Insecurities

We all have insecurities about what we look like, and it doesn't matter how much other people tell you that your insecurity is unnoticeable - you're not going to believe them because it still stands out like a sore thumb.

I thought about writing this originally because of the moles on my face, I dislike them a lot, nearly everybody who knows me will confirm that. People tell me that you can't really see them or that they aren't that bad but it doesn't matter because I still know they're there and I'm always going to think people notice them too. Covering them with makeup may be the obvious answer but even with layers of makeup they are still visible. I've been kind of down about it recently, but I realised that no matter how much I moan about them or whatever they simply aren't going to go away and the likely hood is I'll get more of them over time; so I might as well just get on with the more important things in life. If some people don't like me because I don't have flawless skin then so be it - they obviously aren't worth knowing or worrying about. There are so many more people out there with worse skin conditions than me.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is whatever your insecurity is and however bad you think it is, just remember the chances are people don't even notice it and there are worse things that you could have.

"The people that mind don't matter, and the people that matter don't mind." - Charlie McDonnell

Laura.

Song: Fall for Anything by The Script

Quotes

If you hadn't already noticed I quote things a lot; songs, books, movies, people. You name it, I've probably quoted it at some point. Gotta love a quote or two. Quotes say things that you want to say - but better or perhaps just have a good message within them. Sometimes I skip out parts of quotes simply because they aren't really relevant or whatever. Just in case any of you had noticed. So here's another for you all.

"Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion... That is just being 'in love', which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree not two. But sometimes the petals fall away and the roots have not entwined."

Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres

Laura.

Song: The Sound of Drums by Chameleon Circuit

Lies

Lies are one of the main causes of arguments and it can be really hard to repair the damage afterwards because you simply can't take the lie back. Some lies are necessary, others are just plain hurtful. Personally I'd rather be told the truth first hand rather than find it out from somebody else afterwards. Maybe the truth would hurt, but it's easier to deal with the truth alone instead of having to deal with being lied to as well.

That's life for you I guess.

Laura.

Song: Time After Time by Elliot Minor

'Clueless got confused with cute.'

"No one likes to be wrong, and when we're unsure about what we're saying, prefacing a sentence with, 'This might be silly but...' is one way to protect ourselves from criticism. We've half admitted defeat before we've started. It doesn't help that many women tend to shy away from conflict, to avoid potentially nasty wounds to their self-confidence. It's much easier to walk away with an, 'Oh I don't know - you're probably right' than have a fight... Then there's the theory that some of us play dumb because men are intimidated by intelligent women. One recent study found that 73 percent of men admitted they'd go for a stupid, pretty woman rather than a clever, less attractive one. Really? Nearly three quarters of men are that shallow?"

- Liz Fraser

I don't think anybody should have to hide their opinions or who they are just because they don't want to be seen as stupid or intimidating. If you are always yourself then nobody else can ever ask anymore of you. If a particular person turns you away because you're 'too intelligent' or your opinions don't suit them, I recommend you ignore them because they obviously aren't worth knowing. Afterall who wants to live their whole life trying to be someone their not and never will be?

Laura.

Song: Jar Of Hearts by Christina Peri

Prepared

"What's coming will come, and we'll meet it when it does."
Some people say to prepare yourself for the worst, others enter into things blindly. I prepare myself to accept what happens, happens. Some things can be changed - others are best left alone.

Laura.

Song: Someone to Save You by OneRepublic

Advice

"Do in life what makes you happy. Sometimes you need to be selfish, because no one else is going to be for you. You don't need to spend life treading around other people, when you look back on your life you need to remember that you did the things you wanted to do. If something feels right, let it happen. If it turns out to be wrong... well it's better to regret doing something you wanted to do, than be forever wondering 'what if'.

It's like your life is one huge theme park, they'll be rides you love, rides you hate, rides that scared you and rides that bore you. But it's your own theme park and to walk around avoiding everything will leave you bored. And when it comes to leaving the theme park, you'll only leave wondering if you should have gone on the rides. Whereas it's better to go on all the rides and leave with a satisfied feeling of 'I tried'. You will remember the exciting rides because they will stick out in your mind, you'll remember the scary rides that you hated - but you'll still feel proud for trying them out, and the rides hat bored you, you won't remember.

In life, it's best to just let it happen. Things fuck up, people come and leave, memories fade, but at the end of the day you're only living as one person, if you're not happy simply do something about it..."

- Jodie Andrews

Laura.

Song: Love How it Hurts by Scouting For Girls

The Holiday

The Holiday is one of my favourite films, not because the acting is outstanding or because of the complex story with twists and turns - to be honest it isn't really either of those things. It has a lot of messages included in the storyline and is genuinely a lovely film. It's been on about three times recently and I watched it twice - yeah okay obsessive. But I thought I'd include some of my favourite quotes on here and share them with you. I'd like to point out that I hate Blogger for not allowing you to copy and paste... Gah.

''You'll go somewhere new and you'll meet people who make you feel worth while again. And little pieces of your soul will finally come back. And all that fuzzy stuff, those years of your life you wasted - that will eventually begin to fade.''

''I've found almost everything ever written about love to be true. Shakespeare said: 'Journeys end in lovers meeting'. What an extraordinary thought. Personally, I have not experienced anything remotely close to that, but I am more than willing to believe Shakespeare had. I suppose I think about love more than anyone really should. I am constantly amazed by it's sheer power to define our lives. It was Shakespeare who also said 'love is blind'. Now that is something I know to be true. For some love fades; for others love is simply lost. But then of course love can also be found, even if just for the night. And then, there's another kind of love; the cruelest kind, the one that almost kills it's victims. It's called unrequited love.''

Laura.

Song: Never Fade by Gabrielle Aplin

Disconnected View

I learn a lot from what other people go through along side my own personal experiences. Sometimes looking at other people's situations can teach you way more than your own because it's easier to see it from a different perspective when it's not you in the middle of it all. The main thing I've noticed is that you can't change how you feel about certain things, particularly people. No matter how much outsiders tell you it will be okay and tell you that you can do 'so' much better - it's totally different when it's actually you in the centre of the mess. Some of you may be thinking this is obvious and in a way it is because we have all had relationships troubles; but it becomes magnified when you look at it in a disconnected way. Another thing which I've seen is that you can't second guess what people are thinking constantly. It just doesn't work. The chances are - you'll never get it exactly right when second guessing somebody... You also have to accept that everything comes to an end eventually. Harsh? It could be seen that way - but that's the reality of it. Having said that I truly believe that a positive view can get you a long way. You just have to be willing to accept things don't last forever. I believe if something's meant to be, it will be - but I don't think there always has to be a reason behind it. Disconnecting yourself from the situation can sometimes help, give it ago sometime? (:

Laura.

Song: Stop and Stare by OneRepublic