mindXposed Quote of the Week

"A person hears only what they understand." - Goethe

When it comes to listening to other people, we hear words but often twist them in our minds so that we comprehend those words in the best way we can understand. Sometimes we don't realize that we've twisted what was said into a different definition. Hence, arguments, wars, discrepancies, misunderstanding, miscommunication, etc.

It isn't that a person is ignorant or stupid and can't understand what's been said. It's just that how we've been brought up and what we've experienced influences what we hear. That's why racism and sexism exist. Actually, racism only exists in the minds of people who think coming from separate countries determines superiority. Sexism only exists in the minds of people who think what's between our legs determines who is the better sex. We live by what we best understand, by our beliefs, and by our personal levels of knowledge. We all grow up with our own sets of values, and oftentimes that is why we can't comprehend other people's behavior. "Good" and "bad" is arguable because we define things differently.

Goethe's one sentence basically summarizes how our world works, and how our minds disrupt and prevent peace.

Likes

I believe in balance. You can't just think about the negatives and the downside of life; you need to also see the bright side, and vice versa. So, to be fair to yesterday's list, here are my likes:

• "Hannah Montana." Laugh. Go ahead. It's a guilty pleasure. I think the show is hilarious! I guess it's because I'm a writer, and when I hear a good line, I think, "Damn, Why couldn't I come up with that?"
• Competition. I'm not really a sore loser, I play one on TV. No, but seriously, it's all an act. I am very competitive, but not very, very good at anything in particular. However, I am pretty decent and when I know I can win but I don't, I think, "Yo, I totally had a chance. How'd I blow it?" If I had my way, I'd play a game until I come out with more wins than losses. But again, I am NOT a sore loser ;)
• Oldies. I love blasting Stevie Wonder's more upbeat tracks in my car, and I listen to old school Michael Jackson like I'm getting paid to play his songs. I am a sucker for Motown! I like The Temptations, The Four Tops, Jackie Wilson, etc. Motown produced some of the most positive and refreshing music ever. "The Way You Do The Things You Do" is one of my favorite songs. When I had an apartment, I used to pop open the windows and blast this song while cleaning and dancing like a loser...of course, when no one else was around.
• Windows. Lots and lots of windows. Big windows. Let the sun shine in! Or the stars! I love it when rooms have huge, huge windows and great views. I like how bright the room feels when natural light comes in. I am a daydreamer, and so I think this also has a lot to do with the fact that when I am in deep thought, I tend to look outside.
• Sleep. I love sleeping, but my body naturally wakes up at like 8 am, no later than 9 am, which is why I tend to post early in the morning moreso than any other time of day. Unless I am going out at night, I try to go to bed by like 11 pm to compensate for the inability to sleep in.
• The smell of freshly cut grass. If they could bottle it up (unless they already did...sounds like something to Google!) I would totally spray it all over my house.
• Australian accents. They're just the coolest ever, hands down.
• Airplane rides. I don't mind 13-hour flights. I think it's because I could literally sleep anywhere, and I think airplane seats are so comfortable! Plus, I like that longer flights play movies and some even provide personal screens so you could watch anything you want at any time. I could live on an airplane. I don't know why I like flying so much, but I do.
• Unlimited texting. I text a whole lot, and have gotten in trouble for it in the past. When I just have one thing to say, I just text real quick because I don't want to call. I don't want to go through the whole, "Hey, how are you? I'm fine. It's a nice day, huh? Blah, blah blah... Well I'll call you later. Bye." For me it's awkward. I"ll only call when I want to have an actual conversation. Cut out the flowery ish and just go straight to the point and you don't need to prolong a quick message that, in a text, would have just began with what you wanted to tell the person and ended with the person texting back, "OK." Short and sweet, like me :)
• Tofu. Weird, right? I like tofu with soy sauce, bean sprouts, and mushrooms. I eat strange food. If you know me in real life, then you know not to leave it up to me to cook dinner.

