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.

The FAQs of Life...and My Answers to Them

1. If you can't give of yourself, how could you expect anything in return?

YA CAN'T! Life is a balance of give and take, and if you keep on taking you'll eventually get caught for stealing (that was a really bad joke, I know). The more you put in, the more you get. Simply put...but you'll definitely get more if you give unselfishly without expecting something back.

2. Can you love someone else when you don't even love yourself?

I believe people treat others the way they treat themselves without realizing it. If you're really happy with who you are, that'll catch on and people will love you just as much as you love you. However, if you always put yourself down, you may find yourself criticizing others or having a tinge of jealousy. Like, if you wish you were pretty (even though we all know you are!) and you see someone who is attractive, you might judge that person and think, "Yeah, she's pretty which means she's probably a whore," even though most likely she isn't. So, if there are people in your life who try to show how much they love you, you may not see it because you don't think you're deserving of love, or you may just think they're full of crap.

3. Can you really live without regrets?

Yes. The word regret means to feel disappointment. We usually feel regret when we wish a situation turned out differently or never happened at all. Of course, when s*** hits the fan, we wish it didn't happen! However, I think when we ask each other if we have any regrets, we mean to ask if we are able to live with what happened and move on with our lives. It's okay to feel a little disappointed that you didn't get what you want, as long as you are happy with what happened as a result. Sometimes you aren't meant to do something or be with someone because something or someone else that is so much better for you will come along. The world may never know, but the world always falls into place the way you want it to eventually.

4. What is our purpose for living?

That's for you to decide.

Any more questions?

Dreams

When we're asleep, our minds reveal to us symbols of our waking lives through dreams. I have had some vivid and realistic dreams lately, and I've become reliant on http://www.dreammoods.com to analyze what parts of my dreams mean.

When you visit the website, the top right has a box where you insert a word then click "Interpret." Obviously, you cannot describe the entire dream. I have gotten pretty good at typing in keywords. For instance, in a recent dream I was at home in my kitchen during a party and was pouring a glass of water on the counter next to the sink, but the water spilled everywhere, and it seemed like the glass exploded. Then a split second later, it seemed like the moment rewound and there was no spill or shattered glass, and the glass was full of water. That really bugged me out! I also saw some people in my dream who have been family friends for almost 20 years.
I was really curious to find out what all of this meant. So, I picked apart the dream. The words I typed in were: kitchen, water, glass, spill, sink, party, home, and friends.

I would describe how each symbol reflects my life and what they all mean...but that'd be boring as hell. To sum it up, this dream had a lot to do with rejuvenation and my mental and spiritual state. Some of the keywords have similar themes such as being optimistic and in need of warmth and spiritual healing.

I encourage you to look up these symbols yourself, especially ones that are commonly found in dreams, such as childhood friends and water. You have to also put in a lot of different aspects of your dream to fully understand what it means. Keep in my mind if you see yourself in the dream, if you're outside, inside, around people, or alone. Think about what people are wearing, what time of day it might be, what room in the house you are in. Were you holding a purse or a wallet? Were you walking on the sidewalk or the middle of the street, and did you see trees, houses, or any animals? Every little thing means something, otherwise our minds wouldn't show them to us.

Dream Moods seems pretty accurate, and oftentimes the descriptions really coincide with my life. I think it's very interesting to find out why I have certain dreams and how they relate to reality.

Pretty cool, huh?

mindXposed Quote of the Week

"If you start to think the problem is 'out there,' stop yourself. That thought is the problem." - Stephen R. Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

I haven't read too many self-improvement books, but The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is my favorite so far, and this quote is exactly why.

When you reflect on your life and start to wonder why people treat you some type of way, why bad things seem to happen to you more than other people, or why what you want is not coming to fruition...don't go pointing fingers and blaming your shortcomings and issues on others.

You are the controller of your life, second to God. Think of yourself as the co-pilot to the higher being you believe has your fate predetermined.

The problem lies in your thinking. The problem is not "out there" because nobody else can determine how your life plan is executed. If you want something done, you gotta do it yourself. It's okay to ask for assistance, but it's another thing to completely rely on others to get what you need. You need a Plan B, an alternative, anything to bounce you back in a moment of failure, or when someone you depended on dropped the ball because they might've put you second to their own needs.

