Only if I could run as fast & could drink as much Dr.Pepper as Forrest...

“My momma always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.’” explains Forrest (the ever so talented Tom Hanks), in the film Forrest Gump, to a random woman on a bus bench as he begins his life story. You know I had to write a blog about this movie, of course I did, because it is about life… to the extreme… maybe, but nonetheless every aspect of growing up and growing old. The upbringing, the loving, the family, the falling, the hurting, the truth and the deaths, all so real and so emotional to watch (I cry every time). We live a life full of possible adventures, its wether we take the opportunity to live it or sit in the shadows determines who we are. 

For the longest time I watched this film and just observed it as a rom-com between Forrest and Jenny. As I grew up and saw the desire of life, I now watch it with a sense of  passion. A man with a slow mind but a big heart lives life through; college, football, the army, running across the country, opening a shrimp boat, and marrying the women he has loved since he was a little one with braces on his legs. He is (pardon my teen slang) #GOALS. You know what made him a role model? Something so simple yet a lot of us don't do… the ability to not stop and think, but take action. As we grow up we tend to over think situations which causes us to not take as many risks in our lives, we “play it safe” because of all the “wrong” that we conjure in our heads of things that COULD happen. I agree, we have more to lose when we grow older, but we also have more opportunities to explore, to invent, to see. Did Forrest hesitate to do any thing in the movie, or did he just go and do it? He then had a life that would be memorable to many viewers for years to come. Though fictional it reached many peoples hearts, I know it hit mine in many ways.

I’m not saying after watching a movie my life changed, but because my life is changing I start seeing things differently. After college I fell into a family business, though I loved the business and the people I worked with, it wasn't something exciting or made me feel alive in a way. So I did something that scared me, a career change. Though when you're in your 20’s everyone always says that you're young enough and you have so much time to figure out what you want… we never think that way though, we just know we want to get our life started. Therefore a career change in my mid twenties is scary, and I love it! I am learning so much in my course, the thought of starting a new career that allows me to travel and spend more time with loved ones is surreal, and the best part... I did not hesitate or think I just… did! I am now in the happiest state of my life I have been in for a very long time, though a minimal change of action, it is a start.

I challenge everyone to start doing stuff that scares them, stuff that takes no thought but just action. Not something everyday, but every once in awhile so you can start living your life like Forrest. Little by little, chocolate by chocolate, you'll start seeing things in a brighter light about this world. It’s like Gump said, “I don't know if Momma was right or if, if it's Lieutenant Dan. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time.”. We may have an ending spot in our own destiny but we can make the path to that point. Floating in the breeze, randomly landing places, beautiful places, until we land where we need to be. 

Love;

Rachel

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He ruined her roommates towel...

Josie Grossy was a smart lady…

“That thing. That moment when you kiss someone, and everything around you becomes hazy, and the only thing in focus is you and this person, and you realize that that person is the only person that you're suppose to kiss for the rest of your life.” Josie Geller (the beautiful, classic 90’s girl, Drew Barrymore) explaining the feeling of a kiss, in her “teenage” rom-com Never Been Kissed. If you have not seen this movie… you have not lived my friends! Well you've lived… but without feeling so in love with a kick-ass movie. When you were growing up, in elementary school primarily, a kiss meant everything. A first kiss with a first boyfriend on a first date, nothing was more romantic or more “cool” (or gross depending on the age and maturity level). We assume it was because we had a sense of what growing up would be like, feeling as if we are matured enough to know what “love” is and kissing would prove all. As we grew up however, we realized all of that was bull-shit, right? A kiss really means nothing and we knew nada about love back then when we were impressionable little ones...but I now see, we should listen to some of the things we said back then, because as impressionable as we were, we were also care free and for the most part, happier. 

As we grow up we tend to lose sight of the small important things in life. A bright sunny day, smell of fresh cookies, new clean sheets, and a simple beautiful kiss. We get caught up with work, school, money, tasks, everything in life that may be necessary but distracts us from the beauty of it. Just remember how those small things made you feel though; the air hitting your face while running through the waves of the ocean, the feeling of rebelliousness staying up late on a school night, or the butterflies in your stomach while going on a date with a cute boy. Sometimes we simply just don't recognize these things… until we realize we are missing them. These last couple years I've done just that, realize I've been so consumed with everything going on around me with work, savings, other stress related things, where I’ve mentally missed so many small moments… my last dance performance, my graduation, my first trip to gorgeous Cuba, so many where I didn't take in the feeling I should of absorbed. Now, my life is the same, but how I feel has completely changed.

