Pebbles

My best friend and I went to the beach the other day, soaking up the sun we agreed we should take advantage of. As we stood on the beach, right by thea, my best friend swung, and I couldn't help but admire his pebble-skimming skills.























As his pebble briefly sung to the surgace of the sea, I grinned. I did so gain, as the pebble, too, did so again. I laughed at the third skim, and rolled my eyes a little as the pebble performed a fourth skim and my best friend celebrated.

Naturally, we were not th eonly ones with the idea of visiting the beach on a sunny day. Children dared to dip their feet in the dea, and adults watch their children- proud; caring. Couples held hands and walked dogs. Friends enjoyed their time together. Runners ran, and walkers walked. The sun allowed for all of the this. The sun kept the happiness singing with its shine.

There's no particular meaning I'm attempting to convey in this post- for we find meaning by ourselves.

This was just a really good day. Sometimes, a text full of gratitude for a person and a day puts everything into beautiful perspective.

Pebbles & Skimming,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

Pride

I think feeling proud - whether it's being proud of myself, another or a group - is one of the best feelings.

Recently, a friend of mine came out as gay. I have said on the blog before that we should be living in a world where coming out should not have to be a process- being gay should be as "normal" as anything else. The world is not at this stage, though. In this situation, nor is my friend's family.

The pride I feel in her situation exists because of how gracefully my friend is dealing with it all. I'd feel proud of her no matter what. It hasn't been easy for her. I so wish it had been. I achingly wish that it'll get better as quickly as possible. As we spoke, she promised me that her family will "get there"; that she even said this with such promise makes me proud. She shouldn't have to wait around for her family's approval,

My friend is full of courage and strength and it makes me look at her in awe. She is not strong because she's gay; she's a friend who is both strong and gay. I felt incredibly teary listening to her tell me of her experience. It's not a relationship I would express emotion through tears, and in that moment, I tried and hopefully noticeable didn't do so. I respect that part of our friendship. I'm proud of my friend and 100% wishing my pride is not patronising.

I've grown up with this girl; she has been a friend for a very long time. We have never been best friends but pretty close. That she struggled with it all hurts my heart. She confided in two friends and I am so relieved she had the support she was looking for, but devastated at the thought of the struggle before she told them. Throughout however long she was experiencing the level of confusion she expressed to me, she was always a good friend. Always the kind of person I have liked talking to. She has so many qualities I aspire to have.

Seeing her when people now know, her comfort is refreshing. It is so good to see. I am very proud.

Yellow & Green,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

Revision Tips

For the last five years, the next couple of months in each 365 (ish) days have always been somehow related to exams. Sometimes I can be very calm, sometimes I cannot. I want to make myself a consistent calm exam-taker whilst being very ambitious and hard-working. So, in this post, in order to prepare myself for exams - mostly in the way of revision -, I will be writing some tips to myself!

- A list

One thing I need is a list. I cannot face revision or be prepared for exams without a list. It makes me feel fresh and organised- and I'm not a particularly organised person. It's a little obsessive, but it clears my mind. It's obsessive because I add to it throughout as I suddenly think I must not forget that. When I was studying four subjects for my AS exams, I had four separate lists for each subject. Within this I then wrote the different subjects and important facts and things like this. I wrote "remember quotes" for Literature and little reminders to keep my mind focused and fresh.

- A routine including BREAKS!

I have never been completely strict about timings but I learned that a routine is good. A routine involving breaks. They are so important! I start with ten minutes worth of revision and then have a five minute break. I then up the revision minutes and keep adding minutes to my break while my breaks eventually go up and stop at twenty minutes. It means that I can feel good if I get to a break and am on a roll, but chill out if I'm not feeling good about revision.

- Food and water

It's so important to remain healthy and not become so tired and drained from revision because I've done something so silly like forgotten to drink water and have snacks. I always have a big glass of water near me. It really makes me feel prepared for revision. Food and water are good revision friends.

- Queue cards

After the last five years, I have found my personal favourite way of revising: queue cards. Naturally, it's different for everyone, but for me, being able to test myself eases my mind- even if I'm not getting it right! Whilst writing out the queue cards (a question or a prompt on one side and then the answer or the rest of the fact or something on the other side), the information I need is being reminded to me, and then when I repeatedly revise from the resources, everything is cemented that bit more!

- Past papers

Naturally, the usefulness of past papers can vary from course to course and exam board to exam board, but for me, past papers are so helpful. I don't rely on them completely and utterly, but knowing papers and possible questions makes everything that little more relaxing.

