Christen's English Blog

 Deja vu has always fascinated me: why it happens and why it feels so weird and inexplicable. You get this feeling that what you are experiencing is both so familiar and utterly new, having lived through it before when intellectually you know you have not. Scientists think it might have to do with the brain's memory system or the way it processes information, but no one's quite figured it out. It's such a weird experience, like a glitch in the matrix of our own minds. I've always wondered if there's more to it, maybe some connection between time, perception, or even something more metaphysical we don't fully understand yet.

 It happened last Christmas, one of those special holiday memories that stand out. My family came together for the first time in a few years around my grandma's house and were together all day, consuming scrumptious food and playing a variety of different games. I think one of my favorite activities included sitting by the fireplace with my cousins and watching the snow falling out the window. It felt so nice to be surrounded by people I love, and it made me really appreciate how important family is. That Christmas was unforgettable, and I still smile when I think about it.

 The best gift I ever got was a guitar from mom for my birthday. I always wanted to learn how to play, but I never had my own guitar. When I opened it, I couldn't believe it because it was exactly what I wanted. It wasn't brand new, but it was in great condition. She knew how much I love music and had always talked about learning the guitar, so it felt extra special. Since then, I've been teaching myself how to play, and it's been amazing to see my progress. Every time I play, I'm reminded of how thoughtful my mom is and how lucky I am to have her in my life.

 A song that brings back a specific memory is Tornado of Souls by Megadeth. This song reminds me of the time I saw the ban play live back in August of this year. I remember an overwhelming rush of adrenaline hitting me once they played the first few notes of that very song. Though my memory of that whole concert is blurry, I know that it's blurred by the immense sense of joy I felt at the time. Truly a series of irreplaceable moments. 

 When I was young, I really believed that if you wished for something and then, with one breath, blew all the candles out on your birthday cake, it would come true. Every year I would close my eyes tight, think about something I really wanted, and then blow. I really thought the magic of that moment was what made it work, and I'd spend the rest of the day anxiously waiting to see if it would come true. Of course, as I got older, I realized it was just a fun tradition, but looking back at that time, I thought perfect birthday breath could make anything happen.

 One time, when I was hanging out with my friend, we were watching this comedy sketch that wasn't that funny, not at first. But for some reason, my friend started laughing at the most random line in the sketch, and with the way she laughed, it made it 10 times funnier. Of course, then I started laughing at how hard she was laughing, which only made her laugh harder, and we just spiraled into this uncontrollable giggle fit. We were both crying with laughter over something that wasn't even a big joke, and we couldn't stop. Every time we tried to calm down, we'd just catch each other's eye, and that would send us back into hysterics. It was one of those moments where we couldn't even remember what was funny anymore, yet we couldn't stop laughing for what felt like an hour.

I used to have a real fear of public speaking, so much so that I'd get a dry mouth and shaky hands just thinking about speaking in front of a group. But over time, I realized the only way to get past it was to actually do it. I stopped overthinking it, and with time, the anxiety began to fade. I now have little to no problem standing in front of a crowd where my heart isn't racing like before, and though I'm nervous once in a while, there's a lack fearful. Overcoming this fear not only made me much more confident in my communications but also made me aware that many times our fears are just things that can easily be pushed through with practice.