Impossible is Nothing

We have spent countless hours studying for exams, going days without sleep, or in some cases without a shower, filling our bodies with caffeine just to function, but now we close out another semester. Some of us are graduating, congrats. Some of us are just ending our freshman year, keep pushing. Some of us are only dreaming of one day going to college, keep being a dreamer. We are one step closer to achieving what a majority of Americans can only dream of achieving. We will soon be joining the 30% of Americans who hold a Bachelor’s Degree.

This is something to applaud. Something we should celebrate.

Congrats to the Class of 2014 and congrats to all the others who are pushing and striving forward. Don’t ever give up. Life is about seeing what you are capable of doing. It is about pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. It is about seeing who you really are.

College has made me grow up so quickly. It has made me see beautiful things and it had made me see dark things too. But this is life. It is all a lesson. A lesson that has inspired me, challenged me, and strengthened me.

As we keep moving forward, we need to remember, impossible is nothing. It will be hard sometimes and life will throw us curveballs, but it is about how we build ourselves up after our downfalls that will prove to the world what we are really made of.

All the struggles and sleepless hours will be worth it!

Take care y’all.

With love,

Dawid B

#selfie

“But first let me take a selfie” This is the phrase sweeping the nation, and honestly, every time I hear it or read it on social media, a little part of me dies inside.

What is this selfie thing really about?

I think it is more than just a lyric from a song. We have become a society that craves attention. We will do anything to become famous, to get Instagram followers, to get Facebook likes.

I think this “selfie” craze is more of a deep psychological issue. A selfie-esteem, I mean self-esteem issue. We have become reliant on our social media to tell us how valuable we are. The more likes we get, the better we are, the more worthy we are.

Here is some news you might not want to hear.

That’s fake.

What does relying on “likes” and “followers” tell us about who we are? About what we value? Materialism only gets us so far. It distracts us for a short time, before our “real” issues start to surface and collapse on us.

Rates of depression, bulimia, anxiety, and other psychological disorders are skyrocketing. I’m not surprised at all. With this latest selfie craze, I see things only getting worse. We are trying so hard to live up to the standards of society. In today’s world, “standards” are measured by the amount of retweets you can get, the most likes in a minute, the most comments, etc. you get the point.

We all like a good selfie once in a while, I’ll admit it, I’ve #selfied on Instagram before, but lets not let it inflate our ego or make us dependent on it to tell us our value in life. Let’s use it to celebrate who we are, to share our proud moments, and to really spread love through the cyber world. Not to bring people down.

I know I’m crazy, but what can I say, I’m an optimist.

So when you go take your next #selfie, remember to be #real.

 

With love,

 

Dawid B

You’re Beautiful

I’m going to keep this short. But I feel that this post is necessary.

Recently, I feel that I have seen a lot of people posting sad statuses on Facebook or posting pictures on Instagram of broken hearts and down faces. I get it. You’re feeling unworthy, unwanted, or just plain depressed.

But let me remind all of you: you’re beautiful.

Not just on the outside, but on the inside. You have to remember who you are, your worth, and your essence as a human being.

We all have struggles. We will have those days when we feel like the rain won’t stop and the clouds won’t go away, but remember, there is always sunshine- whether you see it or not.

If you’re crying about that guy or girl, remember, if it’s meant to be, it will happen. But for now, take care of yourself, because you are important. Don’t drive yourself crazy, because they’re probably not going crazy over you.

If you’re struggling with family issues, don’t give up on them. Your family is your family. They love you no matter what.

If you’re dealing with personal issues, love yourself. You won’t find happiness and inner peace, if you can’t love who you are. Find the light that fills your spirit and illuminates your heart.

So, stay beautiful. Give yourself a reason to smile right now, tomorrow, and every day.

With love,

Dawid B

The One Time I ROMEd

It still haunts me everyday.

I will wake up with the sudden urge to grab a cappuccino or catch the 999 bus to get gelato at Old Bridge Gelateria. Some days, the struggle is truly real. My study abroad experience in Rome has completely changed the person I am and the way that I view the world.

I think I have really gained an appreciation for our society. I realized that there is so many things that connect us. Even though we are all so different and unique, there are many similarities that weave us together. My study abroad experience was one big life lesson. I look at people a different way.

I think of Rome as the city of magic. Everyone calls it something different. I felt at home there. No matter what city I traveled to in Europe, it gave me a certain comfort to fly back to Rome. Even though I was only there for four months, it felt much longer than that. I got accustomed to the genuine people, the crazy cab drivers, the amazing food, and all the confusing, twisted roads. It is a city I truly fell in love with.

Coming back to Chicago was something that was hard for me to grasp and handle. Being hit in the face with the bitter cold and all the loud people, fast food chains on every corner, it was radically different than what I got used to with the more quiet and humble culture in Italy. But I will never forget it. It’s kind of like a relationship. I went into it not knowing what to expect, I grew to love everything about it (all the good AND all the bad) and then I had to leave and continue my personal journey elsewhere. I replay the memories everyday and I smile. Rome made me happy. Rome made me, me.

Roaming around allowed me time to not only reflect on myself, but also to reflect on the world around me. What is our world really about? How do we see each other? My study abroad experience wasn’t about hitting all the hippest bars and clubs in town, it was about digging deeper to discover the treasures of life.

Everyone has taken different paths in life and has been handed different experiences. It is subjective as to what we decide to do with our experiences, whether we decide to throw them out as “useless” or whether we decide to cherish them forever. Every experience has an impact on us. Every experience. We should all learn the value of them and treat them as life lessons, and let them guide our journey into the future.

This is what Rome taught me. Take everything in. Experience as much as possible and see yourself flourish. Let yourself be free and happy.

Thanks, Rome. Thanks for letting me see a different side of myself and a different side of the world.

With love,

Dawid B