it’s been an amazing start to the year for some…and a horrific few months for others. i myself fall into the middle. it’s been difficult for me to consistently stay happy and optimistic each day and whether it’s self-sabotage or simply not knowing how to stop stressing about every little detail in my life, i’m sort of feeling burnt out. so, for others who fall into this category, or for anyone in general that needs some reminders in their life, i hope these thoughts bring some feeling of comfort and support. (p.s. scroll to the bottom for more) it’s important to feel your feelings — our fee ..read more

i was in the middle of writing the let’s talk pt. 6 draft until i realized how important (and how many people asked me) about this topic. i knew i didn’t want to shorten it down to a couple of bullet points because this truly deserves a separate post. this content may contain references to body image issues that could be distressing for individuals who are currently struggling with or are in recovery from such conditions. i am by no means qualified to professionally give advice on this topic and it is recommended that you reach out to a mental health professional or a support system for assis ..read more

hi everyone! sorry for the major delay in posting. january is always that month where you feel behind in everything and sometimes taking a step back from the chaos and re-evaluating your habits and routines is necessary. throughout the month, i’ve done a lot of reflection about the year ahead and what i wish to change and thought it would be important to talk about a feeling some of us may have in common: imposter syndrome. i never really heard about it until two summers ago when i attended a summer research program that i (miraculously) got into. i felt like an imposter when i initially met ..read more

hi everyone…happy new year! i wish you a 2024 filled with lots of new beginnings, laughter, love, and of course, healing. i can’t wait to get to know more of your stories this year. this post has been delayed time and time again and so i finally sat down today, after recovering from the good old covid, to write potentially one of the longest let’s talk posts we’ve had! i’ve had so many good conversations with you all over the past 2 months, and i truly am so grateful for you all for sharing your experiences. blogging is often done on your own, in a quiet room, and away from the people you’re ..read more

this week was busy with college acceptances, deferrals, and…the unwanted rejections (i myself fall into this last category). after seeing a lot of my friends get into their dream schools on social media, some even into the school that i was rejected from, i was truly so proud to see their hard work being payed off and even happier to see the relief of them getting in (as this is maybe one of the most intense, stress-provoking processes we’ve had to experience thus far)… but it’s inevitable that through it all, i started to question myself and ask…well, “what did i do wrong?” being told “no” i ..read more

this is an image of one of lindsay’s cover arts that she’s thinking about using in a journal she’s creating! sketching and creating artwork is one of lindsay’s favorite ways to destress. we are on a roll this week! one of my biggest supporters and someone i go to all the time for anything blog related, lindsay, is a constant inspiration for me and i’m beyond grateful that she was able to share some of her wisdom with you all. so without further ado, here’s lindsay’s story! Hello! My name is Lindsay, and I am a mental health influencer, blogger, and children's book author.  A life-changin ..read more

this is Julia, who runs her own blog, lifebyjulia! hi everyone. today, we have a super special post, by someone who has been so supportive throughout my whole blogging journey…Julia! i thought it would be a great idea to start this new chain of posts, known as “threads of advice,” where people share their own stories or lessons learned, to offer a new perspective to positivU. so, here is Julia’s advice! I started my blog, Lifebyjulia.com, and social media accounts to spread positive messages and help others live their best lives. I am passionate about teaching people how to live intentionally ..read more

hey! welcome back to let’s talk (october edition)…but posted in november. whoops! i had so many people reach out to me on the dreaded 11/1 (CONGRATS TO ALL SENIORS. im so proud of you all) that i decided to incorporate some of the conversations in this delayed post. i hope everyone is taking care of themselves and simply enjoying life as it is. i’m always here for you! without further ado, let’s get to answering! “How do I accept that high school is ending?” this is what i think, and what has helped me cope with the fact that my childhood and some of my best friends are about to slowly fade a ..read more

the past two weeks, i’ve been incredibly sick. fever, coughing, napping…the whole shebang! i’m in the depths of college applications and senior year and i keep telling myself (mainly to calm myself down) that this was meant to happen. but, i just can’t accept that. the most important time of the year…i’m missing school, in bed, unable to do anything but sleep and drink tea. so, i thought to myself, why do people always say “everything happens for a reason” during the worst of times? i get that we use the phrase to offer comfort by giving meaning to events that often seem to be without an ..read more

hey everyone! i haven’t done a “let’s talk” in a while, but i’ve had so many private conversations with you all that i am truly so grateful for. i have learned so much about you, and in turn more about myself, and i am proud of every single one of you. it’s seriously an honor to have built such a welcoming, safe community with you all and i couldn’t have asked for a better group of people. okay, no more sappiness! let’s get into it. you ask, and i answer! 1. “I’ve felt so off recently, not sticking to my routines and feeling just overall down. How do I get back to feeling more like myself?” g ..read more