Emanuel Swedenburg once said ~Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return. It is the joy of our life to do them. When we do good things from this inner desire, there is kindness in everything we think, say, want, and do.~ Every person has the ability to be kind, it's just a matter of finding it within ourselves. Let me ask you this question, have you done anything that was out of the goodness of your heart for someone and expecting nothing in return? Or did someone do something for you out of the goodness of his or her heart that warranted the same result? Initially, it's from these so-called good samaritans that they perform random acts of kindness.
If you think about it, a person can't give what he or she doesn't have due to one's own personal experiences of being hurt emotionally and/or personally. We've all come across certain people that if you genuinely do something nice, that person thinks there is a hidden agenda. Far from it, for it is the mindset of that good samaritan that doing one kind thing for one person will have somewhat of a ripple effect. In other words, what was done out of kindness for that person will hopefully be done by other people as well. Initially, a person can be an inspiration just by sharing one's joy of life by doing something that can sometimes be lost, which is to smile.
Undoubtedly, when someone smiles at you your initial reaction is to smile back which is a common courtesy. Yet one can be a bit weary of that person's smile because he or she can't determine his or her true intentions behind that smile, but I digress. At some point in time, each of us will meet or come across someone that when you have a conversation with him or her, either through email, instant message, or in person you smile and laugh because of the vibe that particular person exudes. It's from interacting with that person that there is a smile in their heart which is made of gold. Kindness can absolutely change the complexity of a person's demeanor or attitude just by giving someone some much needed kind words.
Mark Twain once said, ~Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.~ A person can do something nice without even knowing it and though he or she can't see or hear it, other people can. In the whole scheme of things, kindness costs nothing and it never wears out. For when something such as a kind smile is gen away, it is usually returned back; but when you lose it, someone will come along to help you find it. You never really forget the someone who somehow knows when you need cheering up at a time in your life when things aren't going so well. It can open your eyes, as well as your heart, to know there is a person out there who is always thinking about you, which is a comforting thought indeed.
Since graduating from High School in 1996, I have been writing my thoughts down and it wasn't until 2 years ago that I decided to share these Yodaisms with other people. Whether or not I have made an impact, if any, or your lives is inconsequential because each and every one of you have made an impact on me. Sending out Valentine's Day, Woman's Day, and Birthday e-cards, for the ladies, were done not because I had to, but because I wanted to. For if it put a smile on each of your faces and made your day then that is just an added bonus which tells me that I'm doing something right even if I don't know it. In the end, you never know what a kind word or gesture will get you unless one tries, you may actually like it.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Saturday, February 26, 2005
The Hard Way
Someone once said, ~Life isn't supposed to be an all or nothing battle between misery and bliss. Life isn't supposed to be a battle at all. And when it comes to happiness, well, sometimes life is just okay, sometimes its comfortable, sometimes wonderful, sometimes boring, sometimes unpleasant. When your day's not perfect, it's not a failure or a terrible loss. It's just another day.~ Oftentimes life doesn't coincide with one's own expectations of how it should go. In our own ambition to see things that bring joy and pleasure into each of our lives we tend to ignore the things that make one's smile turn upside down. In a way, it's like signing a contract and every now then, the fine print will show up and bit you in the butt.
Growing up is hard enough as it is without having to deal with trying to figure out one's own identity in life. From the minute we are born and into our teenage years, one will try to carve out a niche in life for himself and herself by establishing one's individuality. It's in our own individuality that sets us apart from every other person who wants to be like or dress like the other kids. It's that inner struggle within ourselves that we can sell out and try to be someone whose family and friends will not be able to recognize and probably not like. In some aspects, as kids, we can go through so many contract negotiations with our parents to try to find absolute common ground and be content with the finality of what both have agreed upon.
Undoubtedly, when each of us enters adulthood, the conscious choices one makes will be, at times, costly. For our stress level will go through the roof, in a manner of speaking, when certain obstacles are knowingly or unknowingly put in front of us. It's at this stage of our lives that we learn what it's like to be a responsible adult and when we have those big mess ups, we not only mess it up for ourselves we can mess it up for other people as well. It's these mistakes in life that one has to simply deal with our transgressions with the utmost dignity and grace. If not, one will create an even bigger hole for one to climb out of and that's a part of life which isn't found in one's contract of life; we just have to figure it out on our own.
Consequently, when it comes to falling in love, there is no absolute guarantee that the contract will be with you and that special someone will last. We all tend to ignore the fine print when one falls in love and we're just happy; but when one gets burned that happiness turns to sadness and that fine print will seem clear as day. It's within that metaphorical document written in small bold letters that life is not responsible for one to become angry, bitter, lonely, and depressed when a feeling such as love doesn't quite work out. Initially, it can leave a big hole in one's heart to the point where it hurts when the wind passes through and everytime there is even a slight possibility of falling in love again one will keep in mind the fine print.
In retrospect, a person tends to think that he or she has life's most difficult problems solved. For it's in one's contract that a person can try to find loopholes to get something more out of life. Without a doubt, each of us wants the simple life where we don't have to continually worry where the money is going to come from. Yet, life doesn't work that way as we just have to work with the contract that life gives us, which isn't much. We may not have all the things that life has to offer such as materialistic possessions and someone to share our lives with, but it's a work in progress. In the end, life without question is hard and sometimes it doesn't take the easy way to figure that out, you have to figure that out the hard way.
Growing up is hard enough as it is without having to deal with trying to figure out one's own identity in life. From the minute we are born and into our teenage years, one will try to carve out a niche in life for himself and herself by establishing one's individuality. It's in our own individuality that sets us apart from every other person who wants to be like or dress like the other kids. It's that inner struggle within ourselves that we can sell out and try to be someone whose family and friends will not be able to recognize and probably not like. In some aspects, as kids, we can go through so many contract negotiations with our parents to try to find absolute common ground and be content with the finality of what both have agreed upon.
Undoubtedly, when each of us enters adulthood, the conscious choices one makes will be, at times, costly. For our stress level will go through the roof, in a manner of speaking, when certain obstacles are knowingly or unknowingly put in front of us. It's at this stage of our lives that we learn what it's like to be a responsible adult and when we have those big mess ups, we not only mess it up for ourselves we can mess it up for other people as well. It's these mistakes in life that one has to simply deal with our transgressions with the utmost dignity and grace. If not, one will create an even bigger hole for one to climb out of and that's a part of life which isn't found in one's contract of life; we just have to figure it out on our own.
Consequently, when it comes to falling in love, there is no absolute guarantee that the contract will be with you and that special someone will last. We all tend to ignore the fine print when one falls in love and we're just happy; but when one gets burned that happiness turns to sadness and that fine print will seem clear as day. It's within that metaphorical document written in small bold letters that life is not responsible for one to become angry, bitter, lonely, and depressed when a feeling such as love doesn't quite work out. Initially, it can leave a big hole in one's heart to the point where it hurts when the wind passes through and everytime there is even a slight possibility of falling in love again one will keep in mind the fine print.
In retrospect, a person tends to think that he or she has life's most difficult problems solved. For it's in one's contract that a person can try to find loopholes to get something more out of life. Without a doubt, each of us wants the simple life where we don't have to continually worry where the money is going to come from. Yet, life doesn't work that way as we just have to work with the contract that life gives us, which isn't much. We may not have all the things that life has to offer such as materialistic possessions and someone to share our lives with, but it's a work in progress. In the end, life without question is hard and sometimes it doesn't take the easy way to figure that out, you have to figure that out the hard way.
Friday, February 25, 2005
You Got Served
Without a doubt music plays a big part in expressing one's self through dancing. For our inhibitions can be thrown out the window, in a manner of speaking, as you completely let yourself go to the rhythm, beat, and sound of the music that plays. Depending on how fast or slow the song is played a sort of Pavlovian reaction takes place when a certain song comes and one immediately heads to the dance floor. Let me ask you this question, do you feel like you are in a whole other world as you or your dance partner(s) tear it up? If you think about it, when a person is on the dance floor busting a move, one's problems seem to take a back seat. For it gives an outlet to release one's frustrations of the day or week.
When a person gets his or her groove on, that person doesn't care what other people think. For as long as one is having fun, the opinions of others, who believe that he or she is dancing like a fool, doesn't mean anything. Initially, it's those that dance like a fool who create spectacular dance routines and moves that wow the crowd. It's the type of moves that when you see it you're amazed at feets of skill and talent that these individuals have. It can simply boggle the mind in the creativity that certain people have who can take one's body too the limit and not wind up in a recovery room suffering from hyperextension or broken bones. In my opinion, it's an artform that so few can accomplish but many want to try.
We've all done or at least tried to do the moonwalk, which is Michael Jackson's trademark move. BUT, did you know that many of the dance moves of the 80's 90's and today are either updated, added to, or borrowed and originated in the late 60's and early 70's? Michael Jackson's moonwalk wasn't his, its original name was the Goodfoot and the man who performed was the Godfather of Soul James Brown. You see, you learn something new everyday and you thought this would just be a regular Yodaism. One has to give respect for the pioneers of dance moves of years past that originated from the late 60's by people who simply danced in the ghetto streets of NYC.
