What Adele Taught Me this Week

If you live anywhere that isn't under a rock, then you've probably heard that Adele's new album, 25, is out, and you guys...It. Is. Beautiful. It speaks to my soul (or you know...that hollow space where my soul should be). Anyway, this woman has some brilliant messages and what seems like a lifetime of heartbreak and insight and personally, I felt like I couldn't possibly be the only person to have learned a few things so I decided to write about them.

1. Twenty-Somethings know something about Heartbreak

You may have been told that you have the rest of your life to find someone or that you're too young to know what love is...I certainly have. But just like the Internet, you can't believe everything adults tell you. Seriously, just because you're in your twenties doesn't mean you don't have feelings. And if biology is any indicator of emotional maturity, then the younger you are the more intensely you probably feel things. Remember puberty? Yeah, me neither. Moral of the story, if you've ever loved and lost it actually does suck. A lot. Adele understands.

2. It's ok to be Hung-up on Someone

If you've ever liked someone enough to be hung-up on them when they aren't interested in you or don't know how to be with you anymore, then let me extend a formal invitation to you to join the freaking club. We have wine. Lots of it.

3. It's also ok to let go of said Someone

Adele can probably explain this one a little better than I can. Actually...I'm still stuck in the above phase so please refer to songs, "I Miss You", and "Million Years Ago" for a better understanding of how to move on. If I figure it out for myself any time soon I'll let you all know.

4. Growing Up is HARD

I know for a fact I've already bitched about this one before but I must say, it is nice to feel validated on this. It seems to be a theme in this album too, which is fitting considering that Adele is part of the Twenty-Something club and she's figuring out just like the rest of us that things were pretty great when we were younger. We agree, Adele. We understand.

5. You're going to get hurt. Just own it.

This was probably the hardest lesson to swallow, if I'm being honest here, but just because sometimes love is going to suck doesn't mean that it has to ruin us. I mean look at what Adele did with it. She likely turned it into a few Grammy's and made several million dollars off of it. Now I'm not saying that all of us should just go out and start singing songs about our personal struggles, but I think the point is sometimes you just kind of need to let it out. If you let it out, then you don't have to dwell on it, and if you're not dwelling on it then you can get over it. Hypothetically.

Thanks Adele!

2 Steps Forward, 10 Steps Back

Six months ago was the last time I wrote a post on this blog and it feels like a million years ago, you guys. From Hawaii, to Vegas, to Napa, and back to school and back to Vegas, so many adventures have been had and memories have been made that I can't possibly recall them all here, but here are some of the highlights.

1. Hawaii 

If you've ever met me (so basically none of you because apparently this blog only reaches about 72 people and none of my friends know I write this), I am in love with the island state. I dream about the black sand and warm water and tropical air. I constantly get lost in thought, picturing the seaside towns - the houses that look like they have been lived in for lifetimes while somehow also seeming somewhat abandoned - their owners too busy enjoying the island to bother with keeping them up. When I was younger I used to picture the day I moved into one of the shacks right outside of Honolulu. Now, I recognize this place for what it is...an escape, and I love it more and more each time a visit, and it breaks my heart every time I have to leave.

2. Back to School 

There are very few things I value more in this world than my education, and the fact that I am lucky enough to attend one of the most beautiful campuses in Southern California (and the nation, might I add), certainly makes my return for my senior year so much more bitter-sweet. While most of my friends at other universities are ready for that seemingly elusive graduation date, I am honestly, 100% dreading it. Seriously...every time anyone even mentions my plans for next year I cringe internally while simultaneously feeling the urge to punch someone in the face (I don't normally consider myself violent). Seeing as a fifth year victory lap doesn't seem feasible for me from a financial standpoint, I'm really just quite bitter every time the subject is brought up. My return from abroad came with some of the greatest things: reconnecting with my best friends and roommates, a new house (even if it is a dump), new classes, and of course, new dramas, but at the end of the day, I am in love with every bit of it.

3. Vegas 

You guys. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas....I mean really? What did you think I was going to say?

Anyway. The title of this post is 2 steps forward, 10 steps back because with all of these adventures has come a lot of learning about myself and what I want and just how afraid I am of the future. In one of my earlier posts I talked about wanting to like myself more and let me tell ya, the older you get, the harder it gets...at least from my experience these last few months. I'll keep working on it. 

Happy Tuesday!