Thoughts of a Rural Senior

Just a senior in highschool trying to make it through her final months in her small hometown. I follow back!

[thoughtsfromaruralsenior-blog]

What are you going to do?

In the midst of my generation stepping up to take a stand about something we believe in, I have been asked the same question quite a few times. 

“What are you going to do?”

Coming from a very small (and very conservative) town, I know that it is difficult to have allies in this situation. I cannot organize a march, I cannot walk out of my school, I cannot protest through my school’s hallways or my city’s streets.

But that does not mean that I am going to stay silent. 

I am going to register to vote.

I am going to contact my congressmen.

I am going to have in depth conversations about this topic with my peers. 

The days of saying that “This could never happen here” are over. 

Violence and hate will always find a way. 

Being from a small town does not mean being safe from the harms of the world.

This movement is going to take all kinds of kinds for it to succeed. 

Yes, the marches and rallies in big cities are important and definitely necessary. However, small actions like registering to vote or contacting a congressperson are just as important. 

Even if you do not feel capable of doing a large scale action, please do something. 

You will not regret doing your part (big or small) in standing up for what you believe in. I promise. 

B.J.L. 6:24PM // February 25, 2018

[purplebuddhaquotes]

One of the hardest battles we fight is between what we know and what we feel.

(via purplebuddhaquotes)

[thoughtsfromaruralsenior-blog]

Fears

When we were little, we were taught to fear lightening and thunder, monsters under the bed, and strangers.

As we got older, we feared judgement, teasing, and insecurity.

Now, what do I fear?

Broken hearts, missed opportunities, words left unsaid, and asking myself “what if...”

What I have always found to be the scariest is the unknown.

I fear not knowing what could’ve happened.

Missed opportunities.

Words left unsaid.

A constant loop of “What if...”

I fear not knowing what is going to happen.

What happens to the people I love.

What happens to my future.

What happens to my plans.

What happens to me. 

However, I have found that perhaps our fears do not define us in the way we think they do. 

Maybe we are not living a life of fear at all.

Maybe these fears actually portray what matters to us the most. 

As children, it is our safety.

As we grow, it is the need to belong.

And now, it is all that lies behind us and all that lies ahead of us. 

But not in such a dark sense.

I am not living a life of “what if...” because I fear that. Instead, I am going to take each opportunity I can to take full leap out of my comfort zone. To try new things, to tackle the obstacles that hold me back, and to not regret anything.

I am not living a life of loss. Of losing loved ones, broken hearts, and changed plans. Instead, I am going to take each moment I have with loved ones to appreciate them, love with every ounce of my body, and I am going to embrace the changes life throws at me.

And you should too.

B.J.L. 10:18 PM // February 22, 2018

[thoughtsfromaruralsenior-blog]

First Post!

Hello to anyone reading this! I kept telling myself that my first post wouldn't be a boring introduction of me, but here we are! My name is Billie and I am a senior in high school. With so much happening in these final months before I graduate, I thought it could be cool to have a place to talk about it all. I also felt that having this blog could be a great way for me to step away from all the craziness and let a more creative part of myself be free. As far as themes go, I have no idea what the main point of all of this is going to be. I feel like this is the type of thing that nobody will ever see, but if you're reading this, please feel free to join me in this crazy thing known as my life! Welcome to Thoughts From a Rural Senior!