Romanticizing life is the key to happiness. In Charli XCX‘s song “Everything is romantic”, she sings about various subjects that may be typically overlooked: “Lemons on the trees and on the ground, sandals on the stirrups of the scooters, neon orange drinks on the beach, four generations make up a family”. This song also highlights the fact that not everything has to be perfect to be beautiful. Even things we may look at negatively can be viewed as romantic if we choose to do so. Sometimes, life can start to feel empty. I personally have gone through times where all I did was envy others. I was unhappy with myself and my life, and the longer I let these thoughts fester, the worse they became. It took me years to finally understand all that I had. I am living, and that fact alone is amazing. Once I started taking moments to appreciate the smaller things, my entire mindset shifted. The album “brat” was released during a very transitional period of my life, and I am grateful that it was, because it pushed me in the direction towards a fulfilling life. I adore each and every song on this album, and I cannot wait to see what Charli has planned for the future.

Art has a special ability to form bonds and bring people together. I typically create personal art that reflects my feelings and experiences in that moment. While the subject of each of my pieces may have originated from my own thoughts, I ensure that others may resonate with it as well. While I do use art as an outlet in darker times, I do not often share it. This is not to avoid such feelings, but to encourage and invoke more positive emotions such as joy, optimism, and nostalgia within anyone else who comes across my art. To do this, I often incorporate vivid colors and intricate patterns within my art and focus on subjects such as people or pets. I want people to walk away from my art and just be reminded of something that makes them happy, because as someone who is growing up and learning a lot in the process, sometimes that’s all I need.

My experiences, like those of many women, align closely with the song “SKINNY”. My body has undergone many changes in the past few years. I used to weigh nearly 50 pounds more than I do now. My relationship with food was unhealthy, and I did not feel good about my body. Then, I lost that weight. I started wearing different clothing. I finally heard compliments and people congratulating me for my weight loss, but I still did not feel good about my body. If anything, I was under more stress because I felt that people were expecting me to lose even more. “SKINNY” reminds me that I am not alone in these thoughts, and despite what others may think of my body, what matters is that I now appreciate it. “What Was I Made For?” perfectly describes the complex emotions associated with growing up. As early as middle school, we are expected to have our lives planned out, but this is easier said than done. Things are always changing, and deciding what I want to do for the rest of my life has been tough to say the least. I am still figuring out who I am, and it can feel incredibly isolating. It is difficult for me to reach out during these times as I do not want to burden others with my problems. Still, it is crucial to hold onto even the smallest amount of hope that things will change for the better and remember that I deserve happiness. As shown by the song “my future”, learning to love yourself is a never-ending journey. I recently experienced my first relationship, and before it started, I thought that having a partner would help me love myself. However, that was not the case. I was constantly being drained, and I eventually realized that I had to do what I felt was right. Now that the relationship has ended, I see myself completely differently. I have learned to appreciate the time I spend with myself and even find comfort in it. I know that I am capable of achieving great things, and the only person who can truly hold me back is me. So, I will continue to work towards a future where I am happy doing what I love.