All That Matters Is What You Think Of Yourself

      **This blog post goes along with one of my previous posts. I've realized there was more to say.

          We live in a very judgmental world. Everywhere you go, someone is right there to look at us funny, or to ignore us because of the way we dress. I know many people, including myself, that think we aren't worth anything because we think we know what people are saying in their heads or to their friends. It lingers in our heads long after we leave the person or group of people that we can see are judging us have left.

         When I got out of high school and started looking for a job, I thought, Hey, this might not be so bad. I can do anything I want. Anything I set my mind to. I was so confident that I would get the job, that I felt like I was on top of the world! I have had my job for a while now, and I am comfortable with it. Now, as the economy changes and the demand for money to survive increases, I decided I need another job. I have searched on the internet for places to apply, I find myself looking at the easiest jobs out there. It is not because I am lazy, or because I hate work (even though I am definitely not a fan of having to work), it's because I don't feel like I am good enough for it. I feel that That area of work is too hard for me, and I feel that if there is any way that i could mess it up, I won't be able to do it without being hard on myself.

          I realize that the way I am thinking is wrong, and that I, along with everyone else underestimate what we can do. I don't end up applying for the jobs that I feel could be a great job just because I am afraid to mess everything up. We cannot be afraid of failure or of making mistakes. It is something that I am working on, and hope that everyone else who feels even the slightest bit the same as me can work on it, too.

          All of the judging that goes on in the world has caused a low self esteem in a lot of people. After I realized I was mistaken thinking I couldn't do any of those jobs, I thought, How many other people think they can't do something big like that? If people didn't take those chances to apply for a job that could change their life, or if people didn't take the chance to go to college to become doctors or engineers, we wouldn't have a successful world. I am working on making my life better and raising my self esteem. I hope those who feel like I do can work on it, too. All that matters is what you think of yourself, so make the most of it! :)

Love Is Not A Competition

I have been thinking about this topic for a little while now, so I thought I'd write it down on here. Love is everywhere. At home, at the store, even along the sidewalks of your neighborhood. I'm not talking about the type of love that involves food, objects, or even the love for your family and friends. Today I am talking about true love. The kind of love you have for another human being that you will spend the rest of your life with. Love is a fairly difficult word to describe because it has its own special meaning to each of us. Some may say that when you are in love with someone, you feel like you are at the top of the world. Others say that it is the need to be with the other person in order to be truly happy. It is having the other persons happiness be essential to your own.

"Love is the constant urge to be in ones presence. It is the sadness you get right as you depart. It is the child like feeling of happiness they give you, but also, the adult commitment you are so willing to give."  ~Unknown

"Love is the butterflies in your stomach when you can't live without her."  ~Hunter Roberts

"Love is the ability to feel for someone the completeness that fulfills you while allowing that person the freedom to be themselves." ~Tommy

"Love is compassion, forgiveness, understanding, charity, patience, selflessness, fairness..."  ~Unknown

If love is described as all these wonderful things, then why is it that some people feel the need to compete to be the "better couple"? Why do they try to impress other people by showing how good they are together, when all that really matters is the love between two people? Love is not a competition or a game. It is simply a part of life; a necessity, if you will. People can see how strong your love is by the way you treat the other person. By how much you trust them, and how you speak to them. This does not mean that your love is strong if you never fight, because a small argument here and there will happen. You show your love's strength by how you stand by the other person during the hard times, and the good times.

Take care of the one you love and love with all you have. Be committed to the person who has your heart. Love is not a game or a competition, so don't treat it like one. I promise, it will be worth it.

http://pl.st/p/21936441099

Inspiration!

       There are many different kinds of people in this world. There are different races, genders, backgrounds, those with certain religions or beliefs, and many, many more. Along with all the obvious things, there are the people who have the ability to inspire you, or impact your life in one way or another. When we hear the word "inspire", usually we think about good things these people do that make you want to be like them. But there is much more to it than just that. Some of the things people do can be things that are evil or not right. This may also give you the inspiration to make a change in the way things are. They give you an idea of what things you decide you wouldn't want to have done in your life. For example, there are some people who believe abusing people is the only way to get your point across. You may think "I don't want that life for my family or friends". This thought can lead to you doing something about it, like starting an awareness page on Facebook, or setting up a neighborhood watch for things like this (that is, if you don't have one already). The thing that inspires you may not be this drastic, but regardless of the situation, you know what I'm talking about.

