I Call It Love

Someone once said, ~Some may call it ecstasy. Some may call it destiny. Some may call it meant to be. But I like to call it you and me.~ If you think about it, when it comes to potential and.or significant relationships there can be so many different descriptions from so many different people that you have no idea what to call something that is at times undefinable. For it has so many names that it's hard to believe or take seriously for that matter the sometimes corny, as well as, stupid cliche descriptions that you either say awww or laugh your butt off because of how utterly ridiculous it sounds. It's a tough situation indeed for any person to try to be optimistic and yet find yourself on the receiving end of heartbreak.

Without a doubt, you truly want to have that optimistic attitude within your heart that believes there is someone out there who can make every cliche such as it was simply magic become a reality. Yet, there is the cynical and pessimistic side of you, which goes with logic and reasoning, that initially thinks it's all merely fabricated statements to give people a false sense of hope. It's oftentimes sad to hear that a relationship is broken apart because supposedly the magic was gone and it's that same exact magic which brought those two people together in the first place. In any case, whether that magic was real or simply an illusion, it's all in how you look at it from the perspective of either your heart or your mind's eye.

Let me ask you this question, have you ever had an instant connection with someone you just met? In other words, being drawn to someone that you just get a vibe from, which may or may not be emotional, physical, and/or spiritual. Most definitely we've all heard the term chemistry when it pertains to two people falling for each other who have that magnetic connection. A connection where two people get along so perfectly that they both think alike to the point they finish each other's sentences. Essentially, it's that same chemistry that has certain relationships still going strong while unfortunately other relationships have had that chemistry either blow up in their faces or it was never there to begin with.

It would probably be safe to say that we've all acted foolish around someone who we're interested in, which would be best described as the one of the most common cliches of all and that is being utterly stupid. So why do we act the way we do? Why do we act childish and immature knowing that we're embarrassing, as well as, humiliating ourselves in front of someone who thinks we're out of our mind? Why do we become so absentminded and idiotic that we say things that make no sense whatsoever or do things that just make things completely uncomfortable not only for us but for that person as well. Who knows because the fact of the matter is it's one of things in life and male/female relationships that is simply unexplainable.

In retrospect, every person comes to a point where they have no idea as to what to call their feelings not only within their soul but also within their heart. So many times you can experience something fake that it's hard to know what's real. However, the one thing that you can't fake and will always be real are the butterflies you feel in your stomach, which will never lie to you and will always tell you the truth. If you think about it, as we grow older we tend to forget what it feels like, but when someone special comes along and gives you those butterflies it's a feeling like no other. For the question can be asked, what would you call a real honest and genuine feeling for someone within your heart and soul that you actually feel butterflies? In the end, my answer is simple ...I call it love, which is a song by a former member of the Commodores Lionel Richie.

God is Good

Susan B. Anthony once said, ~ Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less possessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit, and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these.~ Ladies and gentlemen, today is my 29th birthday, which marks a day of celebration, but I would much rather celebrate the past 29 years of my semi-middled aged life by reflecting on those far less funny, embarrassing, as well as, undesirable moments that essentially have my journey up to this point in my life such an interesting ride, so to speak.

If you think about it, there are certain moments in life that we all tend to block out when we're young until something or someone flips a proverbial switch that has us remembering bits and pieces of that particular situation. One such moment in my young life that I subsequently blocked out until several years ago was when at the age of 5 I apparently fell out of a moving car on the way to school. For what I could remember and my mom telling me was that as she turned left on a four way intersection, the door opened, I fell out, then slid across the street, and according to her I simply sat up stunned. Primarily, the only thing that saved me from serious injury as I hit the ground and slid across the street was wearing my backpack.

In any case, it's been said that your high school years are the best years of your life as you share moments that are memorable and try to leave the bad one's behind. Being a military kid, I spent 2 1/2 years attending high school overseas and of all the great moments that I've shared with the Class of 96', there was one embarrassing moment that tends to stand out, which my former classmates may remember. It was the time I got lost in a mall trying to find the exit we came in from during an either sophomore or junior field trip off base. To make a long story short I found a security guard who was actually waiting for me, escorted me to the correct exit, and needless to say I did the walk of shame to a bus full of disappointed classmates.