Dislikes

I think it's about time for those few who are following to get to know me a little more (and it's about time I post again!). Here are my dislikes in no particular order:

• Wrestling. And I mean the "professional" wrestling that is obviously staged and super over dramatic.
• Getting lost. I do that all too often. My next investment is a GPS. I mean, I spend more money on gas when I don't know where I'm going than I would on a GPS, so I might as well buy one.
• Losing things. More like misplacing things, actually. I do that often also.
• Repitition. After the third time someone says, "Can you repeat that?" or I have to reiterate repeatedly, I've just about had it with that person.
• Kids having temper tantrums in public.
• When parents give in to kids having temper tantrums in public. Could this possibly be linked to the growing obese population? ("Mommy, buy me that King Size Snickers right now, or I will scream at the top of my lungs!" + "Okay, son, just shut up already!" = overweight American kids? YOU do the math).
• Twitter. No offense to the millions of people using it! I just don't know why we have to know every second of your life. "Following" is like "stalking with permission." It's fine for this blog because it's not my daily life typed out every second. Following on this blog is more like being subscribed to it. So please, don't stop following because I don't like "following." Please note the difference between quotations and no quotations :)
• Chocolate. I know what you're thinking: "What kinda girl are you?" It makes me gag unless it's mixed with other things like ice cream or peanut butter. I barely ever eat chocolate.
• Grammatical errors. This really peeves me. Even in text messages when people don't realize what words T-9 does not recognize. I sometimes go back and read my old posts, then fix any grammar and spelling mistakes. I kinda stopped doing that because it seems really anal of me, huh?
• Abbreviations while speaking. Ugghhh, this one bugs me! I especially can't stand when people say out loud, "OMG!" Seriously? I hear that one the most, and it irritates me more every time someone says it.
• Cocky police officers. They really let "power" get to their heads. It bothers me to even explain this one, so I won't.
• Cockiness PERIOD. Yeah, you're good at something. We all know. Why rub it in so deep our skin starts to bleed?
• Newspapers. They're just SO boring. I understand it's meant to just be news and pretty much regurgitate something that happened so that it's 100% as factual as possible. However, I think I should start a more modern newspaper that isn't so melodramatic and has more positive news.
• Ferrets. What is so cute about them??
• Jewelry. Again: "What kinda girl are you?!" I like jewelry, okay? It's just that in the morning that's just an extra thing I'd have to think about. So I don't bother unless I have to be dressed up, even then it's minimal. Or if I am going out and I find something that perfectly matches. Otherwise, I don't waste money or time. Plus, I need to be able to fight quickly. I can't be like, "Hold up. Let me take these rings off before we get into this." Just kidding. I'm nonviolent like Gandhi.
• The word "poop."

mindXposed Quote of the Week

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." - Plato

Are you stressed out and taking it out on the woman driving too slow in front of you? Or maybe you're taking it out on the customer who is taking too long writing out that damn check. Why are people using checks anymore, anyway? Nah, maybe it's the cashier who just seems to have no patience. You're about to spend money in his store, so why is he rushing you, huh?

Hey, you never know what these people are going through, just like they don't know what's going on with you. Yeah, you got your issues and you can't deal with people, and you just want them all out of your way so you can do what you gotta do. Well, my dude, they're thinking the same thing about you.

Life ain't easy for any of us. So, let's not make it any more difficult than it has to be with stupid little arguments and misjudgments, please.

Questions I'd Like to Ask Cops...

These really aren't all that funny, but this was what I was thinking when I was driving home today...

1. Why do you insist on using your sirens simply to run red lights?
2. Would you say you are the law, or above it?
3. Have you ever decided whether or not to issue a ticket based on the song and/or radio station being played in the car you pulled over? Because that is something I would totally do if I were a cop.
4. Do pretty girls really have a better chance of getting out of a ticket?
5. Did you become a cop for the extremely slight chance to be able to legally end someone else's life?
6. Do you pull people over who are less than 5 miles above the speed limit only when you're bored?
7. Do you make up ridiculous questions when you administer drug or alcohol tests?
8. Do you tailgate just to make us speed so you can pull us over?
9. What do you really do with confiscated drugs or alcohol?
10. Could I please have a PBA card?

