Half Way?!

1st semester finals are coming up, so I guess this means we are half way through my senior year. I was scrolling through my Camera Roll, looking for a specific photo, one now that I can't remember because I got caught up in looking at all the memories (mostly selfies at football games or Cross Country meet photos). 

I am so glad that as awkward and weird selfies and random photos are, I took them because they hold a special place in my jumble of photos because I can remember a moment that was funny, unique, and an instant that I will never be able to get back.

This is another reason I am drawn to creating my own images and sharing them. I mark time as I make photos with the people I create them with. 

One of my best friends, Amanda, shared this with me in October and thought it was one of the most thoughtful things I have ever read. 

I hope that in the future they invent a small golden light that follows you everywhere and when something is about to end, it shines brightly so you know it's about to end.
And if you're never going to see someone again, it'll shine brightly and both of you can be polite and say, "It was nice to have you in my life while I did, good luck with everything that happens after now."
And maybe if you're never going to eat at the same restaurant again, it'll shine and you can order everything off the menu you've never tried. Maybe, if someone's about to buy your car, the light will shine and you can take it for one last spin. Maybe, if you're with a group of friends who'll never be together again, all your lights will shine at the same time and you'll know, and then you can hold each other and whisper, "This was so good. Oh my God, this was so good."  

 -Iain Thomas, "The Light That Shines When Things End"

Ever after reading this I have started to notice when things have the potential to come to an end and how groups of friends could not be together again as a group. This has become even more apparent to me because I am good friends with foreign exchange students this year. Realizing that we have one year, fall, winter, spring, summer, and day of each month together has been good for me to become aware of and not take any moments with them for granted. As it is their only year in the valley, it is similar to my situation because it is my last year! Recently I have been taking advantage of being able to ski after school and on the weekends as well as reconnecting with friends I have not kept in great touch with through the last couple years. It started to hit me that this is my last year and I want to have the most fun, joyful, and encouraging days I can.

For this last half of my senior year, I have created a few goals to better myself, spread nothing but good, happy, positive vibes and to be excited with whatever and whoever crosses my path. You could call these my New Year's Resolutions...

• Smile and say, "Hi," to people in the hall (and around town) if I know them just the slightest bit or I consider them one of my best friends.
• Notice that everyone has different passions and sometimes line up with mine. I will take the time to talk with people and become their friend, even if for just the conversation. Showing people that I care and am interested in what makes their eyes light up (like photography and traveling does mine) makes me excited to broaden my perspective of the world. 
• If I think someone is awesome I will tell them because they deserve to know. (If someone thought you were awesome, wouldn't you want to know that person felt that way about you?)
• Take more time once a week to recharge, reflect, listen to some soft music, and do something to remember the fun moments in high school.
• Remember that the future will come as fast as the sunrise. Enjoy every minute and make the best of each moment and person that crosses my way.

School to Skiing in 40 mins

Senior XC Girls 2016

A beautiful collage of funny selfies and moments that I love

xo, Hallie