Sometimes we blame the teacher when we fail a quiz. We're upset when we don't get the job we were hoping for. We beat ourselves up over things we can control.

Sometimes it isn't the problem itself that we have to analyze, it's our reaction and thinking that we have to examine. When we fail, when things aren't coming our way, maybe it's not because others didn't follow through when we expected them to. Maybe it's because rather than being hopeful, we have self doubt. And instead of facing our inner demons, we place blame on external factors. The only hands that could lift us up are our own. Others may reach down to help, but ultimately it is our choice to grab hold.

Take a good look at your thoughts when you wake up in the morning and when you go to bed at night. Are you thinking about what you can do to turn your life around, or to have a better chance of getting what you want or need in your life?

When you reach an obstacle, rather than pointing fingers, think about the best way you know to overcome the problem. You and God are in control of your life. So why complicate that by thinking everything and everyone out there isn't in line with your life plan and your goals?

Honestly, this was a little difficult to explain and I'm all over the place, but hopefully my point came across all right.

Happy Weekend!

The 20s

The 20s are an awkward age. Girls and boys are between their youth and adulthood, depending on their maturity level, and I don't know about the rest of you early 20-somethings, but to call myself a woman sounds misleading. I'm reminded of that Britney Spears song I don't like but fits this post: "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman." This is a time I am questioning where I fit in and how I'm supposed to act, and who and when I am supposed to listen or make my own decisions. Anyway, at this point in life, people are just graduating college, entering graduate school, finding a job, or getting married and having children (or vice versa, or just one or the other...let's be real here).

I find it pretty crazy how many people are getting married or are engaged while I still feel like a teenager who has to ask permission to leave my house (okay, I'm exaggerating just a little). But the whole point is, this is the time in one's life where adulthood begins to take shape, while at the same time, for some, they're still being supported and/or disciplined by their parents.

This is a tug-of-war decade of finding out how to take control of our lives without disrespecting our parents, without feeling like we don't care about their feelings, and all the while still getting by with their help from time to time. There has to come a time when we have to look out for ourselves and should be able to do what we want. Of course parents will be parents and worry about their children even when their grandkids reach their 20s. However, this is when we must learn responsibility, make mistakes and grow from them, and find out through experience what it is in our lives that we want and don't want. Sometimes I wonder if parents remember what it was like when they were growing up. What did they do wrong that their parents disapproved of? What kind of fights did they get into? How did they deal with the transition in their 20s? Do they go to bed at night thinking, Damn, I can't believe how much I sound like my mother?

While I live at home with Mom and Dad, others are taking care of their children or their spouses, planning their weddings or buying their first home. Others are also still living with their parents, and some are still in school trying to finish their undergraduate education or attending grad school. Our age group is comprised of husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, students, and full-time workers. Just think about this hypothetical conversation four girls/women (I told you, it's weird for me!) have that is based on actual people who are between 22 and 25, who are in college or recently graduated within the past two years, and are clearly in different stages of their lives:

"I give up. There is no way I can afford a wedding. I think I should elope, or just do it at the courthouse. $20,000 is nowhere near enough for everything! I don't know how people do it. My fiance is too busy working to help me, even though he tries. $20,000! Is it even worth it? "

"I know how you feel, girl. My tuition is over $20,000 a year, and I'm not looking forward to paying back my loans. On top of that, I have to pay fees for my labs and books. I work like 30 hours at the bar to try to pay for school and other crap like my car. This all better be worth it!"

"Oh God, I don't even want to think about how I'm gonna get my daughter through school. By the time she turns 18, tuition is gonna be impossible to afford. I can't even buy what she wants now, and it's only like a $20 toy, but it's either feed her or let her play with a stupid talking doll. I had to yell at her for the first time because she wanted to go out and play, but it was raining."

"Yeah, I just got yelled at by my parents because I came home past 2 am the other night. And they mentioned how I didn't clean my room well enough. How do you handle it when your daughter wants to play outside but you don't want her to, or when she hasn't cleaned her room when you asked? Maybe you and my parents can get together and figure out the best way to deal with us kids."

