Author: Madison

Dads are our everyday warriors. 

1. As much as you don’t want to admit it, he does everything.

Working his butt off to put food on the table, driving you all over for sports games, being your personal therapist, he can do it all.

2. Even when you think no one understands you, he’ll always try to.

We all have those breakdowns when we think we’re absolutely alone in the world but the thing is, our dads will always be there for us.

3. You are half of him, and don’t forget it.

When a mother has a baby, she and the child are the stars of the show; but we can never forget it takes two to tango. 

And as many of us have heard, “I brought you into this world, I can take you out.???

4. He will always be your favorite Superhero.

Whenever things get real rough, he’s right there to help you (kinda like you send a bat signal out).

5. Nothing like a good dad joke to make you laugh.

By laugh, I mean at him, not the joke.

6. He is your backbone.

Dads teach their daughters to be strong, courageous, and capable. 

They are the ultimate role models from the moment we enter this world. 

The older you get the more you realize you get from him. From the way you drive, your feistiness, the way you walk, and even your favorite foods.

Dear You,

It’s really a shame that I have to write this because that means that after all these years you’re still taking me for granted. It also means that I’ve now lost someone that I cared for so deeply it hurt.

This has been a long time coming, but that doesn’t mean its easy writing this. Love is a weird thing. You never know when you’re going to fall. The one you fall for the hardest always comes out of nowhere. And that’s exactly what you did. I never saw you coming.

We were so young when we met that I never thought you were going to affect me the way you did. It wasn’t too long into our relationship that I knew I was in over my head. I *thought* I had met the person I was going to spend the rest of my life with. The best part was you felt the same way; at least that’s what you told me. I was so certain that you were the one that I ignored all the warning signs and what everyone around me was saying.

You were my knight in shining armor. You were my happily ever after. I found you to be the most charming, handsome, and loving person on this earth. I defended every mistake you made, respected every decision you made, and supported everything you did.

I thought I had found the man of my dreams. But as fast as I fell for you, I learned that you were not as perfect as I once imagined. Which was fine, because you were finding out I wasn’t as perfect as you imagined I was either. But my fairytale came crashing to a halt when I realized that you were not the man for me.

You took me for granted. You took my unconditional love for you for granted. You didn’t see the tears that fell from my eyes every time you said you couldn’t “do it” anymore. You didn’t hear the way I defended your name to every person who talked down on it, even after all the bullshit you put me through. You made sure to keep me along for the ride so I would be there whenever you were bored or just needed a confidence boost. You couldn’t see the way my heart fluttered when I saw you smile. You didn’t even notice how much I loved and adored you.

Now saying that I “loved” you, as in past tense, wouldn’t be correct. Because I think a part of me will always love you. You’ll always be the boy who stole my heart and never really gave it back. I thought that one day I’d stop caring. That one day I’d move on and forget about you completely. But that day hasn’t come yet. I won’t let you know when it does, because unlike you, I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t want to drag you along.

I was there through some of the worst days, and some of the best days. No matter how hard I tried, nothing I did was ever good enough. You couldn’t see the bigger picture. You couldn’t see me. You couldn’t see us. Instead, you absolutely destroyed me. You took seven years of my life and still have no intention of giving them back.

I liked to believe in the best in every situation. It’s hard to find someone who is a true optimist these days, but I was one of them. I liked to believe in true love. I believed that love conquers all. I believed in fate and that what was supposed to be would be, no matter what. I believed that if I wished for the same thing on every shooting star, every birthday candle, and every 11:11 that it one day would come true. I believed that everyone had good in their heart, and breaking a mirror didn’t actually bring you years of bad luck. I was a believer. I believed in you, I believed in us.

But you turned into my worst nightmare. You made me blame myself for every bad thing you did to me. You would build me up just to tear me right back down again. You abused the love I had for you. You made me feel like I would never be good enough for anyone. I believed you could change and no matter how hard as I tried to fix it, you defeated me.

One day you’ll look back and realize my worth. You’ll finally see me, and all the big and little things I did for you. You’ll see how strong I’ve become, and I hope you feel guilty because you are the reason I had to learn to be strong. You’ll see me with another guy, and even if it’s only for a split second, you will feel regret. You’ll realize that somewhere along the way you lost a sweet optimistic girl. You’ll realize that all those times you were pushing me away you should have been fighting for me.