       In my life, the things that inspire me most, are those who have been there for me through the good times and the bad. They have shown me how I can be a better friend, and how to make life better in general. I realized that there is always room for improvement, even if you think you are amazing at something, and that sometimes, criticism helps A TON. There is always something that we, as people, can change about our life and/or our ways of living. I have had people tell me that you have to have fun in life, or things won't be interesting. My grandpa, for example, is like a big kid; he starts food fights, water fights, and he teases all of us like we tease each other. He doesn't know it, but he is one person who has impacted my life for the better. He makes me want to be like the fun, crazy person he is. Just like my grandpa, some people don't even realize how much they impact someone, or if they even impact them at all.

       My advice to you, would be to look for ways to make your life better. Allow for improvement and criticism, but don't let the criticism make you feel bad, or take over your life. And last, but not least, try to be the one inspiring others. Live your life in such a way, that people will look up to you and that they'll want to do the things you do. It's hard to do sometimes, but all it takes is repetition. :)

10 Guidelines To A Happy Life

I have been thinking these past few days about my life, and I have come up with some guidelines and lessons that I have learned that may make things easier, not only for me, but for anyone who chooses to try these out. I hope you can use some of these in your life, too.

1. You HAVE to live!You can't just go through life only existing. You have to have fun, but at the same time, stick to the things you value most. Don't be afraid to enjoy life! I have two quotes that are my absolute favorite. The first one is one is by Mark Frost. It says, “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body. But rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up,totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming .... WOW what a ride.” The other is just as true as the first. Oscar Wilde wrote this next one, "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." Its important to live your life in such a way that you can look back after t's all over and say, "I am completely happy with the way my life turned out."

2. Ignore the people that only want to bring you down! It's not fair to you to let someone ruin your day when you could be absolutely happy. People aren't necessarily smart with their decisions, and they make mistakes. But that's what makes us human! There are billions of people in the world, and for you to let one person bring you down, well, that's just not good. Do what makes YOU happy, and forget about those with the bad intention to turn your frown upside down!

3. Take chances! Don't be afraid to stand out in the crowd. If people don't like you, who cares?! They don't have to live with you. All that matters is that you be the best you that you can be! I have this really cool friend, Karyn, who always said, "Whether you love me or you hate me, I'm still on yo mind." I'm not sure where she got it, but it rings true no matter what. Always remember that even though people may not like you, it doesn't mean you have done anything wrong. Just move on and forget them! You'll be so much happier!

4. Try new things! Go on adventures! There is so much out there to try and taste and do that there is almost a never-ending list. Go on new hikes, or try a new food. If you like it, GREAT! You have something else to add to the list of things you like. If you don't, well, at least you'll know not to do it or try it again. Just keep your values in mind, and don't try things that could harm you in anyway. Stay healthy and active. Get involved in clubs in school or  activities in your church or work place. You never know what you'll like until you give it a try!

5. Watch what you do and what you say. Everyone gets angry at one point or another, but we need to remember to not say things that we will regret. I try to watch the things I say because one day, the person I said it to won't be here and I may not have the chance to apologize for it. It's just easier to think before you speak instead of having to go back and correct a mistake like that. As for your actions, don't do anything that your 1st grade self would be ashamed of. It's easy in this society to just go with the flow and doing something that you once told yourself you would never do. Don't get caught up in that. Impress your younger self!

6.  Don't rush love! I know that there are so many people out there who don't want to be alone in life and fear being alone. Their natural response it to look for that attention and to feel that love. However, some people find love in the wrong places. Some of the things they think is love, is only a temporary happiness that will leave you feeling worse about yourself than you did before. Let REAL love find you. Don't go searching for a false happiness.

7.Don't hold grudges! It will only make you more miserable than the person that you are holding the grudge against. You just have to forgive and forget, no matter how hard that really is. On the other side, you have to be forgiving of the person with the grudge. Set the better example for other people and show them you can just brush these things off. Sooner or later, the whole incident won't even matter! You will forget all about it when you find the thing that makes you truly happy!