Be the Soap in Your Life

Whether you want to be a bar or a bottle, unscented or flowery fresh...be the soap of your life!

Scrub the dirt away. Say goodbye to grime. Leave yourself feeling refreshed, renewed, cleansed, and smelling oh so good.

Nobody else is gonna clean you up the way you need to be cleaned. Do it daily and do it well. The dirt will always come back, but when you're the soap, that ish will only linger as long as you let it.

Can't ya tell I just got outta the shower? haha

So Moved!!

I am a faithful Googler, and when I went to search something just now, I saw a link right below the search bar, and it was very, very inspiring! Children across the country submitted drawings for the Google logo to be displayed on its homepage. The drawings show what the children wish for the world. They are very creative, and their wishes range from world peace to environmental awareness.

Whoever is reading this blog should definitely go to Google.com and check out the amazing, amazing drawings, take into consideration these children's wishes, and vote for the drawings you like best!

Here is the link: http://www.google.com/doodle4google/index.html

Kids

I know it never goes according to how parents wish it could be, but if I had kids, this would be my ideal way of raising them, lol:

1. I would live in a one-story house, and my bedroom would be in between my kids' bedrooms, if I had at least two kids. There would be no doors to their bedrooms. For like the first five years of their lives, until they make friends and go to other people's houses, they'll be led to believe that kids don't have doors like their parents' rooms, they have cool looking curtains that they get to pick out themselves. Once they rebel and want a bedroom door, I'd just tell them I can't afford one, and if they want one, they'll have to find some way to pay for it.
2. I wouldn't talk to them in a baby voice when they're little. I'd just talk to them like I'm talking to anyone else. I don't think babies and little kids care if we talk to them in tiny little voices or normally, as long as our tones aren't booming sounds of hatred.
3. My kids are not going to be dressed looking like farmers (no offense to farmers!). What I mean is, no overalls! They're no longer in style for anyone of any age. Also, I don't want a freakin cow, horse, or a chicken printed or sewn on any of their clothing, unless they choose to wear it. They are dressing cute, but not sickly cute. I don't know why, but animals on kids' clothes bother me. Maybe when they're newly born, I could deal, but I don't want my 3-year-old kid running around with a big fuzzy bear on his or her shirt.
4. It'd be ingrained into my kids' heads to eat a piece of fruit or have a fruit salad along with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They'd eat balanced meals, and I'd tell them that they can't buy their lunch at school unless they want to be fat and ugly. Yeah, I'll scare them into healthy eating! Why not?
5. There'd be no such thing as girls or boys-only parties. Every birthday party they'd have will be co-ed because I want them to know it's okay to have friends of the opposite sex, and this could help them with their social skills a lot better.
6. I'd make it routine to go for a walk or a bike ride every day with them for like however many years it takes them to tell me it isn't cool anymore.
7. My house would only have two TVs - one in my bedroom, another in the living room. We'd also only have one computer in the living room where I could monitor them (aka - spy if I have to).
8. If they ask if Santa is real, I'd probably just say, "Where do you think all of your presents come from when I can't even afford bedroom doors?"

mindXposed Quote of the Week

"It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

A wise man, that Dumbledore!

We have the ability to:

• love
• hate
• bring life
• kill
• heal
• injure
• become educated
• remain ignorant
• ...you get the idea!

We choose to do or not to do any of this, even though we are able to do any of it. We are capable of anything, but it is our choice to engage in certain "activities" (I can't really think of a better word). I believe we are who we are based on our choices, just as Dumbledore said. So, I am not gonna even bother to explain any further because he just stole the words right out of my mouth.

And I dunno about you, but I think it's pretty cool this came from a Harry Potter book. That's why I encourage reading. You never know what you'll learn from where.