But, It's My Dream!

Dreams, goals and aspirations; they all are a governing force in our lives.  They are points we wish to reach in our life time.  They are destinations we want to end up at.  Without dreams, life can be quite dull.  How we act and the decisions we make are ultimately determined by our dreams.  We desperately want to reach our goals and actualize our dreams, so we are willing to make the necessary.  For example, an aspiring college student is going to put forth the time and effort to be involved and get good grades in high school in order to be accepted into their dream college.


Lately, I have been thinking about what my dreams and what exactly I want to achieve in life and making my own bucket list.  Here are just a few of my dreams.


★ graduate college ***in progress***
★ temple marriage
★ write a song
★ adopt
★ live in NYC
★ meet Taylor Swift
★ learn to play the guitar ***in progress***
★ see the northern lights
★ find a 4-leaf clover
★ catch fireflies
★ help baby sea turtles make it to the ocean
★ go on a humanitarian trip to a foreign country


Dreams are what keep us going in life.  Without them, what would we have to look forward to?  What would be purpose of living?  My dreams keep me going during the rough patches and help me stay focused on what I really want.




And I just have to include this video clip.  One, because it has to do with dreams. And two, it stars the one and only, Taylor Swift!

Dear Blank

These are so funny.  Thought I would share with you all.  Enjoy! :)

Dear Anne Frank,

     They read mine too!

        Sincerely, wimpy kid.

Dear National Association of Procrastinators,

     That is quite the acronym.

        Sincerely, I think I'll join you.

Dear Dunkin' Donuts,

     Having a slogan like "American runs on Dunkin'" isn't helping our image.

       Sincerely, America.

Dear childhood pop songs,

     When I listen to you now, I realize how many of the lyrics I didn't understand back then.

       Sincerely, can't believe 8-year-old me sang along to that.

Dear Lady GaGa,

     Do you have you on your iPod?

       Sincerely, curious.

Dear calculus,

     Cee Lo Green called, he said "forget you."

       Sincerely, ruined GPA.

Dear mom,

     If you are always saying "You shouldn't care what other people think about you," why do you obsessively clean the house every time we have guests?

       Sincerely, your child.

Dear companies who fire their employees for things posted on their Facebook pages,

     Stop creepin'!

       Sincerely, annoyed.

Dear cake in the fridge labeled "Do not eat me!",

     Don't tell me what to do!

       Sincerely, loved every bite.

Dear America,

     Tomorrow was awesome!

       Sincerely, Australia.

Dear favorite song,

     How is it you never get stuck in my head, but the annoying songs repeat over and over?

       Sincerely, "It's Friday, Friday..."

Dear McDonalds,

     If bars aren't allowed to serve drunk people, surely you shouldn't be allowed to serve fat people.

       Sincerely, makes sense to me.

Dear sneeze,

     Please come out of my nose already.

       Sincerely, my about-to-sneeze face looks weird.

Dear America,

     Please stop assuming that the temperature automatically drops 30 degrees when you cross the border.

       Sincerely, Canada.

Dear sheep,

     Why don't you shrink when it rains?

       Sincerely, cotton.

Dear world,

     I dream of a world where we can cross the road without having our motives questioned.

       Sincerely, chickens.

Dear Taylor Swift,

     We like your ending better.

       Sincerely, Romeo and Juliet.

Dear "my dog ate my homework,"

     You've been replaced.

      Sincerely, "my printer broke."

Dear future self,

     I apologize in advance for all the work.

       Sincerely, procrastinator.

Dear kids trying to grow up too fast,

     Yeah, being older that you is awesome.  I love working to pay for my car, gas, college, books and having no money for fun stuff like eating or laundry.

       Sincerely, seriously, just enjoy your childhood while you still can.

Dear full closet,

     How come I have nothing to wear?!

       Sincerely, girls everywhere.

Dear boy,

     Please note that you are about to be Facebook stalked for approval.

       Sincerely, your new girlfriend's best friend.

I Believe...

I believe...
That two people can look at the same thing and see something completely different.

I believe...
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.  Sometimes you must forgive yourself.

I believe...
That our background and circumstances may influence who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world keeps moving on.

I believe...
That no matter how good of a friend a person is, they are going to hurt you once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe...
That you either control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe...
That sometimes what you are searching for is really right in front of you.

I believe...
That we must make the best of what we have.

I believe...
That anything is possible.

Perception

I found this social experiment online.  Would you have stopped to listen?

PERCEPTION

. . . Something To Think About. . .



Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children.. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly..

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The questions raised:

*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*Do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.

How many other things are we missing?

Looking In The Mirror

When you look in the mirror, who do you see?  A person with confidence?  Goals?  Compassion?  A future?  Every day of our lives, we make choices.  And these choices define who we are.  They show everyone what kind of person you are.  What your values and goals are.  Where are you going in life.  

So next time you look in the mirror, next an extra minute to really look.  Is the person staring back someone you like and are proud to be?  If yes, great!  Keep doing what you are doing.  If not, then perhaps consider what you could change.

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find me, unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul. By William Ernest Henley