Awkward?

mindXposed Quote of the Week

"Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I found this quote in Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People. I have yet to finish the book because I keep losing it, but I am halfway through, and now that it's in my possession again, I'll do my best to keep it in sight. But this isn't about the progress I am making in reading the book; this is about the quote. So let me continue...

Emerson made a great point, which I kind of touched upon in my post "Your Past..." in which I said that everyone, no matter how long or briefly you have known a person, has some kind of influence over you. Every person you come across is someone you can learn from, no matter where they came from or how far advanced they are in their formal education. In fact, the more different you are, the more you can learn.

Everyone's life experiences are different; therefore, you can take something valuable from someone else's story. Life is too short to experience everything ourselves, and human relationships and interaction are important in shaping who we are.

I absolutely love meeting new people and listening to stories. I am constantly learning. We have to humble ourselves in order to better ourselves. We cannot shrug off advice from a young child or from someone who quit high school. We cannot ignore the words of someone of a different religion or sexual orientation just because their beliefs or actions are not like ours.

We are no better than each other, and if we lived by what Emerson stated, imagine how much more intelligent and logical we would be as a whole. Imagine how much more understanding we would be of each other, and how much more grateful we would be for sharing this world with each other.

"April Showers Bring May Flowers"

It's been raining a whole lot these days here at the Jersey Shore, and I'm guessing in other areas as well. It's spring time, and the rain helps the natural world grow.

"April showers bring May flowers." This saying has many layers to it. Take it at face value. It rains a lot in April, but come May, the flowers bloom and the sun is shining. Spring is in full force.

I can't play basketball in the rain, and it's even more difficult to plan a tennis match in this weather. However, I know that it rains for a reason and I just have to patiently wait for the day to come where I can be able to do what I want.

To get to the beauty and serenity of spring, we have to put up with the rain. In life, to reach a higher ground, to get to a better and more positive place, we have to endure trials and tribulations. We have to fight, argue, bleed, sweat, work. Nothing valuable comes easily. Life lessons are not found on a chalkboard. They are found when you make the mistake, when you're on the ground with your knees scraped and your head pounding with pain. They are found when you witness others falling. They are found when the wounds heal and you get up to face another day with the hope of a better tomorow. Lessons aren't learned unless you think about what you've been through and realize why it happened and how it can benefit you. You can fall time and time again, but if you don't learn from the first few times...don't question why you keep on fallng. That's the reason right there. You didn't learn. You knew you made a mistake but haven't done anything to prevent it from happening again.

They say that you won't know true happiness without experiencing sadness, that you don't know what it's like to have a rich life unless you've experienced being poor (metaphorically speaking). There's a reason why there is an opposite to everything in life.

When it rains, just remember that the rain is there to help something better grow. If it's in your control, it doesn't have to rain as often as you think. If it's out of your control, think about why it's raining and what you can learn from it.

mindXposed Quote of the Week

"What do you mean you don't believe in homosexuality? It's not like the Easter Bunny, your belief isn't necessary." - Lea DeLaria

This quote is hysterical. Since it's Good Friday, I figured I'd associate this week's quote with Easter. I Googled and found this one. I wanted to originally reflect on Christ's resurrection, but I did that already, and you can read it here: http://mindxposed.blogspot.com/2009/02/bare-bones-please-heed-warning.html

I Googled (I Google a lot) who Lea DeLaria is and found out she's a music artist and author, and she seems pretty effing cool. I'm not homosexual (not that it would matter, right?...unless, of course, you're trying to hit on me), but I am absolutely all for it. Love knows no color, gender, age, or any other kind of boundary. Love is a verb, an action you take when you care deeply about someone. "Believing" in homosexuality just sounds funny. Saying you believe in something, in a way, means that you think it is real. Like, if you believe in the Easter Bunny, Santa, and the Tooth Fairy, then you think they exist. So, if you don't believe in homosexuality, does that mean you don't think it is real?

Think on that vocabulary lesson, and if you celebrate, have a Happy Easter!

"If"

"If" is used when making a decision or in preparation for what is to come.
Example - "What if I make a career change?"

"If" is also used when questioning the present situation or a past choice.
Example - "What if I went to school abroad instead of staying at home?"