I may have felt defeated back then, but nothing can stop me now. Not only did you lose the fight, you’ve finally lost the girl who loved you unconditionally.

Truly,

The girl that used to worship you.

Tom Brady has been breaking records and destroying the game for the last 15 years in the NFL. He kicks ass on and off the field. He has a drop dead gorgeous family, a beautiful array of Super Bowl Rings, and is only 39 years old. So here's 9 reasons why Mr. Brady is the greatest of all time.

1. Four Rings

He is tied with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for the most Super Bowl wins in the NFL. Not only that, he has appeared in 6 Super Bowl games, the most in the league. 

2. 6 AFC Championships

He has played in 10 AFC Championship games, winning 6 of them.The most of any NFL quarterback.

3. Unanimous MVP

He was the first unanimously voted NFL MVP. No one has done that before. Even when he led the team to an undefeated season he wasn't voted MVP unanimously. So does this one really need an explanation?

4. His Family

He has the perfect family. His wife is gorgeous, literally, she's a model. Like as in she walks down a runway and gets paid. So obviously they made beautiful children together. 

5. The best post season record, ever

Brady holds a postseason record of 21-8, the best in the league. Joe Montana is in second places, with five less wins. 

6. Owner of the AFC East 

The New England Patriots have won 18 division titles, Brady leading them to 13 of those. 

7. Super Bowl MVP x3

In all but one of his Super Bowl appearances, he was named the Super Bowl MVP. That record is tied with Joe Montana for the most. 

8. Brady and Belichick

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady together are deadly, and have the most Super Bowl appearances of any quarterback/coach duos. Belichick is arguably one of the best coaches in the NFL. They both bring great respect to New England every Sunday. 

Ahhhh yes, college. The best four (or more) years of your life. Here are some very accurate descriptions of every college experience told by the cast of "The Office".

Checking your bank account two weeks into the semester.

Having two presentations, three exams, and an 8 page paper due in one week

When you realize the class you hate was cancelled

Getting an A on a paper that you put absolutely no effort into

When you make it to the first break in the semester

When you seriously consider dropping out

When all your friends are getting in relationships and your just like

When you get back from break and realize finals are next week

When finish all your finals and you finally get to go home for a month

Home is defined as “the place where one lives permanently,especially as a member of a family or household.” But what happens when”home” isn’t so permanent anymore? Things get a little messy then. 

Going away to college is a big step in anyone’s life. Whether you leave right after high school graduation, or you go to community college first, it is completely different. College is a time where you live and learn more often than you could ever imagine. It’s more than winning 13 beer pong games in a row, shot gunning a 30 pack, or trying to forget about that test grade with the closest fifth. It is also when you have to plan for your future. On top of all of that, you go to a new place for four months, just to come back to your hometown for one month,then you’re back to that new place again for another four months, back home for three months, and then it starts all over again. 

Coming home for winter break you expect all your family and friends to be sooo excited to see you and finally get to spend time with you. But that usually isn’t the case. You slowly find out that life went on without you for those four months. Your family went on with their lives, your friends made new friends, and even that ex that never left you alone found a new person to bother. All of a sudden you’re finding yourself fighting with your parents so much more because it’s nothing like living on your own. You went from being friends with everyone and always hanging out with someone new to living in a town full of strangers. 

And then it hits you, you wanna go back to school. “Home” has now become a vacation spot that is fun for a little bit, but then it’s time to get back to reality. Eventually you’ll realize that the “new place” you were so scared of has become your home. You’ll realize you have more in common with the friends you made in college than 75% of the people you grew up with. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love my hometown. I love going back for the weekend and catching up with all the friends I still keep in touch with, and spending time with my little cousins. But I have also learned that it is not my forever home.I left once to move onto bigger and better things, and I’ll do it again. So even though I may find myself back there after graduation, one day I’ll create my own home and my own life. My hometown will always hold a special place in my heart, along with all the people in it.

Saying that my mom is my best friend sounds so cliche, but if I said anything else I’d be lying. The older I get, the more I realize I need her. 

Being away at school has done nothing but show me how much I need my mom. 

I love my mom more than any formation of words could describe. And I mean I wouldn’t be here without her, right?

When I’m sad, I call my mom. When I’m stressed, I call my mom. When I’m frustrated, I call my mom. When I’m bored, I call my mom. 

