10 Benefits of Being an Article Addict

Whether it's Huffington Post, Buzzfeed (my favorite), Elite Daily, Entertainment Weekly or several others, I am a sucker when it comes to articles. I could be minding my very own business, scrolling through my News Feed on Facebook, then BAM

This pops up from Huffington Post :

I have seen this video more times than I care to admit (more than 5x...in a row). Besides this bundle of joy video, there are also many other beneficial articles/videos out there ! Because we find them, we are that much better than everyone else. 


Here are 10 reasons why Article Addicts are awesome:

1. Learning Random Facts
Are you that friend that knows everything about everything? Do you wanna be?  

Maps That Prove You Don't Really Know Earth

 

13 Things You Didn't Know about Eyes

2. Telling Others you Love Them, Creatively and Publicly
Maybe you're in a long distance relationship or are away from home for the time maybe. Sending a video or article to a loved one is a great way for them to know you are thinking about them.

• 14 Ways Growing Up With Brothers Makes You A Stronger Woman

• 30 Signs Your Mother Is The Best Person In Your Life

• Dear Mom...

• 17 Signs You Have The Coolest Mom In The World

3. Finding Out You are NOT Alone
It's easy to feel like no one understands you or that society neglects you. Articles and videos of the internet are simply people expressing themselves. The writers may even be thinking the same wacky things that you are.

• 21 Things Only People Who Have A Weird Laugh Will Understand

• 10 Struggles Of Women With Big Thighs

4. Informing Others about Social Issues
The great thing about our generation is the ability to spread information through social media. Given, it's not always a bad thing, but if we use that power for good, it can do amazing things.

• White Privilege
• Why We Need Transgender Pronouns:

• This Is What Four Women Learned When They Tried Wearing Hijabs For A Day

       

5. Baby Animals = Happiness
'nough said.

20 Cats Who Instantly Regretted Everything

• 28 Animal GIFs Guaranteed To Make Your Worries Disappear

• 19 Dogs For Anyone Who’s A Little Bit Sad

6. Connecting with Yourself
Throwbacks. Reconnect with your past and feel some nostalgia. 

90s Elementary School Memories

7. Discovering the World (without having to leave your chair)
Hey, you don't have money to travel, that's okay. Until you acquire the money, the internet has your back. Grab some popcorn and head to YouTube!

Coffee Around the World

8. Appreciating the Other Creative Beings Out There

Some articles are just plain witty and truly connect to your soul. However you are feeling, the correct video/article is out there for you.

• 13 Lessons About Social Justice From “Harry Potter”

• The End Of The Semester As Told By Golden Retrievers

Wedding Season is Coming!!!

• A Man's Proposal Takes A Full Year Put Together

9. Helping Others Love Themselves
Motivational, uplifting posts are essential to those having a hard time with themselves. Sometimes people just need a boost. 

• 9 Ways To Lose 10 Pounds In Less Than A Week — Or Faster

10. ABOVE ALL: Appreciating the Little Things in Life

• Love Has No Labels

• Diversity IS Beautiful

See? There's no need to feel guilty about spending hours reading "worthless" articles online (like this one). It is beneficial and education to use the internet for this purpose!

Books I've Read in 2016

This is an on-going list:

1. You and Me and Him by Kris Dinnison **' (1/3/15)

Poland: A Reflection

I am an American Pole, a Polish-American. The reason I am American, is the fact I was born here. I don’t always understand American culture: always eating out, wearing outside shoes inside their homes, never eating cheese sweet, not liking sparkling water, nor eating pizza with a fork and knife. Of course, not all of these apply to the average American family, but most do. And my family always does the exact opposite of those examples.  I’ve never fully understood why my family was always so different. Then I went to Poland, and observed my culture first-hand.

It’s almost surreal, being in the country my parents were born, raised, and married in. I lived in the city my parents went on dates in. They used to meet up at the Mickiewicz Monument in the Market Square, a place where my Art History class met up many mornings. I studied at the University my mother and aunt went to. I have such deep roots and connections to my Polish heritage, but I never had the chance to explore and embrace them until this summer. A dream come true. Finally, in the Cultural Capital of Europe, I found where I belong. I oddly felt embraced by the people in the Kościuszko program, students and teachers alike.

I was actually excited to go to class every day at 8:00am. Polish Language was my best subject this summer. It was exhilarating to realize I knew more Polish than I thought I did and to finally see all those words written down. I’ve only ever heard Polish before, not seen it written down. It is such a beautiful language. It flows. It’s poetic. Szymborska and Milosz are clear examples of that excellence use of words. I’m not sure whether it’s because my mother is a poet or it’s just the way my brain is wired, but when I translate Polish to English, it sounds like poetry. For example, to miss someone, is “tęsknić” which to me translates to “yearn for someone’s presence.” It sounds more powerful to me in Polish than in English. I understand this language.

