You Don’t Know What You Got Till It’s Gone.

There are certain things in life we take for granted. We don’t realize how much we really want or need them until they are no longer at our disposal. We might not even be conscious we have something until it’s gone.
Once we lose something, how do we get it back? More importantly, how can we learn to live without it if there is no chance of it returning?
We need to appreciate what we do have and focus less on what we don’t have.

The End of the World as We Know It

Yesterday I went to see the new movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. While watching the previews before the movie started, I noticed a trend. Three of the five trailers were for movies in which the world ended.
What is the meaning of this? Is Hollywood trying to convince people that the world is near its end? Why are people so interested in the destruction of their planet?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my planet to be destroyed.

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.

Everyone is searching for something. What is it that people are looking for? What is it that people really need in life? Besides food, clothing, and shelter, what other necessities are there to survival? Some are searching for their purpose in life. But I think that most would say love is all you need. It is necessary to have human contact, some type of deep connection with another person. But how do you find it? How do you find something that you can’t buy in a store, that doesn’t grow on trees, that you can’t even see? And if you do find it, how can you be sure?

You Can't Always Get What You Want

When you want something really badly, you spend time obessessing over it. You wonder how to get the object of your desire. You dream about what you are going to do once you obtain it. You think about how happy you will be once you have it in your possession.
But once you get what you want have always wanted, will you still want it? Or did you spend so much time and effort wanting it and idealizing it and scheming about how to get it that when you finally do get it, it doesn't live up to your expectations?
And did you ever really want it in the first place? Was the act of wanting it enough?

Are we obsessed with what we want or are we obessessed with wanting?

I Was Born Ready.

Occasionally something happens to you that you aren’t ready for. It might have been something you wanted and hoped for and thought about but when the moment came and you were given what you wanted, you aren’t ready for it.
Then when you are ready for it, really longing for it, it’s too late.
Why weren’t you ready when it was being given to you, when you held it in your hands, before you gave it back perhaps forever?
When does it become too late to change your mind and go back?

"Only Human" Jon McLaughlin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxPQeujHjIE

"Can you tell me how we got in this situation,
I can’t seem to get you off my mind,
all these ups and downs,
they trip up our good intentions,
nobody said this was an easy ride.
After all we’re only human,
always fighting what we’re feeling,
hurt instead of healing."

Two Sides

I just finished reading the book “Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of the West.” For those of you not familiar with it, it is the life story of the Wicked Witch of the West from L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz.” The theme of the novel is the nature of evil.
The story has always been told from Dorothy’s perspective. She views Glinda as the “good witch” and the Wicked Witch of the West as evil. However, when the story is told from the Wicked Witch’s perspective, we see the story completely differently. The Wicked Witch is not actually wicked at all and Glinda isn’t actually good. When you hear more than one person’s perspective on a situation, you can get closer to knowing what really happened. From now on whenever someone tells you something that happened to them, just remember, there are two sides to every story and then there’s the truth.

Cry Me a River

I went to see the movie UP! on the night it came out. Without spoiling the ending for those of you who haven’t seen it yet, there was a moment at the end of the film which caused me to tear up.
As a result of this I began thinking about the topic of crying. I wondered why guys don't like to cry or why they don't think it is okay to cry.
I talked to one of my guy friends about this and he said,” I think guys don't think its okay to cry, we believe it shows weakness to others. It might depend on each person. Maybe they don't get easily emotionally moved. Maybe they have built up a strong armor to protect themselves. Maybe it’s because they need to put on a show for others.”
I still have to wonder why? Is it because society tells us that it’s not manly to cry? In my opinion, a guy who is confident enough in their manhood to tear up and cry on occasion is more “manly” then a guy who refuses to cry because he is afraid of what others will think of him or thinks that it will show that he is somehow weak. To me, crying shows that you can feel, not that you are weak.

My {Summer} Resolutions

The beginning of summer feels full of possibility. We are relaxed and happier. The days are brighter and the light extends well into the evening. These three months can act as a blank canvas to do something pleasurable for ourselves. Summer is the perfect time to make a resolution to do a fun, lighthearted thing you’ve been thinking about. It’s time to turn a dream into a reality. For me I have a stack of books I have been collecting during the school year that I have been waiting to read. I resolve to read all six books by the time classes begin in the fall. I have about 12 weeks, so I have to finish one book every two weeks. Another resolution is to rearrange my bedroom to make it easier to do my homework and study. I’ve made a list of everything I need to go through and organize and try to finish one area of my room in two days. My friend is helping me come up with a floor plan and I will go shopping for a new desk in a few weeks time.
When making your resolutions pick something fun that won’t be a chore to complete or that has an end result that you can enjoy. Remember if you fulfill your summer resolution, you’re rewarded. But if you don’t, you won’t face any real penalty or be dragged down by a sense of failure.

5 Resolution Ideas
1. Take a dance lesson or anything you’ve been interested in learning.
2. Make a book of family recipes or family stories. Try to get one from each family member or write down one of your own each week.
3. Go for a walk with a friend once a week.
4. Sample ice cream. Treat yourself to a different flavor each week.
5. Get out once a week to a farmer’s market, outdoor concert, or movie.

Underwear: The Unseen Story

Why do guys wear boxers with a pattern on them? Why do girls wear fancy underwear? No one is going to see them (Unless you are one of those guys who happen to wear their pants so low that their underwear is exposed, which is whole other post).
Many of my friends say they like “knowing” what underwear they have on. What does just the knowledge of the underwear you have on give you a sense of?