When she hasn’t answered my last 10 texts, I call my mom. When dad won’t send me money, I call my mom. 

My mom is like an all-knowing Wonder Woman. She’s my rock, my best friend.

Since she’s my best friend, her opinion matters the most to me. If she doesn’t like you, I’m sorry, we can’t be friends. 

If she gets bad vibes from you, she’s probably right. I trust her judgment on people more than my own judgment at times. 

She knows me better than I know myself. She is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met and I’m so lucky she’s mine. 

My mother has taught me to be independent, confident, and to stand up for what I believe in. 

She is one of the only people who tells me like it is, but doesn’t completely destroy me in the process. 

My mom has shown me how to do everything in life with class and poise, even if I don’t always do things the way she wishes I would. 

She’s the first person I go to when I need advice about anything. Clothes, makeup, school, boys, friends, and anything in between. 

She pushes me out of my comfort zone and makes me try new things.

Whether its a new weird food that I would never try on my own, or making me go on a date with that new guy I just met. 

Mom’s really do know best, and mine knows more than the rest. 

I will forever be grateful to my mom for all the things she’s done for me over the years. And I don’t think I’ll be able to repay her.

I love you to the moon and back, momma!!!

Living on the other side of the country from your person makes life seem way drab at times. 

Adding different time zones to that can make it seem like you’ll never have a normal conversation again. 

These are just a few of the struggles that everyone who lives far away from their person knows to be true.

1. Saying goodbye reaches a whole new level of suckiness.

The ride back to the airport is usually quieter and lots of sadness fills the air. 

You don’t want to say goodbye, you wanna skip that plane ride and just stay forever. 

But you know you can’t. You know you have to face the goodbye and power through. 

And the tears are gonna flow, whether it’s during the goodbye or when that plane takes off; the tears are definitely coming.

2. You’re in constant contact.

Between texting, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, FaceTime, and phone calls, you are always talking. 

Although different time zones make it a little difficult at times, you know you’ll always get a text back as soon as they wake up. 

And when you don’t talk for a few days, you feel like its been 80 years. 

3. One of you is always drunk at inconvenient times. 

When you’re three hours ahead, you’re drunk when they are still working and need advice on what to wear out that night. 

When you’re three hours behind, you’re drunk when the other one has sobered up and needs you to calm her down. But drunk FaceTime is the best thing invented.

4. You already have your next visit planned.

Whenever you’re together, you’re planning the next trip to see each other. 

When it’s going to be, where you’re going to stay, and all the new adventures you’ll get to do together. 

I mean, who doesn’t book your next flight back at the airport as you’re leaving?

5. They see all your selfies (and must approve) before the rest of the world.

Since they are so far away and can’t see what you look like in person, it’s practically a requirement to take a million selfies and text them to each other to get approval before you post them to ANY social media.

6. Constantly getting tagged in posted on social media.

Between random accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, you are always tagging each other in stupid things on social media. 

Most of them come with a phrase like “this is so you,” or “I’ve never read something that represents me so well.” 

It’s kinda like being together, but not really at all.

7. You keep a countdown until the next time you see each other.

Doesn’t matter if its 1.5 years, or 1.5 weeks, you know exactly how long before you get to see their beautiful face again. 

8. When you are finally reunited, nothing has changed.

As soon as they step off that plane its 100% like it was the last time they stepped onto one. 

Nothing has changed, nothing will change. 

Living away from the person who understands you the most is one of the hardest things to do, whether you’re 10 or 45. 

Nothing can, or will, change the relationship you two have. And you will forever be counting down the days, hours, and seconds until you get to spend time together.

Anxiety: noun: a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

Anxiety affects over 40 million people every year in the United States alone. You are not alone and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Anxiety ranges for everyone; some people just get anxious before exams, for others its a constant darkness that doesn't go away, and everything in between. Anxiety can get the best of people, but the most important thing to remember is I am not my anxiety. 

I am not the horrible thoughts that run through my mind everyday telling me I am not good enough.

I am not the constant rocking back and forth or the tears that come out during a panic attack.

I am not the shortness of breath and the tight chest that will not go away no matter what.

I am not the fear I feel whenever I go out into a social environment. 

I am NOT my anxiety. I am NOT this disorder. It does not characterize me.