"If" is used in these two very distinct ways. In the first example, a person is planning for the future, preparing him or herself for what will happen. The second example shows how a person is wondering about how life could have been had he or she taken a different route.

Consider this: Is it more worthwhile to question how things are going to be, or how things were already done? Of which should you focus more or less?

mindXposed Quote of the Week

"Develop a negative into a positive picture." - Lauryn Hill ("Everything is Everything")

I have faithfully been listening to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill since its release in 1998. Eleven years later, I still have it bumping in my car. I absolutely love the beat of "Every Ghetto, Every City," and since I'm a Jersey girl, I am very familiar with the streets and cities she mentions on that track. "Nothing Even Matters" with D'Angelo melts through the speakers. Her emotions pull you in on "To Zion." This album is by far probably my most favorite.

Anyway, back to the quote. Ever since I first listened to this track, I have lived by the words, "Develop a negative into a positive picture." That is why I have been so resilient, despite everything that life has thrown at me. I have been through hell and back numerous times, and yet, I have not been depressed ever. I immediately take a negative situation, find the lesson in it, grow up and move on. It is amazing how quickly I just move on. Metaphorically speaking, I'd be beaten up and boggled down by life, but no one around me would ever know, because the next day, you'd find me on the tennis courts trying to win one for them team or in a Student Government meeting trying to lead my peers, without one teammate or SGA officer knowing how upside down and shaken my life just was less than 24 hours before.

Other people who have gone through similar circumstances have not bounced back nearly as fast as I have from the shit (forgive my language) I have gone through. I am blessed and grateful to be such a positive person who lets nothing, and I do mean nothing, stop me from enjoying life and going after my dreams. With what I've gone through, some people might try to hide from the spotlight and live anonymously in fear. Some people might lose trust in everyone they meet, and even people they have known for quite some time.

By developing every negative into a positive, I do not live in fear and I learn so much about myself and about life. Because of what I have been through, I am more cautious about certain things and letting people into my life, but I do not, nor will I ever, limit myself just because of my past. Also, I have learned how to forgive, how to be happy despite the facts, and I am not stressed out at all from anything that happens.

Continuously, I say that everyone deals with problems differently. However, I am really glad that I know how to move on and not dwell on the past. Doing so just keeps your life on a standstill, and that is no way to be living! It honestly aggravates me to hear people complain about their lives. Not everyone's life is golden, and not everyone knows how to deal with that. However, every situation can be altered if you try. It takes a lot of effort, a lot of discipline, and a lot of strength to make a change and to learn from the past. Easier said than done, but it must be done. And once it is done, baby, you are on track to the happiness you deserve! It'll take time, but only the greatest things are accomplished with patience and diligence.

Distractions

Certain situations come up in life and distract you from doing what you want to do.

If you have children, they are a major distraction. You can no longer put yourself first as often as you'd like. Traveling, going out to parties, etc., all have to be put aside or held off for the sake of raising your little ones. Even simple things like wanting to watch a movie alone in a quiet setting could be difficult.

If you are in a relationship, sometimes you have to sacrifice your own time for your boyfriend or girlfriend, husband or wife. Quality time is key in a relationship, and you cannot be selfish.

Your job is probably one of the hugest distractions in your life. If you aren't self-employed or in business for yourself, the 40-hour or more work week is your restraint. You have the choice of waking up late or not showing up for work, but the price for that is getting a cut in pay or losing your job. So, you have to compromise. You can't stay up late to watch the game when you have work early in the morning. You can't go on vacation unless you have vacation days added up. You can't. You can't. You can't. Unless you don't care about making that dough.

Without these distractions, what would you do with your life? What little things that make you smile have you had to put on the back burner for others? At times, we tend to put others before ourselves, and it is understandable. However, we cannot forget that we can't make others happy without being happy ourselves. We cannot lose ourselves just because we have obligations. Remember, it is absolutely okay to treat yourself once in a while. If others love and care about you, they will understand why you need to do certain things for yourself. People become too busy to go after their dreams, to do fun activities like dance classes or join sports leagues, or to enjoy a hobby. Next thing they know, they claim they're "too old" to do what they want. Time is not unlimited.

