Changing Our Vocabulary

Hi friends,

I am very nervous about posting this because I know some people will read this and think that I am "sub-blogging" them or will just not like what I am talking about. So I would like to get it out of the way and just say that this is not about one or two people, it is about many many people that I have either talked to or overheard throughout my entire life. 

Our world is changing and becoming so much more accepting but there is still a lot of progress to be made and I think one of the biggest ways this can occur is through our vocabulary. Regardless of what your opinions on any of this are, we, as a society, need to learn to respect one another. I really do believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and have the right to believing whatever they want to believe, but so many people really struggle with how to have that opinion and not be disrespectful and judge mental towards others who disagree with you. Now I am not saying that I am some saint who never judges someone who disagrees with my opinions because that would not be true but I make an effort to not because I don't think that is fair of me. Anyways, back to the point of this post, I really think there are a few words that we should try to remove from our vocabulary because they can be very offensive but they are so common that you don't even realize you are being offensive when you say it. 

I know I can be very naive about the world, but I like to believe that there is more good than evil in every person I meet. And I like to believe that if people knew how much their words are hurting someone they would stop saying them. I know that this is not always the case, but here are some words that if we could remove them from our vocabulary, or learn how to use them in the right context the world would be a little bit happier.

1. Gay - this word is not an adjective. Just because someone is attracted to someone of the same sex, does not mean they are weak or stupid or uncool. All it means is that they attracted to someone of the same sex. Literally nothing else, well it can also mean happy but thats beside the point.

2. Retarded - I absolutely hate when people use this word as an adjective to describe someone who they believe to be stupid or who has just done something they think is stupid. Retarded does not mean stupid. Retarded is a word that is now pretty dated medically speaking but was used to refer to a mentally challenged person. 

3. Faggot - very similar to number 1. This is a word we should just stop using all together. It is only used to be hurtful. Be kind, people.

4. Racial Slurs - This covers several words that I would prefer not to mention, but I know you know what words I am talking about. The color of a person's skin or where they are from does not determine their worth. It does not mean they don't deserve respect and it shouldn't be used as an insult. What if someone made these comments about you? how would you feel?

These are just a few words and if we could just learn to use them properly and not as an insult it would be a big step towards a happier, better world. Use your words to inspire others, not to tear them down. Many times when people use the words they don't think they are offensive because they are saying them to their friends. You never know how your friends truly feel about them, and you also never know just how many people are listening to what you are saying. 

Be kind and be loving.

Until Next Time,

Morgan

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The Sunday Post

Hi friends,

One of my favorite blogs, Hello-October, makes a post each sunday that she calls the Sunday post. It has always been one of my favorite reads and I always look forward to getting to read it Sunday morning. So I thought I might try it out on here with my blog.

The past two weeks have been crazy to say the least. I think I have experienced every emotion possible since I arrived here in Lubbock. Today marks exactly two weeks since I said good bye to my parents and started living on my own for the first time. 

In these two weeks I have been tested physically and mentally multiple times. I have started college volleyball workouts that have pushed me more than I have ever been physically pushed, but in only two weeks I have already seen such amazing improvement which has been an extremely rewarding feeling. However, I do not think I will ever get used to waking up at 5 a.m. but maybe with time it will get easier. I also have had to navigate my way around a large campus and try not to have a panic attack every time I have 10 minutes to be somewhere and have no idea where I currently am let alone where I am supposed to be going. I have had break downs of missing home, my dogs, my friends, and my family. But it has also been fun getting to meet so many new people and learn so much about myself even in the short time I have been here.

My first week was very hard for me. I am not a very outgoing person until I get to know people so making friends can be very difficult for me. However, I have met so many kind and wonderful people here and they have made it a lot easier for me to not be as closed off. 

I know that this journey will have plenty of ups and downs but I am so excited to see where it takes me!

