Things I Learned this Summer...
Camp is my home. It doesn’t matter where I grew up or where I live, my heart belongs at camp.
I’m an outgoing person.
I have zero flirting ability.
Working with little kids is my passion.
I don’t have to always be second best. There are friends out there that will acknowledge me just as much as they like to be acknowledged.
My camp friends not only love me despite my many flaws, they embrace them.
Double Dream Hands is the best way to get moving in the morning.
I’m a cuddler. Two am cuddle sessions make me happy, especially when they’re with good friends.
Being a camp counselor brings out the mommy side of me.
I’m so much less selfish than I realized. Giving up a sweatshirt despite being freezing, holding a camper’s hand as they throw up, or bandaging a dirty foot are second nature to me now.
Kids are great teachers. I learned more from them than I ever will from an adult.
It’s the hard times that you get through that make everything so worthwhile.
Never take shots directly out of a bottle when you're drunk. It results in chipped teeth.
I’m a loud drunk.
ADHD international boys make the best friends.
Sleeping in a sports bra gives me this weird feeling of being free.
Once you stop caring what other people think, life gets easier.
No matter how I feel about myself, whatever body image issues I have, I'm my biggest critic. No one really gives a fuck unless I make a big deal out of it.
I need to believe in myself. I’m a strong, resilient person.
I’m a good co-counselor. It turns out that my extreme Type B personality is something that people admire.
There are people out there who will be my Hakuna Matata duet partner.
Dance like nobody's watching. Or don't give a shit what people think. Either way, life is a lot more fun when you start dancing.
Hunger Games is an immediate bonding point. People are very passionate about it and it's a great conversation starter.
I’m not mission team material. Yet.
Things take time.
Never start off with a bad attitude. Sometimes great things come from bad situations.
Start every day off fresh. Don’t go to bed angry.
Never dive close to a drop off. Sometimes you miss the deep end and end up face first on the bottom of the lake.
Douchebags are people, too.
Eating off of plates is empowering.
Pillow pets are God's gift to this earth.
Bed bugs are no match for my 20/20 vision and cat like reflexes.
As much as I would like to say I conquered my fears of the reptile room, it may just be something that never really happens.
Screaming on little kid roller-coasters like a mad-woman with your best friends is one of the best times you can have.
Welsh boys are princesses.
The first five minutes of 21 Jump Street are funny. The first time.
Milk makes a diabetic's blood sugar go low, apparently.
After living with people for more than a week, you can start to tell who the fart belongs to based on sound and smell.
Everybody poops. Once you realize that, public pooping isn't embarrassing anymore.
Always have a handy international boy who can fix your brake lights on road trips.
Always have toy cars to keep people's hands busy. It cuts back on the need for hand checks.
People can live without ever seeing Mean Girls. I know, I know, it's hard to believe, but some people haven't seen it.
Real friends will hold your hand, give you the courage to step outside your comfort zone, and be there for moral support even when the words coming out of their mouths aren't exactly friendly. Somehow, "Get your ass on the fucking ride." can actually be comforting.
Life is so much better when you put yourself out there and try new things.