day 152: worrying = betting against yourself

hello hello hellooooo!!!

in a way, worrying is praying on your downfall. every time you worry that something will go wrong or whatever it may be, you glorify the negatives.

why not focus on the positives?

focus on the ultimate goal and eventually, you will get there. your dreams truly can become your reality if you work for it, and along the way, of course there will be things that make you nervous.

but, if something isn't exciting and terrifying at the same time, then is it worth it?

try to overthink the positives. overthink all of the amazing possibilities that could happen if you just put your mind to it.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 151: quotes won't work unless you do

hello hello hellooooo!!!

i though that this quote was very fitting for today's post, as yesterday was my little re-introduction to the world.

as you may know, my blog pretty much consists of a new quote every single day and you get my unsolicited thoughts on them.

and as i write about each quote each day, i provide ways of encouragement to reach that goal or help you meditate a little more on that quote.

but simply just reading my blog or reading the quote isn't gonna do much unless you take action yourself. for example, yesterday's post was about courage. so next time you're feeling shy, think about that post.

think about the possible positive outcomes of doing said thing. you've got this!

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 150: let me re-introduce myself + courage

hello hello hellooooo!!!

welcome or welcome back to my blog, maia & more!! if you don’t know me, my name is maia (duh) and this blog has become a major part of my life. i started it to help myself stop caring so much about other's opinions and just do my own thing. i love arts and crafts, iced coffee, music, books and loads more.

usually i post every day (or every other day during the summer) and each post is barely a 1 minute read, so you reading this truly means a lot to me. i usually write about something motivational or inspirational and i truly feel like this blog has helped me grow as a person. but sometimes, i like to change it up a bit and give my thoughts on a book or movie.

so today's topic will be about courage! i wrote about it a bit on day 78 (click here to read!!) but i feel like it's important to talk about again.

being courageous opens an infinite amount of doors for you, in any aspect of your life. being courageous could also mean a plethora of things: making a new friend, talking to your crush or simply wearing something out of the ordinary for you.

and by doing these things you could find your best friend, get into a relationship and experiment with style that may make you feel better than anything you've ever put on your body.

so this is a little reminder to be courageous and step out of your comfort zone, because you never know where it will lead you! don't let anyone put you down or discourage you from doing the things you choose because nobody's opinion matters the most but yours.

i hope you enjoyed today and i hope to catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it.  

day 149: decisions are portals

hello hello hellooooo!!!

decisions are portals.

let that sink in.

when you make a decision about something, you are transported to a different mentality, whether it is subconscious or not.

for instance, if you make a commitment to go to the gym every day, you adopt a determined mindset which can be translated into many other aspects of life.

each portal shapes you into the person you are today and the person you are becoming in the future.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 148: what would you die for?

hello hello hellooooo!!!

today's quote goes along very well with day 140 (click here to read), so i suggest you read that one as well!

some people go to serve in the military and die in wars. some die doing what they believe is right, whether that is protesting for a cause or another thing. 

for example, Martin Luther King Jr. died for racial equality and though he worked extremely hard, there is still racial discrimination in America, whether it is clear or not.

but after reading this quote, i kinda stopped in my tracks. what would i die for?

i'm not even sure. and it's okay to be unsure, but meditate on that one.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 147: stick to the plan

hello hello hellooooo!!!

today i'll be talking about something i truly struggle with every single day: sticking to the plan.

over the past few years of noticing and visiting dermatologists, we've come to the conclusion that i have a sugar intolerance which acts almost like an allergy, immediately inflammating my face.

and my mom has been telling me how horrible sugar is for you: it's linked to certain diseases and lots of other terrible things.

though i'm learning about how bad sugar is for me, for some reason i still have the "need" if you will for it. every time i go out with my brother or my friends (which is almost every day now) i'm eating a sweet treat.

my mom also compared it like this, "it's as if i tell you not to smoke and then you immediately go out for a smoke." i feel like this comparison helped me understand so much more why i need to deliberately not have a sweet treat every day because in my eyes, smoking is one of the worst things you can do do your body.

so the thing is, you really have to trust the process. sometimes the process can take years to get the outcome you want, but each day that you deliberately choose to stick to the plan, the better and sooner the goal will arise. ignore the distractions, ignore the feeling of laziness or whatever it may be, and get the thing done.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 146: time

hello hello hellooooo!!!