Until Next Time,

Morgan

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Stop Worrying, Start Living

Hi Friends,

As I have recently moved out and started my college years, I can only sit and laugh at all the little things I spent so much time worrying about that really had a very, very small effect on me. Even if you are not very close to me you probably know that I am a worrier. I constantly over-think and worry about every little thing. I spent countless hours of the last four years worried about if I was in the right friend group, why I didn't have a boyfriend, if I had the perfect date to the dance, or if I was following the latest fashion trend, so to sum it all up I worry A LOT about what people think of me. Well I can honestly say it is not worth your time to worry about these things. It wasn't until this year that I really felt comfortable doing the things I really love. I have had a blog for four years. FOUR FREAKING YEARS and it took me until this year to not feel embarrassed to tell people about it. I think I always wanted to keep things more on the private side because once people read my blog it gave them a reason to judge me, and as much as I would like to pretend I was one of those people who just did not care what others thought of me, I am 100% not that person. I hate the idea of people talking about me when I am not around. I tried to keep so much of me hidden for so long and it is like now this little person is inside of me screaming to get out. I now feel confident that I can tell people what I think and my opinions on things. I feel okay telling people that I love musicals and I think I will always prefer a night in instead of going out and pretending to be someone I am not, and that took a really long time for me to accept. I was so scared that people wouldn't accept me because I personally chose some different things than a lot of my peers to be interested in. However, I have now learned that those things really don't matter. Do what you love. Do what you want to do. Being concerned of what someone else thinks holds you back not them.

I am not saying I am now one those people who just doesn't care at all what others think because I am far from that person, but now I am making a constant effort to stop worrying. Worrying is a complete waste of time. Don't spend your life worrying about it, spending your life living it. So if you want to dye your hair pink, do it. If you want to monogram everything in your room, do it. DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO, not what your friends, teachers, parents, siblings, or anyone else says or does. You do you and I'll do me.

Until Next Time,

Morgan

P.S. This confidence didn't come overnight. However, with the right friends, you will learn it is a lot easier to be yourself and not worry so much. So here are some of the people that I will forever love because they allowed me to me, and I can never thank them enough for that. 

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Life Chapters - Club Volleyball

Hi friends,

Every person you meet will have few or many "chapters" in their life that they may or may not share with you. These chapters are really a funny thing. I would say for most life chapters you really don't know they are happening or ending until the chapter is completely finished and you are about half way into your next chapter, but sometimes, you do know. And today I did know.

Today, a chapter of my life came to an end. After 8 years of volleyball and 7 years of club volleyball in a skyline jersey, my time in that chapter has ended. Today, I stepped out on the court with some of the greatest people I know to play a sport we all love for one last time. It was a very weird thing. I remember being 12 years old and watching Skyline's 18's team play one of their last games and thinking about how crazy it would be when it would be mine. 7 years later, with one of those 18's players now coaching me, it was my turn to play my last game. Now as some of you know, my volleyball career is far from over, but the next time I step out on a court it will be completely different.

This chapter has been a complete rollercoaster. I would be lying if I said there weren't times that I wanted to end this chapter early but I am so happy I decided to make it to the end. I have met so many beautiful people and learned so many life lessons and I really don't know where I would be without this chapter.

As I am sitting here typing this, it is really starting to hit me. This part of my life ( a part that I really thought would never end) is over. It is a very bittersweet thing. However, I am very excited for the next chapter.

In two days, I will pack up my car and make the 6 hour drive to my new home. I have no idea what Lubbock has in store for me but if it is anything like what my last chapter was like, I absolutely cannot wait.

Until Next Time,

Morgan

P.S. sorry for the bad quality of pictures, I don't know why they look like that!

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We Are All On Different Paths

Hi friends,

Everyone is on a different path at any given moment in their life. Some are small like trying to get good grades or get that burger that you are craving, other paths are longer and bigger and more confusing. The ladder seem to also start out simple and grow more complicated. However, the beauty of these paths ( and sometimes the beast of them ) is no two paths are the same. The same disaster or achievement can happen to two people and they will both always react differently depending on what path they are on at the moment. 

These paths though are truly only known by the people on them. So if we are all on different paths and have not experienced the same path as our friend, lover, or parent, then do we really have a right to judge them for the path they are currently on. We don't know the road blocks of their path just as they don't know ours. We don't know what they have learned from their previous paths just as they don't know what we have learned. 