Growing up in the 80's, breakdancing was the thing to do for young kids like myself who wanted to try it. Moves such as the robot, headspin, windmill, the worm, and flaring were considered movies that looked simple to do if one practiced to perfect it. Young school kids, like myself, would try moves that the older kids saw in the movies and were taught to us in our school playgrounds. It was a way to make friends and bond with kids that now you shared something in common with even though one was in a different social circle. Now that I am older, there are some moves that I can still do such as the moonwalk and robot; but moves such as the worm, if I tried now, I would not be able to get back up again.
About 2 weeks ago, the Youth Center held a Valentine's Day dance for the kids and we chaperoned it. The teenagers really enjoyed themselves as they hung out with their friends, listened and danced to their favorite songs such as Ciara's 1,2 Step. During the festivities, a dance battle between the girls and boys happened in which I subsequently became the MC to it. Both the girls and boys traded dances moves back and forth to each other. The dance skills were impressive as they performed moves that absolutely no words could describe, you just had to see it to believe it. Even though the girls gave their all, the boys were proclaimed the winners. In the end, they turned to the girls and said all together, You Got Served!
When a person gets his or her groove on, that person doesn't care what other people think. For as long as one is having fun, the opinions of others, who believe that he or she is dancing like a fool, doesn't mean anything. Initially, it's those that dance like a fool who create spectacular dance routines and moves that wow the crowd. It's the type of moves that when you see it you're amazed at feets of skill and talent that these individuals have. It can simply boggle the mind in the creativity that certain people have who can take one's body too the limit and not wind up in a recovery room suffering from hyperextension or broken bones. In my opinion, it's an artform that so few can accomplish but many want to try.
We've all done or at least tried to do the moonwalk, which is Michael Jackson's trademark move. BUT, did you know that many of the dance moves of the 80's 90's and today are either updated, added to, or borrowed and originated in the late 60's and early 70's? Michael Jackson's moonwalk wasn't his, its original name was the Goodfoot and the man who performed was the Godfather of Soul James Brown. You see, you learn something new everyday and you thought this would just be a regular Yodaism. One has to give respect for the pioneers of dance moves of years past that originated from the late 60's by people who simply danced in the ghetto streets of NYC.
Growing up in the 80's, breakdancing was the thing to do for young kids like myself who wanted to try it. Moves such as the robot, headspin, windmill, the worm, and flaring were considered movies that looked simple to do if one practiced to perfect it. Young school kids, like myself, would try moves that the older kids saw in the movies and were taught to us in our school playgrounds. It was a way to make friends and bond with kids that now you shared something in common with even though one was in a different social circle. Now that I am older, there are some moves that I can still do such as the moonwalk and robot; but moves such as the worm, if I tried now, I would not be able to get back up again.
About 2 weeks ago, the Youth Center held a Valentine's Day dance for the kids and we chaperoned it. The teenagers really enjoyed themselves as they hung out with their friends, listened and danced to their favorite songs such as Ciara's 1,2 Step. During the festivities, a dance battle between the girls and boys happened in which I subsequently became the MC to it. Both the girls and boys traded dances moves back and forth to each other. The dance skills were impressive as they performed moves that absolutely no words could describe, you just had to see it to believe it. Even though the girls gave their all, the boys were proclaimed the winners. In the end, they turned to the girls and said all together, You Got Served!
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Whisper In the Wind
Someone once said, ~Who knows what true loneliness is, not the conventional word, but the naked terror? To the lonely themselves it wears a mask. The most miserable outcast hugs some memory or some illusion. Now and then a fatal conjunction of events may lift the veil for an instant. For an instant only. No human being could bear a steady view of moral solitude without going mad.~ There comes a point in every person's life where you start missing someone that you never even met or only met just once. It's an unmistakable feeling that grows with time and no matter how hard one tries to take it off it will still come back. One surely suppresses that feeling but it will, in a way, come back and haunt a person.
Each one of us has spent periods of time alone during our lives. If you think about it, there are others out there who feel lonely, which is good to know because at least you are in the same boat, so to speak, with many other people. It's never really easy to meet someone who you can genuinely talk to and not not act like a complete idiot or dork around him or her. It's especially tough when one's shyness can get in the way or one isn't much of a talkative person. Initially, we're all social beings who feel the need for human contact and whether it be physical, emotional, spiritual, or metaphorical, it leads us to someone that one can hopefully share his or her thoughts and feelings with.
Yet, it's hard these days to know what to say when you meet new people who may or may not have anything in common. For it is in the technological age we live in where meeting new people is just a click away with email, online dating, instant messaging, and chat rooms. Though these are great alternatives to "meeting" people, absolutely nothing can replace the feeling of a human touch where one can actually see someone smile at you, feel a hug that is given back, a hand stroking one's cheek, and taste that kiss that is considered passionate when one's lips touches another will love. In the whole scheme of things, the internet can either bring a positive or a negative in one's life, it all in how one perceives it to be.
Let me ask you this question, have you ever thought to yourself that you aren't worthy or interesting to be noticed? For me personally, I can honestly say that I feel that way most days BUT I surround myself with great friends that continually keep me uplifted and encourage me that my day will come. In any case, a person will oftentimes think that he or she will be alone for the rest of one's life, which would be a fate worse than death. Every person wants to be and feel loved by that one guy or girl who one can spend all his or her days with. Inevitably, each of us, who are living the single life either by choice or unfortunate circumstance, want an honest to goodness real relationship.
In retrospect, it's within our dreams that each of us are never alone. For the pain that one can suffer in his or her heart will never be felt, but in reality it's still there eating away at each of us. In a way, it's a burning sensation that can't be extinguished by pouring water on it; it needs words of hope and love that will most definitely breathe new life into a seemingly dying soul. Ultimately, it's in our dream that Ms./Mr. Right loudly calls out our name as he or she seems to be getting closer in one's echoe filled mind. In the end, as with all dreams they end. For that loud echo of your name that was heard so very clearly is now just a whisper in the wind as you sit up in your bed and find yourself all alone.
Each one of us has spent periods of time alone during our lives. If you think about it, there are others out there who feel lonely, which is good to know because at least you are in the same boat, so to speak, with many other people. It's never really easy to meet someone who you can genuinely talk to and not not act like a complete idiot or dork around him or her. It's especially tough when one's shyness can get in the way or one isn't much of a talkative person. Initially, we're all social beings who feel the need for human contact and whether it be physical, emotional, spiritual, or metaphorical, it leads us to someone that one can hopefully share his or her thoughts and feelings with.
Yet, it's hard these days to know what to say when you meet new people who may or may not have anything in common. For it is in the technological age we live in where meeting new people is just a click away with email, online dating, instant messaging, and chat rooms. Though these are great alternatives to "meeting" people, absolutely nothing can replace the feeling of a human touch where one can actually see someone smile at you, feel a hug that is given back, a hand stroking one's cheek, and taste that kiss that is considered passionate when one's lips touches another will love. In the whole scheme of things, the internet can either bring a positive or a negative in one's life, it all in how one perceives it to be.
Let me ask you this question, have you ever thought to yourself that you aren't worthy or interesting to be noticed? For me personally, I can honestly say that I feel that way most days BUT I surround myself with great friends that continually keep me uplifted and encourage me that my day will come. In any case, a person will oftentimes think that he or she will be alone for the rest of one's life, which would be a fate worse than death. Every person wants to be and feel loved by that one guy or girl who one can spend all his or her days with. Inevitably, each of us, who are living the single life either by choice or unfortunate circumstance, want an honest to goodness real relationship.
In retrospect, it's within our dreams that each of us are never alone. For the pain that one can suffer in his or her heart will never be felt, but in reality it's still there eating away at each of us. In a way, it's a burning sensation that can't be extinguished by pouring water on it; it needs words of hope and love that will most definitely breathe new life into a seemingly dying soul. Ultimately, it's in our dream that Ms./Mr. Right loudly calls out our name as he or she seems to be getting closer in one's echoe filled mind. In the end, as with all dreams they end. For that loud echo of your name that was heard so very clearly is now just a whisper in the wind as you sit up in your bed and find yourself all alone.
Monday, February 21, 2005
Head Of The Class
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, ~Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one's own sunshine.~ I've come across this quote many times and never really could understand what it meant until now. In some aspect, each of us is attending the school of life and the world we live in is one big classroom. For the lessons of life are constantly being taught by each and every person one meets who are somewhat considered teachers. Whether it be directly or indirectly he or she can open your eyes and reveal things from a totally different perspective. It's not until we find the answers, which will shed light on our particular situation, that we will continue to stay in the shadows and question everything.
Let me ask you this question, when it came to choosing your seat in the classroom what seat did you pick? For some students, they would choose the back because it represents a place that one can disappear from and hide in the shadows, so to speak. In a way, that is how some people are as they don't want to be noticed and live a life of obscurity. It's a mindset in which a person thinks if he or she is safe in a sea of faces that one will hopefully never be seen and called upon to answer the questions that are either important or unimportant. Yet, life doesn't work that way as there are certain things in life that can't be avoided and solved just by disappearing and hiding.
