Never. Give. Up.

I was looking through old pictures from a year or two ago remembering everything that's happened, & it's crazy how much I've changed, physically and personally. I may only be 19, but I really never thought I'd make it this far in life.. I've managed to stay strong through struggles that I thought would defeat me. So today, I'm very happy to say that I'm proud of the person I've become. I've gotten healthy & lost over 50lbs thanks to Herbalife, & I've managed to grow and develop so much as a person. I have high hopes for the future, and this just shows that you must never give up. No matter how hard a situation might be, there is something better on the other side of it. Just keep going, keep pushing forward, and you will bring yourself to the life you've always been waiting for. :)

This Little Light Of Mine

I just remembered how I would constantly be singing this song when I was little... & how I wish I could go back and warn myself of everything that was to come and take my light away... I was once very innocent and naive about people and what they could do to me. I've been put down and pushed around and taken advantage of. I developed depression and anxiety. I became an angry and sad person. I was too afraid to stand up for myself, and was pressured into many things that I really didn't want to do: lying, cheating, smoking, drugs, alcohol, sex... I didn't know who I had become. I would look in the mirror and not know who I was. The horror of feeling so lost in your own skin, always leading to self-destruction, in more ways than one. The constant battle of debates in your head, fighting against your thoughts and what is reality. Trying to find something to give you hope, to keep you wanting to be alive, but only resorting back to the very things that made you feel so helpless in the first place. The cycle is hell. I honestly cannot tell you how I escaped the cycle, however. It seemed like such an impossible thing to do, living in that darkness and desperation. But the truth is.. my light was never taken away. It always remained inside of me. And each second, each minute, each day, each week I was able to stay away from the pressure people put on me, the stronger I became. The darkness lessened and my light shown closer to the surface. I used my light to block out the negative influences, while slowly discovering who the inner-me really was. It was a great struggle and took a long time, but eventually, it was clear who I was supposed to be. I am now able to stand up for myself and do the things I want to do, and refuse the things I don't. I realized that this is MY life and I only have one, so I am going to live it MY way. You can never give up, and you can never give in. You have your own light inside of you. You must keep searching and stay strong, and you too will find yourself. Embrace your light, and let it shine.

Rise Up This Morning

Starting this morning and every morning to follow, I plan to wake up in time so that I can see the sunrise. It is such a beautiful and powerful part of our lives that is so often overlooked. It is no wonder to me why people wake up in bad moods, struggling to get out of bed, and dreading the day ahead of them. It makes me wonder how different the world might be if we all woke up maybe 30 minutes earlier to watch and be amazed as the colors slowly change in the sky. To sit and think of all the world that is waking up, getting ready to face the day, of all those we share this beautiful scene, and this beautiful life with. Us humans take so many things for granted and always end up complaining about how nothing is going right, how many problems we have, and how unhappy we are. But I swear, if we all took just 30 minutes each morning to sit and rise up with the sun, we would realize how small our problems really are, and how little the details really matter. The big picture is amazing and beautiful, and rising up with sun each morning can bring us one step closer to realizing the true beauty of the nature of our lives.

A morning experience - June 26, 2012

"Have you ever stayed up all night and morning just to watch the colors of the sky shift with the sunrise? It's beautiful. Like droplets of paint dispersing in a jar full of water. One strand of the rainbow melting into the next. It makes one wonder what other magical parts of the world we often overlook. So as you get up this morning, don't just get out of bed... Wake up & Live. :)"

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

"Good things come to those who wait."

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"Sometimes what you're looking for comes when you're not looking at all."

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Recently, this has been so true. Every now and then things seem to run on a downward path. Some things don't go right or the way I'd like them to, and I get disappointed. Sometimes I just lose my sense of purpose. But as I start to relax and lose concern about the tiny details, good things start to happen! I might receive a random compliment from someone at school, come across an uplifting article online, or re-discover one of my favorite songs. But most recently, an old friend from highschool contacted me, who I thought I would never talk to or see again. I hadn't talked to him since graduation, almost 6 months ago. It was very surprising. It just made me feel good that I was actually remembered, by someone who I hadn't talked to very much in the first place. Things like this help restore some hope in my life.

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This all makes me realize how important it is to have patience. We all need to learn how to "let go" more, and release some of the control we have on our lives. Sometimes, if you want something, and you try really hard to get it, nothing comes around. Sometimes, waiting is the only thing you can do. Waiting kind of does what sleep does to the brain. It gives time to sort things out. Let's face it, not all of our problems can be solved in one day, can they? You have to have patience. "Sometimes what you're looking for comes when you're not looking at all." This has happened to me. Great people have come into my life, when I least expected it. I wasn't searching for them, but they were waiting there, right under my nose. They appeared at a perfect time, and I am so thankful for them. :)

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Just something to add.. a cover of Jack Johnson's "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing" by The Gaslight Anthem's (one of my favorite bands!) lead singer, Brian Fallon. Enjoy. :)

 

 

The Moment of Peace

I have discovered an event that is to take place on March 10, 2012. It is called The Moment of Peace. On this coming Saturday, at 8pm, people all around the world will be in silence for one hour. It will be one hour of Peace. People will put aside their differences and arguments, turn off the television and radio, put away their worries and struggles, and enjoy this moment of peace. There is no specific place or way that this is to be done. Either as an individual or a group, live in silence for one hour. Sit, pray, meditate, or just enjoy this moment of silence and peace with others, and the people of the world. This event is the beginning of a time of transformation and healing, within ourselves, and with the other people that surround us. In doing this, it is showing how we are all united in life and we all have the same goal for peace and happiness. The unified message that this moment sends to the world is the following:

1. That change on a larger scale starts through change in ourselves.
2. There are more constructive and effective ways than war and violence to bring peace.
3. That people from all religious, spiritual, geographic, and cultural backgrounds can actually unite harmoniously under a single, common embracing premise for the betterment of humanity.
4. It is necessary that we teach and experientially show our children how to better manage the human experience – emotions, thoughts, and psyche – to live well, be happy, and create peace.
5. That we can bring peace within ourselves and in our communities by taking time to be silent regularly.
6. That Silence, Meditation, and Prayer are necessary daily life skills for our happiness and peace.

Together, we can prove a point, we can solve problems, we can create Peace, we can make a difference.

For more information on The Moment of Peace, please visit: http://www.themomentofpeace.com/