Our society has driven us as human being to judge every person who comes near our path. We judge their hair, their weight, their outfit, their job, their college, their significant other, their sexual orientation, but we get offended when people judge us before they know the full story. So how about we change the world, one judgement at a time. 

The next time you encounter someone and you begin to judge them ask yourself this:

1. What exactly am I judging them on, and do I have all the information to be able to make that judgement?

2. Would I like it if someone were judging me for that? 

And when it comes to people judging you...

Unfortunately our world has become so prone to judging that it is usually the first thing we do when we meet someone. So know people will judge you and if you are close enough to them you can politely explain to them a little more of your path, or you can just leave them to their pointless judging, because lets be honest you don't want to surround yourself with people who have so much free time that they can truly sit there and spend time judging you. 

Until Next Time,

Morgan

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A Very Very Very Long Thank You Note

Hi friends,

This post is not much more than a big thank you note, my friends who are close to me know I am much better with writing than speaking so here is my thank you.

Laura,

When we became friends in 7th grade it didn't turn out too well, but by junior year we had it figured out. You have been a rock for me. Even when you were mad at me and I told you I didn't want to be friends. You have a beautiful soul and the world deserves to know you. I know one day I will see your name on the news for solving world hunger or something like that and I will be so proud to say that you are my best friend. I am so sad it took us till we were 17 to become so close but I am so happy we did. Seattle is getting one of my favorites. I love you so much and will miss you dearly. Thank you again for everything.

God Squad ( mal, Mary Lea, Emily, Kathryn, Mindy, Ellen, and Rick, and sometimes mason),

You people are insane...but in a good way. You guys remind that there are still great people in the world. We are the most unconventional friend group but we are probably the most fun. Thank you for telling what I needed to hear and not what I wanted to. Thank you for supporting me through all my phases and not even batting an eye. Thank you for trusting me and letting me do all my crazy things without judgement. And thank you for being you. You guys truly live life the way you want to and don't let the judgement of others hold you back. Through the good and the bad I will always love you people. Thank you.

Bailey,

I hated you most of childhood. But then something happened in high school and we stopped fighting like sisters and we became best friends. I will forever cherish our chats about boys, tv shows, life, and stupid people. You have never let someone pressure you into doing or thinking anything and that will pay off for you majorly in the long run. A&M is the perfect place for you and I can't wait for all the stories I will get to hear about. Thank you for always supporting no matter how often my opinion changes. 

P.S. Seth Cohen will always be better than Ryan

Haley and Sofia,

Trio for life, am I right?! How many friends can say they won 3 state championships with each other ( probs not many). Thank you for making life more enjoyable and never failing at making me laugh (seriously, I would say we have spent a good 92% of our friendship laughing). It will be incredibly weird not playing with yall next year and I am so jealous of your future teammates. They just got some of the best teammates out there. I will miss hanging out with yall and then getting incredibly confused as you two fall over crying from laughing at some stupid vine. Never lose your sense of humor ladies. You both will do incredible things and I can't wait for our dinners on college breaks and getting to hear all about parties, dates, games, and practices. Life is more fun with you two. Kick butt next year and I love you guys.

My Skyline Family,

The past 7 years have been a roller coaster and I wouldn't have asked for it any other way. You guys have taught me so many life lessons that I will forever be thankful for. You guys have done so much for me and I would not be where I am today without yall. I love yall and thank you for everything.

Matalee,

You make me more mad than any other human being on earth, but you also make me laugh harder than any other human being on earth. The only way I know how to describe you is an onion. You have so many layers and each layer just gets more and more beautiful. I have been living with you for 18 years and I am still barely scratching the surface with the layers. Thank you for listening to all my rants, telling me that some of my fashion choices are actually very, very bad, and teaching me to not be so afraid of love. You are so smart and beautiful and I know you are going to do incredible things. Thanks for being the best big sis a girl could ask for! I love you so much.