For other students, they thoroughly enjoy sitting up front and soaking up the knowledge that the teacher is giving to him or her. It's these particular people that stay out of the shadows and are in constant view of the teacher, which can be labeled a teacher's pet. A label that usually comes with consequences as he or she lives a life of torment and ridicule. It's from that person's perspective that if he or she is constantly heard and seen then one will always be remembered, but that is not often the case. Undoubtedly, they may know all the answers to the questions that will be asked, but when it comes to answering questions that concern one's life in general, one usually doesn't have the answer to it.
In any case, for most students, the middle of the classroom is chosen for the simple reason that even though one wants to be seen and answer questions from time to time, he or she doesn't necessarily want to be hidden completely from the world. Initially, a person has that mindset that one can have the best of both worlds, in a manner of speaking, as he or she has one foot in the shadows and the other in light. In a way, it's like a proverbial balance and on any given day one can tip the scales as he or she can be a person who wants to be seen and noticed or the person who wants to disappear. It's within this place, which is considered neutral ground or comfort zone, that he or she is absolutely comfortable in.
As JayZ put it, people can live a hard knock life and in the whole scheme of things we have to go through the school of hard knocks to find out what we are made of. In retrospect, each of may or may not have all the answers that life puts in front of us, but it will be a challenge to try to figure them out. When it comes to life, there are no right or wrong answers; you just go figure it out for yourself. The questions may be the same but the answers may have a different meaning for each of us. In the end, it's the teacher who usually decides whether you are up front, in the middle, or in the back of the class; but when you finally decide to completely step out of the shadows, then you've finally graduated to the head of the class.
Let me ask you this question, when it came to choosing your seat in the classroom what seat did you pick? For some students, they would choose the back because it represents a place that one can disappear from and hide in the shadows, so to speak. In a way, that is how some people are as they don't want to be noticed and live a life of obscurity. It's a mindset in which a person thinks if he or she is safe in a sea of faces that one will hopefully never be seen and called upon to answer the questions that are either important or unimportant. Yet, life doesn't work that way as there are certain things in life that can't be avoided and solved just by disappearing and hiding.
For other students, they thoroughly enjoy sitting up front and soaking up the knowledge that the teacher is giving to him or her. It's these particular people that stay out of the shadows and are in constant view of the teacher, which can be labeled a teacher's pet. A label that usually comes with consequences as he or she lives a life of torment and ridicule. It's from that person's perspective that if he or she is constantly heard and seen then one will always be remembered, but that is not often the case. Undoubtedly, they may know all the answers to the questions that will be asked, but when it comes to answering questions that concern one's life in general, one usually doesn't have the answer to it.
In any case, for most students, the middle of the classroom is chosen for the simple reason that even though one wants to be seen and answer questions from time to time, he or she doesn't necessarily want to be hidden completely from the world. Initially, a person has that mindset that one can have the best of both worlds, in a manner of speaking, as he or she has one foot in the shadows and the other in light. In a way, it's like a proverbial balance and on any given day one can tip the scales as he or she can be a person who wants to be seen and noticed or the person who wants to disappear. It's within this place, which is considered neutral ground or comfort zone, that he or she is absolutely comfortable in.
As JayZ put it, people can live a hard knock life and in the whole scheme of things we have to go through the school of hard knocks to find out what we are made of. In retrospect, each of may or may not have all the answers that life puts in front of us, but it will be a challenge to try to figure them out. When it comes to life, there are no right or wrong answers; you just go figure it out for yourself. The questions may be the same but the answers may have a different meaning for each of us. In the end, it's the teacher who usually decides whether you are up front, in the middle, or in the back of the class; but when you finally decide to completely step out of the shadows, then you've finally graduated to the head of the class.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Right On Schedule
If you think about it, each of us live our lives on a set schedule that at times will or will not be met. It's the constant daily grind that a person will go through to do things and meet certain people that will have him or her feeling both physically and mentally fatigued. Have you ever been in a situation where you had a million things to do in one day that when you first look at that seemingly endless list, one's reaction is either to cry or scream out loud. Oftentimes in life, the things we plan in the present or the road ahead don't necessarily correspond with who or what might come one's way. In some ways, it will throw a proverbial monkey wrench into the works and have one's schedule all out of whack, so to speak.
There are times on those very rare occasions where that proverbial monkey wrench is a person that you never expected to walk into your life without being scheduled or asked to make an appointment. It's that one particular person who you would completely clear and/or cancel everything that he or she has on one's calendar just to meet him or her. Each of us are walking our personal journey of life and at times, we will or have come across someone on our journey that just takes us totally by surprise. It's been said that a person who initially isn't looking for love will find it and will soon realize it at some point in time. Yet, it doesn't start off as love but rather a friendship that grows after time when two people get to know each other.
In any case, we all make appointments to be somewhere or to meet someone in order to fulfill a specific obligation to be met. Sometimes it can be a mandatory meeting or a meeting that is considered special where time is spent together. Yet, it's those same appointments which can be broken or not met at all and seemingly its certain people that he or she puts one's friendship, trust, faith, and/or love in to be there but never fail to show up. Let me ask you this question, is there a person in your life who has always shown up either in person or in spirit when life just gets rough? In a way, that person somehow knows when you are having a bad day or just needs some encouragement to make a person feel better about themselves.
Oftentimes, it seems that a person spends so much time meeting his or her schedule and appointments that there isn't time for a social life, if any. It's one's co-workers and classmates that tend to be the only faces he or she sees on a daily basis, which tends to make a person feel sick, tired, and a little restless. For the little amount of free time one has it ends up spending with friends, a significant other, or in some instances going online and surfing the web. It's within instant messaging and/or email that one will socialize with people or someone that peaks his or her interest. Though it may not seem like much, when you receive an email, you know that someone thought about you which can make your day.
Someone once said, ~A relationship is like a train. If one passes, then the next one will come. I'm sure and if you get off the train, you'll realize that everything is the same.~ For it can be that way with love, but more meaningful as a person tries to run after it. Sometimes, one feels as though his or her timing is completely off as a person stands on the platform of life and sees the opportunity to start a potential relationship roll away. In retrospect, you can't predict when love will stop at our platforms as we metaphorically stand there waiting for that one specific train to arrive. In the end, that one train which carries that someone special, is never really late; as a matter of fact, it will be considered right on schedule.
There are times on those very rare occasions where that proverbial monkey wrench is a person that you never expected to walk into your life without being scheduled or asked to make an appointment. It's that one particular person who you would completely clear and/or cancel everything that he or she has on one's calendar just to meet him or her. Each of us are walking our personal journey of life and at times, we will or have come across someone on our journey that just takes us totally by surprise. It's been said that a person who initially isn't looking for love will find it and will soon realize it at some point in time. Yet, it doesn't start off as love but rather a friendship that grows after time when two people get to know each other.
In any case, we all make appointments to be somewhere or to meet someone in order to fulfill a specific obligation to be met. Sometimes it can be a mandatory meeting or a meeting that is considered special where time is spent together. Yet, it's those same appointments which can be broken or not met at all and seemingly its certain people that he or she puts one's friendship, trust, faith, and/or love in to be there but never fail to show up. Let me ask you this question, is there a person in your life who has always shown up either in person or in spirit when life just gets rough? In a way, that person somehow knows when you are having a bad day or just needs some encouragement to make a person feel better about themselves.
Oftentimes, it seems that a person spends so much time meeting his or her schedule and appointments that there isn't time for a social life, if any. It's one's co-workers and classmates that tend to be the only faces he or she sees on a daily basis, which tends to make a person feel sick, tired, and a little restless. For the little amount of free time one has it ends up spending with friends, a significant other, or in some instances going online and surfing the web. It's within instant messaging and/or email that one will socialize with people or someone that peaks his or her interest. Though it may not seem like much, when you receive an email, you know that someone thought about you which can make your day.
Someone once said, ~A relationship is like a train. If one passes, then the next one will come. I'm sure and if you get off the train, you'll realize that everything is the same.~ For it can be that way with love, but more meaningful as a person tries to run after it. Sometimes, one feels as though his or her timing is completely off as a person stands on the platform of life and sees the opportunity to start a potential relationship roll away. In retrospect, you can't predict when love will stop at our platforms as we metaphorically stand there waiting for that one specific train to arrive. In the end, that one train which carries that someone special, is never really late; as a matter of fact, it will be considered right on schedule.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Take It Or Leave It
Wilford Peterson once said, ~The art of being yourself at your best is the art of unfolding your personality into the person you want to be...Be gentle with yourself, lern to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for ony as we have the right attitude toward ourselves can we have the right toward others.~ Thinking about it, myself and every red-blooded male never really knows if a female is truly interested in who we really are. It can be difficult to figure out as we meet and talk with a potential female of interest that one has been getting to know or just getting to know. Inevitably, we try to be ourselves as our personality shines through and hopefully that particular female will not be blinded by who she sees in front of her.
Women are an absolute mystery because, as a guy, we have no idea if any of us fit the the endless list of qualities that they are looking for in a potential mate. In a way, it's like trying to create a formula, which will inherently bring one to the answer that leads her to that so called perfect guy. It's within this formula/klist that the question can be asked whether it's looks or personality or both that matter to a woman in the end. Consequently, it's up to her to proverbially weed out the egotistical jerks and find a guy who is abosultely worth give her heart to, which is hard to find these days. It's just a matter of looking int he right places rather than looking in the wrong places.
