Five things I learned in high school

1. God leads through parents

For me, this meant "My parents really ARE right!"

I know that, in high school, you really want to just do your own thing. You realize that you're not an adult--and you know that you DON'T know everything--but you feel that you know enough about yourself and the world to be taken seriously. If you disagree with your parents? Yeah, admit it, your first thoughts are along the lines of "They don't know what it's like to be me--so they're wrong." 

The truth is that parents generally see things better than you do. 

If your parents are non-Christian or abusive--and if that is the case, I am so, so, sorry--you need to do two things:

(1) Find a mentor who is a safe, loving Christian;

(2) Honor your parents to the point where it is safe (if your parents are abusive, get help)

God still works through parents. We can't always understand why He chooses to work through what we see as unpleasant and undesirable situations, but we can't see the whole picture.

No matter what you're going through with your parents, God commands you to honor them. He sees the big picture. He's building you into the amazing person He created you to be, and He's getting you ready for an awesome future. So even when you think your parents don't know what they're doing or what they're talking about, remember--God always knows what He's doing.

2. My worth is not defined by my friends. Not by how many friends I have, not by how influential or popular my friends are, not by how many close friends I have, not by how close I am with my friends, not by how many of my close friends are popular--none of that.

I used to be wrapped up in the idea that I needed a close friend or two to validate the fact that I was worth something. Oh, my parents were encouraging, but it didn't matter to me. No matter how many times anybody in my family told me I was wonderful, I still thought to myself, "Well, that's because they're family. Of course they're going to say that. They're biased. I need somebody unbiased to tell me I'm worth something."

Guess what? That's a big fat dirty lie.

If you go for long stretches with no close friends, there is nothing wrong with you! Trust me. By senior year, I was close friends with many wonderful, amazing girls--who, incidentally, all told similar stories. We all knew what it was like to feel alone. We all knew what it was like to be left out. But we'd all learned that we're valuable as individuals. We'd all learned that some people will just be mean. We'd all learned that LOTS of people are exclusive--just because. And we'd learned not to take things personally, but to just keep going.

Think about it this way: In high school, you realize how awful everybody had it in middle school. Well, once you're out of high school, you realize how awful everybody had it in high school.

3. My worth is not defined by boys.

I'm eighteen now, and I've never been kissed.

I've never been on a date.

I've never been asked to a dance.

Hey, I've never even had a boy ask for my number!

And it's not that I don't know any boys. I know plenty of boys. They just chose to date other girls.

Of course, that could be crushing. I could ask myself things like "Am I not pretty enough?" "Am I not skinny enough?" and "What's wrong with me that boys don't like me?"

But the truth is...they just chose to date other girls. And it doesn't mean I need to change. It just means that God created me for a special kind of person--a kind of person I haven't met yet. They're out there. I just haven't met them.

And the same goes for you.

To perk you up a bit--high school boys are also immature. They may like you and never show it.

So, don't give up hope. You probably have a secret admirer. And whether or not he's "the one," you'll eventually realize that boys don't define your worth.

4.  Preparation is important.

Study for your tests. Study hard. Take them seriously. Especially tests colleges will see.

Go on college visits before senior year.

Apply to colleges as soon as you can.

Apply to scholarships. Start early. Start now.

5. Live every moment.

Really live it. Take everything in. Because before you know it....it'll be all over.

And as wonderful as that sounds right now...

You're going to wish you could go back and re-live all the amazing, hilarious, awe-inspiring, crazy, heartfelt, and random moments you're experiencing right now.

New artist: Jamie-Grace

If you like upbeat, uplifting Christian songs, take a look at new Christian artist Jamie-Grace!

The Perfection of Beauty

What do you think of when I say "the perfection of beauty"?

Picture for a moment what that would look like.

Now, are you imagining a girl who is pretty on the outside? Are you thinking of a model or a movie star?

Or are you thinking about a girl who shines Jesus?

Here's what the Bible says is the perfection of beauty:

"Out of Zion,
the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth."
Psalm 50:1

Is God shining out of you?

Those pesky mosquito bites!

Get a mosquito bite? Want to get that nasty itching to go away?

Rub some honey on a band-aid! The honey helps soothe the itching right away, and, as it's a natural remedy, you don't have to worry about nasty chemicals getting into the bite.