THE group ( katie, dani, kathlynn, taylor, marcella, lizette, haley, sofia, chynna),

Oh man, the memories we have made the past three years. Thank you for being there for me through the embarrassing breakdown, celeb obsession, weird phases, and everything in between. High school would have sucked without you guys. I will always rather spend valentines day with you gals than any boy haha. I will miss you guys more than you know. Go out in the world and show everyone all your talents. I love you guys and can't wait for our stupid reunions with each other.

Mallory,

Good Lord how to I even begin this. I am tearing up writing this because I have so much to thank you for its too long for any letter, so I am just going to make a list. Thank you for my endless letters for my many breakdowns, for white rock coffee runs, for late night phone calls, for calling a boy and telling him he was an idiot for hurting me, for supporting me no matter what, for forgiving me for every stupid thing I have ever said to you, for our car rides, our jam sessions, our "plays", our drink concoctions, our life talks, our stupid inside jokes, our attempts to be healthy but failing because chocolate is always better, for making me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry, for driving to my house at 2 am to give me handwritten letters, for still being there for me through all my phases, and most of all thank you for being the best best friend someone could ask for. Knowing that in a month you will be more than 200 yards from my house breaks my heart. The world needs more people like you. Austin is about to get the best gift they could ask for. Thank you for everything, keep doing you, no matter what anyone says. I love you and will always be here for you.

Mom and Dad,

Thank you for being the best parents I could ask for. Thank you for being my parents and not my best friends. Thank you for supporting me through all my phases, through my complete style changes, hair changes, friend changes, school changes, belief changes, and just everything. I was probably the weirdest kid to be a parent to but you guys did it perfectly. Thank you for all our life talks and all our talks just making fun of stupid people. I will miss you guys every day next year. I know I always talk about wanting to get as far away from Dallas as possible but that has nothing to do with yall. I think you guys are the hidden gems of Lake Highlands. You are nothing like other parents and I am so thankful for that. Thank you for being great role models for me and loving me with everything in you. You guys rock and I love you very very much. Thank you for everything. 

Many more people deserve thank you's but I don't think I can type much more. Everyone: keep doing you. I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything.

Much Love,

Morgan

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Coffee Shops

Hi friends,

if you can't by the title of this blog. I freaking love all things coffee. The amount of happiness I get when I have the perfect cup of coffee in the morning is honestly sad, but you know it makes me happy and that is really all that matters. Because of my love of this glorious drink I have grown to have a love of coffee shops. 

And by coffee shops I do not at all mean starbucks. I am not one of those coffee lovers that just scoffs at the mention of the obnoxiously popular chain, sometimes I do really enjoy a cup of jo from there however I don't really get my happy vibe in there. The coffee shops I am talking about are the random hole in the wall places that you really can only find out about from a friend of a friend. Those are the places that I am truly in heaven. 

There is just something about these places that allows me to forget every negative thing in my life and just be peaceful for a little bit. I like that you can be in a very social enviroment but at the same time you are completely alone and for some strange reason that is an incredibly comforting feeling. In this environment my creative juices (really cheesy term so sorry) just keep flowing and all I want to do is read and write and talk about life and death and everything in between. Whether I am with friends or by myself I can always find comfort in a coffee shop. 

100% of my favorite things that I have done the past few years is explore my city some more and find some new coffee shops. Some of my favorites would have to be Mudsmith ( lower greenville ), Espumosa ( Bishop Arts), Opening Bell Coffee ( South Side ), Union ( hidden gem on greenville). If you know me at all or follow me on any social media you would know I am also a huge fan of white rock coffee but sometimes I think it becomes too much like starbucks ( but no coffee will ever compare to theirs, it is truly the best). 

Coffee shops are my happy place. I hope you have a happy place and if not I encourage you to find one, make it your go to place when you need some inspiration. Finding your happy place will be a game changer I promise!

Until Next Time,

Morgan Reed

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10 Little Things That Made Me Happy

Hi friends,

So this week was a strangely relaxing week. I felt I could catch up with all my friends for the first time in a while because of all my traveling lately. I think this week it kind of hit me for the first time that I will officially be done with high school in four weeks! That is crazy. I move out in 2 and half months. That is crazier. 

