NINE LOVES:

1. Spongebob <3 It's very apparent how much I love Spongebob and it's a safe bet that anything Spongebob related would put a smile on my face. I think it's his optimistic attitude and his innocence that makes me enjoy the show so much, especially when he's paired with the pessimistic, cynical Squidward. The show makes me laugh so much =]

2. Hayao Miyazaki movies <3 Once again, not a surprise, but I love everything about them. The fact he can draw up these magnificent stories with such beautiful music and scenery astounds me. I really respect him for his ability to produce something that's timeless and that all ages can appreciate for the movie's different facets. Well, some are more adult than others, but the fact remains that I love Totoro just as much as I love Princess Mononoke. His movies have shaped my childhood and remind me of what's really important.

3. My little brother pup Tito <3 I'm seriously obsessed with my dog, as I'm sure all pet owners are, but for me it's slightly different. Not saying I love my dog more than anyone else loves their dog, but Tito is my first. I've had cats before and my family knows how much I cried over their deaths, but I've never actually had a dog that I could play with. We had Cookie, but she couldn't ever be inside, because she'd get too excited, so I wasn't really attached to her. My pup Tito, though, gives me the biggest smiles and he's always happy and excited to see me when I visit - I don't think there's many feelings that can compare to the joy of feeling welcome and appreciated <3

4. Smiling <3 For me, there's nothing more beautiful than seeing someone's smile, especially when said smile just makes their eyes look even more radiant. Smiling like that just exudes happiness in such a way that it's contagious. Seriously, what's not to love about that?! I get so happy just being around people who enjoy smiling that it takes away any negative thoughts or worries I may have. To me, smiles are incredibly powerful and a gift to those who come into contact with you.

5. Music <3 I love how versatile music can be and how it can easily say the things I've always wanted to say. Sometimes I can't be eloquent and music provides my voice for me. I don't have a fantastic singing voice, but when I'm alone, in the car, or incredibly comfortable with those around me, I will belt out lyrics like there's no tomorrow. It helps relieve the tension and pressure I feel, leading me to feel free from any judgment. I can't think of any moment in my life that music hasn't been involved, even if it was having a song stuck in my head :P

6. My family <3 When I've experienced loss of friendship or a complete 180 in personality, they have loved me through it all. They accept that I'm a Hell incarnate when I get pissed off and even when they get on my nerves, which is a lot, I know they mean well. I would do anything to protect my family, especially Mom, meaning my grandma, but it applies for all of my family too. She helped raise me when I was younger & Pap Pap and her helped teach me math and spelling when I couldn't understand how change worked or why coach/couch wasn't the same thing. Words can't describe how devoted I am to my goofy family, but I would destroy mountains for them if it meant they could see the sunlight <3

7. Every person that has ever hurt me or made a difference in my life <3 While I can't forget the pain some of them have put me through, I have become better for experiencing the hardship. I'm trying my absolute best to see the silver lining with every negative experience, so that someday I can stand up for myself when the situation arises. Every single person that has been in my life I love dearly, because they have made me who I am today. I don't hate a single person I've met and I hope I never do.

8. Food <3 Because my palette is awesome, I enjoy eating ALL kinds of food, except spinach, which is only delicious when accompanied with chips and cheese. Either way, food, while it's yummy, is always embedded with feelings, which makes it the best gift ever! Not only do you get sustenance and nutrition, but you also get the passions from the cook and the hard work they put into it. It's like a two-for-one & it's absolutely legal! You don't have to consume an actual heart to receive a person's life energy - just eat the food they make and it's the same thing :P

9. The sky <3 To me, there's nothing quite like walking out of my dorm and being able to see the contrast of the green pine trees to the bright blue sky; it's literally scenery porn in real life. Even when it's night and the stars are sprinkled about the sky, it's beautiful. I could lay down and stare up at the sky for hours and I would if I didn't have to worry about getting burnt. It reminds me that I'm not as big in the world as I like to think I am, that the sky blankets more than just me, that maybe somewhere out there in the world there's someone else who enjoys looking up and seeing the clouds roll by. It also reminds me that while I may dream big right now, I can't touch the sky, because all of my worries and anxieties are weighing me down, but in the brief instances where I'm free from them, I can fly to anywhere I want to go and see whatever I want to see. It's a humbling experience, as well as an optimistic scene for me <3