Movie Review: Thor

Thor is the only movie my family has seen in theaters three times in a row.

It's a wholesome classic with a good balance of action and romance, all tied together through a Biblical redemption theme.

I don't have much time to write a review, but if you have a chance to see it, I highly recommend it!

Two more fabulous books

Since I last updated, I've finished two additional books that are worth adding to any girl's historical fiction reading list. Both books--Just Jane (Ladies of History Series #2) and Washington's Lady (Ladies of History Series #3)--are written by Nancy Moser. Just Jane (written about the life of Jane Austen) teaches about the importance of dedicating yourself to pursuing your dreams, even in the midst of a busy life; Washington's Lady (based off the life of Martha Washington) encourages readers to have strength through even the most difficult times. Each book spends its last few pages clarifying which sections were historical fact and which sections came from the author's imagination. If you enjoy uplifting historical fiction, I highly recommend you add both of these books to your reading list!

Summer Reading List

Hey girls!
Here's a great start to your summer reading list, if you'd like to read some hip books that will lift you up in your faith and help you apply it to your everyday interactions. I've included many different genres and styles, and all books have been read and recommended by myself and many of my friends. :) Enjoy!

Revolve Devotional Bible

Of course, the Bible should be at the top of your reading list! I love this Bible (and many of my friends have the same one) because it's cute, it has commentary inside, and it has a great index where you can look up relevant topics. If you're in the market for a new Bible, I highly recommend it!

Just Ask by Melody Carlson

Fiction (series, book 1)

Kim, a teenager adopted from Korea, tries amidst tragedy to write an advice column for her school newspaper--while holding her own life and relationships together. Captivating and thought-provoking.
If you enjoyed this book, try John 3:16 by Nancy Moser.

More Beautiful You by Gwendolyn Diaz

Non-fiction (devotional)

Based off the song by Johnny Diaz, More Beautiful You looks through what the Bible says about worth, weight, popularity, appearance, boyfriends, and more. Written in a casual conversational style, with places for journaling and recommendations for further Bible passages to read.
If you enjoyed this book, try God Called a Girl: How Mary Changed Her World--And You Can Too by Shannon Primicerio.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Non-fiction (autobiography)

Corrie ten Boom's well-known story of surviving a World War II German concentration camp is grippingly told in this autobiography. Packed with Corrie's insights into living out a Christian faith in hard situations.
If you enjoyed this book, try Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

For Young Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn and Lisa A. Rice

Non-fiction (advice)

The pages of this book are bursting with facts from an eye-opening survey conducted by the authors. The survey, which went in-depth with guys on a number of topics (including modesty, purity, dating, and others), can be summed up in one question: what are guys really thinking?
If you enjoyed this book, try For Young Men Only: A Guy's Guide to the Alien Gender by Jeff Feldhahn and Eric Rice. (no, really--it's just as eye-opening!)

I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris
Non-fiction (advice)

Joshua Harris looks at the modern dating game, showing how it causes more broken hearts than happily-ever-afters. But don't worry, you don't have to become a nun--dating, when done right, can be both God-honoring and fun.

If you enjoyed this book, try Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship by Joshua Harris.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Fiction (historical romance)

One of Jane Austen's lesser-known novels, Persuasion is a short but moving book demonstrating the importance of staying true to yourself in the midst of tumultuous relationships and...dare we say it....cute guys.

If you enjoyed this book, try Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.

Those are my favorites. What are yours?

Comparatively

Comparatively.

Have you ever said that?

Comparing.

Have you ever done that?

Who's taller? Smarter? Skinnier? Healthier? Cooler? Wealthier? Prettier?

God doesn't like that sort of thing. Here's what He says about it in Galatians 5:26: "We will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original."

Think about that for a moment.

You are an original.

How valuable is an original Rembrandt? An original Van Gough? An original Degas?

Priceless, right?

The Creator of the Universe created a beautiful work of art.

And YOU are the original.

True Freedom from Galatians 5

This is one of my favorite Bible passages. It speaks on freedom in Christ--the kind of freedom that we long for as Christian teenagers encountering new freedoms in life.

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.

I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ's hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law. I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.

You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn't come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don't toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment.

