I’m going through a whirlwind of things. If you could only see how many posts I started typing (but never got around to finishing) over the past few weeks, you’d know how much I hate myself for it.

But it was a very healthy break I sort of took from the Internet. Very minimal posting, and never about the big things. It’s just gotten so stressful (and I mean, even more than it already is) for me so I figured I should really do myself a favor.

When I hear about people dying I no longer feel sadness. Just jealousy. That’s what I felt the moment I read that David Bowie had passed.

Also, remember when I would shamelessly feel sad about a Celebrity dying, because I was an ACTUAL FAN, and people hated me for it? “Why are you suddenly a Fan of everyone dying, Abbie?” someone told me on Formspring (or was it Tumblr?), and I’m like, “WHAT CAN I DO IF PEOPLE I LOOK UP TO / LIKE / LOVE KEEP DYING?” I was such a huge Boyzone fan (people who knew me in High School would attest to that), so naturally I was shattered when Stephen Gately died, DUH.

And now, Bowie. I may not be the biggest Bowie fan but I love the man, regardless. I have Aladdin Sane’s album cover plastered on my wall  There was a time when I listened to this one song for an entire week (I was pretty psyched that he had a new album out, too. But I didn’t Tweet it. Does that mean my feelings  of excitement is invalid?).

Bowie’s in Space. Whatcha doin’ out there, man? 

I was 8 years old when Kurt Cobain took his own life. I didn’t know much about Nirvana until the late 90’s, when I was in High School. I wouldn’t call myself a Nirvana fan (Dave Grohl, though!!!), even if I did know and love some of their songs.

I’m sure we all know the mystery surrounding what we thought was an apparent suicide. I don’t really know what to believe, and this isn’t an entry to bring up any of the theories. This is simply an entry supporting Kurt Cobain, the man who suffered a great deal at the wrong time.

(Collage by Beppe Conti)

And no, this isn’t a sermon about how you SHOULD have Faith. I mean, in my personal opinion, you should – but that’s ME. There are 7.3 something Billion souls walking on Earth, and I wish I could tell them personally to hold on to what they believe in, to whatever gets them by – even if it’s … not God, at least not the God that I grew up to know, love, and accept.

I was raised a Catholic. Everyone in my Mother’s side of the Family were religious. We barely missed Sunday mass, we always pray the Angelus, and the Rosary (I would often recite the Litany because I memorise it!).

During my Freshman year in College, in Theology class (which was at 5:30 P.M.), I suggested that we pray the Angelus at 6:00 P.M., and our Professor was pleased to make it a habit. It was one of the few times in my adolescent life that I felt the Spirit rejoice for a, mmm, considerably bold step I made (not everyone in the class was happy about it, obviously).

Coming from a very conservative upbringing on Religion, Faith and Belief, I am overwhelmed to realise  that I am now at a point in my life where I no longer find the need to impose what I choose to believe in, but rather to be VERY ACCEPTING of people who found themselves in a path where they find peace and happiness to say the words : I do not believe in God.

And I, in turn, say : I support you, 101%.

Or “The Abbi(s) to your Ilana, or the Ilana(s) to your Abbi”. You get the picture.

Friendships are one of the most vital relationships we establish in our lives. I could quote a thousand phrases said on friendships and you’d tell me you’ve heard them all, know them all, etc., etc., etc.

This entry offers nothing new as well, nothing you haven’t heard before. But I do feel like, with nearly 3 decades of walking on Earth, nearly 3 decades of established and failed friendships, I do have a few things I would like to remind myself of.

Image from Flickr

Here’s the thing about Body Shaming, Kids. IT’S NOT COOL. Just in case you haven’t figured it out yet, BECAUSE 90% OF EARTH’S POPULATION HASN’T.

First of all, I will not be posting photos of myself in this entry because it would totally defy the purpose of why I’m writing this. My past and current figure is NOT A BASIS for what a Woman should look like, what is acceptable and not, what looks healthy and not.

Sure, we’ve had judgy thoughts about other people’s bodies, I know I do. I’m not a hypocrite. But I am also not cruel. I keep those mean, nasty opinions to myself because that’s what you’re supposed to do.

Not all friendships are meant to last. This was a painful, but liberating experience for me.  I don’t know how it happened. I’ve always known deep down that I was an Introvert, trying her best to be an Extrovert. But those days are over. At one point I even made myself believe that I was an Ambivert. It was only recently, thanks to my current Professional and Financial situation that gave me no choice but