new apartment

I got kicked out of my apartment.
In the middle of the semester.
There is no interesting or scandalous story to tag along with that first sentence.
Our roof was simply going to be torn off.
So we had to leave.
I live in the same complex, but it is basically a whole new world over here.
When I say "over here", I mean the rich side of town.
I have my own private balcony and we even get the newspaper.
Fancy right?
I still often visit the north end of the complex to see my friends.
However, it is probably a ten minute walk.
And I have to pass the gang bangers hanging out by the dumpster.
I make small talk with them and they offer me cigs and alcohol.
It really brightens my day.
Since I don't know anyone down here yet I usually sit at my kitchen table and watch people walk to campus.
And I stare longingly at the fast food joints just a stone's throw from my window.
Ah, it's the life down here in apartment 9.

the pineapple

Kathy Hsu.
She's such an inspiration.
I had been looking for a way to make my hair not quite so normal.
I had grown to miss the strange looks that people would give me as I walked around campus.
Then she told me about the pineapple.
And I love it.
Bangs in the way?
No problem.
Just throw them up in a ponytail on top of your head and you're set.
It allows me to keep my forehead perfectly tan whilst still attracting some attention.
An attractive man smiled at me today so.....win.
I mean, the dates have still been sparing, but.....
I prefer to tell myself that men are just intimidated by my confidence.
And ever better, if I wear it once.....it gets stuck like that until I wash it again.
Permanent hairstyle?
Um, yes.

ok.

Two letters, one very common phrase. 

But to me, this phrase used daily by many is a symbol of hope. 

.........
It’s OK to get mad at someone, but it’s also OK to say sorry.

It’s OK to be unapologetically remorseful, occasionally irrational, and overly anxious. 

These are the things that make us who we are. 

It’s OK to be who we are and it’s OK to be unique and it’s OK to be weird. 

It’s OK if you want to stay in your room by yourself on a Friday night; 

it’s OK if you decide to not do that homework assignment; 

it’s OK to eat that fifth cookie; 

and it’s OK if you burn dinner. 

We put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect, but it’s OK if we’re not.

...............

So here these two letters sit, written on my mirror, to remind me every day that I am OK. 

Even if nothing is working out or I am making more mistakes than I can count, I am still OK. 

I don’t need to be the best, the prettiest, the smartest, or perfect. 

I know that I am enough because those two little letters tell me that I am all the time.

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