Let me ask you this queston, what attracts you most about a person when you first meet them? Is it the outward appearance or the inward appearance that compels you to strike up a conversation and in turn become truly interested in him or her. Oftentimes, there is no attraction at first only until he or she gets to know that particular person and get a better understanding of who he or she. In some ways, that attraction can be infected by that person's presence and will leave a lasting impression, in a good way of course. As a guy, it takes me a while to figure out if I am really attracted to someone and if I truly am I will take time to get to know her. The old school ways of courting a woman still work in my book.
In any case, each of us can sometimes have personality issues as we meet someone new that we want to get to know. It's simply part of being human as one tends to have that mindset that we want to meet someone that basically has the same interests. A person with an easy going, laid back attitude who doesn't take one's self too seriously and can laugh at the most stupidest and craziest things that happen in life. A person one can absolutely call a best friend but knows that sometimes space is needed to grow even closer. In some ways that is who I'm looking for and hopefully if she is out there that particular person will one day stand at my door, knock, and will ask to come in.
Last Friday, I sent out a personality test which compares certain personality traits with a certain animal type. I'm a Golden Retriever, but have a little lion and otter in me as well. As a Golden Retriever, I tend to feel deeply for certain things or people which comes with working with kids, but I don't have difficulty saying no to them. I'm an introverted person who likes being by myself at times. I'm also a person of habit and I don't like breaking a set routine that works. I'm a calm, reserved, even keel person which "my kids" might disagree with that, but I do know when to let my hair down, so to speak. Ultimately, do those personality traits consider me an interesting and/or attractive person for any female out there? Who knows, but she has to either take it or leave it because that is who I am and I'm comfortable being myself.
Women are an absolute mystery because, as a guy, we have no idea if any of us fit the the endless list of qualities that they are looking for in a potential mate. In a way, it's like trying to create a formula, which will inherently bring one to the answer that leads her to that so called perfect guy. It's within this formula/klist that the question can be asked whether it's looks or personality or both that matter to a woman in the end. Consequently, it's up to her to proverbially weed out the egotistical jerks and find a guy who is abosultely worth give her heart to, which is hard to find these days. It's just a matter of looking int he right places rather than looking in the wrong places.
Let me ask you this queston, what attracts you most about a person when you first meet them? Is it the outward appearance or the inward appearance that compels you to strike up a conversation and in turn become truly interested in him or her. Oftentimes, there is no attraction at first only until he or she gets to know that particular person and get a better understanding of who he or she. In some ways, that attraction can be infected by that person's presence and will leave a lasting impression, in a good way of course. As a guy, it takes me a while to figure out if I am really attracted to someone and if I truly am I will take time to get to know her. The old school ways of courting a woman still work in my book.
In any case, each of us can sometimes have personality issues as we meet someone new that we want to get to know. It's simply part of being human as one tends to have that mindset that we want to meet someone that basically has the same interests. A person with an easy going, laid back attitude who doesn't take one's self too seriously and can laugh at the most stupidest and craziest things that happen in life. A person one can absolutely call a best friend but knows that sometimes space is needed to grow even closer. In some ways that is who I'm looking for and hopefully if she is out there that particular person will one day stand at my door, knock, and will ask to come in.
Last Friday, I sent out a personality test which compares certain personality traits with a certain animal type. I'm a Golden Retriever, but have a little lion and otter in me as well. As a Golden Retriever, I tend to feel deeply for certain things or people which comes with working with kids, but I don't have difficulty saying no to them. I'm an introverted person who likes being by myself at times. I'm also a person of habit and I don't like breaking a set routine that works. I'm a calm, reserved, even keel person which "my kids" might disagree with that, but I do know when to let my hair down, so to speak. Ultimately, do those personality traits consider me an interesting and/or attractive person for any female out there? Who knows, but she has to either take it or leave it because that is who I am and I'm comfortable being myself.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Top Of The Mountain
Someone said, ~People are unreasonable, illogical, and self centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with smallest mind. Think big anyway. People favor underdogs but follow top dogs. Fight for some underdogs anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. Give the world the best you've got anyway.
If you think about it, in our own ambition to succeed in certain aspects of life, a person will go though many peaks and valleys in order to get where one wants to be. It's within those peaks and valleys that he or she will found out if what one is really doing will matter in his or her own future. For it will also determine what type of person you are as life's most greatest challenges will be put in front of us. A person can either do two things when faced with those particular challenges which are: 1.)back down, give up, and be labeled a quitter or 2.)continue to climb up that mountain that stands before you and try to conquer it. Let me ask you this question, what has been your toughest challenge to climb or has it even happened yet?
We've all suffered many disappointments in our lives which cause us to doubt whether or not we will be able to get through it both emotionally and physically. For each of us tend to physically push ourselves to our limit and sometimes it can take a toll on our bodies, as well as, our minds. It within the valley of our minds that we tell ourselves that we can handle the responsibilty and pressure, but in reality we are just adding on to it. We are all only human and the pressure that we tend to put on ourselves will mostly definitely boil over and erupt. Inevitably, one will have to try to climb up and past the point where one fell from, which will be the toughest valley he or she will have to go through and experience.
Yet, when we do go through the valleys of life, one will encounter several peaks that will uplift a person's spirits. It can be said that people along our journey can, in some way, help and guide us to where we want to go. Sometimes, the destination we want to go will oftentimes take a detour and end up in an area that we didn't want to be, but are absolutely happy that he or she ended up there. It's from these particular people that we get emotional support as they lend an open ear as we spill our guts, so to speak, to get what's been bothering us off our chest. Whether it's total strangers, close friends, or even your worst enemy that they, in some ways, can be considered one's strong support to climb up with when life simply gets rough.
In retrospect, there will be people in one's life that will absolutely doubt that one will never make something of himself or herself and become a success. Yet, It's these particular people that tend to fuel the fires within to burn even hotter to go after our dreams and aspirations of doing and being what we want to be in life. In some ways, proving that person wrong would be considered sweet retribution and to see the look on his or her face when you've made something of yourself would be absolutely priceless. Life is basically one big mountain that each of us climbs in order to reach new heights in success or failure. In the end, we all may not reach the top of the mountain but we can surely try our best, which is all we can ever really give.
If you think about it, in our own ambition to succeed in certain aspects of life, a person will go though many peaks and valleys in order to get where one wants to be. It's within those peaks and valleys that he or she will found out if what one is really doing will matter in his or her own future. For it will also determine what type of person you are as life's most greatest challenges will be put in front of us. A person can either do two things when faced with those particular challenges which are: 1.)back down, give up, and be labeled a quitter or 2.)continue to climb up that mountain that stands before you and try to conquer it. Let me ask you this question, what has been your toughest challenge to climb or has it even happened yet?
We've all suffered many disappointments in our lives which cause us to doubt whether or not we will be able to get through it both emotionally and physically. For each of us tend to physically push ourselves to our limit and sometimes it can take a toll on our bodies, as well as, our minds. It within the valley of our minds that we tell ourselves that we can handle the responsibilty and pressure, but in reality we are just adding on to it. We are all only human and the pressure that we tend to put on ourselves will mostly definitely boil over and erupt. Inevitably, one will have to try to climb up and past the point where one fell from, which will be the toughest valley he or she will have to go through and experience.
Yet, when we do go through the valleys of life, one will encounter several peaks that will uplift a person's spirits. It can be said that people along our journey can, in some way, help and guide us to where we want to go. Sometimes, the destination we want to go will oftentimes take a detour and end up in an area that we didn't want to be, but are absolutely happy that he or she ended up there. It's from these particular people that we get emotional support as they lend an open ear as we spill our guts, so to speak, to get what's been bothering us off our chest. Whether it's total strangers, close friends, or even your worst enemy that they, in some ways, can be considered one's strong support to climb up with when life simply gets rough.
In retrospect, there will be people in one's life that will absolutely doubt that one will never make something of himself or herself and become a success. Yet, It's these particular people that tend to fuel the fires within to burn even hotter to go after our dreams and aspirations of doing and being what we want to be in life. In some ways, proving that person wrong would be considered sweet retribution and to see the look on his or her face when you've made something of yourself would be absolutely priceless. Life is basically one big mountain that each of us climbs in order to reach new heights in success or failure. In the end, we all may not reach the top of the mountain but we can surely try our best, which is all we can ever really give.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Black and White
Someone once said, ~Falling in love is easy, it involves only the senses. Staying in love and growing harmoniously with another is truly where love begins. Learning how to love brings us to the happiness and fulfillment we are seeking, because we share and give from what we have, what we feel, when we accept this, we can begin to heal from the past, and start building a loving foundation that won't be destroyed by what others have fone to us, that won't be crushed because we haven't the best partner. Finding a true love, means we must become a true lover, a knower of love, giver of love. Then we will attract them to us, just likes bees are atttracted to a beautiful flower.
In some aspects, when each of us are truly in love, things seem to much brighter and full of color when you are with that particular person. For one can have an extra kick in his or her step, one's demeanor changes, and the frown that he or she usually has is now proverbially turned upside down. But the question is, for how long? Does it really matter though because one doesn't want to think about whether or nothis or her relationship will last. It's a mindset that will, in some cases, ruin a perfectly good relationship in which friends and family are genuinely rooting for it to grow. In a way, every potential relationship starts off in somewhat of a gray area, but through time, hopefully colors will start to be seen clear as day.