With all these events coming up so fast I have been left with very mixed feelings. I am excited, yet very scared. I am happy, but also a little sad. I am ready for it to be here already, but I also wish I had a little bit longer left at home. However, all these mixed feelings and emotions have just made me realize how important it is for me to make the most of everything, everyday. 

I know I am a day late on this post, but I was soooo tired yesterday I could barely brush my teeth last night let alone try and write a post! So here goes week number 3!

10 Little Things Week 3

1. My run at the lake Monday morning..it was weird literally no one was there but it was also so beautiful

2. Finding my prom dress!

3. My coffee this morning!

4. There was this moment when I was at one of my best friends senior teas, that I sat around a table filled with people I love and I just realized in that moment how perfect life can be sometimes!

5. Seeing one of my old coaches and getting to catch up with her and her husband!

6. Playing with puppies with my friend sofia!

7. hearing from an old teammate and getting to hear about how her life is going!

8. finishing season 1 of Once Upon A Time, seriously yall...it is so dang good.

9. The sliders I got at a food truck downtown!

10. Watching John Green's acceptance speech for The Fault In Our Stars...he was just so happy and giddy and it made me happy and giddy.

I hope you all had a fabulous week and I hope you have a fabulous Monday tomorrow!

Until Next Time,

Morgan

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Why Team Sports Are So Important

Hi friends,

So for the past 7 years I have been playing this little sport called volleyball. Throughout these 7 years, every year I have been apart of two teams: my school team and my club team. I can honestly say that these teams have probably prepared me more for life than anything I ever learned in school.

Now I am not saying my education did not matter to me. I am very thankful for my education and I know I have been given many opportunities because of it. However, being a part of a team is something that I truly believe every kid should have to do. Not necessarily a sports team but just some form of a team, because the lessons I have learned through team sports have changed my outlook on life. 

When you are a part of a team, you learn to be selfless. You learn that it is not always about you and you must do what is best for the team, even if that means sacrifice on your end.

When you are a part of a team, you learn communication skills that cannot be taught in a classroom. When players are picked to be a team, they don't always have a big say in who else is on that team. Personalities can easily clash but you must find a way to make it work to be successful. You also have to learn how to treat each teammate individually. What works for one person, doesn't necessarily work for the other.

When you are a part of a team, you learn it is okay to be weak sometimes. You learn that you don't always have to do everything on your own. When I step out on a court I know there are 9 girls who have my back as I have theirs. I am not always going to be perfect and that is okay. We are a team for a reason. 

When you are a part of a team, you learn hard work pays off. You learn that the hours upon hours you spend in the gym, the time you could be spending with friends or family, will pay off. You know you are working for something and you can't let anything get in the way of you and your goal.

When you are a part of team, you learn that you are going to lose at some point. No matter how great and talented your team is there will be battles and sometimes you won't be on the winning side. You learn how to learn from it and not let it hold you back.

And most importantly, when you are a part of team, you learn what it means to be a family. You learn how to love someone, even when you don't really like them. You learn how to give your teammates what they need and not always what they want. 

The list is never ending but these are some of the key things I have learned throughout my years in sports. Every team I have been on has taught me something new. I can't wait to see what new things I will learn at the next level. 

To every teammate I have ever had: Thank you for everything, I will love you guys forever.

Until Next Time,

Morgan

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Fashion In Television Week #1

Hello Friends,

So this past week I had been thinking about how I wanted to make fashion appear more on this blog. I have always loved fashion but at the moment I don't have the time to go out and shoot my own pictures of my fashion style to share on here. So I decided each week I want to pick a character on television whose style really stands out to me! I personally have a very girly style so I love dresses and bright colors so many of the characters featured on here will probably represent what I wish my closet to look like. 

So for week number 1, I have chosen one of my favorite characters on a tv show ever, Carrie, from the Carrie Diaries. Carries's character is extremely girly and that shows through her style. I would describe her look as girly girl meets New York street style. I would die to have all of her clothes in my closet, and I wouldn't mind having her job either. Her outfits are very bright and fun and I would probably wear all of them!

So here are some of my favorite fashion moments of her throughout the show!

As you can see I am quite girly and love bright colors! 

Until Next Time,

Morgan

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