When I shared that kiss, the kiss Josie explained; so personal and so real, with the man I am now in love with, I felt fireworks, literal fireworks going on inside me. True happiness and excitement filled me and I knew something just felt right. As sappy and mushy you may think this is… a kiss means a lot to someone whether you realize it or not. Whether it is with a companion, a family member, a friend; when you embrace someone and show them you care, that right there is the small thing that you should hold onto, that feeling of happiness, realness and rawness in your life. 

Next time you share a kiss, or a hug, or any way of embracement with a loved one, take a moment to take it all in and just see how much you've actually been missing to make you feel that exact way you'll be feeling, true bliss. 

Love;

Rachel

More feel good shit is on my Instagram page, follow true20something or search the hashtag #true20something! MUAH

Thats the kiss man...

I, like The Grinch, also only eat because I’m bored.

“Hate hate hate, double hate, loathe entirely!” The Grinch (ever so talented and crazy Jim Carrey) says while looking at The Who’s telephone book. Say what you want, but this movie will be watched for decades because of its creativity from the original, the make up, the scenery and the actors. Most importantly however; people from the teens and on will constantly love this movie because the way we can now connect with the emotional stability and actions of The Grinch. Sounds stupid, but think about it... the way he looks at the telephone book can be the way we look at our high school year book, mostly with hate. Or when he has nothing to wear to the Holiday Cheermeister so he claims he is not going... me every night I try to go out. Along with more examples throughout the film, it finally ends with The Grinch realizing the true meaning of Christmas while seeing The Who’s come together to celebrate the holidays as a big family... us as a society follow the same route as when we finally come together, the strength shows what life is truly about loving and living together. 

In my last post about terrorism and hate crimes, I brought up the point about coming together during rough times will show the meaning of the saying “love will trump evil”. The thought of being together and being a strong force as one can not be any more true then around the holidays. 

I love Christmas movies as much as many of you do I’m sure. You ever think of why we love them? Is it the small spurts of humour like when Brad from Four Christmases (Vince Vaughn) gags when seeing a baby up chuck on his girlfriend? Is it the cute memorable songs that we grew up with like Frosty the Snowman or Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer (classic cartoons I love)? I personally feel it’s actually because the warm feeling of family and closeness we get at the end of each holiday themed movie. They always end with it on Christmas morning, or sometime special in the holiday season, with families hugging, children being born, kids opening presents, happiness and memories... and that’s what makes us want to re-watch them, we love that feeling! It makes us feel grateful for life when sometimes it can push us down. 

Love with trump evil, and that is why I started watching Christmas movies November 1st and recently just put up my Christmas tree. HOHOHO 40 days until the big day! 

Love;

Rachel 

Want more funny shit and real life hit you in the heart inspiring quotes? Follow my Instagram account True20something, or search the hashtag #true20something. MUAH

Me doing my daily schedule...

Love is even more important than Jack and Rose could even show on the Titanic.

“I’ve got these images in my head. They won’t go away.” cries Tommy Saunders (the ever so talented Mark Wahlberg and so perfect for this part) in the movie Patriots Day, based on the Boston Marathon bombing that occurred in 2013. Images shot through his head of fallen limbs, several dead bodies, and scatter of bomb shards everywhere in his home town… who wouldn’t have nightmares after that. The fact that we all wake up almost every day to hearing about a killing, a terrorist attack, a hate crime or just terror in general, creates a lot of wonder in citizens heads no doubt. How could this world be so hateful? How could this beautiful life we are given rip people a part? I question these things too. It is hard to praise the light in life when facts are shown to show the darkness. I am 23 years old and have already witnessed in my life time; 76 recorded mass shootings (3 fatalities or more, SOURCE) and over 20 known and major terrorist attacks world wide (including 9/11 in New York, SOURCE). The total amount of fatalities and people injured is too much for me too add up…and just that fact that I don’t really want to know the number to be honest. So hate, makes people question a lot. 

I do watch the news frequently, to learn more about the world, see the latest gossip, etc., so nothing was different for me this past Sunday, November 5th. When viewing the daily news, a title that showed “Mass shooting at Texas Church” came up…and honestly surprised wasn't my feeling at the time, just rage and wonder. 26 people were killed in the shooting, 8 were related including a mother of 3 who was also pregnant at the time. I want to make a point that the shooter was a middle aged WHITE man. Terrorism has been shown on media for years (more specifically after the events of 9/11) to be a Islamic based reference… how far from the truth this can be. I do agree many terrorist attacks have derived from South Eastern countries, such as the GROUP Isis (I emphasize group as it is only a group and should not be directed to the whole Islamic population). However, the amount of “terrorist” attacks, or hate crimes as they may be called for different reasons, are done by many cultures, by many races, by a variety of people, and for many different reasons. Some are for religion, some are for hate, and some reasons that are really unknown. 