i've always looked back on each school year and remembered how quickly it had passed. each year goes by in the blink of an eye.

but, in the moment, it seems as though time is moving as slow as a snail and taking forever. this might be due to stress or boredom or longing for breaks after feeling like you have been wrung dry of all your energy and motivation, no matter how much you eat or sleep.

i've shared this before, but in the past i've had lots of trouble living in the moment. being in the moment. and this is such an important realization to have.

being in the moment helps you truly cherish and not take for granted the time you spend with your loved ones or the days you spend laughing in your class.

because one day, all of it will be gone. it will be only a faded memory in your long life.

i hope you enjoyed my poeticness today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it.  

day 145: things will worsen before they improve

hello hello hellooooo!!!

whilst reading "One of Us is Lying" by Karen McManus (read my thoughts here!), there was a specific quote that has been sticking with me. 

during the investigation, cooper's nonny told him repeatedly, "things will worsen before they improve".

and after reading the book, i've been thinking about it quite a bit. in order to make progress, there must be failure, there must be the lows to get to those highs, otherwise how can you truly know that it's a high?

for example, if your skin is breaking out or whatever your current problem may be, it's the current low. when given time, it will get better. maybe it's getting better because you are investing in higher quality skincare or not putting on as much makeup, but over time it will pay off.

so, don't be too worried about how things will end up. as i've said before, God has a plan for you.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 144: be YOU

hello hello hellooooo!!!

since starting this blog, and my aice media studies projects "Maia: Unfiltered" (which you can click here to watch) and "The Future of You" (click here), i've been starting to fully embrace myself.

in other words: be more of myself.

if you know me personally, (not to sound egotistical) you know that i'm a very bubbly, confident and happy person who usually doesn't let others bring her down. (wow, weird to talk in 3rd person about myself)

but through these 6 months or so, i've been the happiest i've ever been. i've been trying my best to stop letting other people's opinions dictate my thoughts or actions because there truly is no need.

yes, maybe i've become a bit more weird or a bit more anything, but that really doesn't bother me. maybe i'm loud. maybe i'm annoying but those are character traits that nobody else has. they are specific to me. (what i mean by this is that only I am a certain level of weird, loud and annoying that others aren't. other people can have these traits too, but not at the exact settings as me. hopefully that made sense...)

so embrace yourself. be unapologetically you because this world is full of unique, beautiful people and you are one of them.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it.

day 143: happiness

hello hello hellooooo!!!

this is something that i personally think is so so important: not depending solely on others but focusing on yourself and being reliable for you.

a bit ago, i was having a meeting with a business woman and asked her for one piece for advice. what she told me was this: take care of yourself. take care of yourself before anyone else because you're the only person you've got. nobody matters more than you and you cannot perform and be your best for others when you are not doing the same for yourself.

in short, prioritize yourself. do things you enjoy and truly bring you joy.

i've written about this story before (but it was a while ago, so i think its okay to write about again.) and thought it was an important thing to write about again.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 142: one of us is lying

hello hello hellooooo!!!

as you know, i've been on my reading kick recently and i just finished "One of Us is Lying" by Karen McManus yesterday. unfortunately, i don't remember who recommended it to me, but it was fantabulous.

here's a quick summary from google:

"A high school murder mystery where five teenagers walk into detention, but only four make it out alive. When the creator of a notorious school gossip app dies, his four high-profile classmates are framed for his murder."

the book tells the story from each of character's perspective, going back and forth between each, which made it a bit confusing at first but if got used to it. each character fits a classic high school stereotype like, the jock (cooper clay), the popular girl (adelaide "addy" prentiss), the nerd (bronwyn rojas) and the criminal (nate macnauley).

usually i would never pick up a murder mystery book, but this one i seriously could not set down. i finished it in 3 days and i cannot wait to read the sequels. when i first started reading it, my brother told me his friend read it and hated it. i ended up guessing the ending while joking with him and he confirmed it for me. though i guessed the ending/plot twist, i was still in shock when i got to it in the book. my jaw was literally dropped.

all i have to say is that this book is fantastic. the story is so so interesting and the characters are insanely lovable. 

i think something else that is kinda funny is that the boy who died, simon, had a blog and that had a lot to do with his death. to be honest, it kinda scares me about my blog, but mine is completely different from his, so i'm not that worried.

