All About That Bass

Now a days, people can only think about themselves, myself included. It is getting harder and harder for people to see life from someone else's point of view. People aren't willing to step into other people shoes because it is all about them.

In June 2014, Meghan Trainor released her debut single "All About That Bass".  The song is upbeat and extremely catchy. It immediately went viral with over 164 million views on YouTube. With lines like "It's pretty clean, I ain't no size two" and "My Momma, she told me don't worry about your size" I could immediately see why it went viral. For once a song was released that wasn't encouraging girls to be a size zero and the need look perfect.

However, the other day I read a blog that made me sick to my stomach. The blog post was titled, "Why I am not 'all about that bass'." It was very interesting but they take the song very literally. My favorite line from the blog reads, "Trainor is basically saying, yes be confident, but only if you're curvy. So since I am booty-less, I'm not allowed to feel confident?" This is exactly what Trainor isn't saying. She is saying that no matter how big or small you are, you shouldn't worry about your size. 

Another line from the song is, "I know you think you're fat, but I'm here to tell you that, every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top." No matter if you are a size 2 or a size 15, you are beautiful. Trainor was asked in an interview if she was still getting criticism for allegedly "shaming" thin women and I think her answer is perfect. Trainor replied with saying, "Yeah, I'm still getting flak. It'll come for as long as the song lives, but for the most part people are relating to the self-acceptance part of it, which is amazing, because that was my point."

I wish people could put themselves in other peoples shoes. So often bigger people are the first ones ridiculed, when the skinny people are calling themselves fat. Clearly, nobody feels 100% secure with their body but that is no reason to go and look down on other people. I strongly agree with what Trainor meant when she released "All About That Bass," that no matter what size you are, you are beautiful and you need to love yourself.

Now what?

After being told by more than three doctors that I was a medical mystery, it was up to me to find a way to not only sleep through the night, but also stay sleeping through the night without my stomach getting upset. After

Two years ago I decided to try Badgers Stress Soother. It comes in a tin and you use it similar to Chapstick. Before I went to bed I rubbed a little bit on my hands, my temples, and above my top lip. This allowed me to breath in the Tangerine and Rosemary as I went to bed. Not expecting it to work, I tried it a few times and then realized that this allowed me to fall asleep faster and relieve unneeded stress. Granted it doesn't magically get rid of my stress but it calmed me down before bed.  Badger products range from $7 a tin to $15 depending on size. I got the 1 oz tin and I am still on my original tin. That is another bonus.

Now that I knew how to get to sleep, I needed to find a way to stay asleep through the night. I thought Essentials Oils were a joke and truly didn't believe they worked. In June, after doing research on my own, I decided to try peppermint oil. I would a few drops on my lower stomach (where I typically hurt/cramp before I get sick). Magically, it started working. I also learned that it can help with headaches. I tried it, and now I no longer need ibuprofen.  The awesome thing about peppermint oil is that you can get bottles of it for $4 instead of $32. I highly suggest this to anyone who suffers from daily headaches. 

I have also been very impressed with Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy products. The first time I tried them, they were on clearance and I should have bought the whole shelf. The one I use now is their Night Time Tea lotion. It essentially does what tea is supposed to do for you. It is supposed to calm and comfort you while relaxing before you go to sleep. My favorite scent is the Cedarwood and Orange lotion. I normally lotion my hands before bed or right before I start a long day at work or school.

A few days ago, I received a care package from a close family I love from home. They sent me the Badger Sleep Balm. This is a mixture of Lavender and Bergamot with a hint of ginger (ginger also helps with upset stomachs). I decided to put a little bit on my temples and lips, and sure enough, it worked. When a product works after only using it two times, I am always impressed.

I now keep my stress soother in my backpack and bring it wherever I go and my peppermint oil, sleep balm, and lotion stay on my head board. In the last 8 months, I have only had 1 stomach episode. That is the longest I have gone in the last 5 years without getting sick.  I never imagined being a medical mystery but I'm so thankful I've found little ways to fall asleep and stay asleep without getting sick.

Well, I'm over it.

Today while driving to work I heard a song on the radio and there were a few lines that I heard that I couldn't stop thinking about. Besides the few lines that stuck out to me, the rest of the song is very weird. So, just keep that in mind.  In Mary Lambert's song Secrets, it says, "My family is dysfunctional but we have a good time killing each other. They tell us from the time we're young to hide the things that we don't like about ourselves inside ourselves. I know I'm not the only one who spent so long attempting to be someone else. Well I'm over it. I don't care if the world knows what my secrets are."