Yet, some people can be totally color blind to that fact their is a person in right in front of him or her that is trying to paint a colorful picture of a potential relationship. It can be a frustrating situation indeed for some people when you want that particular person of interest to see the same colored picture you want him or her to see. Though one may be seeing colors that represent a warm tone for that person, he or she may be seeing something different as that person only sees neutral colors, which is otherwise called "just friends." Initially it may take a while for that guy or girl to see those colors, especially guys because you know we are slow at figuring things out.
Every relationship goes through hardships and one of the things that can make it difficult is the green-eyed monster known as jealousy. It can be a person's worst enemy when it pertains to having a relationship with someone that, in your own mind, other people want what you got. One's imagination can get the better of him or her when a plutonic relationship between a girl and a guy is totally innocent. For it takes only one seed to be planted and inevitbaly it can either be uprooted immediately or let it continually grow, at which point trust becomes an issue. It's just a matter of keeping that green-eyed monster in check and have total faith in that person or the colorful picture will turn into something totally unrecognizable.
When you think about it, there are millions of books that teach people how to keep the love going in a relationship. A person, like Dr. Phil who I respect, talk to people who are in troubled relationships and try break through the wall to find some kind of common ground. In reality, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that the most important part of a relationship is communication. Without it, a relationship that started off colorful will slowly fade to black and nobody wants that happening. In retrospect, relationships aren't always solved simply by reading what's in black and white; you simply have to read from the one place that when it is pierced it bleeds crimson red and that is each other's heart.
In some aspects, when each of us are truly in love, things seem to much brighter and full of color when you are with that particular person. For one can have an extra kick in his or her step, one's demeanor changes, and the frown that he or she usually has is now proverbially turned upside down. But the question is, for how long? Does it really matter though because one doesn't want to think about whether or nothis or her relationship will last. It's a mindset that will, in some cases, ruin a perfectly good relationship in which friends and family are genuinely rooting for it to grow. In a way, every potential relationship starts off in somewhat of a gray area, but through time, hopefully colors will start to be seen clear as day.
Yet, some people can be totally color blind to that fact their is a person in right in front of him or her that is trying to paint a colorful picture of a potential relationship. It can be a frustrating situation indeed for some people when you want that particular person of interest to see the same colored picture you want him or her to see. Though one may be seeing colors that represent a warm tone for that person, he or she may be seeing something different as that person only sees neutral colors, which is otherwise called "just friends." Initially it may take a while for that guy or girl to see those colors, especially guys because you know we are slow at figuring things out.
Every relationship goes through hardships and one of the things that can make it difficult is the green-eyed monster known as jealousy. It can be a person's worst enemy when it pertains to having a relationship with someone that, in your own mind, other people want what you got. One's imagination can get the better of him or her when a plutonic relationship between a girl and a guy is totally innocent. For it takes only one seed to be planted and inevitbaly it can either be uprooted immediately or let it continually grow, at which point trust becomes an issue. It's just a matter of keeping that green-eyed monster in check and have total faith in that person or the colorful picture will turn into something totally unrecognizable.
When you think about it, there are millions of books that teach people how to keep the love going in a relationship. A person, like Dr. Phil who I respect, talk to people who are in troubled relationships and try break through the wall to find some kind of common ground. In reality, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that the most important part of a relationship is communication. Without it, a relationship that started off colorful will slowly fade to black and nobody wants that happening. In retrospect, relationships aren't always solved simply by reading what's in black and white; you simply have to read from the one place that when it is pierced it bleeds crimson red and that is each other's heart.
A Simple Thing
Someone once said, ~Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on valentines and romances in movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of one's favorite memories and the foundation of our fondest dreams. Love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely of places. And this radiance than never fades, this mysterious and magical joy, is the greatest treasure of all-one known only by those who love.~ Valentine's day gives an opportunity to give something from the heart that is considered a generous token of appreciation from one person to another.
Think back to your childhood as you randomly signed and gave out Valentine's Day cards to your friends and classmates. You really didn't think anything of it at the time because as a kid, love was a word that you had absolute deniability to. Back in the day, one's mentality was the girls, as well as, the boys had cooties and if one ever caught it, you were going to infect other people you came in contact with. It's a phase that every person has gone through as a kid and that mindset is somewhat still going on with today's generation of anklebiters. For it's an amusing aspect of one's childhood that has given each of us fond memories and hopefully we have all outgrown that cootie phase in our lives.
As we get older, Valentine's Day cards will take a back seat as one will take it to the next level when it pertains to that special someone or potential special someone in one's life. It's a level in which guys, will make Valentine's Day a day that she will truly remember and show her that she is the most special person to him. Oftentimes jewelry, a romantic dinner date, roses, etc. will be given to show that money is no object when it comes to her happiness. Yet, when it comes to her happiness you can't put a pricetag on it, because love is absolutely priceless. Whether its considered romantic or thoughtful, it's a gift from the heart that one can appreciate even if its a from a person that you hardly now.
Sometimes a person will find himself or herself alone in a day that whenever you turn around it's constantly in your face, seemingly laughing or mocking at you. It can make a person slowly lose that sense of hope that tends to keep a person optomistic and that the so called proverbial silver lining will be seen one day. For some, it's a position that he or she has been used to for quite some time but for others, one is always in the arms of someone only after a short period of availability. A person can be truly envious of that type of person; but if you think about it, he or she just doesn't want to be alone as well and basically forms an attatchment even though it's just for a short period of time.
In retrospect, Cupid is never really off duty after Valentine's Day is over, he continually does his job metaphorically shooting arrows of love at specified targets. Unfortunately, sometimes one may think those arrows are missing or must be bent because when someone of interest comes his or her way, there isn't that spark/vibe/connection one feels for that person or vice versa. Yet, when you least expect, one of his arrows will be right on target and hopefully it will never be removed. In the end, it's a simple thing such as love that every person wants in his or life and yet it's the most complicated this to every come one's way; but once one truly experiences it, you never want it end.
Happy Valentine's Day To One and All!
Think back to your childhood as you randomly signed and gave out Valentine's Day cards to your friends and classmates. You really didn't think anything of it at the time because as a kid, love was a word that you had absolute deniability to. Back in the day, one's mentality was the girls, as well as, the boys had cooties and if one ever caught it, you were going to infect other people you came in contact with. It's a phase that every person has gone through as a kid and that mindset is somewhat still going on with today's generation of anklebiters. For it's an amusing aspect of one's childhood that has given each of us fond memories and hopefully we have all outgrown that cootie phase in our lives.
As we get older, Valentine's Day cards will take a back seat as one will take it to the next level when it pertains to that special someone or potential special someone in one's life. It's a level in which guys, will make Valentine's Day a day that she will truly remember and show her that she is the most special person to him. Oftentimes jewelry, a romantic dinner date, roses, etc. will be given to show that money is no object when it comes to her happiness. Yet, when it comes to her happiness you can't put a pricetag on it, because love is absolutely priceless. Whether its considered romantic or thoughtful, it's a gift from the heart that one can appreciate even if its a from a person that you hardly now.
Sometimes a person will find himself or herself alone in a day that whenever you turn around it's constantly in your face, seemingly laughing or mocking at you. It can make a person slowly lose that sense of hope that tends to keep a person optomistic and that the so called proverbial silver lining will be seen one day. For some, it's a position that he or she has been used to for quite some time but for others, one is always in the arms of someone only after a short period of availability. A person can be truly envious of that type of person; but if you think about it, he or she just doesn't want to be alone as well and basically forms an attatchment even though it's just for a short period of time.
In retrospect, Cupid is never really off duty after Valentine's Day is over, he continually does his job metaphorically shooting arrows of love at specified targets. Unfortunately, sometimes one may think those arrows are missing or must be bent because when someone of interest comes his or her way, there isn't that spark/vibe/connection one feels for that person or vice versa. Yet, when you least expect, one of his arrows will be right on target and hopefully it will never be removed. In the end, it's a simple thing such as love that every person wants in his or life and yet it's the most complicated this to every come one's way; but once one truly experiences it, you never want it end.
Happy Valentine's Day To One and All!
Thursday, February 10, 2005
A Perfect Fit
Let me ask you this question, if I asked you to describe yourself would you be able to do it? In some aspects, when it come to describing either total strangers, collegues, friends, and/or family members each of us can come up with so many things to list down without even thinking about it. Yet, when it comes to describing ourselves, it can be considered the most difficult thing to do, depending on whether or not if one has the patience to sit down and make a list that can either true or not. In some ways, it's like trying to figure out which clothes that a person will be able to fit in; but in order for him or her to do that, he or she has to try each article of clothing on test it out, which we all have done at some point in our lives.
The one underlying trait that most people describe themselves as is that they tend to dislike being told what to do by an authority figure or anyone for that matter. From the time we were little kids, to our adulthood, and into our latter years we will have someone telling us what to do, where to go, and so on and so forth. It's a never ending cycle really because even if we are in a position of authority, one will have to answer to the proverbial powers that be, which look over our shoulders on a semi-daily basis. It's what each of us metaphorically signed up for as we clock in and out of the daily grind that each work hard in. Though we may not like being told what to do, one just has to grin and bear it.
