"Flatter me and I may not believe you.
                            Criticize me and I may not like you.
                            Ignore me and I may not forgive you.
                            Encourage me and I may not forget you."   
                                                   -- William Arthur

There are m any things a person can do or say that will either build us up or tear us down.  Too often people are quick to judge, criticize, and even ignore another person.  Someone they call a friend.  So when someone comes along and flatters us and gives compliments we tend to not believe them and say things "yea right", or "only to you" and the like.  Throughout the mix of negativity, it is so hard to believe something positive.  When someone consistently provides us with negative feelings obviously we begin to feel negative towards them.  I've seen it happen, I have even had it happen to myself.  Someone I held in high regard provided a fair amount of negativity and now I look negative towards him and have a hard time even considering him a friend of mine.

On the flip side of constantly negativity and putting us down, when we have constant compliments and encouragement, we begin to find it harder to live without that person.  A few friends have consistently encouraged me to do various things, people who have provided strength through times of struggle and tribulation.  Those are the people I cannot imagine living my life without, the people who bring positivity into life are those I can never forget, even if we have parted ways and drifted apart.  It is the people in your life who motivate and encourage you to accomplish your dreams, or even encourage you to break through a comfort zone, or learn something new, that make the biggest impact in your life.  I sit and think about the people who mean the most to me and it those who have done just that.

There is a saying "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar."  We are creatures that thrive off of positive vibes, so why do we spend time being negative and focusing on the negative. So what if our friend likes fast food and we don't, we shouldn't make a big deal out of it telling them how bad that food is for them.  We certainly should not be constant grammar police with our friends , we may think we are helping, but it is annoying Take time each day and think which do you project more.  Do you lift people up and give positivity more, or do you criticize and bring them down more?  . 

                  "Choices are the hinges of destiny." ~Edwin Markham

It is amazing how much our lives revolve around the decisions that we make.  One small decision can change the course of a life for either the good or bad.  We never know what course those decisions will take us.  If we did the decision making process wouldn't be so difficult.  Each possible decision has a different possible outcome, that's the excitement where will life take me next?  I spent some time recently just reflecting on past decisions, I do not regret any of them because either good or bad, they all brought me to the place I am today.  Made me into the woman I am today.  When reflecting I can help but wonder how things would have been different if a different choice was made; would things be the same?  Would I be happy?

 

Recently I made a decision.  This choice was placed to me several times within the past 6 months or so, and I was adamantly against it for several different reasons. The person who posed the decision was very persistent, so I agreed to pursue something and see where it leads.  It is terrifying not knowing where my decision is going to take me?  Of course.  But while it is scary to face something so completely unknown and not know what will happen, how things will play out, it could also be the best thing that has ever happened.  It could possibly be something I have prayed about for so long.  I am looking forward to what life has in store for me.  It is exciting, thrilling, and yes scary, and even crazy all at the same time.  No matter what happens with the choice that I have made in this matter, has already changed my life.  In my mind the change has been for the better.

 

You never know what will happen based off of one small decision, but once it is made, we shouldn't look back.  Decisions made today shape what tomorrow will bring, they can never shape what has already happened.  We can only learn from them and change bad decisions into something good.

"Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up”  ― Veronica Roth, Divergent

We tend to think that fear is what keeps us from doing things: that fear inhibits our abilities and puts limits on ourselves.  This isn't exactly true.  Fear wakes  us up gives us that rush of an "oh my gosh this is scary" moment.  But it is ourselves that limit our abilities because we are afraid of them.  It is not the fear itself that shuts us down but ourselves.  We think and fester on the fear and let our minds make it worse than it actually is in reality.

