Body Blues

Hey Smart Teens,

It’s been over 4 months since I posted and I have to apologise. This year has been one stress after another stress with school and exams. But I’m back! I have the whole of summer to look forward to and this summer, I have a goal and of course, a detailed plan of action to go with it!

The title is Body Blues and that really sums up how I’ve felt about myself for, well a long time really. The first time I felt bad or ashamed or sad or whatever adjective you want to use about my weight was when I was maybe 7 or 8 years old. I had just been on a holiday where as a food loving child, I indulged in ALL the deserts and chocolates and nice things that were offered to me. I distinctly remember the feeling I had stepping on the scales and being completely and utterly shocked at the number. I can’t remember the number but I remember the feeling because it’s one that has followed me ever since. I often wonder if it’s really bad that I felt like that as a child.

My Social Media Resolution

Yes, I know that it’s long gone New Years but that doesn’t mean I can’t make a resolution and do something to better my life. Even in February!

It is very rare to find a teenager without a smartphone nowadays. The internet is so easily accessed and its effect on people has been largely debated. I used a smartphone to write a draft of this post when the idea came to me and I finished it on my laptop.

Social media affects our view of the world. Everyone is just so … perfect. Trying to live up to the standards of Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and lately VSCO is exhausting.

Autism: An Interview

We hear about autism a lot; that the rates of autism in children is increasing, that most people are on an autism scale etc. But do we actually know what it is? Or what it’s like to live with autism? This informative interview with Brandon gives us an insight into the life of people with autism.

Hi Brandon, how are you?

I’m good, thanks.

What is autism?

I have high functioning autism and it is a disorder that in my case affects my sociability, communication and how I perceive facial expressions and stuff like that.

With what I’ve seen and heard of low functioning autism, it affects language skills. Many people I see with it have to use a word processor and have an aid with them. A lot have these gestures that they do, some suffer from epilepsy and memory impairment.

Tell us about your autism.

Following your Dreams

Hello, it’s Aisling here. This is something I really wanted to write about and I think it’s important for everyone. It’s about following your dreams.

Sometimes it can feel like everyone is in your way, like you’re swimming against the tide and you don’t know if you’re ever going to get to where you want to be. Sometimes it feels like your head is just about bobbing over the surf and you’re feeling like maybe I can do this! Other times you stand up straight and you walk through that water like a boss.

What it’s like to be Anorexic

Here is the amazing story of suiharm.tumblr.com who suffered from anorexia. Her amazing story is truly inspiring and I’m honoured to be able to share it with you.

Well I was born with eczema, which made me realise that I was different from the other kids at a small age (kindergarten), and at primary school the bullying began – because I had eczema and because I was ugly for it. The kids, mostly boys, were harsh and I started to believe everything they said and called me. I was a child. At the age of 7-8 years old, I had severe low self esteem. This made me get into depression at a young age (I think I was 9-10 y/o). I thought that I didn’t deserve to live, that I was a flaw in society. And you know… a girl or a boy that age shouldn’t even realise thoughts like these existed. They should be playing outside and cry about not getting the ice cream they wanted. They shouldn’t cry about existing.

What it’s like to be Bisexual.

Adam is bisexual. I interviewed him to find out about his everyday life and experiences.

Hi Adam, how are you?

I’m good thanks.

So, Adam, when did you realise you were bisexual?

About 18 months ago, when one of my male friends was hitting on me. We got into a relationship. Another mutual friend (a female) said she had feelings for me and we somehow ended up in a polyamorous relationship for a few months.

How did you get into the poly relationship?

We were all hanging out and I was dating my male friend. She kept hitting on me playfully and she said something about what she’d do if we were alone and my boyfriend said he wouldn’t mind seeing that. I had already told him that I had feelings for both but I would still remain with him if it came to that. We just ended up in a poly relationship after that.

What was the best part of the relationship?

I think just the closeness. I tend not to trust people with my heart so easily so when I do, it just brightens my day to be around the people I care about. We all lived near each other and went to the same school so we saw each other a lot.

What was the worst part about the relationship?

Probably the balance of it. I couldn’t show either person too much attention without neglecting the other.

Did other people treat you differently because you were in a poly relationship?

Looking Confident even When You’re Not.

They say fake it ’till you make it and this is true of me. I faked confidence for so long that now it is practically second nature to me. I now debate (stand and talk in front of people, basically the self conscious person’s worst nightmare).

Here’s some reasons why you should fake your confidence:

• Studies show it is more important for career success than talent.
• If you appear more confident you may achieve a higher social status than your less confident peers.
• You’ll do things you’d never have dreamed of doing before, like me and debating!

Faking confidence is so easy and it really does boost your self esteem. Standing up that little bit taller makes you feel like you can take on the world and that’s how I feel when I put these tips into practice!

We are the Best Generation Yet

Our generation is the kindest, most accepting and most supportive yet. Don’t believe me? Let me show you what I mean.

I live in Ireland and we recently became the first country to vote to legalise gay marriage. We are a country that less than fifty years ago, didn’t allow divorce or contraception and forced women to give up their jobs when they got married. Seeing people get married in their home country where they couldn’t before was a tear-jerking moment and made me feel so proud to be Irish.

Two male models have recently become the face of big cosmetic brands. Men. Those men who were frequently pushed aside and stereotyped into believing that they could never wear makeup.

Donald Trump was elected. This is where you all stop and scratch your head. But Aisling doesn’t that just show the hate that is being spread and how messed up we are as people? No, it doesn’t. It was our generation (at least the older ones of us who could vote) who voted against Donald Trump and for Hillary Clinton. Look at the intense rallies that were held all over America to show that bigotry and hate could not and would not defy the people of America.

Well, I’ve started a blog.

I am four weeks away from starting my exams and I’ve decided to create a blog. Well aren’t I a clever girl? No but seriously, I think I might be insane.

Maybe I’m not though. I’d love to have my little corner of the internet where everything is honest and funny and just makes you feel better when you log on. That would be amazing. Just writing is my therapy but if I could do that for loads of people? Well know, that’s what I call incredible.

If you are someone who just wants to have a bit of fun, listen to me rant about things (that might happen a lot, I’m apologising now!) and just chill with other people who have the same experiences, welcome. I reckon it could be a laugh!

Please bear with me while I work out how to work out the themes and layout and stuff. I’d like to leave it really simple. Its about us and what’s going on in our lives more than how pretty the blog look (read: I am not tumblr af nor will I ever be tumblr af to be honest)  It’s going be a hell of a ride! (if you know, people actually read the blog)

So yeah. Enjoy!

Love,

Aisling xx