Oftentimes, one will describe themselves as a people person who can easily get along with others. We've all come across that one person or are that one person who just has that magnetic personality and can make friends in an instant. It's a quality that is very admirable and makes the experience of meeting him or her a memorable one. For one never forgets the people who come into our lives directly or indirectly that have made a difference in it. Yet, much can be said for those that caution themselves when faced with meeting someone new either as a friend or a potential relationship. For it takes some people time to warm up and figure out whether or not that person is either dating or friendship material.
Inevitably, each of us can describe ourselves as particular objects or food items that usually can or can't be seen in that particular person. The one object that a person tends to be used when he or she talks about using the talents that God has given to him or her to be a potential success in a particular business is a star. For each of us can be considered shooting stars going after out dreams that can either continue to shine or burn out completely. For when it comes describing a person as a particular food, such examples would be pretty as a peach, one hot tamale, spicey as a jalepeno, cute as a cucumber, the list can go on and on. It's a description that can be considered flattering but it can get old quickly.
About three days ago, my Advertising Design professor gave us a creative concept in which if we were to walk into Wal-Mart, what object or food item would describe us the best. He then proceeded to tell us to make a word list and describe ourselves, which sounded easy but in fact it was hard. For the past three days, I've been racking my brain trying to figure it out and it's been said that the answers we seeks come to us when we least expect it and it came to me today when stopped off to get some Chinese food for lunch. In retrospect, I would best describe myself as a fortune cookie. For it's a perfect fit, because the outside may look plain, but once opened the information found inside can not only make you think but can quite possibly be helpful as well.
The one underlying trait that most people describe themselves as is that they tend to dislike being told what to do by an authority figure or anyone for that matter. From the time we were little kids, to our adulthood, and into our latter years we will have someone telling us what to do, where to go, and so on and so forth. It's a never ending cycle really because even if we are in a position of authority, one will have to answer to the proverbial powers that be, which look over our shoulders on a semi-daily basis. It's what each of us metaphorically signed up for as we clock in and out of the daily grind that each work hard in. Though we may not like being told what to do, one just has to grin and bear it.
Oftentimes, one will describe themselves as a people person who can easily get along with others. We've all come across that one person or are that one person who just has that magnetic personality and can make friends in an instant. It's a quality that is very admirable and makes the experience of meeting him or her a memorable one. For one never forgets the people who come into our lives directly or indirectly that have made a difference in it. Yet, much can be said for those that caution themselves when faced with meeting someone new either as a friend or a potential relationship. For it takes some people time to warm up and figure out whether or not that person is either dating or friendship material.
Inevitably, each of us can describe ourselves as particular objects or food items that usually can or can't be seen in that particular person. The one object that a person tends to be used when he or she talks about using the talents that God has given to him or her to be a potential success in a particular business is a star. For each of us can be considered shooting stars going after out dreams that can either continue to shine or burn out completely. For when it comes describing a person as a particular food, such examples would be pretty as a peach, one hot tamale, spicey as a jalepeno, cute as a cucumber, the list can go on and on. It's a description that can be considered flattering but it can get old quickly.
About three days ago, my Advertising Design professor gave us a creative concept in which if we were to walk into Wal-Mart, what object or food item would describe us the best. He then proceeded to tell us to make a word list and describe ourselves, which sounded easy but in fact it was hard. For the past three days, I've been racking my brain trying to figure it out and it's been said that the answers we seeks come to us when we least expect it and it came to me today when stopped off to get some Chinese food for lunch. In retrospect, I would best describe myself as a fortune cookie. For it's a perfect fit, because the outside may look plain, but once opened the information found inside can not only make you think but can quite possibly be helpful as well.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Sincerely Yours
As Valentine's Day vast approaches, a person tends to wonder if one will ever meet that one special person and end his or her time of being a single bachelor or bachelorette. One's time of constant availability, can make a person believe he or she will end up alone, which is a mindset that nobody should have; but oftentimes does. It's simply unavoidable as you ponder what might, could, or should have been in one's past. Inevitably, there comes a point where just writing a heart felt letter to that unknown person will, in some ways, ease the frustration one has been feeling. In some ways, it's like a message in a bottle being thrown into the sea and falling into the hands of someone unknown. For my letter would go something like this:
~To whom it may concern, You have been in my thoughts for quite some time and even today I think about you as I am sitting here alone with my thoughts. For I dream of the day that we meet each other and forge a future together. It's a future that hopefully we both can make things work out, yet in my heart of hearts I know that it will work out for the best with you in my life. There are times when I think of the day we meet, I will smile both on the outside and on the inside, for I truly know you bring out the best in me. It's when my day become absolutely unbearable, that I close my eyes and see your face in my head. Though the image of your face is unclear, it's enough for me to make my day happier and brighter.
You have the qualities that make my heart melt for you. It's in your smile that will bring me to my knees and your laugh that I will get to know and love. Even though certain people can't see it, I can see your beauty shining from within. For it's in your personality that we may or may not click, but hopefully we can come to an undestanding. For you are forever will be my best friend, as I know that I won't be afraid in sharing certain aspects of my life with you that I don't normally share with other people. For you will have the courage as well to open up to me about anything and everything. Ultimately the love that you share for me is a testament that tells me I am the guy you truly want to spend your life with.
For you will give me so much and because of this I will give up my life and my heart to you as we both take this leap of faith together. In some ways, writing this letter has eased my loneliness and the words that I am saying to you are coming so easily now. Each time my thoughts turn to you, I get that feeling that you are the woman that will absolutely complete the last puzzle piece of my life, as well as my heart. I have no idea, when or where we will meet , but I do know one thing for sure, on that special day you will make me a happy man. For I thought I met you once, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. But I do know this much, things happen for a reason and that one reason will hopefully lead to you.
In retrospect, I'm a simple man, who doesn't have much to offer you except my heart which I give to you. I'm not rich, but I make enough to keep me financially stable. I'm quiet and yet I will shout my feelings for you on top of the highest mountain. I will take each day with you one day at a time, because I don't want to miss each and every moment of it. In the end, all I can ever offer you is my love which, may not seem like much, but I have a lot to offer you if given the chance. Well, that's all I can really say to you, I just wanted to let you know what has been on my mind and how I feel for you. So I say this, I will meet you someday and you know what, I can't hardly wait till it happens. Sincerely Yours, Dante.~
~To whom it may concern, You have been in my thoughts for quite some time and even today I think about you as I am sitting here alone with my thoughts. For I dream of the day that we meet each other and forge a future together. It's a future that hopefully we both can make things work out, yet in my heart of hearts I know that it will work out for the best with you in my life. There are times when I think of the day we meet, I will smile both on the outside and on the inside, for I truly know you bring out the best in me. It's when my day become absolutely unbearable, that I close my eyes and see your face in my head. Though the image of your face is unclear, it's enough for me to make my day happier and brighter.
You have the qualities that make my heart melt for you. It's in your smile that will bring me to my knees and your laugh that I will get to know and love. Even though certain people can't see it, I can see your beauty shining from within. For it's in your personality that we may or may not click, but hopefully we can come to an undestanding. For you are forever will be my best friend, as I know that I won't be afraid in sharing certain aspects of my life with you that I don't normally share with other people. For you will have the courage as well to open up to me about anything and everything. Ultimately the love that you share for me is a testament that tells me I am the guy you truly want to spend your life with.
For you will give me so much and because of this I will give up my life and my heart to you as we both take this leap of faith together. In some ways, writing this letter has eased my loneliness and the words that I am saying to you are coming so easily now. Each time my thoughts turn to you, I get that feeling that you are the woman that will absolutely complete the last puzzle piece of my life, as well as my heart. I have no idea, when or where we will meet , but I do know one thing for sure, on that special day you will make me a happy man. For I thought I met you once, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. But I do know this much, things happen for a reason and that one reason will hopefully lead to you.
In retrospect, I'm a simple man, who doesn't have much to offer you except my heart which I give to you. I'm not rich, but I make enough to keep me financially stable. I'm quiet and yet I will shout my feelings for you on top of the highest mountain. I will take each day with you one day at a time, because I don't want to miss each and every moment of it. In the end, all I can ever offer you is my love which, may not seem like much, but I have a lot to offer you if given the chance. Well, that's all I can really say to you, I just wanted to let you know what has been on my mind and how I feel for you. So I say this, I will meet you someday and you know what, I can't hardly wait till it happens. Sincerely Yours, Dante.~
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Just One Look
Someone once said, ~The power of a glance has been so much abused by love stories, that it has come to be disbelieved in. Few people dare now to say that two beings have fallen in love because they have looked at each other. Yet it is in this way that love begins, and in this way only. The rest is only the rest, and comes afterward. Nothing is more real than these great shocks which two souls give each other in this spark."~ We've all at some point in our lives done that proverbial double take when we either knowingly or unknowingly spot a particular person of interest. It's in our human nature to be curious of who that person is and it's from a simple look or glance that the proverbial ball will start rolling.