From my last post, when I was talking about the media and how they show that video games were creating “psychos” and all, I referred to the point that those individuals may just be born that way and whatever…this just shows even more that media can twist the truth. The truth is terrorism is all around us and is conducted by many different people for different reasons. It is even on our social media with hate posts about different races or body sizes. It is everywhere. 

I know I may be depressing a lot of you, but keep reading I am actually trying to make a point, just with some real life shit to back me up. This world has a lot of hate in it, no doubt, but the amount of good, strength and love we all possess needs to prevail it and hopefully create a safe place to live. “Boston Strong” became a phrase after the marathon bombing. The Boston Red Sox even wore different jerseys in their following game after the attack to just read “Boston”, showing the true strength a community can have to bring people together even after a horrifying event. The reality is, “When the devil hits you like that the only way to fight back is with love…That’s the only thing he won’t touch.” Tommy says in the film. I don't mean to sound like a 70’s hippie chick, but love really does trump evil. If we all can keep loving each other and everyone equally, we can finally stop hate and see the true beauty life has given us.

Yes, I will always question and have anger towards terrorism and hate crime in this world, but the thought that people can come together, like Boston, like New York, like Paris, like Las Vegas, like Orlando, like Texas, and like many more, has to prove that there is still love here and it can make us stronger. 

Prayers and well wishes are sent to the family and loved ones in the Texas shooting.

Love;

Rachel 

More real life shit and funny and true GIF's on my Instagram page, follow true20something or search the hashtag, #true20something. MUAH

Love is strength <3

Never say you’ll be right back… I’ll see you in the kitchen with a knife.

“Now Sid, don’t you blame the movies! Movies don't create psychos, movies make psychos more creative”, scowls Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) to Sidney Prescott (the GLORIOUS secondary scream queen, behind Jamie Lee Curtis, Neve Campbell) in the classic 1996 horror film, Scream. Now this has been a controversy for years; media, films, video games and more making people act out… and be a little, psycho. As I said in my previous blogs, that our life is our own movie, that we don’t have to dream about being in a cinematic adventure because we are already in one, our own directed film. These theorists are just saying that these “insane” creatures chose their genre to be horror. People break, like in Scream, Billy and Stew (spoil alert, sorry, you must watch it), they follow a motive, and with some peer pressure they just… snap. Freaky isn't it, that your boyfriend, your mother or your best friend could all of sudden, one day, just blow your head off. Happy Halloween. 

The boogey man may be shown as “real” through the 1978 horror flick, Halloween, but there is no lying saying that we all have our own boogey man in our life some where. Whether it is the creepy old man down the street that lives by him self and talks to no-one, your old high school math teacher, or an ex- boyfriend or girlfriend… someone that just freaks you out, scares you in a way, physically or mentally, where you lose thought of yourself and real life in a sense. Being scared changes the way you act and feel, that is why some people (average 68%) enjoy celebrating Halloween, to be frightened and feel like a different person. A person that is the scarer or the scared, feeling a sensation that we usually don't feel on a normal day to day basis. Honestly it is a thrill to me! One of my favourite “holidays”. 

The reality is; every person dressed up or even the boogey man himself is a real person underneath that hockey mask or a gruesome cut up face. All born, raised and living in this world, so the real controversy shouldn't be if movies make someone crazy, but if psychos are born psychos. Weird concept to think about, but as Billy says sometimes there is no motive… did anyone really figure out why Hannibal Lecter like to eat people? Don’t think so. Yes, a movie, maybe fiction, but we run into stories of killers all the time, all over the world. No matter how much I praise that this world is beautiful, there is always cracks of black somewhere to make us feel this world is shattered. It is up to you to concentrate and push the good in this world, to then help the “bad” people see the good lighting of life, and for them to change their ways... may not work but we have to try. 

A poor way to show that meaning, I know, but hey it's Halloween, I have to put a little weird into your head, get you kind of scared, let you feel the thrill. Enjoy your Halloween folks, scare, be scared and fear a little of this world while you enjoy it. 

Love;

Rachel 

More inspirational and great ass GIFs can be seen on my Instagram page true20something, or search the hashtag #true20something. MUAH

Want a spooky laugh? Watch this video of "the scary maze" reactions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajU-ZML51LI

How I feel about everyone... watch more movies :)

John Bender... The first HAWTY HAWT bad boy (insert heart eyes)!