By taking classes in Polish, Polish Art History, and Polish Literature I was able to learn about my country, myself, and the language with such depth and precision. I went into the crypts of famous historians, poets, and people I learned about in my literature class. I learned how to structure sentences, and use that skill to dialogue with locals and shop clerks. I saw my grandparents and aunt for the first time in seven years, and spoke to them only in Polish. It was incredible. I’m at a loss for words of exactly how beautiful, life-changing, and inspiring this adventure was for me. I was always ambitious and a great student. But now, I have this extra spark about myself to learn more about my culture and the culture of others.

Not only will I carry that spark with me through my studies, I will hold it with me through life and make a fire. Currently, I am working on creating my own major at Siena College. It will be a combination of multi-cultural studies, international studies, economics, and tourism. The courses I took in Poland will be included in my major and will be examples of the sort of classes I will be taking. For the future, who knows. Maybe I will end up at the University of Warsaw getting my Master’s Degree, like my brother who participated in this program 7 years ago. Maybe I will end up helping others through the Peace Corps. Maybe I will be a journalist who focuses on the cultural differences throughout the world. Who knows what my future will hold, but there will definitely be a cultural flame, sparked by my experiences this past summer.

 Mickiewicz Monument in the Market Square and St. Mary's

Ice Cream and Wawel Castle

Market Square and Fountain

Inside of St. Mary's

Market Square during Golden Hour

Zakopane, Poland

 Sukiennice (Cloth Market/Hall)

Route 1, California

Montage video of my brothers and I traveling down the beautiful Route 1 in Cali!!

San Francisco

My brothers and I went to California last summer, just the three of us. Here are some comments from my Travel Journal:

·         San Francisco so far:

o   Thousands of cyclists

o   Hundreds of homeless people

o   Very pretty architecture and structure

we went to Ghirardelli Square. (YES, the chocolate!) It is basically a few entire blocks in the city dedicated to the chocolate company. Musicians. Ice cream shoppes. Souvenirs. And fountains. No, not chocolate fountains. But that would have been totally awesome.

·       San Francisco is a quirky city. Very clean. Very Eco-friendly, you have to pay 10¢  if you want a shopping bag, people also ride bikes everywhere. Very mountainous. Very colorful, each building is a different color. Very unique, every building has a contrasting style/architecture

3 Things I am Thankful for Every Day

April 20^th 2015

 Today, I am thankful for:

1. Really good books
2. Gentlemen who pay for a girl’s dinner
3. Jake

April 21^st 2015
Today, I am thankful for:

1. Eskimo kisses
2.  Lemon poppy seed muffins
3.  Wizards drawn on pizza boxes

April 22^nd 2015
Today, I am thankful for:

1. Luke Lavera
2. Cuddling
3. Worms, for their sacrifices/suicides they make by crawling onto the sidewalks when it rains

April 23^rd 2015
Today, I am thankful for:

1.  Dry erase markers
2. Boys with soft hair (and when they let you touch it)
3. When you’re studying Calculus with a group, and you figure out the answer before everyone else and teach them how to do the problem

April 24^th 2015

 Today, I am thankful for:

1. Jake and his brave, open spirit
2. The internet
3. Erin Murphy

April 25^th 2015
Today, I am thankful for:

1. The Siena College Bhangra Team
2.  Liam Cahill
3.  Music

April 26^th 2015
Today, I am thankful for:

1. Chocolate chip cookies
2. Interesting and kind Sodexo workers
3. Hot tea

April 27^th 2015
Today, I am thankful for:

1. My hard work and intellect
2. Turkey burgers
3. Alone time

Books I've Read in 2015

In the order they were read:

1. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn ***** (1/08/15)
2. Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1) by E.L. James *** (2/28/15)
3. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children, #1) by Ransom Riggs **** (4/03/15)
4. The Round House by Louise Erdrich**** (4/22/15) 
5. The Longman Guide to Peer Tutoring by Paula Gillespie, Neal Lerner**
6. They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing 2nd (second) edition by Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein***
7. A Tutor's Guide: Helping Writers One to One by Ben Rafoth (Editor)***
8. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand ***' (6/23/15)
9. Sold by Patricia McCormick ***** (8/2/15)
10. Wonder by RJ Palacio **** (8/4/15)
11. What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss **** (8/7/15)
12. How to Visit an Art Museum by Johan Idema ****(8/11/15)
13. Paper Towns by John Green ** (8/16/15)
14. Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen **' (8/23/15)
15. Indians: A Play by Arthur Kopit ** (8/24/15)
16. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys ***** (8/26/15)
17. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart ***** (8/31/15)
18. Empire: A Very Short Introduction by Stephen Howe ** (9/14/15)
19. The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls by Joan Jacobs Brumberg *** (9/20/15)
20. Nationalism: A Very Short Introduction by Steven Grosby ** (10/13/15)
21. Feminism: A Very Short Introduction by Margaret Walters **** (12/09/15)

21 seems to be my annual number! Hoping to surpass 25 next year!