Let me ask you a question, have you ever been in a situation where a particular guy or girl looked either directly or indirectly in your general direction? What is your first reaction or instinct to do? For me personally, it's to always look behind me because every person has been in that awkward and somewhat embaressing position of thinking that a window of opportunity might possibly open one's way. For our own ego can get the better of us as a person tends to not see the whole picture because one's peripheral vision is only seeing what he or she wants to see. It can be a truly humbling experience when one thinks the window of opportunity is about to be opened, but in fact it was actually closed all along.
Every person has either looked at someone or has had that look done on one's self with the expressed interest of hopefully establishing a relationship of some kind. It's a look that every person knows because its been seen on our friend's faces and even on our own face. It's that undenial look of happiness and confusion when you think you might have met that special person, but isn't quite sure if that person is interested in you. For there will be subtle clues left here and there, but won't be seen, which as a guy, will always be our fault for not seeing the signals and picking up on it. Ultimately, every guy wants a women who makes him happy and without a doubt accept us for who we are faults and all.
Undoubtedly, a women wants a guy that will love her for what he sees from deep within her heart and soul. It's a love that has a deeper meaning that some, not all guys, never can seem to quite grasp. For it takes that one of a kind guy, so to speak, to show it to her, which is a rarity to find these days. Inevitably, it's a woman's inner true beauty that will shine forth that makes her absolutely beautiful when you start getting to know her. It's from there you find things that you have in common and also things you don't have in common, but the end results is that a stronger bond is formed. For it can be a disappointing situation indeed when a relationship fades because the guy didn't take the time to truly see what was in front of him.
There will come a point in every person's life where each of us will meet someone that will capture our attention. Whether or not that person will give each of us the time of day is really unknown as a person will have to find that out on one's own. It's just a matter of having the confidence to be yourself and not put up a persona that doesn't really fit you. For it's been said that if a person is genuinely intersted in you after only knowing you for only a short period of time, that while walking away he or she will take a look back and smile. In restrospect, sometimes it takes several glances/looks to see the one person who truly makes you happy, but other it times if we're truly lucky, all it takes is just one look.
Let me ask you a question, have you ever been in a situation where a particular guy or girl looked either directly or indirectly in your general direction? What is your first reaction or instinct to do? For me personally, it's to always look behind me because every person has been in that awkward and somewhat embaressing position of thinking that a window of opportunity might possibly open one's way. For our own ego can get the better of us as a person tends to not see the whole picture because one's peripheral vision is only seeing what he or she wants to see. It can be a truly humbling experience when one thinks the window of opportunity is about to be opened, but in fact it was actually closed all along.
Every person has either looked at someone or has had that look done on one's self with the expressed interest of hopefully establishing a relationship of some kind. It's a look that every person knows because its been seen on our friend's faces and even on our own face. It's that undenial look of happiness and confusion when you think you might have met that special person, but isn't quite sure if that person is interested in you. For there will be subtle clues left here and there, but won't be seen, which as a guy, will always be our fault for not seeing the signals and picking up on it. Ultimately, every guy wants a women who makes him happy and without a doubt accept us for who we are faults and all.
Undoubtedly, a women wants a guy that will love her for what he sees from deep within her heart and soul. It's a love that has a deeper meaning that some, not all guys, never can seem to quite grasp. For it takes that one of a kind guy, so to speak, to show it to her, which is a rarity to find these days. Inevitably, it's a woman's inner true beauty that will shine forth that makes her absolutely beautiful when you start getting to know her. It's from there you find things that you have in common and also things you don't have in common, but the end results is that a stronger bond is formed. For it can be a disappointing situation indeed when a relationship fades because the guy didn't take the time to truly see what was in front of him.
There will come a point in every person's life where each of us will meet someone that will capture our attention. Whether or not that person will give each of us the time of day is really unknown as a person will have to find that out on one's own. It's just a matter of having the confidence to be yourself and not put up a persona that doesn't really fit you. For it's been said that if a person is genuinely intersted in you after only knowing you for only a short period of time, that while walking away he or she will take a look back and smile. In restrospect, sometimes it takes several glances/looks to see the one person who truly makes you happy, but other it times if we're truly lucky, all it takes is just one look.
Saturday, February 05, 2005
A Dying Breed
Ellen Key once said, ~For success in training children the first condition is to become as a child oneself, but this means no assumed childishness, no condescending baby-talk that the child immediately sees through and deeply abhors. What it does mean is to be as entirely and simply taken up with the child as the child himself is absorbed by his life.~ A person who works with kids, like myself, will tell you is not easy, for it can be a thankless and yet fulfilling job. One has to find his or her own niche in relating to a child which can be either an easy or difficult task indeed. For it's the smiles, hugs, and respect given back makes it all well worth the headaches and frustration that is oftentimes received from them.
As said before in a past thought, there will be certain realizations that will set in that will leave a person stupified. Just recently, my best friend and I came to the realization that we're at the age where we consider the kids at the asylum our sons and daughters. For most the parents that pick their children up are near or close to our age which is a sobering thought. Thinking about it though, we've helped raise them, comfort them when they were sad or injured, tried to instill right and wrong, lectured on seemingly daily basis, so in the whole scheme of things we are parents. For they will and always be considered "my kids" even if they have grown up, gotten married and have children of their own.
Working in a youth center/insane asylum, countless kids have walked through the hallowed doors and either made my job quite difficult or absolutely easy. Yet, it's those kids that are considered "children of the corn" that you will never be able to forget, trust me I've tried. In any case, there are times when you think just when you've seen or heard it all from a child, he or she will do or say something that will make us as counselors ask each other or ourselves, 'Tell me I did not just hear or see that?' Sometimes it can be a serious moment where the safety of a child takes precedent, but other times it's a moment where you just bust out laughing because of that particular situation that happened to him or her.
For it's not only countless kids that have passed through those doors, it's countless employees as well. Young and old, each person with his or own unique style of dealing and caring for a child. Of the may orderlies or patients, depending on the day, only three people have lasted the longest and that is myself, my best friend, and a female co-worker who I consider my mentor. Thinking about it, if one were to add our combined work experience it would total 31 years. In some ways, we consider ourselves the triad because we have been through so much crap together that it takes a bulldozer to haul it all away. Consequently it's those two people and several others that I trust to have my back and I for them.
Over the years, the male presence in the asylum has been noticebly decreased rather than decreased. There was a time when the male ratio outnumbered the female ratio but through time that has undeniably changed. For the brotherhood, as I like to call it, desperately needs new members to join the fold; but as of now we are holding down the fort, so to speak. In some aspects, we're like Gilligan and the Skipper, Laurel and Hardy, Batman and Robin....for we are Yoda and Biggie, a dynamic duo who have been through thick and thin for 8 years. In retrospect, we're a dying breed of guys that enjoy working with kids because in the end, they need a strong male presence that ultimately may be missing from one's own family.
As said before in a past thought, there will be certain realizations that will set in that will leave a person stupified. Just recently, my best friend and I came to the realization that we're at the age where we consider the kids at the asylum our sons and daughters. For most the parents that pick their children up are near or close to our age which is a sobering thought. Thinking about it though, we've helped raise them, comfort them when they were sad or injured, tried to instill right and wrong, lectured on seemingly daily basis, so in the whole scheme of things we are parents. For they will and always be considered "my kids" even if they have grown up, gotten married and have children of their own.
Working in a youth center/insane asylum, countless kids have walked through the hallowed doors and either made my job quite difficult or absolutely easy. Yet, it's those kids that are considered "children of the corn" that you will never be able to forget, trust me I've tried. In any case, there are times when you think just when you've seen or heard it all from a child, he or she will do or say something that will make us as counselors ask each other or ourselves, 'Tell me I did not just hear or see that?' Sometimes it can be a serious moment where the safety of a child takes precedent, but other times it's a moment where you just bust out laughing because of that particular situation that happened to him or her.
For it's not only countless kids that have passed through those doors, it's countless employees as well. Young and old, each person with his or own unique style of dealing and caring for a child. Of the may orderlies or patients, depending on the day, only three people have lasted the longest and that is myself, my best friend, and a female co-worker who I consider my mentor. Thinking about it, if one were to add our combined work experience it would total 31 years. In some ways, we consider ourselves the triad because we have been through so much crap together that it takes a bulldozer to haul it all away. Consequently it's those two people and several others that I trust to have my back and I for them.
Over the years, the male presence in the asylum has been noticebly decreased rather than decreased. There was a time when the male ratio outnumbered the female ratio but through time that has undeniably changed. For the brotherhood, as I like to call it, desperately needs new members to join the fold; but as of now we are holding down the fort, so to speak. In some aspects, we're like Gilligan and the Skipper, Laurel and Hardy, Batman and Robin....for we are Yoda and Biggie, a dynamic duo who have been through thick and thin for 8 years. In retrospect, we're a dying breed of guys that enjoy working with kids because in the end, they need a strong male presence that ultimately may be missing from one's own family.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Never Say Never
Jan Mydail said, ~Traveling is not just seeing the new, it is also leaving behind. Not just opening the doors, aslo closing them behind you, never to return. But the place you have left forever is always there for you to see whenever you shut your eyes. And the cities you see most clearly at night are the cities you have left and will never see again.~ Being a military kid was an experience that I wouldn't want to ever have missed. Though I didn't consider myself a military brat, there were certain kids that absolutely fit the bill. In any case, being part of the military family, moving from place to place is always the case, which can have some distinct advantages, as well as, disadvantages.