Let me ask you this question, if you've been in a car wreck can you still vividly remember it like it was yesterday. Without a doubt, being in a car wreck is considered one of the most traumatizing, shocking, and humiliating moments in life...trust me I know. It truly humbles you as your only mode of transportation is one the shelf, in a manner of speaking, and during one's time away from behind the wheel you go through so many different scenarios in your head as to how you could have avoided the accident that you end up mentally torturing yourself. Let me tell you something, I can remember my car wreck like it was yesterday and even though I've been able to put that situation behind me I still get a little leary whenever it rains.

In retrospect, I don't regret any unfortunate moments of the past 29 years of my life because God has a reason for putting me through it. Anyways, when it comes to the moments that tend to make me cringe, its ultimately overshadowed by the moments that truly matter in life that not only make me laugh, but also smile as well. Whether its having friends who will always have your back, a roof over my head, my health, reconnecting with former classmates/friends after 10 years, having a job that I enjoy working at where I can make a difference in a child's life, or having parents who still continue to care about me care even though I occasionally do stupid things, all I can say in the end is God is good.

Stranger Than Fiction

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, ~The soul is the perceiver and revealer of truth. We know the truth when we see it, let skeptics and scoffers say what they choose. Foolish people ask you, when you have spoken what they do not wish to hear. 'How do you know, it is the truth, and not an error of your own?' We know truth when we see it, from opinion, as we know when we are awake that we are awake.~ If you think about it, life is about accepting certain truths that can be either totally serious or absolutely funny depending on the situation itself. Metaphorically speaking, every person has already come or will someday come face to face with their own truth and whether or not it's accepted is all up to you.

Without a doubt, we've all established friendships over the years with certain people that has seen its share of rocky times, especially when those people become your best friend. Thinking about it, each of us needs a proverbial ying to our own yang and you may be wondering what do I mean? Well, who is your best friend and ask yourself the following questions: Who is more serious/laid back? Who is more responsible/irresponsible? Who is more grounded/ a free spirit? Who is more of the problem solver/problem maker? To be perfectly honest, when it comes to friendships, we all need someone who is complete or nearly the complete opposite of us to where both of you can keep each other in check and that my friend is the truth.

Essentially, when you have kids or work with kids in some kind of capacity there is truth that is or will gradually be revealed to you. For It takes a lot of patience to be around and deal with kids who can be, at times, hyperactive and disrespectful but that's what makes it such a challenge. Not too many people can handle the pressure of either being a parent or a person who takes care of children as you will go through your share of feeling and emotions such as anger, as well as, frustration trying to instill not only wisdom but also lessons that hopefully will stick in their minds. Yet, the funny thing is while trying to teach them they will inevitably teach you something about yourself and show you how much love you have within your heart.

Let me ask you this question, do you think there is truth in love or the lack thereof for that matter? I believe so because we all need to either here or find out for ourselves what one can be in denial of, which can most definitely hurt both your ego and pride. Personally speaking, for the past several months I've been doing a bit of soul searching reflection as to why I've been the guy who tends to be "just friends", which is a role that I've grown accustomed to being in. In any case, the truth is that I quite possibly am perceived as the non-threatening, non-dangerous type of guy who is absolutely safe to be around and even though it's aggravating to think about where I consider it my own personal Achilles heel, I've accepted it as fact.

In retrospect, truth can't be taught in school or can be found in reading a book. You basically have to experience it for yourself firsthand and whether or not you can be at peace with what you find out is all up to you. For it can be a tough situation indeed to try not to overreact to it, but it all depends on the situation at hand. In a sense, if you're able to live with the truth, which can be either funny, serious, strange, weird, and/or confusing, then you've achieved a higher level of understanding that you can be able share with others. Ultimately, no matter how unbelievably the truth may sound you can't make up what each of us have experienced in life, as well as, in love and you have to agree that oftentimes truth is stranger than fiction.

