Good Mood Blogger

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http://www.sam-e.com/job/entries/24

Autumn

I found this and I felt it fit again...

It's a beautiful day. Oh goodness, there is just something about Fall, I promise you! People say that Spring and Fall are the same, but they aren't. You see when Fall comes you've been through the bitter Winter of last year, and the intense rains of the Spring, and even the hot dry Summer (both physically and metaphorically). Thus, by the time Fall comes the weather is cool and the wind is singing to you the songs of peace. The leaves put on a different costume and dance in your honor because you made it through the difficult times! Yes, in Fall you simply have to bask in this glory. You can't complain about the cold Winter that's ahead because then you don't even revel in this peace, in this beauty that is all around.

I had the TV on in the background. I think it was a commercial for why Michigan is a wonderful vacation spot but I only focused on one phrase: "It's amazing that when we get to a place where no one knows us we become more and more like ourselves."

A crazy concept, isn't it? I think that we begin to find ourselves more when we are farther away from "our stomping grounds." I think that we too quickly lose sight of who we really are and what is really important.

When we were on our trip there was sense of freedom. I could dance around New York, hop around Canada. I could scream out the window on the road, I could jump on a bed in my hotel room. Why? I wasn't at home. I didn't have responsibilities. I didn't have to worry about my boss see me skipping through the park and consider firing me because I'm insane. I could have fun... I realized that I can have fun. I was finally free to be me and figure out just who me is.

No matter what your age is, no matter where you live or what you do, everyone needs to take a trip. Even if it isn't to an amazing place like Michigan apparently is! Everyone needs to have the freedom to find themselves again. The freedom to be themselves again. The freedom to figure out what is really important and figure out why.

It's amazing how much we learn about who we want to be when we realize who we can be.

I don't believe that people can have too many dreams. I don't think that people should ever give up on those dreams either. I saw a quote that spoke this better than I could.
"No one should negotiate their dreams. Dreams must be free to flee and fly high...You should never agree to surrender your dreams." - Jesse Jackson (Okay, I know I just quoted Jesse Jackson but please focus on the quote! It really is a good one!!)

My grandpa has more reason to give up his dreams than anyone else I know. And he's never done that. He fell of a ladder and broke his back years ago. I've never heard him be bitter about his limitations.
But the other day I saw the first hint of disappointment in his eyes. I told him that I would be going to Maine on my trip. He said he always wanted to go there but never had the chance. I told him that if there was ever a way he could make the trip I'd have him there in a heart-beat.

It reminded me of when I was little. He told me that his grandpa always loved the banjo and that it made him wish he'd learned how to play. I made it up in my mind then that I would learn to play the banjo. The other day when I told him I'd take as many pictures of Maine that I could, I added a dream to my already long list. I'm getting a banjo and learning to play a song so I can play it for him...and maybe even teach my Papaw how to play too!

There are alot of things that make you want to give up on your dreams. Sometimes the worst enemy of your dreams is your own doubt. Why is that? Even if you never accomplish your dreams, you will be more remembered for never giving them up than you will be if you give into doubt. So never surrender your dreams, to anyone. Let them soar and free. Let yourself soar and be free too.

Besides, you can never be too old (or musically challenged) to learn to play the banjo.

Little Moments of Win

I was not in a good mood when I came to work tonight. I sulked and pouted and griped and groaned. Then I stumbled onto this site called It Made My Day (itmademyday.com). On the banner for the site it says "Little Moments of Win." And I loved that. There are a lot of sites today where people are able to complain and talk about how their lives are terrible and will never go right and it was nice to see that people still get to win.

My favorite story of the many I read was this one:
An elderly man came into the shop where I work in wanting to place an order. While I was working we got to chatting and he told me that he was one of the oldest students at the nearby university. I asked him why he decided to start studying again and he said, "I just thought, what does one do between now and death? Might as well learn Turkish!" IMMD [It Made My Day]

That is such an inspiration to me. Sometimes I feel like I'm just taking what life throws at me. Good and bad (complaining about the bad and being ungrateful for the good). It's nice to remember to seize every moment between now and death. Have fun as much as possible. And maybe even learn Turkish!

Every day has the potential to have little moments of win.

And by the way...I'm not in a bad mood anymore.

Words are the one powerful thing that most everyone has access to. And of course with power comes great responsibility. But I don't know if we apply that words often. We get lazy and self absorbed. It's not that we mean to do that but we usually do. We don't usually notice the subtle hints that people are giving us. And maybe we're the ones giving subtle hints when we should just come right out and say what we mean.

With all this confusion it's amazing that we are able to live and function together, even if it's not always well. In all of this mess it's very important to remember who you are. People may ask you to be more or less or different, but it's always best to just be you.

Here's a tip for living in this mess we call home: Be the one that controls your attitude. If someone hurt you, you choose how to respond. If you're upset and want someone to make you feel better, stop that. You be the one to make yourself feel better. Who knows, maybe the person that upset you just didn't pick up on your hint and doesn't even know why you're upset.

Crunch Time

I love the way it feels after it rains. It feels like the only time that the air is really clean (although I'm sure there is some study out there that completely shuts down that idea and tells me that there are more impurities in the air after it rains than any other time). The water is still on the ground and at night the street lights make it shine. This makes the road incredibly dangerous (at least for my terrible depth perception) but gorgeous at the same time. I feel like the earth is so proud its beaming.

It's crunch time for me...which is why I titled this blog "Crunch Time"...in case you were wondering. Yes, I should be writing papers. Or working on my script. Or possibly my miniature set. Or drawing. Or catching up on reading. Basically, I shouldn't be on this site. But I haven't been here in a while (sorry, Mom). And I really don't want to do any of that. Plus I'm dizzy. I think one of these should justify the fact I'm procrastinating.

I'm not worried though (I'm a little worried but only because I keep having the bouts of procrastination...this one has lasted for the entire semester. Oops). I have no choice but to get everything done. So I will. I will. I will? yes. I will.

I'm trying to be positive. I think my last blog said that. I'm actually doing it this time though. I've started this new thing. I'm calling it "21 days to be a better me". Actually, I just made that up because I've been calling it "21 days to not be uptight" but I didn't want to post it on here that I'm ridiculously uptight, but it's the truth. I still like "21 days to a better me" better though.
Here's why: I don't like being uptight. Uptight people are not happy people. They do not make other people happy. They may be "go-getters" but the fact is they don't believe in themselves enough to go or get! They are too worried that something will mess up and then they will be worse off than when they started. I don't like being that. I see older women in Wal-Mart or the mall and they have frown wrinkles that are more noticeable than their faces. I don't want that. I don't like the idea of being the person everyone avoids. So! In 21 days (how long it takes to make a habit) I will be uptight free. Or close to that. I started last week and had to restart earlier this week. But I will complete this!

And my homework...which I should probably do right now.

But before I go I would like to make sure everyone understands that when I find out what age you can be a crab for no reason, I will still be that lady. Mainly because I think it will be funny. As long as we're clear on that...