Finally, one general point I have learned is this... On that day, one must just relax! For me, I finally, in the last two years, realised: The day has come and little can be done. I just let myself be calm. Some don't like to even look at revision, but most of the time I do. Sometimes it's not best just in case it causes panic, but, for me, personally, it calms me. But, at the end of the day, the exam is here: Just try your best.

These are just a few things that popped into my head when I thought of this post. What helps you when you revise?

Papers & Pens,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

A Nostalgia Post

Holding onto the past is something I feel I always do. Sometimes it's less of the "holding" on and indulging in the thoughts of yesterday, but sometimes, it's more of the "Please can I hold onto you, Lovely Yesterday, and never let go?" kind of feeling. This is not to say that Happy Today is not as good or even that I am always wishing for a memory to be my present... Sometimes I just get too nostalgic.

I remember writing a post a while ago where I was talking about the wonders of the current Lovely yesterday. It was at this point when I decided I should start living almost completely (there's no problem with admiring yesterday, after all!) in today as if it would be a tomorrow sometime in the future were I would be nostalgic and in love with that particular day. I have to say, it really worked. I missed secondary school with all of my heart, and I soon saw what an awesome time I was having at college.

And guess what? Now... I'm missing college!

A lot of my favourite memories ever were made there.

Today I am at university, all settled now. I am, however, constantly missing home. Being home for Easter has implemented my excitement for summer and a longer period time at home. I am excited for that part of my future and very nostalgic about the part where I was enjoying college at home.

If, like I said, some of my favourite ever memories were made at college - a like to secondary school and before - it seems that I am able to make these favourite memories anywhere. Hopefully, anyway! That's got to be the conclusion to this, right?

Nostalgia is a good thing. I believe this now. When I was aching to go back to secondary school, I really was just aching, not indulging in today (although I was enjoying myself) as much as I should have been. I experience this kind of nostalgia because I associate so many happy memories with the Lovely Yesterday part of my life that they apply to. It makes me know that these memories are good memories. Really good memories. And these good memories will be repeated in different ways in Happy Today. 

Enjoy today; enjoy yesterday.

A Happy Balance & Lots of Memories,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

Let's Talk About Oppression

In the world, there are, of course, many different types of oppression. To be oppressed is to be limited- probably by a "stronger" force. In slavery, black people were oppressed by white people. Yet, this oppression has not been obliterated yet. Gay people have been historically oppressed- they still are experiencing this. Women have experienced having a lack of opportunity and other such horrible things because of their gender. Once again, this hasn't yet disappeared (although I could never deny its improvement- not that we should be thankful for something that should not exist anyway).

Equality is an issue very close to my heart. An issue I have often spoken about in relation to gay rights, but today, I am going to talk about it in the way of feminism. I'm not sure about what kind of things yet- it's one of those, "let's let out all of my thoughts" posts.

Everyday we experience different things- whether that's from going to work or school, or staying at home or popping to the shops. We encounter different situations and maybe people with views or expressions that create ugly scenarios. And they may not even be caught out on it.

The word feminism, I have spoken about before, has some connotations that infuriate me. I have been guilty of these connotations myself. And I had no reason why. Some hear feminism and immediately the word is tuned out by unjust and wrong views of anyone who considers themselves a "feminist." This is naturally something that needs to improve about this gender equality thing- we can try, but a lot of equality is going to be held back if we can't approve of the basics. The basics being: Feminism is cool.

I was thinking about how I personally have come across sexism. Sometimes it's not immediately obvious. And this is bad. These sexist moments aren't immediately named as "sexist" because it's a little forgotten- old-fashioned. At least, I believe that. After all, all throughout my school years, a boy (or a girl) saying "Make me a sandwich" when implying a women's place is in the kitchen, was acceptable. We assumed (and I'm sure most of the time, we assumed correctly) that this phrase was used without prejudice. We laughed along. And although it isn't my strongest argument, this is a bit silly, isn't it? I can't quite fathom my thoughts on this phrase, but I do seek to.

Back to my sexist experiences.I think there are still assumptions about what makes one "feminine" or "masculine." I really do know that the person I encountered that made me think this thought again had no sexist implications when he said what he said. Not even accidentally. It's just what was implied with what he said. We were talking about exercise and a friend was surprised to hear I could run as far as I could run after he asked. He wasn't surprised in a harsh way, but it struck a chord with me. In a speech Emma Watson made (which you can read more about HERE), she spoke of how her female friends would stop certain sports they loved in fear of having "masculine" appearances. Running is something I have always been proud to be good at- and it's not something I intend to give up. It's not something that should define my gender.