All Shook Up

Someone once said, ~Love and electricity are one and the same. If you do not feel the jolt in your soul every time a kiss is shared, a whisper is spoken, a touch is felt, then you're not really in love at all.~ If you think about it, there is a certain electrical vibe in the air when you meet that special someone who, in a way, energizes your heart. For it's an unexplainable feeling that if compared to would be like sticking your finger in an electrical socket and getting shocked, which probably many of us did not only as kids but also as adults. Anyways, in some aspect, love or true love for that matter is like that as you feel a surge of energy run through your entire body every time you either see, hear, and/or touch him or her.

Without a doubt, we've all seen lightning flash in the sky and quite possibly there are those of us who may have been or almost hit by it due to encountering static electricity that made all the hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up. In a sense, that is how love is as you see someone who truly strikes your heart that he or she not only makes the hairs on the top of your head, back of your neck, and on your arms stand straight up; but also knocks you back as well to the point of being stunned. So stunned in fact that you would gladly have lightning strike twice because the first time you saw him or her your heart just stopped beating, but hopefully once you get hit the second time around your heart beats once again.

Oftentimes, when you do get an electrical shock you experience a spine tingling sensation from the tip of your toes, up your spine, and end at the top of your head. With that said, one can feel a tingling sensation when you hear the voice of that special someone either talking to you on the phone or whispering something sweet and/or romantic in your heart. For it’s when you hear his or her voice, every synapse in your brain is stimulated to where you go through feelings, as well as, emotions such as happiness, excitement, nostalgia, desire, giddiness, insanity, nervousness, etc. all at once. Let me tell you something, it's a feeling like no other to where I personally have experienced it only once in my lifetime and hope to again someday.

Let me ask you this question, do you think a kiss can be considered electrifying when it's shared with someone you truly love? In my opinion, yes because it's a moment that is more emotional rather than physical as you put your heart and soul into something that you may or may not close your eyes to. It's the power of a kiss, if it has meaning behind it and it's not forced, can send an unknown number of volts into someone that one can literally witness sparks between you and that guy or girl you're kissing. How many of you can honestly say the impact of someone's kiss left you absolutely numb that you not only couldn't remember your current location, but also your very own name as well.

In retrospect, there comes a point in a relationship, depending on how long one has been in it, where the following three questions have been asked that pertain to the electricity between you and the one you love. Those three questions are: 1.) Do you still continue to feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up whenever you see him or her? 2.) Do you still continue to feel that spine tingling sensation whenever you hear his or her voice? 3.) Do you still continue to feel an electrifying spark whenever you kiss him or her on the lips? In the end, it's these three questions that if you answered yes to all three then you're most definitely able to always keep the electricity alive in each other to where it leaves both of you all shook up.

I'm Not Worthy

Someone once said, ~ It is rewarding to find someone you like, but it is essential to like yourself. It is quickening to recognize that someone is a good and decent human being, but it is indispensable to view yourself as worthy of respect and admiration and love, but it is vital to believe yourself deserving of these things.~ Let me ask you this question, when it comes to that special someone you will meet someday or already have met do you sometimes think you will be even worthy or are even worthy enough to be loved by him or her? For it's a seemingly reasonable question that you can not only worry about, but it can also affect your self-esteem, which can get chopped down to size, in a manner of speaking.

Without a doubt, every person has experienced the highs, as well as, the lows of love or something like it. When things are going in the right direction you feel in control and somewhat invincible like nothing can hurt you, but when things are going in the wrong direction you're not in control as you feel that vulnerability overtake you. For one's worry, which starts off small, can turn into doubt to where it becomes an overwhelming sense of fear that can also affect your ego and pride. Other than your ego and pride, one's self-esteem can most definitely be affected to where it makes you wonder/worry as to whether or not you're truly deserving of someone who loves/will love you for the person you really are instead of the person you think you are.

In any case, it would probably be safe to say that there are those who experienced having your self esteem chopped down to size by someone you thought truly loved you with all his or her heart. It's a sad situation indeed when a relationship is broken because that guy/girl no longer is in love with him or her and no matter how hard one wants to try to fix whatever problem caused the breakup that person doesn't want it to be fixed as that person just wants to move on. As selfish and cold as that sounds, it's a reality that some, most, or all people have faced to the point it left them in denial, as well as, feeling small, stunned, shocked, and humiliated as that person turned his or her back on not only you but your heart as well.