8. Follow your dreams! Don't let anyone tell you that you are not good enough or that you won't be able to do the things you want to do in life. Go after the things you desire! Don't limit yourself to what you know you can do, but go beyond and do those things others deemed impossible! Be the leader of your life and don't let anyone stop you from fulfilling your dreams! If they truly love you, they will support you and not hold you back.

9. Love with all your heart! Your family and friends are the most important. When you find your special someone, love them and hold them tight. Don't let go! Love them for all eternity. Never give up on them and never be afraid to show them how much you love them. Sometimes they may not know it. Fight for them with everything you have and cherish the time you have with them. Don't give them a single doubt of your love for them. Tell them you love them everyday and MEAN IT! Don't just pretend to love them because that hurts worse than leaving them. Be kind to them and let everything you do for them come from the heart. That is where the real prize is.

10. Laugh. A lot! Laughing is good for you! It is also contagious! Just be happy!

I know these things will work if you just apply them to your life. Even if you only use one guideline at a time. Just give it a shot :) It will be worth it!

Alcohol Poisoning Awareness

Shelby Allen.

Tonight i saw a presentation on something that has become a serious issue in the teenage world. It has found its way into the lives of some adults as well. The subject for tonight's blog post is Alcohol Poisoning. There is this wonderful woman by the name of Debbie Allen. She is the mother of Shelby Allen, who passed away on December 20, 2008. Shelby was a girl who simply loved life. Her motto was "Dig Life!" Her mother was so proud of her and loved her so much. Shelby had gone to a friends house for a party at approximately 12:40 am with her best friend, Alyssa, on this night. At this party, there was alcohol and parents that hadn't put a stop to this dangerous action. Shelby had a few drinks, ended up hitting her head on the toilet, and cut her lip and bruised her cheek. Her friend continued to take pictures and watch her as she lay propped up against the toilet. She was "half snoring and shaking", as her friend described. The next morning, Alyssa awoke to her friend, dead on the floor. This beautiful girl had been the victim of something that is 100% preventable. The autopsy had shown that all that was in her stomach at her time of death, was 8 oz of alcohol. (please visit her website: http://shelbysrulesfoundation.com)

However, Shelby is not the only one who has suffered from alcohol poisoning. There are many other people who have died from this fatal action. Please, if you see someone who is drinking, encourage them to stop. You just never know if you or your friend will be the unlucky one who does not wake up.

Shortly after the passing of her daughter, Debbie had come up with "Shelby's Rules". The first thing Shelby and her mother would like everyone to know, is that "Secrets Kill". Not calling 9-1-1 is basically allowing your friend to die. By keeping these things a secret, you aren't giving your friend the chance to live again. Studies have shown that 100% of the people that go into the emergency room with alcohol poisoning, and get the help they need, have come out just fine. They lived. You MUST notify someone of these things. Alcohol + Passed out(unresponsive) = 9-1-1.
Some of the symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:

• Vomiting
• Person cannot be roused
• Semi-consciousness or unconsciousness

Please do not be afraid to call. You are the difference between life and death for that person.
Also, there are some myths I would like to tell you about. Coffee is NOT a cure for a hangover. It takes time. Do NOT shower the victim. The water my be a shock to the victim and will put them in a coma and they will die. Letting them sleep it off is NOT an effective option. Again, they may slip into a coma and not wake up.

Braxton Anderson

Please educate everyone you know about this. There is nothing funny about seeing someone unconscious from the alcohol. We do not need someone to leave this earth for something like this. There is so much that I learned tonight. A lot of this was completely new to me.  I knew drinking was a problem, but I was not aware of how serious this is. Please check out The Allen's website and learn all you can about this. Who knows, maybe you can save the life of someone you know. Thank you so much for reading this. It means a lot to me. I love you all!

~This post was made in memory of Braxton Anderson, Shelby Anderson, and every other victim of alcohol poisoning. May you rest in peace.~

Be Cautious, Not Judgmental.