“We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all.” says Andrew/Andy (Emilio Estevez, EMMIILLIIOO) in the forever, my all time favourite, and teenage classic movie, The Breakfast Club. The 80’s was a different (awesome) time from our present today, with teasing hair, whole cans of hairspray, Madonna, lots of colour and shoulder pads. BUT the two time periods have similar attributes, as movies show, we all live in the same way. In high school, in life in general, there will always be an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal… but we really are all just people who are bizarre and different. That my friends, is what makes life so interesting and awesome! You will never meet someone exactly like you, your “wierdness” is what separates you from the rest of the world. Don't hide it, embrace it!

I now love who I am, all the weird shit I am, the weird shit I do, and especially the weird shit I like. I always didn't though. Media doesn't always push being “different” as being “OK”.  Looking different, acting out of “norm” or speaking out of turn, a lot of it is just filled with “normal”, a normality the world has said was correct… but honey, there is no such thing as normal. This world is too beautiful to be worrying about what “normal” is.  Once you realize that, you can become your own person and LOVE that person, rather than criticizing your self and changing your bizarre personality to match the media’s view. 

I want to focus on The Breakfast Club for this point. Lets take Allison (the beautifully unique Ally Sheedy) for example, she declares herself as the “basketcase” in the film. A weird, neglected, outspoken and imaginative person who is an “outsider”. Andy, the jock, through out the film the viewers can tell he starts falling for this “out of the box” girl as they learn more a bout each other (likeness of their relationships with their own families). When Claire (80’s sunshine lady, Molly Ringwald) decides to dress Allison up at the end of the movie with “lady like” appropriate clothes and makeup (I personally loved the look but thats because of my style), Andy’s mouth dropped in AW! However, who she was didn't change, she rips off and steals a patch from his letterman jacket after a steamy kiss, which Andy still adored. Same occurrence happens when Claire crushes on, my future 2nd husband, John (Judd Nelson). At the end of the movie they get together and she takes off her diamond earrings her precious rich daddy bought her (her actual father not another guy) and then gave one to bad boy Johnny. The earring symbolized that high expense items, parties and such disguised who she really was, who was not a rich popular bitch, but someone with feelings and more insecure then she prevails. My point is… no matter what society tries to tell you, you are always better when you are your true, bizarre self, a lot more people like a REAL person. 

From a personal perspective, I was always labeled growing up as a “goody-two-shoes”, a rule follower, liked everyone and kind to everyone. Not a bad label I know but LORDY did it irritate me! I always thought, no I'm a rule breaker… just watch. I then may have acted out… a bit. I started going on a lot of dates, and kissing a lot of guys (in grade 8 and 9 that was a big deal okay). I was also lying to my parents about where I was and blah blah blah. I lost a lot of friends during this time, and created a space between me and my parents. They all knew that what I was doing wasn't me, and did (what I completely understand why they did it) was to back away from me. I am a goody-good person, like what is wrong with that. I always did my homework, I wanted to tell my parents the truth and what was going on in my life, I wanted to “hold out” for a guy who appreciates me, I want to be real. People may call me a “bitch” or a “pussy” (derogative terms is coming in later blogs, TRUST ME) but guess who doesn't care what you people say, (middle finger emoji). People who like the real me are people that deserve my attention and care. I may be weird, and like staying in some Friday nights to eat shitty food and watch old school movies, or still geek out when my boyfriend puts his arm around me or hold my hand, and sometimes will wait until the last minute to finish a project like a “rule breaker” (and like I am doing with this blog right now). Who I am is me, nothing like media’s “norm”, nothing “normal” at all actually, if that did exist, and especially; I am like no-one else. That is what makes meeting new people amazing, connecting with different people broadens this world and shows the true beauty of humanity. 

As cliche as I can say it… be yourself, not what others say to be. It'll literally open a whole new world for you (Aladdin couldn't of said it any better). 

Love;

Rachel

If you want more feel good stuff and laughable shit, follow True20Something on Instagram or search the hashtag #true20something. MUAH 

This is me... everyday

Started from the bottom, now we’re here… reason why Drake is a smart man.

“Don’t let anyone ever make you feel like you don’t deserve what you want.” a young Patrick (Heath Ledger, RIP you talented man) says to Cam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in 10 Things I Hate About You. Not only was this movie a classic, one for the books with it’s witty cast, truth about relationships in high school, and an emotional tear jerker ending with the famous poem; it also holds a powerful meaning. No matter the elements against you, no matter what people say, no matter the differences (sometimes he is going to be a ‘bad boy’ and you are the possible ‘goody-good girl’), you always fight for what or who you want.