Oftentimes, a person can go through self-esteem issues when in a potential and/or significant relationship caused by either being turned down so many times or being hurt physically, emotionally, and/or personally by bad past relationships. For the most part, you can feel as if you're broken inside after suffering heartache that initially leaves you missing a part of yourself that was metaphorically taken by a supposed past love such as one's smile. Essentially, when someone steps into your life who is truly a good, genuine, decent, nice, as well as, kind person the compliments he or she gives you like you're beautiful/handsome aren't readily accepted and is refutable in your own eyes even though it's true in his or her own eyes.

In retrospect, every person deserves to be loved, admired, and respected by that special someone who not only doesn't have any ulterior motives to be with you, but is able to bring back up your self-esteem. It's when you look into his or her eyes you somehow feel comfortable, as well as safe and when you need cheering up he or she is always there for you to put a smile on your face which has been missing for quite some time. In the end, it's when you're with this person who you think should be with someone else far more deserving than you, you find yourself saying to yourself or out loud those immortal words made famous by both Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar from Wayne's World which are I'm not worthy.

Pay The Price

Someone once said, ~I do believe that soulmates do exist. That there is truly someone made for you. But it's still up to you to make the choice if you're going to do something about it or not. We may meet people by chance, but loving and staying with them is still a choice we have to make. And by making that choice we have to make sure that no matter what we're not going to regret it in time.~ If you think about it, the toughest and most difficult choices are made from within our own heart when it pertains to the matter of true love. To love or not to love? Though simple and obvious it may be, those aren't just the only two choices as it goes much deeper to where you have to make critical decisions that are not only hard but complicated as well.

Let me ask you this question, when it comes to falling in love with someone, who you may seemingly have a few things or everything in common for that matter, how do you really know you've even made the right choice in the first place? To be perfectly honest you don't and you have to initially go with what you guy, as well as, your heart is telling you, which makes leading up to the final decision concerning him or her not only mentally but physically exhausting. You have to admit, we all choose to put ourselves through that ordeal even though we don't have to and yet we do anyway because we fall in love with such an attractive personality that its impossible not to love him or her no matter how hard you try.

Oftentimes in the midst of one's inner struggle to make the right and best possible choice within your heart you can become angry, frustrated, resentful, spiteful, full of hate, and/or in denial of how one feels about that certain someone, which can be considered a torturous feeling. When it comes to someone you've grown increasingly fond of you can harbor those feelings and emotions that are floating around somewhere inside to the point hurtful words are said when you speak one on one. On one hand you can decide to feel that way or on the other hand you can simply choose to be grateful that he or she is part of your life even if its not in a romantic capacity and you can still love that person, but not in the way you imagined.

In any case, there comes a point where the decision to close the door to one's heart is based on one's track record in the relationship department or the lack thereof. For it's a hard, as well as, complicated choice, which may or may not affect one's overall demeanor. Without a doubt, there are guys like myself and girls too who are just tired of coming so close to finding true love and yet end up metaphorically walking the empty lonely streets that lead to the boulevard of broken dreams. However, the door to one's heart may be closed but it doesn't necessarily mean it will stay closed forever. For the most part, you just have to know who your friends are as they will help keep you smiling and laughing from the inside out when you need it the most.

Someone said, ~Don't settle for the one you can live with, settle for the one you can't live without.~ In retrospect, we all have the freedom of choice and when it's about deciding who you want to be with it comes down to two choices: 1.) Love someone who makes you happy but inevitably makes you miserable. OR 2.) Love someone who makes you miserable but absolutely makes you happy. In the other words, take the easy or hard way in finding not only your soulmate but the one you truly love as well? In the end, it will always come down to the decision(s) that you have to make on your own and before ever making that choice from within your heart you'll ask yourself, am I ready to pay the price for what I hopefully won't regret later down the road?

