Marisa Donnelly

I was terrified about going home for Valentine’s Day weekend. This trip had the potential of getting my mind (and body) out of awkward, what-am-I-going-to-do-with-my-life situations. But it could also be a reminder of how utterly single I was. I was twenty-two and hanging out with my parents. SOS.

You must have brown hair, because he’s partial to brunettes.

Sure, you can comfort this person and teach them what real love is, but you cannot change their mindset.

We can’t spend our days obsessing over this future, hasn’t-even-happened-yet, somewhere-off-in-the-distance relationship because we won’t be present in the now.

“If you can’t have a conversation with her at 7 in the morning, when she has no makeup on, it’s lust.”

Listening to the sounds of nature.

I have too much heart, to a flaw. In my relationships, I care so incredibly. When I love, I fall completely, fully, fearlessly. And when my heart is broken, I forgive, let go, and continue loving because that is who I am. Who I’ll always be.

Like you’re underwater, trying to speak, but your words come out mumbled and off-key and you keep opening your mouth and it fills with water so you can’t speak. And the person you love is just floating, slowing sinking down, down.

A feather is a reminder that you are not alone.

For not letting you dwell on (or cry profusely over) a crappy game.

Sh*t doesn’t come easy. If it was easy, they’d call it baseball. (Just kidding.)

Smile, just because.

If you don’t like that direction, turn. Don’t turn back. Don’t turn around. Just turn. Right. Left. Diagonal. Cut across the grass. Take a back road.

The mistake I made in falling hard, I’d do it over, every time.

Buying a sweet treat from the ice cream truck. Because you hear that sing-song melody every summer afternoon. And because it will always taste better from the truck, no matter your age.

Am I warm? Am I cold? Can I feel?

The 3AM drunk munchies. Enough is enough.

#1: Know what teams are playing.