.06/30

Yes, in case you were wondering, the title IS a lyric from Harry Styles;

~Matilda~ to be exact. If you haven’t listened to Harry’s House, you’re nuts. Jk, but go listen.

Most unexpectedly, this song punched me straight in the stomach and made me feel emotional over …well, I really don’t know?!

“you talk of the pain like it’s all alright.

                                                                     But I know that you feel like a piece of you’s dead insidе

You showed me a power that is strong еnough to bring sun to the darkest days.”

Whether he meant to do this or not, I genuinely think that this song touches on a deeper dialogue unfolding within the world. The idea that people aren’t conforming, people aren’t staying in their home town forever, they’re not blindly following their families. They…WE… are educated, empowered, motivated movers and shakers. Ready to take on the world for what WE want it to be. No more “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” that’s a bunch of bullshit, and we’ve called out the world.

✷ Finally, our generation is leavin’ and growin’ up ✷

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Home is not a place, but it is a feeling.

⌂Home can be people. ⌂Home can be a restaurant. ⌂Home can be any beach anywhere. ⌂Home does not always describe the house you grew up in or the family you grew up with.

I have always thought the “family above all” mentality a bit strange. Naturally, most people will put their family above all else, but to me, a family doesn’t represent my blood relatives.

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I had a great upbringing, with lots of family supporting me and surrounding me. Yet, I never really felt at home. I always felt lost, confused, just doing what I thought they wanted me to do. And I know I’m not the only person to have gone through their formative/teen years this way.

It wasn’t until I went away to college that I realized that home does not have to be a place, and family is more significant than who you share genes with. I had to get away from what I considered normal to realize how many of my friends had families that brought them so much natural joy and happiness. I didn’t always find this with my family.

{p.s. in no way is this a slight to my family because, again, they all have done so much for me, and Ripley, over the years that I will be forever grateful} 

You can let it go

You can throw a party full of everyone you know
And not invite your family ’cause they never showed you love
You don’t have to be sorry for leavin’ and growin’ up
You can see the world, following the seasons
Anywhere you go, you don’t need a reason
‘Cause they never showed you love
You don’t have to be sorry for doin’ it on your own

People that have known me for less than a quarter of my life were more concerned for my well-being and more interested in my success than people I had known for over three-fourths of my life. The revelation was alarming and confusing, to say the least.

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Here are some places I consider home:

◦ the beach — especially the outer banks.

◦ watching the sunrise over the Lincoln Memorial.

◦ the University of Alabama — especially BDS. 

◦ watching the sunrise with a cup of coffee on a beautiful morning

                                                          ◦ on walks with Ripley and Cristian.

◦ often in my daydreams.

◦ since I’m slowly “leavin’ and growin’ up,” the street I grew up on brings waves of nostalgia over me. not the house, but the street.

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“You don’t have to be sorry for doin’ it on your own

You can let it go

You can throw a party full of everyone you know

You can start a family who will always show you love

You don’t have to be sorry, no.”

All my love –

                                  xoxo, T ☺︎

CHECK OUT MY RECENT & RELATED POSTS BELOW:

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✦ CLICK HERE TO READ⌇day 5/30 – “30 days of being”

✴︎ CLICK HERE TO READ⌇day 1/30 – “30 days of being”

✦ CLICK HERE TO READ⌇don’t grow up; it’s a trap

✴︎ I ALSO RECENTLY STARTED AN EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS!! STALK IT HERE: ELEVEN 11 ATELIER