One night there was a woman at the airport who had to wait for several hours before catching her next flight. While she waited she bought a book and a pack of biscuits to spend the time. She looked for a place to sit and waited. She was deep into her book, when suddenly she realized that there was a young man sitting next to her who was stretching his hand, with no concern whatsoever, and grabbing the pack of cookies lying between them. He started to eat them one by one. Not wanting to make a fuss about it she decided to ignore him. The woman, slightly bothered, ate the cookies and watched the clock, while the young and shameless thief of biscuits was also finishing them. The woman started to get really angry at this point and thought ‘If I wasn’t such a good and educated person, I would have given this daring man a black eye by now.’

Every time she ate a biscuit, he had one too. The dialogue between their eyes continued and when only one biscuit was left, she wondered what was he going to do. Softly and with a nervous smile, the young man grabbed the last biscuit and broke it in two. He offered one half to the woman while he ate the other half. Briskly she took the biscuit and thought, ‘What an insolent man! How uneducated! He didn’t even thank me!’ She had never met anybody so fresh and sighed relieved to hear her flight announced. She grabbed her bags and went towards the boarding gate refusing to look back to where that insolent thief was seated. After boarding the plane and nicely seated, she looked for her book which was nearly finished by now. While looking into her bag she was totally surprised to find her pack of biscuits nearly intact. ‘If my biscuits are here’, she thought feeling terribly, ‘those others were his and he tried to share them with me.’ Too late to apologize to the young man, she realized with pain, that it was her who had been insolent, uneducated and a thief, and not him. (story borrowed from http://alqamardesigns.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/think-twice-before-judging-others/)

It's really easy for us to judge other people, especially if they don't come from the same type of living situation, or even the same class in our economy. Most of the time, people are judged by the clothing they wear and the little mistakes they make. We don't know the situations people are in, so who are we to judge them? In my opinion, we should leave the judging up to God, the one who knows every single person better than they know themselves. Get to know people. Don't immediately label them just because of what they wear. All this goes back to "Don't judge a book by it's cover." People aren't always what they seem. Besides, if you judge people, you have no time to love them. Be cautious about people (meaning look at their intentions and personalities), but under no circumstance should you be judgmental about their outward appearance. My mom always told me "I don't care if the people you see are blue, purple, orange, green, round, square, or have funny hair styles. Be nice to them, they could eventually be your best friend."

Independent!

This world we live in has become a little too comfortable with divorce. One problem with divorce, besides the fact you are no longer with the one you love, thought you loved, or were even pressured to be with, is that there are too many people that don't know how to support themselves. They aren't as independent as they thought. We typically see this with women, but men have the same problem. This also applies to any relationship in general. Sometimes we take our partner, boyfriend or girlfriend for granted and try to convince ourselves that they will never leave. The truth is, whether they leave or not, we still need to gain our independence. We can't always rely on other people. If we did that, we would get nowhere. We would have other people doing the work for us and we would have no pride in the things we do or the things we earn for ourselves. In an honest opinion, I believe that is part of how the abusive relationships start. The reason I say this, is because once the other person knows how much we depend on them, they begin to realize that they can make you do anything. Ladies, please don't let your husbands, boyfriends, or even guy friends take advantage of you like that. Stand up for yourself. Become independent and let them know that they cannot take away your freedom. Gentlemen, it is good to be attached to a woman and love her. But be sure that you can support yourself if anything does happen. It is crucial that we find ways to be independent. Especially in the place we call "home".

In closing, I would just like to share this quote by Toba Beta. "“Man will never be stronger nor independent if he lives under perpetual motivation of others.”

I hope everyone can learn to be independent because I know you have the potential to do great things. But I also caution you. If you become to independent, you may get to the point where you push your friends away. Maybe even know that you need help, but not ask for it. Please recognize those times and accept the help that is being offered. It's not a bad thing to ask for help as long as you are willing to accept it.