When I hit eighteen and I would go out at night to a club, I witnessed sexism even more. One moment I experienced recently. A guy was obviously "interested" in my friend. She made it clear - very politely - that she was not "interested." The guy was persistent and it was uncomfortable. The message my friend was sending was clear- and even if it wasn't, it doesn't excuse such ugly persistence. My friend moved herself closer to her boyfriend, trying to make the point clearer, while her boyfriend was naturally uncomfortable too. This guy finally got the message when the girl moved so far away from the guy in such a panic that she fell. Not cool.

Girls aren't necessarily out to impress guys. We're not necessarily at nightclubs trying to get the attention of guys or anything of the sort. A girl dancing could just be that: A girl dancing.

Gender equality very much so needs to focus on the inequality relating to girls and boys. This post is focused on girls and women, but the issue of inequality in relation to boys must not be ignored!

Fairy Dust & Parma Violets,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

The Sunset Carousel

The sunset was that serene mix of lazy purple, pink grapefruit pink and mellow yellow. It was the same sunset background Andrew kissed his wife in front of for the very first time. It was the same sunset that could bring back every night spent with her, as if shown on a screen in front of him, without hesitation.

"I kind of feel like I'm on a carousel," Millie had said.

"A carousel?" Andrew was always captivated by Millie. By her views. How her words shaped how he was feeling before he even knew it. This carried on for the next fifty years that they lived their lives together. And even when they were no longer watching sunsets. Her words still happily shocked him.

"Like all of these colours... These purples and yellows and pinks and oranges. They're flashing past me like a song. It's not hectic or too fast. It's elegant. It's magical. It's sweet like tonight."

"It is?"

"Tonight has been perfect, Andrew."

Andrew stared at Millie, beautiful like the sunset. Magical like the sunset.

Seeing this sunset again made Andrew recall something; as he always did with this particular mix of colours in front of him. She didn't know it, but Millie was describing herself in her description of the sunset carousel. She was always elegant; always beautiful; always perfectly timed.

Andrew picked her up at seven o'clock that first evening they spent together. She was dressed in a white summer dress, her light brown hair curly, way past her shoulders. Her eyes had a hint of glitter on them, her eyelashes thick and dark. Her lips were a light pink and her feet smiled under her multi-coloured sandals. She was the definition of summer.

After he told her she looked beautiful, he opened the passenger car door and walked round to slide in himself. He drove them to a little restaurant in town where lights sparkled in the window- a lot like Millie's eyes. They managed to get the window seat. Andrew was grateful. Because when Millie became momentarily mesmerised by the goings on outside, Andrew was able to savour her lovely face.

"Tonight has been my favourite night," Andrew confessed happily. He linked his fingers with hers and felt eternally grateful for meeting this girl.

As Andrew stared at the sunset in front of him fifty years later, he felt the pain he had felt for five years now. The pain of his gorgeous wife's death. The pain the beauty of the sunset could bring. But the pain is not something he regrets. For with this pain, love is shown. And this love is his favourite memory and feeling.

~

Here's a little story for the blog today!

Love & Memories,

The Girl in the Moonlight.

A Letter to April

Dear April,

I have been excited for you for a while. I have been seeing your season's blossom and smiling at its pretty ease. I have been running in the sunshine and feeling the blue sky singing. Yes, there has been a chill; but it's easy to miss under your season's smiling sun. The fluffy white clouds and promising sunsets have been glorious.

Now, here you are.

I have fond memories of April. Really fond memories. And I intend to experience another thirty happy days alongside you. I am anticipating hard work but lazy days too; baking sessions and nights with friends; family evenings and cinema trips; excited hours at the beach and lots of books read. I'm not asking you to do anything- just to enjoy it with me.

April, I do hope you steal the chill and replace it with warmth. I do hope there are more blue skies and warmer evenings. But, April, I'm home now. So if you do not bring my excited summer feelings, do not fret. I'm in my Easter holidays so sunshine is guaranteed. Even if it's not painted outside.

I have got a really lovely day ahead of me, April. What a perfect way to start your story. Quite frankly, the sun could shine, and my skin could feel warm, but grey skies could never take away my smile today. Today is the start of thirty days written with happiness. And as I peer outside, April, you've listened before I've asked... Blue skies!

April, you're now in the spotlight. We're living our lives with you as our soundtrack- our background setting. But you shouldn't stay in the background. We are waiting for you to shine.

Blossomy Trees & Renewed Smiles,

The Girl in the Moonlight.