To Love

It's been a while since my last post and to those who like to keep track, I am very sorry. Life has been a bit overwhelming for the past few months, but I was inspired by something one of my favorite poets/artists posted on Instagram. She wrote, 

"you have been focused

on winning and losing

you forgot to notice

there is no

battle here

at all"

Her words really got my thoughts moving and I had to share. Everyone is truly so concerned with one another, everyone is constantly in some type of competition, even subconsciously. It has become so important to have a "better" life than the one which we are already living. So many of us have difficulty viewing life from different angles. When you have a bad day, it's not a bad life. Just because someone has something you don't does not mean what you have isn't amazing. I'm sure everyone has heard the saying, "The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."
Life would be so much simpler for each and every human being if we'd all stop to take the time to realize that there is no peace with competition. Working together and caring for each other is the number one solution to all of our problems. Give love to every being you come in to contact with. Push each other to be the best version of ourselves we can be. Pull each other closer, don't push each other away. There is no point in constant battles; there is no reason for a loser or winner.
We are all here for one reason - to love. 

When The Road Gets Bumpy, Stay Stronger

   I've spent the last two or three years learning and growing, working on myself. Every single day has taught me something new, whether it be about myself, the people around me, or the world I live in. While I've been on this endless journey, the most important lesson I've learned is that strength comes from within. Once, I read a quote that said, "Everything you're going through is growing you." I am unsure who said it, but I know it meant a lot to me. There are times in our lives where we are unsure how we will make it out of a certain situation. It is difficult to make sense of things, we are only human, but in hard times, the main thing to remember is that your strength is just that - yours. No matter what, the strength you build stays inside of you. Your mind and body only grow stronger through every experience. But these words are not to confuse the fact that the strength of others will help and guide you.
   Some people you meet will leave an imprint on you forever. You may know this person for the rest of your existence, or your paths may differ, and you might say goodbye earlier than you expect. Whatever the case, the point is that some people just build you up, whether they try to or not. Some people are just beautifully built, and they only know how to share that beauty. Some people give unbelievable strength and support, and giving them thanks just never seems like enough. {At this moment I just want throw some thanks out to all of those who have given me strength and support in my times of need. Some people will never, ever know how much they have truly helped me, and I only hope that someday, somehow, I can at least return the favor.}
   One of the best things you can do for yourself is to believe in yourself. Things get tough sometimes, but the best way to stay strong is to believe that you can stay strong. The strength that others see in you inspires them to be strong themselves. In a world full of strong, independent people, nothing can stop us from living our dreams.
   And so, my friends, today I challenge you to do something amazing. I encourage you to tell someone how important and strong they are. To let someone know that they are doing an incredible job, and to keep it up! Life throws curve balls, and sometimes, someone might need a push to help them find their strength again. Don't forget how much your strength can help strengthen others. And never, ever forget that you are so much stronger than you think you are. You can do almost anything, if you believe in yourself.
   Stay stronger than the things that bring you down.. You ARE stronger.

Love All, Hate None, Trust Few

Today I'd like to dedicate a post strictly to friendship. 
A friend is someone who you can trust, and someone you know you can count on, not to be confused with an acquaintance, say, someone you associate with, but would not tell your secrets to. This generation has surrounded itself with people who call themselves "friends", but will not think twice about betraying that same person they've just called their pal. Friendship, to me, is something extremely important. A friend is someone I can call at any times of the day and ask for help to make a decision, (since I am the number one candidate for indecisiveness) and that friend will assist me in finding which choice is best for me. I know many people, but I do not call all of them my friends. I love everyone I've come in contact with, but unfortunately I have learned that not everyone has the best intentions. Sometimes, a person whom you've called a friend will make a mistake, hurt you or even betray you and say they did not mean it. In cases like these, it is hard to decide if this person is meant to stay in your life, or needs to be cut out and removed due to the negative actions they've shown you. My best advice when it comes to a friend's mistake is to always forgive, not for them, but for you - for your own peace of mind,  even if you've not received an apology. Once you have forgiven them, you are able to move forward. Time is our number one healer. If you believe this friend has truly made a mistake, and has not meant to hurt you or betray your trust, maybe a second chance isn't a horrible idea. It is hard to know when our judgement is correct, but most of the time, I'd tell you to trust your gut feeling. A good friend is a good friend, in that, they will stand by your side and help you up when you are down. But a human is a human, in that, we make mistakes and some people deserve second chances. In my own opinion, pride is never more important than a good friendship. Life gives us some people who are meant to be in our lives for only a short amount of time. No matter how long that person is around, they are there for a reason, to teach us a lesson. Being hurt or betrayed by someone you once called a friend might, at first, seem unbearable. You didn't expect this person to prove your trust wrong, and now you are stuck wondering if you have poor judgement, or if this person just has a good act. Whatever the case, always remember that you do not owe anyone an explanation and/or apology for cutting the toxic people or things out of your life. If this person has shown you they cannot be trusted, you have every right to delete them from your life. However, if you choose to give someone another chance, another shot at gaining your trust, you've got to actually be willing to try to trust them! I believe in second chances, but not everyone deserves them. Just be cautious who you let in. Some care, and some are just curious. 

"Good Vibes Only"

     An interesting concept has become pretty big in this generation. It seems almost everyone is trying to live by the term "good vibes only." Although it does sound ideal, to only have good vibes flowing in and out of your body, mind and spirit, it isn't quite possible. And although I do call myself an optimist, I'd say I've got a splash of realist in me. BALANCE is one of the most important parts of our lives. I wrote an insert once, here in this blog, about balance, and it's importance. In that post I mentioned,
"If we didn't know bad, we would not know good, those are the simplest terms of balance."
     Life is FULL of UPS and DOWNS. To only produce good vibes from within yourself, and radiate those positive vibes everywhere you go, to everyone you meet, is absolutely beautiful. But to feel is no crime. Anger is indeed the easiest emotion to feel and act upon. Sadness is sometimes easy as well. In some situations, it is hard to hold your emotions back and only feel and spread those good vibes. That does not mean you should act upon these negative feelings, but feeling them is natural. Those are the vibes that balance out the good.
     Positive vibrations are all around us, and so are negative. Our job is to help our minds concentrate on the good, but accept the bad as well, not just pretend it isn't there. Bad things happen so better things can follow. Life is a curse and a blessing in disguise. Every day can bring you something new. Face each day with a positive mind and ALWAYS radiate positivity and light. A bad day doesn't create a bad life.. 
                      "When life is good, say 'thank you,' and celebrate.
          When life is bitter, say 'thank you,' and grow."