Although I am none of these things, I am good enough. I am brave enough to fight this. I am smart, and I am strong enough to know when my anxiety is getting out of hand, and when it's time to take a step back. I am me, and only me. I am not my anxiety.

Just because you can't always see the anxiety on the outside, does not mean someone is not freaking out on the inside. It may seem irrational to you, but it is very real and very serious to the person with anxiety. You are never sure when its going to creep up, and it's always at the worst time. Please don't give up on anyone struggling, just be patient and don't shut them out. 

Growing up my brothers and I were being carted off to sports practice just about every night of the week. Whether it was soccer, flag football, cheerleading, lacrosse, or baseball. We always played to see who could be the best; I mean what are brothers for, other than reminding you that they will always be better? And sometime during those long nights of practice and then homework, I fell in love with the sport that I'd play throughout the rest of my life. 

Soccer taught me so many life lessons that I can't keep track. And I've met some of the best people through the sport, people who have become life long friends and even family. Soccer taught me how to prioritize my life. I learned that very quickly when I found out it could be taken away if my grades were not kept up. It taught me punctuality, there is nothing like running cycles for showing up late to study hall or practice. But most of all, it taught me that there really is no "i" in team, and there will come a time when you have to lean on others for help. 

My parents spent tons of time and money on my soccer career. Whether it was for new shin guards, those newer cleats that I wanted, summer camps, or just driving me to and from my games. I never had a doubt in my mind that they supported me in every way of pursuing my dream. I also had some of the best coaches out there, which is a big reason why I fell in love with the sport in the first place. 

But what do you do when you realize you just can't play that sport anymore? And I'm not talking about being out because of an injury, that's an entire frustration in itself. I mean when you just don't have the want or passion for your sport anymore. You no longer feel the excitement before a game, or you no longer feel the need to try your hardest. What do you do when something you used to feel so deeply about just makes you feel annoyed? There's not much you can do but push through until the seasons over. It's a heartbreak like no other, maybe even worse than your first break up. There are not many words that can be said about the emotions running through your body when you realize you don't want to play anymore. 

Falling out of love with your favorite sport is nothing like I ever thought it would be. Did I blame myself? Of course. I told myself I was just in a funk and I'd be fine. Did I blame my coach? Of course. Maybe if he had a different technique I wouldn't be feeling like my world was coming to a screeching halt. But in reality, it's no ones fault really. It one of the most heart wrenching things to go through, but I promise you, you'll get to the other side. 

Thanks for helping make me a stronger person, even if that's not what you intended to do.

I know what you're probably thinking, "this isn't good, she still thinks about her ex's." But, in fact, it is a good thing, and I'll tell you why. My first love was everything to me, just like your first love should be. There were ups and downs, and there were more twists and turns than a roller coaster. But without him, I truly wouldn't be the person I am today and I can't say thank you enough for that. 

Thank you for allowing me to feel love.

Love is a real feelings, and its one of the most intense feelings you can experience. And I felt it every minute, and every second that we were together. I would of moved mountains, parted the sea, and walked to the end of the earth for you. Since I was 14 I have loved you even when I didn't love myself. And I never once questioned if you loved me, and I thank you for that. 

Thank you for sharing your family with me.

When you are involved with someone as intensely and for as long as we were, you get close to their family. But I never imagined I would gain another mom and grandmother in the process of falling in love. I fell in love with you, and your family in one fell swoop. Your mom was there for me when I wasn't speaking to mine, and your grandma stepped in when I lost my own. I am a better person because I have been loved by your family, and I thank you for that. 

Thank you for all the lessons learned and wonderful memories.

When I look back on all our times together, I don't think about all our bad memories. I think about all the times we would laugh for hours, or all the adventures we went on, and everything in between. There are still times I think back and laugh about all the weird YouTube videos you would show me, and how thankful I am for all the times you expanded my music library. I learned how to love and to be loved, and I thank you for that.

I know that I am not completely innocent in what happened between us. I started fights, often. I had a big part in why we didn't make it. We were trying to find our way in life, and I'm so thankful that our paths crossed. We were young and in love. Our relationship and break up taught me so much about myself and love, and I thank you for that. So when I say I think about you, just know it is with nothing but love and I will always be rooting for your happiness.

With so much love,

Your First Love