similar to the other books i've read, there's a TV show adaptation of it on peacock and it honestly doesn't look that good, which is unfortunate. (if you've watched it and think it's worth my time please let me know!!!) 

the last thing i want to say is that since i've been obsessed with reading lately, i've been looking into getting a kindle because i truly love reading, but don't make time for it during the school year. i think having a kindle would encourage me to read more often than being on my phone and it would be extremely easy to transport, like putting it in my purse or backpack and reading instead of doomscrolling.

personally, i think it's worth it, so i'll probably be asking for that for my birthday from my parents!

i hope you enjoyed today (please read this book) and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 141: you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love

hello hello hellooooo!!!

in honor of olivia rodrigo's 3rd studio album release yesterday, "you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love", i want to give you my opinions on it! listen to it below!

 

1. drop dead- i've been obsessed with this song, listening to it on repeat since the day it was released. i think it is so so catchy and overall just a really fun, upbeat song.
2. stupid song- all i can say is i'm obsessed. actually, obsessed is an understatement. i think its the catchiest song on the album and perfection.
3. honeybee- the vocals on this one are just beautiful and the chorus is so catchy.  though this song is hoping for their person not to ever leave their life, i feel like it could also be interpreted in the way that they have already lost this person (which is how i hear it).
4. maggots for brains- i honestly feel like this song is how i've been feeling recently. i really like the figurative language used in the song and it kinda tugs on my heartstrings.
5. u + me = <3- i really love the instrumentals of this song and i feel like it's really different than the other songs on the album.
6. my way- this one has such a rock and roll vibe, which reminds me of olivia's other albums.
7. purple- to be honest this one is probably my least favorite on the album, but i really do like the lyrics.
8. the cure- i've been listening to this one since it came out and there's something about it that makes it so addicting. i love and hate it because in my opinion, you have to be in the correct mood to listen to it.
9. begged- 100,000% obsessed. since olivia performed it on SNL, i've been so excited to actually listen to it on spotify instead of youtube. definitely my top 2.
10. what's wrong with me- there's just something about this song that makes it so addicting. olivia and robert smith's vocals together are insanely delectable.
11. less- this one is something i added to my rainy day playlist. i feel like that's the best way to describe it.
12. expectations- i personally think this one was placed in such an odd place in the album because it's so upbeat compared to the other heartbreak ones. needless to say, i still like it a lot.
13. cigarette smoke- this one just reminds me of walking in the streets of istanbul. here, most everyone smokes so it kinda hits home.

let me know your thoughts on the album, i'd love to hear about it!

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 140: alive vs. existing

hello hello hellooo!!!

upon looking for today's quote on pinterest, i found this quote quite intriguing. it brings me back to another post i wrote a while ago which was day 26: finding your purpose.

so, what is your purpose in life? is it to make the world a better place? to achieve a certain goal? or are you just someone existing in this world?

though you don't have to figure out your answer at this exact moment, meditate and think on it.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it.

day 139: turtles all the way down

hello hello hellooooo!!!

this summer, my goal was to read more often because i truly enjoy reading, but don't usually make the time during the school year. so, before i left for istanbul, i checked out a few books from the library and finally finished my first one! 

today i'll be telling you a bit about a book i recently finished, called "Turtles All The Way Down" by John Green. (his name may sound familiar because he does the science crash course for kids videos on youtube!)

here's a quick description from google:

Aza Holmes, a 16-year-old girl battling severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety. Her life centers around managing intrusive thoughts and her best friend, Daisy, who drags her into a $100,000 reward investigation to find a local fugitive billionaire.

my friend, ayse, actually recommended this book to me and to be honest, i wasn't sure how i was going to like it. BUT, i finished it in 2 days. if that doesn't say something, i don't know what will.

this book was unlike any book i've ever read before. usually i'm into books that are more rom-com-y in a way where the characters have mostly surface level problems. however, it was very interesting to see aza's thoughts through every moment and how she comes with her OCD.

i also thought that it was such a coincidence that the love interest, davis, has a blog similar to mine! though, he doesn't find his quotes from pinterest, he quotes famous poets and playwrights like shakespeare and responds to them in a more cryptic manner.

while i was looking for an image of the cover of this book, i found out it also has a film adaptation on HBO max with isabela merced (dora in the live-action) and felix mallard (marcus in ginny & georgia). i definately will be watching it whenever i get the chance.

overall, this book was fantastic. i would highly recommend this to anyone and i'm looking forward to reading more!!