So here are my secrets…

I have slept on my bathroom floor more than ten times in the last three years. With all my stomach issues, sometimes a cold tile floor will cure even the crappiest stomach ache. However every night, God was there with me with His hand on me reminding me that he is there with me.

People assume my family is perfect. Yes, we have traveled the world together and met famous people, but trust me, the word dysfunctional doesn't even begin to explain my family. However, God has and will always be the most important person in our family and that is all that matters.

I am scared to death to fall in love. Not just falling in love, but committing to a marriage. Being 21 years old, I don't know the secrets to making a relationship work. I mean come on.. Who does? The answer is God. A close friend reminded me today that, "A man makes his plans, but God directs his steps."

I constantly question myself. Am I going to the right school? Am I living in the right place? Will I regret the decisions I'm making? I'm constantly over thinking things as well. Often times I will question myself to the point of stressing myself to tears. Somehow, God always takes care of it.

So, my secret is easy: It's God. In every situation, every relationship, and everyday, I need to trust God's plan. Day after day, God has made my path clear. He directs me exactly where he wants me.

In December, I plan to move back to Minnesota. God has opened unexpected doors for me and financially, this is the best decision. Thankfully, I won't have to transfer schools again and I will still be able to graduate in less than a year. My plan was to stay in Maryland as long as I could and possibly move here permanently. However, God had different plans. I look forward to seeing what God has planned next and to remember that God will help me through every situation, every relationship, and everyday. 

What has happened?

A year ago today, I started this crazy blog. I believe the reason God had me write this was so I could see how much I am able to grow in a year. This has been a crazy year, full of ups and downs, but through it all God has been there. So where was I a year ago? What am I up to today? And where do I see myself in a year?

A year ago, I was attending St. Cloud State University. I was enrolled as a full time student with the goal of receiving my Bachelors degree in Communication Studies. When I wasn't at school, I was either nannying, at church, or at the land four-wheeling. I was living at home with both of my parents and brother. I had it pretty good.

Today is a little bit different. I am currently living in a small town in Maryland and attending Wilmington University in Delaware. When I'm not working on school work, I'm working at Sandy Cove Ministries in North East, MD. I absolutely love my job. The job itself is so fun but the people who I work with make it even that much better. I'm renting a room from close friends and I couldn't have asked for better living arrangements. I am also in a long distance relationship. Long distance wasn't my plan but we are getting through it one day at a time. These days, I'm just taking life as it comes.

In a year, I want to have graduated college and be done with school for awhile. I would love to be working full time at a local business. Hopefully in their HR or marketing department. As scary as it is, I see myself back in Minnesota, closer to family. Even though the majority of my friends are on the East Coast, Minnesota is my home. I also hope to still be in the relationship I am in now.

Over the last year, I have written over 100 different blog posts that over 4,000 people have read. What I love even more is that it isn't just being read in the United States. People from France, Ukraine, Spain, Austria, Germany, Russia, Malaysia, Canada, Sweden, Indonesia, and Poland have been reading my blogs. There is no way I could have gotten through this last year alone, God is to thank. Here is to another year with me, The Minnesota Caffeine Queen, and God. God is enough.

Age Barrier? I don't think so.

For the most part, I am not easily offended. I take a lot of things people say with a grain of salt and go on with my day. However the other day I was taken back by what someone said about someone I loved.

The other day some people were having a group discussion about watching Television as a kid. I brought up the point that I had a TV but we only had the 5 basic channels. I also said how thankful I was that my parents never let us have a TV with a lot of channels because I know that for most people, it can be a very addictive habit. After I explained my situation as a kid, a close peer told me that my Mother was a hippie and that is why we didn't have TV. I quickly responded with, "I really don't think she is." They then told me that she lived through the 60's and 70's so I should trust her that she is a hippie.

I am sorry but just because you live through a certain era, doesn't automatically make you fit the stereotype for that era. I lived through the 90's, does that automatically make me just like Britney Spears, because I can promise you that I don't have two kids, been through a divorce, and tried my hand at drugs. Just because my Mom didn't want us to have a TV, doesn't mean she is a hippie. As a kid, my Mom wanted us to realize that there is more in life than to stay inside and watch TV all day long.

I want to blame this misunderstanding on age, but I know that isn't the case. What is hard is that this peer isn't my age, they are older and have also lived through the 60's and 70's, so they know the stereotypes too.  I just want to encourage people to be very careful when talking about stereotypes when age is involved. Keep in mind that not all girls that lived through the Miley Cyrus years are going to end up twerking and all guys who watch Michael Phelps swim in the Olympics are going to end up with a DUI.  It's funny how the people who know the least about you, always have the most to say.