Life has to be lived with a balance. Often we don't realize we are living kind of on a tilt. We worry too much about meeting deadlines or about making sure our family is safe and healthy. We are supposed to care for others and handle our responsibilities, but that's not all we're about. You are not a slave to your life; you are your life. Enjoy yourself. Make sense?

mindXposed Quote of the Week

This is something new I am doing on my blog because I like quotes. They make you think, and sometimes people say things in better ways than you can. Besides this week, you can expect a new quote every Friday.

"It isn't ever going to be today again." - Tom Hopkins in How to Master the Art of Selling

The last thing I expected while reading a book on how to sell was a general life lesson. I expected this book to be very technical, and was pleasantly surprised by this quote. The quote speaks for itself, but it is worth a thousand words. I read the sentence in the book and immediately stopped reading. I was so intrigued by this quote that I posted it next to my bedroom door as a reminder every time I leave my room. "It isn't ever going to be today again." You only get one chance to live today, one chance to make an impact, one chance to make a difference. If you knew today was going to be your last day, what would you do? Would you forgive someone who did you dirty? Or would you seek forgiveness from someone you did wrong? What places would you visit? What kind of lessons or advice would you share with your children? In what ways would you give back to your community before it is too late?

"It isn't ever going to be today again." So, what are you going to do?

Because I Am Who I Am ...

...I don't quite understand why people discourage others from pursuing their "pipe dreams." I say, go after what you want because you never know what could happen! If people listened to others who said they could not accomplish their extraordinary dreams, we would not have such technological advances, such amazing works of art, music, and film, a Black president, etc.

...I don't quite understand why people can't just leave each other alone. I am extremely open-minded. I have nothing against homosexuality, any religion, etc. I think if everyone was as open-minded as me, we'd have a much more peaceful world. Just because I don't do what you do or believe in what you believe, doesn't mean you have to make me change. Because I won't. I don't expect you to change your way life for me either. On the other hand, if we were all open to change and trying new things, we'd learn so much from each other, and overall we'd be well-rounded individuals with amazing life experiences.

...I can't imagine living anywhere but a busy suburb or city. I am not a country girl by any means. I need to be surrounded by people, and stores must be a short drive away. Even though the countryside is scenic and gorgeous, I cannot live in the middle of nowhere. Mad props to those who do because I'd get bored fast!

...I can't go a night without praying, but sometimes I forget, so I pray in the morning. I am not an avid church goer, but I do count my blessings and thank the Lord for everything and ask for my sins to be forgiven. I used to fall asleep in the middle of prayer, so now I pray on my knees so my full attention is on Him.

...I am overly sarcastic. Call it a defense mechanism, but it's my sense of humor. People say certain things and the sarcastic comments that come to mind fit like a glove in the conversation, so I don't keep them to myself because they're too genius not to share! It cuts like a knife at times, so I try my best to limit it around people I don't know, and around people who get offendended easily. Sometimes people take things too seriously, but that's because they are who they are, and I can respect that.

...I don't like drama. I am so laid back and chill that when people start complaining about things, I just tell them to brush it off and don't take it to heart. I know situations affect people in different ways and not everyone can just let things roll of their back, but because I am who I am...I got no stress, no stress, no stress! I don't let things upset me because it isn't worth the energy. At times I do get mad and I yell, but I cool off in like five minutes. No grudges = no wrinkles!

...I have a very strong competitive personality. Even if I'm not good at something, I will try so hard to be the best. I can be a sore loser at times, but it's no biggie; I just get caught up in the moment. Competing in things like sports gives me a major adrenaline rush. I like friendly competition, and you can only get better by competing with people who are on a higher level than you. So, bring it on!

...It takes a lot for me to get bored. I am like a little kid, and everything amuses me. I can do anything and have a good time, just like I can hang out with anyone and have fun.

...I like my "me" time and my privacy. Sometimes I prefer to be alone watching a movie or reading. I like shopping by myself, and I'd rather work out alone than with a partner. Both activities require a certain amount of time for me that just doesn't quite fit well with other people. I think privacy is healthy; it helps me stay sane, to be honest. "Me" time is extremely important to me for the same reason. Being by yourself really forces you to think about stuff, and it helps me resolve any problems or issues I might have at the moment.