Simply Irresistible

Leo Buscaglia once said, ~Perfect love is rare indeed - for to be a love will require that you continually have the subtlety of the very wise, the flexibility of the child, the sensitivity of the artist, the understanding of the philosopher, the acceptance of the saint, the tolerance of the scholar, and the fortitude of the certain.~ Let me ask you this question, do you actually believe perfect love exists? Though considered a myth, it truly is out there in the form of a guy or girl who, in a sense, has all the ingredients to be the perfect match for you. Unfortunately, that so-called perfect match can sometimes leave a bad taste in your mouth, so to speak, to where you have to go back to the beginning and start from scratch all over again.

Without a doubt, when it comes to making that rare form of perfect love with that special someone, it takes a seemingly well balanced mixture of ingredients that hopefully won't turn into a recipe for disaster, in a manner of speaking. In some aspect, you want someone that can add mature wisdom into your life and yet sprinkle in a bit of immaturity because you not only want to have some zing, but also some spice as well. In other words, you want someone who can keep you grounded but at the same time can bring out the kid inside you. It's in those two ingredients that can keep you mentally hungry to where you're always coming back asking for more like a hyperactive child.

Oftentimes, without even knowing it, two special ingredients can be added into the mix that in all intents and purposes makes that guy or girl smell even sweeter. For its a couple of ounces of sweet sensitivity that just touches the heart to the point it paints a bright and colorful picture within the canvas of your heart. In addition to that you want several cups of warm understanding because quite frankly you want someone who will be able to understand who you are and what you are going through as an individual, which is truly lacking in relationships today. Essentially, when you combine these two ingredients together you inevitably have something that is not only cholesterol free but also keeps you filled in mind, body, and soul.

If you think about it, there comes a point where you feel that something is missing that needs to be added to the recipe. Two of those missing ingredients are a teaspoon of acceptance and tablespoons of tolerance, which are both sorely needed if you want everything to come together in a potential and/or significant relationship. It's when you have a person who will not only accept you for who you are as a Christian should, he or she will also love you for just being yourself. Yet, it takes tons and tons of patience to tolerate someone who can make you so frustrated for saying, as well as, doing stupid things that you want to slap him or her upside the head, which makes love not only interesting but challenging as well.

In retrospect, there is a saying that goes: you have to break a few eggs in order to have the perfect omelet. What it boils down to is that you have to suffer through getting your heart broken several times in order to meet/find someone whose love is perfect, but the sad thing is its not always going to be perfect. For the most part, you just have to keep slaving, stirring the pot, adding/taking away ingredients, getting your hands dirty as you pour your blood, sweat, and tears into something you would gladly share with that special someone. In the end, when you stand back, as well as, look at what you and hopefully that person worked hard on together then...BAM....you've got something that's simply irresistible.

Feels So Good

Sydney J. Harris once said, ~Many people feel "guilty" about things they shouldn't feel guilty about, in order to shut out feelings of guilt about things they should feel guilty about.~ If you think about it, there are certain things in life that are considered enjoyable and yet to other people its something that possibly could receive strange, as well as, disappointing looks. It really depends on what a person enjoys doing that has you smiling both inside and out. Whether people know about it or you have completely kept it on the down low for a number of years it makes you happy to the point of feeling like a little kid again. Let me ask you this simple question, what is your guilty pleasure?

It would be safe to say that each one of us has a particular food, dessert, or candy that if we had the choice would eat all day and probably regret later. When you think about it, you not only turn into a drooling Homer Simpson, but you also do your own Carlton dance because you enjoy eating it that much. We've all seen grown adults lose all sense of themselves as they either savor each bit or go hog wild at what they are eating all-the-while making that proverbial I'm in Heaven noise, which can be somewhat disturbing to hear. In any case, whether it's a favorite family dish cooked the way you like it or a certain type of flavored ice cream you'll continue to eat it until the day you die.

For practically all women and some guys, shopping is considered not just a guilty pleasure but also an all out adrenaline rush that can bring them into a zone. A zone that is somewhat scary to think about as they have an itchy charging finger to buy something that they may or may not even need. As a guy, I've never found spending hours in a store/mall appealing and yet for women they enjoy the thrill of the hunt for jewelry, clothing, shoes, as well as, clothing related accessories such as purses, which are either expensive or on sale. Even though they have to deal with a possible big bill at the end of their shopping extravaganza, they absolutely don't have any regrets about it whatsoever.