As for the rumor that I continue to preach the ways of circumcision (as I did in those pre-Damascus Road days), that is absurd. Why would I still be persecuted, then? If I were preaching that old message, no one would be offended if I mentioned the Cross now and then—it would be so watered-down it wouldn't matter one way or the other. Why don't these agitators, obsessive as they are about circumcision, go all the way and castrate themselves!

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?

My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

The Real Cause of Conflict

Want to know why we teens have so much drama?
Why, as a teenager, it's all of a sudden so easy to unintentionally get into conflict with everyone?
Ever leave a conflict feeling awful but having no clue how to avoid future conflict?

The Bible, believe it or not, has some fantastic advice about these confusing conflicts. In fact, in the book of James, God asks the same question--"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?"

Then, He gives us the answer (it's always nice when the teacher gives the answers, isn't it?:). God says this is the reason we argue: "Your passions are at war within you."

Isn't that the truth. Sometimes it does feel like a full-fledged World War III is going on inside our heads and hearts.

The question is, what passions are at war? And which do we value most?

Take a minute to make a list of your passions in order of priorities. Then, compare it to God's list:

1. Love God, and demonstrate that love through obedience

John 15:5-8, The Message: "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

2. Honor my parents, and demonstrate that honor through obedience

Ephesians 6:1, The Message: "Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. 'Honor your father and mother' is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, 'so you will live well and have a long life.'"

3. Love my siblings

1 John 4:20, The Message: "If anyone boasts, 'I love God,' and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see?" (I've never hated my brother--but love is an action, not a word. I've always deeply cared about my brother, but, considering that love is an action, I'm grieved to admit I know I haven't always loved him)

4. Share God's love and joy with others through service

Galatians 5:13-14, The Message: "It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows."

I'll finish up with Philippians 2:1-4: "If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand."

The Respect Dare: Day 7

(feeling a little lost? See what this is all about)

Genesis 2:2-3 says, "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."

Think of all the work your parents do for you. Give them a day off today--cook meals, clean up the house, help with pets/siblings, and do anything else your parents would normally do.

Don't forget to keep doing what your parents tell you to (day 1) without complaining or arguing (day 2), obeying with a cheerful spirit and a smile (day 3), and doing unasked-for favors (day 4), all while avoiding getting angry (day 5)! It helps if you wake up and resolve to be cheerful (day 6). 

The Respect Dare: Day 6

(feeling a little lost? See what this is all about)

Proverbs 31:15 says, "She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens."

The Proverbs 31 woman is helpful and hardworking, waking before the break of dawn to help her family start the day off right.

It's easy to wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Decide not to do that today. Or ever.

Don't forget to keep doing what your parents tell you to (day 1) without complaining or arguing (day 2), obeying with a cheerful spirit and a smile (day 3), and doing unasked-for favors (day 4), all while avoiding getting angry (day 5)!

The Respect Dare: Day 5

(feeling a little lost? See what this is all about)

I know, I've gotten behind...here's Day 5. Sorry for the delay! 

Proverbs 22:3 says, "The wise see danger ahead and avoid it, but fools keep going and get into trouble."

Even our best efforts sometimes fall short of preventing conflict. That's because we're all human, and, at one point or another, we're going to slip up.

However, we have to admit, many times we can see "danger" ahead...and we don't bother to avoid it. We want to prove that we are strong-willed and independent. In reality, we're just fools.

Today, choose to be truly strong. Choose to avoid danger. 

Some tips:

• Don't let yourself get too hungry. An empty stomach just screams trouble.
• Watch your attitude. Even attitudes you think can be hidden from your parents will come out in your tone and your manner.
• Apologize quickly. If you make a mistake, say so, and apologize for it. This will also help your parents trust you during times you actually didn't do something wrong and are trying to prove it.
• Just walk away. Your opinions WILL differ from your parents' opinions at times, but you don't always have to "convince" them to agree with you.

Don't forget to keep doing what your parents tell you to (day 1) without complaining or arguing (day 2), obeying with a cheerful spirit and a smile (day 3) and doing unasked-for favors (day 4)!

15-minute cookies

These are super yummy, super easy, and just take 15 minutes :) I've made these in a pinch at the last minute when I realize I've forgotten to bake something to bring to an event, and they taste fabulous!