...Writing is my escape. I've been writing stories ever since I learned how to write. Everyone has their escape from reality, whether it is movies, video games, or books. I realized, though, that novels are not my forte, and my goal is to be a published author of short stories and maybe poetry, but I'm not big on poetry. That's my so-called pipe dream!


I know not many people follow my blog or leave comments. However, I think it'd be interesting for those of you reading this to share in the comment section your own "Because I Am Who I Am..." It wouldn't surprise (or offend!) me if there are no comments. I don't expect this blog to be very interactive, anyway. It just made me think and put certain stuff in perspective for me. Maybe it'll do the same for you!

Your Past...

...is only an indication of your future. It only repeats itself if you don't correct yourself. To progress ourselves, we must check and re-edit ourselves.

...is a series of lessons, and I don't know about you, but I tend to pick and choose which lessons to learn from. I am beginning to realize that I must swallow my pride, admit to my wrongs, and only then can I really mature and grow. To be changed, you must make a change. As simple and logical as that is, it falls under the list of things that are "easier said than done."

...consists of people who make an impact on who you are, consciously or not. I truly believe that every single person I have laid my eyes on, or had some correspondence with, has had an effect on me and who I am. We all judge books by their covers, hence first impressions. Even if we speak to someone, that is most likely still their cover because it takes time to truly know a person, and people don't let you in on who they are until they completely trust you, at least that is how I am at times (sorry, I went off on a tangent). Whenever I see someone, I immediately have an opinion about that person, or I compare myself to that person. I do this all the time without even noticing. For instance, if I saw a girl walking down the street with a really toned body and a nice outfit on, I think about my own body and how I really have to get myself into better shape in order to pull of whatever she is wearing. Human interaction is so important because it helps us learn more about ourselves, not just each other. I believe every single person who I crossed paths with in my life, no matter how briefly, has helped me define who I am.

...is filled with triumphs, failures, happiness, and pain. Depending on who you are, you either thrive from your triumphs and happiness or dwell on your failures and pain. If you thrive from your triumphs and happiness, you will succeed and make the most out of life. However, if you suppress your failures and pain in order to be happy, that could hurt you in the long run. Life is a crazy balance of these opposites, and honey, the sun don't shine forever. It is important to realize life is not all smiles and cupcakes because there are down moments, and if you always expect happiness, when that pain comes at you... it could knock you down because you didn't see it coming. On the other end, if you dwell on your failures and pain, you will only feel like a failure and be filled with pain. Do not overshadow your triumphs and happiness with your pessimism. Life is a crazy balance of these opposites, and honey, darkness falls but the night always ends. It is important to realize that when seemingly too good to be true circumstances come your way, you shouldn't be wondering what's going to come next that could ruin the moment.

Full of Myself? Not at All!

Someone once asked me why I have really high expectations for myself.

My response:

Why not?

Procrastination :(

I am the Master of Procrastination. I want to relinquish the title!

In high school, I was able to write whole entire research papers the night before their due dates (minus the researching part, of course. That actually took a few days), and still manage to get good grades. I'm not trying to brag about my stellar academic performance back in the day, don't get me wrong, especially since all of that really doesn't matter now. I just want to illustrate exactly why I'm considered the Master.

Real life is a whole different story. Without deadlines and anyone watching me or being affected by what I do, I have no pressure outside of the pressure I put on myself. I am the only person holding myself accountable. I need to be more disciplined! When it comes to accomplishing my 101 Goals in 1,001 Days (http://journeyto101.blogspot.com), which I have started and am now restarting today, and when it comes to other stuff like cleaning my car (I still have a box in the trunk from when I moved back home in JANUARY), I really need to stop slacking and start working!

Procrastination separates the players from the bench warmers. So, if you are anything like me, just get up and go...because really, what are you doing that is serious enough to keep you from what you are supposed to be doing? Get real and get going!

And I will do my best to take my own advice.

"We the People"

Targeted at the ones who work for ultimately selfish reasons; an ode to the ones who don't just think about themselves! :)
------------

Our country's baffled by this recession,
Considered by some as a second Depression.
I see it as a much appreciated blessin',
A hard earned, well-learned life lesson.

People were working their dream jobs.
Now they feel flat broke and recklessly robbed,
Once taking money for granted and being materialistic.
This is God's way of telling us to be more realistic.

