and were constantly lectured about how serious this stage in our life is, because it is. We had to choose between a variety of different subjects we could opt for to study at GCSE. We had two options, two reserves & a choice between History, French or Geography.  I chose Media & History & Leisure and Tourism.

I'm happy with the way things are going.

To anyone who are in the same situation right now, just remember never to stress yourself too much, all things will work out in the end.

- Tal

Kill it with kindness... Challenge?

Okay, here is a challenge that's a little.... Different

To start off let me just say that sometimes the build up of schoolwork, maintaining friend relationships and extra activity is not easy, especially when someone else is watching your every move until you mess up. I feel that every little flaw shouldn't matter to people. But with that every one of our little flaws shouldn't matter to us. Because if I say that my hair looks terrible today that automatically gives everyone else the permission to talk about it. 

At our age we all have confidence issues.   And in order to see the true beauty in ourselves we need to look at others virtues first. Think of five good things about yourself. Than about someone who you care about that are NOT sarcastic (sarcasm is our enemy in this case) and then think of five good things about someone you may not get along with. Don't even let yourself think the negative things you want. I feel like whenever I feed the fire, the outcome is always worse. Whenever I want the negative to rule out the positive I never consider the other persons feelings and I become more caught up in others flaws. I am not one for gossiping but even the little I do really puts a large weight on my shoulders and no matter how true it may be it NEVER brings ANYONE including myself ANY happiness in the end. It may be satisfactory for that one small minuet you do it, but it becomes a heavy burden when it breaks your confidence and shatters what's left of your self esteem. It is never ever ever worth the drama or the pain. 

So I have decided that for my challenge if you chose to accept, Tal and I are gonna kill the gossip chain with kindness, and no matter how much it may scare us to stand up for what is right, we can do it knowing the outcome will be better for everyone.

-Ash

Brood.

Is there anybody there? Hello? Can anybody hear me? You know that feeling when you don't feel alone... but are constantly stuck in a river of wonder, confusion & hope? The thing about society here in the 21st century is that teens, like myself, aren't as naive to the big bad world and the things going on, we are no longer oblivious to most things. We are familiar to practically everything.. apart from the things we should know so we are able to carve ourselves into independent, determined and successful adults. What do I mean? - Well, if you questioned a 13-16 year old on Politics I guarantee that 80% of them will not have a clue what you are talking about. But why should we know about stuff like that at this age? can't we just chill with our friends, have fun and learn about all of that jazz later? Can't I just remain on my halcyon demesne? I, myself have thought about these type of questions before, but we ARE smart & we ARE unstoppable and we CAN live the life we dream, but only if we do our part.

It is all about us. Us, we, together, the leaders of our niece's, nephews' & even our children's generations. Think about it, what are you doing in you're lives that will benefit you later on in life. Think, do you get drunk on weekend's, or do you spend time with family, which one makes you happier, which one will you regret a few weeks later, would you rather be told you got in a fight by your mates who couldn't help or prevent it because they were also out of it, or be able to treasure the special memories of family night? I know which I'd rather choose. So now is the time, are you winning or are you losing. Are you creating or are you deflating. Ok.. that was kind of a strange one but I don't regret it. Maybe you are thinking, 'It isn't that easy to get my family around like that' but that was only one example. What is your excuse for your health?

'It's fun, I don't care. I'm a teen this is what we do, back off!'

Do not be that person. Because that is so cliché & irritating. My thoughts right now are kind of dusty. Most of my friends get drunk all of the time. I'm not going to lie and say that it isn't hard, but by that I don't mean the desire to drink alcohol I mean it is hard because times change and people change and it is hard because they know in themselves deep down what they are doing and what the consequences are but simply can not accept it. I have pondered much on this and I have come to a conclusion that the shire fact of unacceptance of reality and consequences within our own minds leads to hatred, suffering, and crazy thinking toward the world and everyone we come across in our every day lives including our family and closest friends. This is actually what the older generations categorised as 'hormones' yes, hormones do play a big role in our lives but hormones don't lead us to depression, anxiety etc. In my opinion, we ourselves lead a life for those things to slowly creep up and we can choose now to be in the happy and not a care in the world of what others think about us mindset.. that way we can overcome the world. I know what and where I'd rather do and be.

I love every single teenager walking this Earth because I know our great powerful potential as we come together and create something no generation has ever seen. High expectations? No. - Future.

I accept Ashy!

LET'S MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE ;)

-Tal