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it.

day 138: stop telling everyone your plans

hello hello hellooooo!!!

it might seem so simple to say, but it truly is so difficult to stop telling people your plans. for me especially, i want to share everything i do with my friends which might be me seeking validation for the things i do, i'm not entirely sure.

but here's the problem with that: once you tell people your plans, they can intervene and disrupt them due to jealousy or simply distract you from your goals.

yes, having a support system is important, but your support system doesn't need to be everyone in your life. choose a few people that you know you can help you achieve those goals and keep quiet until the goal is achieved.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 137: life is a rollercoaster

hello hello hellooooo!!!

you've probably heard someone tell you something like, "life is a rollercoster, there's always ups and downs."

sometimes you get on such a high for a while but other times you are stuck at a low for longer than you expect.

its hard for me to say, but i'm currently sitting at a low that i haven't experienced before, which makes me question almost everything from my confidence to the fact that i was so excited that i felt more like myself than ever since the beginning of this year.

the message i'm trying to get across to you is that it is more than okay to feel however you're feeling. all feelings should be acknowledged though it's definitely hard.

you got this!!

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 136: ripping off the bandaid

hello hello hellooooo!!!

this quote from today is really just a reminder to rip off the bandaid and go for it.

the longer you put something off, it almost gets more painful to do and becomes more of a chore. these things really don't have to be a big deal either.

i once saw a video saying that when you think of doing something, like taking out the trash, you should just go ahead and do it immediately, otherwise you'll forget or simply make excuses not to do it.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 135: never take things for granted

hello hello hellooooo!!!

as you might know, i was recently on vacation in spain, and had such a blast. unfortunately, on the last full day of my trip, my brother accidentally ate something with nuts in it but is extremely allergic.

at the time, we were visiting a castle, so we immediately gave him allergy medicine and visited the infirmary. his reaction got so bad that he had to use his epipen and the nurse called an ambulance to bring him to the hospital.

while this was happening, i was waiting with my youngest brother on the curb and all i could think was "i hope aslan will be okay. "

my dad and aslan were rushed to the hospital and my mom, han and i desperately looked for a taxi. later, my dad called and told us to go home because aslan was okay, getting medicine and being observed.

that night, i cried myself to sleep as i couldn't stop thinking what i'd have done if there was a different outcome.

though it may not always seem like it, i love my brother. im so fortunate to have a brother who loves the sport i love, is funny and i know has a bright future. 

whenever we go to practice, we're always together. singing songs or talking about the most random things. on the days that he's sick and doesn't go to practice, i feel like a part od me is missing and i pray that he gets better soon and is able to come back to practice.

so this is your reminder to never take things for granted. enjoy every moment with your family, friends, teachers, etc. because you truly never know when it could be the last. try not to hold grudges and be accepting towards others.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 134: want it more

hello hello hellooooo!!!

today's quote is a reminder that in order to get what you want, achieve the goal you set out to, you must desire it more than anyone else.

by keeping that mindset, you help yourself believe that you NEED to accomplish that goal.

so, want it more than anyone else because nobody can make you do anything you don't want to do.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 133: it's okay for something to go unnoticed

hello hello hellooooo!!!

this quote makes me think exactly of this:

if something so miniscule happens and it bothers you, there might not be such a big reason to react to it.

especially because giving a reaction is most of the time exactly what the aggressor wants from you.

so #stayunbothered!!

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 132: comparison is the thief of joy (part 3?)

hello hello hellooooo!!!

this is most likely part 3 of "comparison is the thief of joy", but this time its a little different.

instead of just thinking that the comparison takes away your happiness, it essentially kills that novelty of whatever it is.

stop comparing yourself or things you do or things others do for you to things you see on social media because everyone and their situations are different. 

not everyone can afford a bouquet of 100 roses on a random day. so don't be too hard on yourself.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 131: little reminders

hello hello hellooooo!!!

today i simply want to leave you with a few little reminders.

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it. 

day 130: side quests

hello hello hellooooo!!!

this is your reminder to take this summer and actually go out and do things.

make a bucket list or something to keep you motivated to get out of the house and enjoy your youth. it shouldn't be wasted on devices all day.

take advantage of the time off and start a new hobby. maybe go somewhere with friends or be creative!

i hope you enjoyed today and i'll catch you on the next one!!

don't wish for it, work for it.