You'll need:
One box of cake mix
Two eggs
1/2 cup oil
Anything else you'd like in the cookies--peppermint extract, chocolate chips, nuts, etc.

Combine all ingredients. Shape into 1-inch balls and bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes (or until toothpick in center comes out clean).

I did this with Betty Crocker triple chocolate cake and butterscotch chips...yum! :) My recipe made 50 cookies.

Dear Amber,

"I am losing a battle between anorexia, self-esteem, depression, and me.

I know I won't win."

~Amber, Nebraska

-SixBillionSecrets

How do you know? It's a battle that's been fought by people before you--and won.

"Fight the good fight of faith, grabbing hold of the life that continues forever. You were called to have that life." 1 Timothy 6:12a, NCV.

Keep going! With Jesus fighting for you, you can do anything.

Dear Skyler,

"My best friend isn't doing too well.

Her parents are in a custody battle. She failed a test and her mom got mad at her.

Her mom didn't even show up to her birthday party. Her crush loves the girl she can't stand.

I wish someone would just tell her how amazing she is. She won't believe me."

~Skyler, North Carolina

-SixBillionSecrets

Skyler, I can hear your hurt. What a wonderful friend you must be to this girl! You've reached out to her and helped share her pain. Keep doing that. You might just save a life.

In the meantime, you need to let her accept herself. No matter how many times people tell her she's amazing, only three things can help her realize the truth:

First, knowing that Jesus died on the cross for her.

Second, seeing people act in a way that values and respects her.

And third, her allowing herself to accept herself. 

She's the only one who can control her belief. But in the meantime, you're doing a good job as the friend she needs to get through this in her life right now.

Dear BethanySlater,

"I look in the mirror.

I see a fat, ugly, and disgusting girl.

Everyone says that I'm pretty.

Didn't they say that lying is bad?"

~BethanySlater, PA
-SixBillionSecrets

Oh, girl, I've been there. I think all girls have, at one point or another, even if just for one short moment of their life. Don't listen to the voice in your head that constantly criticizes you. Everybody has that voice, and it is never happy. It wouldn't be happy if you were the twiggiest, "prettiest" model or superstar you've ever seen. You were created by God as His beautiful child--remember that every time you look in the mirror.

And if you still feel that you need to "fix" your flaws, be sure to talk to a parent or mentor or another trusted adult to make sure you keep the right perspective. It's okay to want to shape yourself into the person you want to be, but it's important that you're able to see exactly who you're becoming--and a mentor can help give perspective, keeping you the wonderful, beautiful girl God created you to be.

Never forget that the inside is more important than the outside. Yes, it's important to take care of your body. No, it's not okay to obsess over it. The more time you spend worrying about your outer appearance, the worse your inner character will become.

Be careful. Sometimes, the most dangerous flaws are the ones we care about...that aren't really there in the first place.

PS: Your post was really well-written :)

Prayers

I like to browse the website Six Billion Secrets, just to pray for the kids. Their stories break my heart...but God can use prayer to reach out to their lives.

Here are some of the heart-wrenching stories:

"Every day I write out a message about feeling depressed and wanting help. Every day I delete that message. Every day someone asks if I'm ok. Every day my mind tells me to nod,my heart tells me the opposite. Many that ask don't really want to know. Today l HOPE is the day I say No. If only someone will listen."

"I gave you 3 years of my life. You talked down to me, called me fat, insulted me and occasionally hit me. You're the only boyfriend I have ever had and I don't know what a real relationship is supposed to be like. I don't think I will ever get past how you treated me. I just want to feel loved."

"I told one of my best friends last night that in the past 2 weeks, I've attempted suicide 3 times. 'Oh,' was all you said. And then you changed the subject. I guess no one cares whether or not I die."

10 Ways to Feel Good about your Weight

Hey girls,
So we all feel insecure about our weight sometimes. I know girls who--at the time, already bordering on underweight--told me that they'd like to loose weight (as much as 10 pounds sometimes) before summer started (presumably, so that they'd look good in a swimsuit).

What do you do if you constantly struggle with feeling overweight? Here are a few exercises I've found helpful:

1. Read your Bible.
It's amazing what a profound difference the Word of God can make. Start in Psalm 139 and just start reading your Bible every day. Knowing you're God's child has a huge impact on your outlook.