This is going to be a more of a serious lesson or discussion you could say… so sorry about the real life smack in this face talk but we are going to get personal. I think every person in their life will run into a moment where you think someone in this world is controlling your life and for some reason doesn't want you to be happy. Where everything you want doesn't work out, or a literal storm comes and anything that could go wrong, does. It happens, and honestly its okay to feel like this. No one is perfect, no ones life is perfect all day everyday. As beautiful as this world can be, and ill say that every post, shit does happen. We drop our phones in this toilet, we don't get that promotion you've been killing yourself for, we have to let go of loved ones, we have broken hearts… but we are then defined on how we overcome these shit obstacles and move on to better ourselves. We are not made of glass, we don't break after an accident, we may rip and bruise, but we heal and we overcome to eventually be happy. We are always given the opportunity to make our lives better for what we deserve. 

Now for the personal… in my high school years I dated a boy for most of my 4 years. The guy everyone loved; athletic (hockey boy), smart, good-looking, yet quiet and mysterious. I was infatuated with the thought of dating this guy. Like every tween/teenage relationship it always starts off cute. Everything is new and fun, seems so real  and I too am at fault for falling for the puppy dog love. I didn't understand what love was (who does at that age), but I felt good saying I had a boyfriend and I was in “LOVE” and we were going to get married and… I would never be truly happy. I lost my virginity to him, and after that we could not go a day of seeing each other without him wanting it. Even when I didn’t. He made me feel like if I did not please him, I wasn't doing my ‘duty’ as a girlfriend or that I didn't love him. He also kept me on a short leash. I wasn't allowed to talk to other guys, (I had many guy friends, before this happened at least) I wasn't allowed to like guys pictures on social media without being questioned, he didn't even want me to post selfies because “who else was I posting them for” (for my GOD DAM self because I felt f***ing beautiful that day and I wanted to bless my friends timelines!). Now don't get me wrong, (because I hate bashing EX’s) he was not a bad guy, he did take me out on dates, he did text me “good morning” and “good night”, he did listen and give advice…but sometimes it wasn't enough. Before prom, I broke up with him, thinking it was a good idea at the time. 

A year after that, I felt lonely and began dating but found nothing more. I literally felt like Bianca Piper (the wild Mae Whitman) in the movie DUFF, where she spends all weekend in her room alone, eating pizza and watching movies after her heart was crushed by Wesley (Robbie Amell though… Google Image him, you wont be disappointed). My EX then came out of nowhere and messaged me. I fell right back in for another year. He was better however, a year away at university did him better, learned more about talking to me and appreciating me, but still… I felt like I was forcing myself to be with him so I wasn't “alone”. This may all seem easy for me to type but in reality, I was a self conscious wreck at the time and was in a sad cycle. Thinking the only men that wanted me, were ones that only wanted my body (this is also not a sexist remark as I very much believe gender roles could be reversed in a situation like this too). If these feelings were my EX’s fault, may be, but none the less it was a hard time. After officially breaking up (for good), he told me I couldn't find anyone better and that I deserve ONLY him. At the time, I truly felt that way. It wasn't until I went away on a trip with my family I realized… F*** this! Why am I feeling sorry for myself, I am better than this, look at this beautiful freaking beach and sunset, look at all the delicious free Piña colada. Life is too good to be feeling sad. I conquered losing friends and family, my parents getting a divorce, being peer pressured, being put down, losing dance competitions, and high school in general. I am able to conquer love because of its beauty that I want. I DESERVE good love, because I love who I am. 

Then sure enough, with my new confidence, and my deep appreciation for social media; while I wasn't even looking for it cupid bit me in the ass and I met the LOVE of my life! Austin is the love I deserve; true, kind, equal and fun. 

I don't mean to only give the example of relationships as something as you all deserve. You also fight for that career or job you want, you deserve that house you've been saving for and eating ramen noodles for what feels like forever for it. You deserve what you want along as you drive for it and don't let people get in your way. No one can tell you what you deserve or that you’ll fail. You fight for what you want and if it is meant to be, it'll come! 

As Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze, my imaginary husband) says in the classic Dirty Dancing, “No body puts Baby in the corner”. Baby Houseman wanted to dance (and be) with the ‘lower class’ and not ‘daddy approved’ Johnny. No one put her in a corner though. She danced one of the most iconic dances in cinematic history, and she got to be with her love! She fought, she got pushed down, but then she conquered. If Baby can do it, you can too.

Love;

Rachel

For more real talk and some funny ass shit, follow true20something on Instagram or search the hashtag, #true20something! MUAH 

OH MOMMA take me back in time!