You Are Not Alone

If you look around the world, you may notice that a lot of people are becoming more and more depressed. Some of this depression is triggered by financial problems, relationship problems, abuse, and some are simply because they don't feel that they fit in. The people that suffer from depression, often try and find a release for that stress. Unfortunately, some of these "solutions" are very dangerous. Cutting and suicide are some of the more serious ones. And, although solitude seems great, it does the same amount of harm. People who have depression may think that they are alone, and that the only thing left to do is harm themselves. This is not true, though. It is important for those with this mindset to realize that there are better, more effective solutions to getting rid of your depression. Let them know they can turn to you and let them know you will be waiting, arms wide open, and ready to help. Reassurance is a priceless gift to someone who needs your comfort.

"Many of us spend our whole lives running from feeling with the mistaken belief that you cannot bear the pain. But you have already borne the pain. What you have not done is feel all you are beyond that pain."

This is a quote by Kahlil Gibran that I found very inspirational. All we need to do, is give hope to those who have even the slightest hint of depression. It is always important to be there for them. To help them realize that they have so much to live for, and by doing the things that they could be doing to harm themselves, it is not making their situation any better. They need to know that they are so much more than they give themselves credit for. We can never leave those people alone because if we do, things may go to far, and our help is no longer effective. Show them the love that they need.

When Drinks Consume You

During my long and full 17 years, 51 weeks, and 6 days of life, I have seen many situations where people have had a strong addiction to alcohol. Not only is it not healthy, but it is also sad. Many people who are addicted to alcohol often cannot see that it is harmful to them, until it's too late. Plus, it not only affects the person, but it affects the people they know, people around them, and people that they don't even know. What they don't know, is that while they are drinking, life is slipping by them. They are so obsessed with their alcohol and feel that they need it so badly, that they forget what is really important. They waste their money for a temporary "happiness, when they could be saving to get a better job, or to support their family.

"If you need an excuse for why you don't drink alcohol, you could say that addiction runs in your family and you don't want to try it even once because you may not stop until you are dead in a puddle of your own vomit or smashed into the side of a mini-van with children's body parts scattered around your corpse."

~Duane Alan Hahn

Although this seems grotesque and hard to think about, these are real live situations that happen to thousands of people every day. This is the cold hard truth. The Japanese Proverbs states, "First the man takes a drink; then the drink takes a drink; then the drink takes the man." I believe this to be true because a lot of the time, it only takes one. One sluff. One cigarette. One drink. That's all it takes for everything to change in the blink of an eye.

Fun without challenge, without inner satisfaction, often comes from surrogate motivators influencing one's actions and perceptions. More often than not, something like this is considered "fun" because it is a lack of "pain", be it social, physical, or psychological pain. For example, if you are programmed with social expectations that drinking and partying are key steps in securing one's self-worth, and that not having a bar life makes one lame and unaccepted, then one can squander away much of life in a drunken stupor, blissfully thinking all is fun with this programmed lifestyle.

~Montalk

P.S. I love you, Uncle Jason. Please think about life and how you can better yourself. And always remember, I love you and so do a lot of people.

Live Life To The Fullest

When making certain decisions, people often refer to the saying, "you only live once..." What they do not look at is the last part: "...but if you do it right, once is enough." (Quote by Mae West) Throughout my years in school, I have heard this quote spoken when people are talking about whether or not to have sex or do some other crazy thing. In order to live a full life, you have to do the things that you won't feel guilty admitting to someone you look up to or someone you are trying to impress. It' good to do crazy things, but not things you can possibly get in trouble for doing. If you live your life to the fullest, you should have no regrets. You should be happy with how your life went, and not just satisfied that it wasn't horrible. I recently found a quote by Oscar Wilde that says, "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."  I believe this to be true because you can either do what you have to to get by, or you can take the high road and make it worth your while. You have to live life to some extent anyway, so why not make it amazing in the process?

Albert Einstein once said, "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." This quote is similar to the one about looking at the glass as half full, instead of half empty. Be positive because it makes life more fun and exciting. Plus, it is easier to be happy when you are positive instead of down and pessimistic. Try to not take things for granted. Be grateful for what you have.

Many people associate wealth with money, and not with life. Living life to the fullest is a great way to show you're wealthy. Life is not always about being a millionaire or becoming the next top model. It is about doing what makes you happy and being all that you want to be. That is what will make you the richest person in the world, even if you only have one penny to your name.