the continuous list of things that grind my gears

1. the sound of someone loudly/obnoxiously chewing

2.writing papers or doing assignments that are completely bullshit in a class that will never help me in the future and has nothing to do with my major

3. when someone doesn't replace the toilet paper roll... even though i blow it off sometimes too

4. logging onto facebook and not having any notifications

5. the fact that the previous statement was made and is on this list

6. people who can eat anything and everything and never work out that have incredible bodies

7. running.

8. when someone makes fun of someone else for something that they have no control over.

9. walking into a room and forgetting what i got up off the couch and went in there for in the first place

10. when people ask me for gas money when i know their parents fill their tank

11. when someone starts texting during a conversation and you have to repeat everything you just said while they were typing

12. racism

13. forgetting about the chapstick in my pocket until it's been destroyed by the dryer

14. when people claim they don't like a certain food when they have never even tried it

15. reality shows based on the lives of celebrities or people that are famous for no reason

16. folding laundry

17. wrinkled clothes

18. when my dog poops on the floor after just spending an hour outside

19. that awkward moment that occurs when your walking up the street and an acquaintance or someone you've met maybe once before is approaching you and you don't know whether to make eye contact and smile or just keep your head down and pretend you never saw them.

20. butchering someone's name

20 things I have learned/discovered in my 20 years of existence

1. It’s all about who you know

2. Everyone in Rhode Island has mutual friends and family members. There are maybe 2 degrees of separation, as opposed to 6.

3. The poorest people I have ever met are also the nicest. The richest people I have ever met are douche bags.

4. Every place I have ever lived has also been inhabited by a secret sock thief. His one purpose in life is to steal one sock out of every pair I own, and send it off into another dimension where I will never see it again.

5. Boys can always be replaced.

6. Being gay is normal. Unintentionally, like 50% of my closest friends are gay. They have taught me that liking the same sex is not necessarily a characteristic or a trait that shapes their personality and identity, it’s just a fact.

7. A smile goes a long way, and can send infinite messages.

8. Running sucks. A lot.

9. Traveling, whether it means flying to East Africa or taking a drive with no destination on a beautiful Sunday, is what makes me happiest and what teaches me most of life’s lessons.

10. Don’t put regular soap in the dishwasher.

11. Time is precious and I need to savor every moment that I am young, because I know one day I’ll miss my youth extremely bad.

12. Pot is the best medicine.

13. You’re allowed to have more than one best friend, and they can all be of equal importance to you.

14. A lot of things you love can also be things you hate, or have hated at some point in life. For example: boys, money, the rain, beer.

15. Scents have just as strong of a tie to memory as visuals.

16. It is very rare for someone to be both street and book smart. It’s usually one or the other. My GPA may not be a 4.0, but I’m quite the hustler.

17. Not wearing a condom is not worth it.

18. Reading a lot and often is the best way to become a great writer.

19. My dad is my best friend and favorite person to talk to.

20. Taking time to reflect on life and all it throws at you is super important and beneficial. Even more beneficial is writing these reflections down so you can look back on them in the future.