2. Talk to God...then listen.
(aka pray)
Tell God how you feel. Tell God about what you've been reading in the Bible. Then, turn on some Christian music, and remember how much He loves you.

3. Love your image
When you look at yourself in the mirror, don't think about your weight. Tell yourself you're God's beautiful creation--and believe it. Even better, memorize Psalms 139:13-15 or write it on your mirror. Repeat those verses to yourself when you check in the mirror.

4. Exercise just to feel good
Everybody has their "feel good" exercise--something that just makes them happier, regardless of how many calories they think they've burned. Find yours! It could be going on a long run, doing a hundred crunches, or doing leg lifts until your legs feel like they're going to fall off. Find an exercise that you like to do, and just do it for fun. Don't time yourself. Don't worry about how long you go (unless that adds to the fun), and don't let yourself think about burning calories. Just exercise...just for fun.

5. Eat
It's easy, when you're feeling overweight, to under-eat or skip meals.
Don't.
This doesn't work for weight loss, by the way. It just knocks your self-esteem while lowering your metabolism.
Eat until you're full (not bursting--that isn't healthy--just until you're not hungry anymore). Enjoy your food...God gave you taste buds for a reason! And don't forget to leave a little room to eat a (healthy portion of) dessert once in awhile. When you do have dessert, decide in advance approximately how much you'll eat to satisfy that last little bit of hunger you saved just for dessert ("I'll have just one cookie" or "I'll have two scoops of ice cream") Then, enjoy your dessert without thinking about the calories EVER AGAIN. Not while you're eating, not after you've eaten it. Enjoy it.

6. Find your identity elsewhere
This sort-of goes with numbers 1 and 2. You need to have your identity in Jesus Christ and not in your appearance, so find an outlet to do something you love that makes God smile and gives you an identity: Try taking up a musical instrument, joining a photography club, or writing a blog. Find out who you are--you are much more than your weight.

7. Imagine where you would be if your health fell apart.
It's scary, but it does happen. People get sick. People get health problems. Someday, you may end up with a health issue that makes it difficult or near impossible to be as thin as you'd like, or you could end up in a situation where looks don't even matter to you anymore. If you completely lose your looks, what will you be? What will be left of you? What kind of a person will you be? Why will people value you? (they still will, you know) Read 1 Peter 3 for more on this. Develop inner character.

8. Buy a modest swimsuit
This is a huge one. If you're going to walk around in revealing clothes (especially if everyone else is also wearing revealing clothes) it's going to be much easier to feel insecure about your weight. Instead, buy a modest swimsuit. I wear a boys' t-shirt and shorts over mine. Yeah, it bugs me that I can't go to the pool and look skinny. But it also reminds me that being loving is more important than being skinny.

9. Stop caring for a day
Try wearing a full skirt, that one shirt you bought that's bit too big, or that giant hoodie. Just spending a day once in awhile going out of the house wearing something that DOESN'T make you feel skinny can do wonders for your self-confidence. Don't feel like you have to make a habit of dressing down, of course. It's okay to look good and know what clothes flatter your figure (modestly, of course) But spend a day once in awhile to remind yourself that what really matters about you is your inner beauty and your personality, and not your outer shell.

10. Make a list of Bible verses that describe you as a whole person
Look through the Bible, search BibleGateway.org, search on Google--do whatever it takes to find some great Bible verses that say "This is who you are." Find out who God says you are on the inside. Find out what He thinks about you. Make a list of Bible verses that describe how God thinks of you and who God says you are, and then work on memorizing them (you can even keep the list in your pocket).

There you have them--10 ways to feel better about your weight. Hope they helped! :)

Dating the wrong guy

I saw this article today and just had to post a link to it. It's called "Tell Somebody: 10 Surprising Signs You're Dating an Abusive Guy."

As I read this, I didn't just realize that it could be easy to overlook key warning signs (such as possessiveness and jealously) in a relationship--I also realized that we, as girls, can many times have the same issues. Maybe they don't come out ultimately in our abusing anybody, but they're hurtful habits nonetheless.

Think about it...how many friends have you had who were possessive of their boyfriends? Obsessive? Controlling?

Yeah. It's not good, for them or their boyfriend.

So, read the article. Take note of the 10 signs. And make a mental note to change your attitude as well, if necessary.