Competing for big mansions, the new high-tech trends,
A pair of brand new kicks and a brand new Benz.
What are we trying to get filthy rich and famous for?
To buy fancy things and leave people piss poor and ignored?

We spend our paychecks on new dresses to show off in.
Others struggle to buy t-shirts and jeans every so often.
Manicures and pedicures to stand out are considered a necessity,
While thousands of people sweat and labor forever in anonymity.

The value of the dollar is decreasing,
Not because our economy is depleting,
But because we have forgotten the whole entire reason
For working for a dime so our children could keep on eatin'.

The rich are getting poor and the poor are stuck where they’re at.
What are we doing to stop this downward spiral in its tracks?
Watching and waiting for the ones on top to end this is lethal.
Even though we got leaders, this is a democracy, and we the people.

American Cancer Society's Relay for Life

I have decided to participate in William Paterson University's Relay for Life, a fundraising event on behalf of the American Cancer Society. In some way, cancer affects us all, and I want to take part in the fight. I know at this time in our economy, donating to charity could be difficult. However, any amount helps, and prayers, thoughts, and words of encouragement also go a long way.

To make a donation online, or to print out an offline donation form, please visit my personal page: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jamiemariano.

To learn more about the event at William Paterson, please visit
http://www.relayforlife.org/wpunj.

One More Thing For Today...or For Now (and it doesn't rhyme!)

Why do people think that the world is against them? Man, the world is not coming after you. Stop twisting everything and people's words to make it seem so negative, like people are out to get you, or they have no respect for you. You could get yourself into some trouble for no reason because you don't think anybody likes you. The world probably is against you only if you are a bad person. And most likely you're not a bad person. So check yourself before you wreck yourself.

I Don't Sing in the Shower, I Freestyle

I only do this in the bathroom lol, but this is Round 2 today. I just got out of the shower, still dripping wet, but had to type this up before I forgot it since my notebook is in the car. Wherever you see (...) is where I paused for a second in the shower cause I don't flow perfectly...obviously, because I am not trying to be a rapper haha.
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I'm hiding a lot behind this rhyme,
Those who know me, read between the lines.
Got an angel looking down upon me,
Do not want her to look down on me.
Gotta take care of the life I lead.
I'm gonna get bruised up, I'm gonna bleed.
But it's not about how many times I fall,
But when I succeed.
Want to live a life that makes her proud,
Gotta live on purpose, can't sit around.
Can't wait, can't count down...
One, two, three, four, five
Til I'm no longer alive.
That ain't no way to pass the time.
I'm gonna live twice... as hard just for you.
For a short time you grew,
But God called you to be an angel, so off you flew.

i feel like randomly rhyming

i get impulsive
gotta be explosive
stayin on top is my motiv-
ation to succeed
such a crazy need
to crush my competition and leave
them all behind
watch in due time
i gotsta get mine
dunno where the hell i'm goin with this rhyme
but i do know where i'm goin in life
and that's to ease the pain and strife
of those who could use me to there benefit
gotta stay healthy, positive, and be fit
cause people rely on me to fix their shit-
ty situations and life's complications
so i can't be negative or have hesitations
nah really, i can't stop flowin,
still dunno where this is goin
but like i said i got my life figured out
better than this rhyme, no doubt
addicted to typin this out
i'm just goin with it, cause who knows where this'll take me
like in reality
just gotta take a chance, who knows where i'll advance
and it's all about the adventure and the romance
but f* romance cause it's just a show
don't need no flowers or chocolates, oh hell no
i ain't down for that, don't put up an act
just show me who you are, i don't need all that
but this ain't a dating service, just flowin with these...verses?
haha, don't know what i'm doin
but it's a snow day so i'm chillin
don't like to play in the snow like children
but God's gift of beauty is laid out on my lawn
we gotta count our blessings, from dusk til dawn, big and small
i walk around wit confidence so high i feel ten feet tall
but i don't got a big head, i don't talk a big game
just eager to bite into my slice of life and establish my name
for some reason
this always goes back to my need for succeedin
but thats cause i'm constantly dreamin and movin toward achievin
this is gonna finally be over, done with this
cause backspace got abused like rihanna wit chris