One advantage is going to new places and whether it was in the states or overseas, every person gets that excited feeling. A feeling somewhat compared to the day before Christmas as one anticipates waking up and finally opening up his or her presents. In any case, living overseas can be an absolute culture shock as one will encounter and/or experience first hand the food, language, and lifestyle that a person will call home even if it is on a temporary basis. It's been said, home is where the heart is and sometimes the place we are is not really where one wants to be. Let me tell you something, of all the places that I have lived, I have to say living in Puerto Rico was considered a tropical paradise.
The one basic disadvantage, though english is spoken on the navy base, was learning a new language that hopefully would be used down the road. It was a basic necessity as trips taken off the base would put one's own spanish speaking skills to the test. Of my 2 1/2 years there and 2 spanish classes this is what I am able to say. Buenos Dias, Como te llamas? Mi llamo Dante Abundo. You soy vente siete anos. Yo voy pa colegio estudiante. Que? Si, soy muy loco en mi cabeza. Si senor, yo tengo un gato em mi patalones. Si, la comida el vien caliente. Tolo lo menes mi tang yvando me loco. Yo quiero Taco Bell, and last but least, Senor/Senora, Donde estas los banos por favor?
As with all High Schools, there will inevitably be cliques that will segregate only with each other. Yet, the advantage with an overseas high school is that the cliques tend to merge within one another because basically everyone knows each other and practically are neighbors. Living on a military base, there isn't much of a clique where jocks, cheerleaders, etc. only hang out with each other. For it's a mixed group of jocks, cheerleader, stoners, loners, troublemakers, freaks, geeks, class clowns, brainiacs, and artists that share a common bond. Of course, there will be altercations but that is to be expected due to living in such a confined area where you will bump into a classmates on a seeingly regular basis.
J.R.R. Tolkein once said, ~The Road goes ever on and on, Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way, Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say."~ In retrospect, military life will always lead you away from one place to another, which may seem fun, but it can be considered an endless cycle that will keep on going until one's parent(s) decide to retire from the military. Ultimately, one may think the friends that one has bonded with and even tolerated over the years will never be seen again as he or she travels the road to some place new; but never say never because being in the brotherhood that is the military, that person will absolutely be seen again.
One advantage is going to new places and whether it was in the states or overseas, every person gets that excited feeling. A feeling somewhat compared to the day before Christmas as one anticipates waking up and finally opening up his or her presents. In any case, living overseas can be an absolute culture shock as one will encounter and/or experience first hand the food, language, and lifestyle that a person will call home even if it is on a temporary basis. It's been said, home is where the heart is and sometimes the place we are is not really where one wants to be. Let me tell you something, of all the places that I have lived, I have to say living in Puerto Rico was considered a tropical paradise.
The one basic disadvantage, though english is spoken on the navy base, was learning a new language that hopefully would be used down the road. It was a basic necessity as trips taken off the base would put one's own spanish speaking skills to the test. Of my 2 1/2 years there and 2 spanish classes this is what I am able to say. Buenos Dias, Como te llamas? Mi llamo Dante Abundo. You soy vente siete anos. Yo voy pa colegio estudiante. Que? Si, soy muy loco en mi cabeza. Si senor, yo tengo un gato em mi patalones. Si, la comida el vien caliente. Tolo lo menes mi tang yvando me loco. Yo quiero Taco Bell, and last but least, Senor/Senora, Donde estas los banos por favor?
As with all High Schools, there will inevitably be cliques that will segregate only with each other. Yet, the advantage with an overseas high school is that the cliques tend to merge within one another because basically everyone knows each other and practically are neighbors. Living on a military base, there isn't much of a clique where jocks, cheerleaders, etc. only hang out with each other. For it's a mixed group of jocks, cheerleader, stoners, loners, troublemakers, freaks, geeks, class clowns, brainiacs, and artists that share a common bond. Of course, there will be altercations but that is to be expected due to living in such a confined area where you will bump into a classmates on a seeingly regular basis.
J.R.R. Tolkein once said, ~The Road goes ever on and on, Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way, Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say."~ In retrospect, military life will always lead you away from one place to another, which may seem fun, but it can be considered an endless cycle that will keep on going until one's parent(s) decide to retire from the military. Ultimately, one may think the friends that one has bonded with and even tolerated over the years will never be seen again as he or she travels the road to some place new; but never say never because being in the brotherhood that is the military, that person will absolutely be seen again.
Worth Waiting For
There is an old Zen saying which says, ~Watch water drop onto the rock beneath it. One drop does nothing but many drops over time creates a a hole in the rock. Such is the power of patience.~ When it comes to wanting someone to share his or her life with, a person will tend to get very impatient. It's that yearning to be with someone or anyone for that matter who fulfills one's desire to feel wanted even if it is for a short period of time. Every person has experienced at one time or another that exciting, yet oftentimes desperate attempt at forging a relationship that one knows is probably not going to go anywhere and usually one ends up falling flat on his or her face in the end.
We all know or are friends with someone that doesn't want to wait for Mr./Ms. Right, but rather wants Mr./Ms. Right now. In some aspects, that person is tired of being alone and constantly seeing those around him or her in a dating, potentially committed, or committed relationship. It can get really frustrating when one thinks there is an absolute possibility that a connection has been made that could change for the better. Yet, its that connection that one interprets as something more, is actually interpreted as just purely friendship by that particular person. It's a position that somewhat stings, as certain people have to realize that it's not one's time. One just has be patient and let it happen on it's own.
If you think about it, sometimes the idea of being in a dating, potential, or committed relationship is what one really wants. It's that misguided perception that if a person has someone in his or her life then all is well with the world, so to speak. There comes a point in a every guy's, as well as, a women's life where one feels that nobody will truly see the person that is either standing beside or in front of him or her. That untapped potential which will never see the light of day, in a manner of speaking. In a way, it's like being completely stuck in the "just friends" mode which can get pretty old and tiresome. Even though one's patience is starting to wear thin, one will handle his or her situation with dignity...well most of the time.
Someone once said. ~Wait for that person who pursues you, the one who will make an ordinary moment seem magical. The kid of person who brings out the best in you and makes you want to be a better person. Wait for that person who will be your best friend. Wait for that person who makes you smile and when that person smiles back, you know it's for real. Wait for that person who is confident and confused, the type of person who wants you to understand one's own world. The whole picture which is family, friends, and God. But most of all, wait for that person who will put you at the center of one's universe because that person is obviously the center of yours.~
In retrospect, the water that drops on to a rock represents one's own feelings for that person as well as that person's heart. Initially, it will take patience for one's feelings to pentrate that person's heart as one gets to know him or her. Hopefully, that particular person will open his or her heart and something will build from there. The physical aspect of a relationship will or will not always become an issue. For it's this much I know, it takes a man to say thay he will wait for you, but it takes a real man to prove it. I made a promise long ago that I would wait for the right women to coming along and I'm still sticking to it. In the end, the right women will come along and she will absolutely be worth waiting for.
We all know or are friends with someone that doesn't want to wait for Mr./Ms. Right, but rather wants Mr./Ms. Right now. In some aspects, that person is tired of being alone and constantly seeing those around him or her in a dating, potentially committed, or committed relationship. It can get really frustrating when one thinks there is an absolute possibility that a connection has been made that could change for the better. Yet, its that connection that one interprets as something more, is actually interpreted as just purely friendship by that particular person. It's a position that somewhat stings, as certain people have to realize that it's not one's time. One just has be patient and let it happen on it's own.
If you think about it, sometimes the idea of being in a dating, potential, or committed relationship is what one really wants. It's that misguided perception that if a person has someone in his or her life then all is well with the world, so to speak. There comes a point in a every guy's, as well as, a women's life where one feels that nobody will truly see the person that is either standing beside or in front of him or her. That untapped potential which will never see the light of day, in a manner of speaking. In a way, it's like being completely stuck in the "just friends" mode which can get pretty old and tiresome. Even though one's patience is starting to wear thin, one will handle his or her situation with dignity...well most of the time.
Someone once said. ~Wait for that person who pursues you, the one who will make an ordinary moment seem magical. The kid of person who brings out the best in you and makes you want to be a better person. Wait for that person who will be your best friend. Wait for that person who makes you smile and when that person smiles back, you know it's for real. Wait for that person who is confident and confused, the type of person who wants you to understand one's own world. The whole picture which is family, friends, and God. But most of all, wait for that person who will put you at the center of one's universe because that person is obviously the center of yours.~
In retrospect, the water that drops on to a rock represents one's own feelings for that person as well as that person's heart. Initially, it will take patience for one's feelings to pentrate that person's heart as one gets to know him or her. Hopefully, that particular person will open his or her heart and something will build from there. The physical aspect of a relationship will or will not always become an issue. For it's this much I know, it takes a man to say thay he will wait for you, but it takes a real man to prove it. I made a promise long ago that I would wait for the right women to coming along and I'm still sticking to it. In the end, the right women will come along and she will absolutely be worth waiting for.
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