Without a doubt, there are certain movies or a movie that each of us love to watch over and over again to where we never grow tired of it. Movies such as Spaceballs, the Goonies, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Sandlot, and Napoleon Dynamite are just some of the movies that we not only know all the lines to but also say them in that particular character's voice with the physical performance aspect of it as well. As sad and disturbing as it may sound, it's part of the pop culture phenomenon to where it's not ingrained into our subconscious, we use it in our daily lives when the appropriate time calls for it...most of the time. For the question can be asked, what is your favorite movie and do you know all the lines from it by heart?

Personally speaking, I kept something on the down low for a long time that is a guilty pleasure and it concerns a long running television show for kids, which has been on for 13 years. At the age I am at now it's embarrassing to even reveal this but I am going to anyway and because of this particular show I hope I don't lose any major cool points or friends for that matter who have no clue I watched it. So since 1993, I've been hooked on the Power Rangers television series and I have continued to enjoy watching it, but I DO NOT...I repeat DO NOT buy the merchandise associated with the show. In retrospect, it's the guilty pleasure in life that may seem weird, strange, stupid, embarrassing, and/or wrong to others and yet to us it feels so good.

Badges of Honor

Someone once said, ~We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.~ Duck duck goose, hopscotch, double dutch, kickball, as well as, hide and seek were just a handful of supposedly harmless games that we've all played as kids, but as adults it makes you tired just watching it. In any case, when I say harmless I mean that nobody got seriously hurt or died from the childhood games we used to play that brought joy and fun into our lives to where today's generation of anklebiters. Yet, there recently has been some raised eyebrows about the safety of three particular childhood games which are tag, red rover, and the ever popular dodgeball.

Without a doubt, the game of tag has seemingly been around forever and it has essentially evolved into many different types and/or styles of play such as freeze tag. Though suited for younger kids, adults can join in as well but instead of the hot pursuit of one's intended target it becomes more a game of stealth that involves surprise attacks as closed fists are used to hit the arms and/or chest, which is a game that can last days, months, or even years with a friend or group of friends. Anyways, it's this particular fun and yet controversial activity that has been banned in Spokane Washington Elementary School by their principal because of pushing and shoving that could cause serious injuries, which is absolutely ridiculous in my book.

As a kid, you wouldn't really ever consider Red Rover a violent game because it was all about strategy. Figuring out whether to call out the supposedly strongest or weakest kid on the other side and preparing to either hopefully add on or lose a teammate. However, as you played the game you found that while you were trying to capture or take away a potential teammate there was a tendency to possibly have injured arms/separated shoulders capturing that child or suffer whiplash/concussion after being clotheslined to the ground. Let me tell you something, as funny as it looks and sounds from an observer's standpoint is much different than actually experiencing it firsthand, which is not considered funny at all.

When it comes to the game of dodgeball, it takes speed, agility, quickness, endurance, and also sound strategy to be either the last team or person standing to win. BUT in this game winning takes a back seat to surviving as it's ever boy/girl for one's self to try to avoid being hit at all cost. Unfortunately, it's in this particular warzone type game injuries are suffered such as being hit in the face or below the belt and any guy can tell you from experience that it doesn't feel good when it happens at the same time. For the question can be asked though, were you the type of kid back then who enjoyed it when other kids were hit in those two areas and if so, all I have to say to is you're one sick and twisted individual.

In retrospect, looking back at the childhood games we all played back then one tends to be amazed that we're still standing or still alive for that matter. It's hard to imagine trying to play those particular games again with all the aches and pain each of us now suffer as grown adults. You have to admit, as little kids we took a lickin' and kept on tickin’ because quite frankly the bumps. bruises, scrapes, bloody noses, and breaks toughened us up. It would probably be safe to say that some, most, or all of us have shown off one's proverbial battle scars to other people as well as told the story of how you received it/them. In the end, it's those battle scars that when you look back on them they're considered to be, in our minds, badges of honor.