These Are The Nights That Make it All Worth It

Hey y’all! So last night I went to a music festival called LOVELOUD and it was AMAZING. The music was so good, but it came with an even more important message.

Utah has one of the highest suicide rates in the country, at 60% higher than the national average. It’s the leading cause of death from ages 10-17. It makes me sick just typing it out. However it’s not even the number that makes me sick, even 1 is too much.

When it comes to suicide, any is too many.

Imagine Dragons performed at the festival and the leader singer had grown up in Utah himself. He talked a bit about how we knew what it was like to grow up here and how the pressure can be really difficult particularly because of religion, etc. But his main point was that we have to love each other and learn that the amount of worth you have is infinite no matter who you are, what you believe, how you identify, what you look like, etc. And that hit me really hard for some reason, I’ve been taught forms of that my entire life and I’ve been passionate about suicide prevention for years but last night was another reminder to me of how important it is.

Life is HARD. Life is SAD. Life is SCARY.  But life is SO GOOD. And life is SO WORTH IT.

I’ve been dealt my fair share of bad days, but standing in that crowd yesterday with thousands of other people screaming out lyrics was one of those nights that made every bad day this year worth it. I went to the concert with some really good family friends who I consider to be my 2nd mom and little brother along with her boyfriend and his kids and let me tell you I never want to miss out on all those smiles and craziness.  My cousins and other brother were there too and I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of hearing the laughter I grew up listening to.

I hope you know that I’m crying happy tears just writing this because there have been days where I have been so done with fighting to live. Days where I was so sick and in so  much pain. Days where I felt like my own parents couldn’t stand to be around me and I was so alone because no one else understood. And there will still be those days.

But as cheesy as it sounds I would take it every day because no matter how bad it gets, it can always get better. And I am so extremely grateful for the life I have and the people around me. This blog helped me through many things and y’all mean the world to me. And I know that I am so so lucky to have the amazing family, boyfriend, and best friends that I do because not everyone does.

However, if you think that no one cares about you, I do. No matter what, 100% of the time I care about how you are and that you’re here even if we haven’t met or talked before. You are of the utmost importance I promise you.

So let’s just all love a little more, and appreciate the good days that come around. Live unapologetically.

Love y’all! – Aspen

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What You May Gain by Traveling Europe

Hey y’all! So like I mentioned in my last post about graduation- the last month or so has kind of changed a lot of things about my life. First off my grandparents told me a few days ago I can’t live with them anymore so I’ve been scrambling to find somewhere to live before the 2nd week of August??? (Just me, I swear I legit have the worst luck in the universe)

 

ANYWAYS I did have the amazing chance to travel to 5 European countries for my senior trip with my family for most of June. It definitely made this summer memorable, so without further adieu, here is a list of things you may gain if you travel Europe.

 

1. Catch phrases your grandparents use, primarily being, “Let’s blow this popsicle stand” which may or may not now be included in my everyday vocabulary.
2. One less favorite earring, ( I know it’s backwards, but I’m bitter. Stupid Paris.)
3. Really weird tan lines because said countries don’t have the same weather. And also your favorite sandals happen to make the letter “Z” on the top of your feet.
4. The ability to walk 10 miles a day because your father is insane.
5. Also the ability to live on 1-2 meals a day because said father thinks he needs a picture of every old building.
6. If you live somewhere with free public restrooms, you will definitely gain a deeper appreciation of them.
7. Extreme thirst, because paying for water is weird.
8. Approximately 5,000 pictures because admittedly, all the old buildings are pretty cool.
9. New random friends who help you figure out the train systems in multiple countries.
10. An obsession with gelato.
11. A British boyfriend*
12. A knack for train systems because after 3 weeks you’re basically a pro ( and you miss your car)
13. A new sense of confidence from seeing so many people in so many places just going on with their lives and rocking on with their bad selves, and realizing you can too.
14. A new phone, because yours got stolen on a bus in Greece.
15. SO many memories (good, bad and everything in between) that I’ll have with me for a longggg time.

 

*I know, no one is as surprised as I am xD

All in all, it was a veryyy long, educational, fun, and crazy trip! This summer has definitely been the most adventurous one yet. What do you guys gain from traveling whenever you go, either good or bad? I love y’all!

-Aspen AKA The Author