When we face our fears there is a sense of accomplishment, power, and control.  We get exhilarated and excited that we accomplished something and overcame a fear.  Our fears wakes us up to the fact that there is something else in this world, bigger and even scarier than ourselves.  There is something we cannot control, but it is something we can overcome and become stronger because of it.  There are plenty of things in life to be afraid of and the extent of that fear depends on the person and their experiences.  I was once afraid of water because at a young age before I could swim, I fell into the deep end of a pool.  Now you need to drag me out of the water.  Even then I was afraid of the ocean and the waves, but once I stepped foot in that water and began to feel confident, I lay there and let the waves carry me away (I make sure I can easily get back to shore of course).  But those are fears that woke me, woke a passion to overcome that fear and enjoy one of the wonders this world has to offer.

 We like to think that our fears keep us from accomplishing things.  Granted sometimes they might keep us from putting ourselves out there, keep us from taking that risk.  But at the same time doesn't it make you want that thing even more?

“You cannot be a mountain climber and a dumbass” ~ Mr. Harper at Harper’s General Store

Mr. Harper is an older gentleman who runs Harper’s general store in Seneca Rocks West Virginia.  I overheard him telling this to a young group looking for lessons on mountain climbing.  For some reason it did strike me as profound and you can look at it for different aspects of life not simply mountain climbing which is what this gentleman obviously meant it to be.

Seneca Rocks, West Virginia

Throughout life we have all kinds of mountains that we need to climb and overcome.  Some mountains are small while others tower above our heads.  Sometimes we learn the lessons we need in order to climb these mountains.  Other times we think we know to get on top and act like fools or as Mr. Harper said “dumbasses”.  What happens then?  One way or another we end up getting hurt and not completely making it out on top.  Regardless of whether we have to tools to climb or not the mountain always looms over us appearing higher than it is, but then once you get to the top, it is the greatest feeling in the world.

We tend to think we can handle anything and don’t need instructions for anything including overcoming hardships.  We act stupid sometimes and do stupid things.  We do things that will cause us to stumble and fall.  Things that inhibit us from making it to the top.  Sometimes the climb has a slight trail to follow, but we want the shortcut.  Other times we need to scale the sides of the mountain and then we look at the trail wishing we can take it.  Sometimes we think we can  handle it all on our own without help of any kind.  Then we get to a point where we don't know what to do and stumble or get lost.  Along the way we do stupid things, listen to the wrong people make the wrong decisions, but that is all a part of being humans and learning the process.

With what Mr. Harper was saying you cannot be a mountain climber and do dumb things.  You cannot climb the highest mountains without knowing what you are doing.  The same for climbing the mountains of trials in our lives; we need some idea of how to proceed with caution and do things right rather than running headfirst into the side of the mountain.

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one.”  ~ John Lennon

John Lennon is probably one of my favorite people for various different reasons.  He was a dreamer, he believed that we would be able to live as one.  Live as a unified people and move past our differences.  We are too focused on things we have different and people think those of us who hope that one day we can get past those differences and live as one, live unified in the fact that we are different and that's the beauty of the human race.

Many of us dream of one day living as one, but the reality of that will never come to pass.  There is always going to be a group who hates another for one reason or another.  We will never see each as equal.  We move past one hurdle and overcome one stereotype and hatred only to come across a new one.  Is it human nature to need something to "disapprove" of? Something to not like, something to judge another based on?  I find it hard to look at someone and not like them or judge them based on things they cannot control, or even things they can control.  Who am I to say something is not right?   I could be doing something wrong, I am sure of it.  Does that make me a dreamer like Lennon?

While I dream and hope for a day when we all can accept one another for who were and appreciate the differences in one another that make the world go round, I doubt it will ever happen.  There will always be something that stops us from accepting one another.  Its kind of sad when you think about it.

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.”
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

 

There are a lot of moments in life that we need to just stop thinking and put trust in something or someone.  We need to have faith that things will turn out alright, the way it is supposed too.  Too often we want to know what is going to happen.  We too quickly lose faith in things when something bad begins to happen.  We look at things and think they are impossible and though sometimes we try to tackle those moments, but other times we simply give up.  No one does anything with blind faith and trust anymore.  It seems one needs to always something as proof, something tangible that things will work the way they're supposed to work. 

We no longer put faith in things; not even doctors.  We constantly question everything, asking for a second opinion on this or that.  We hear some not so savory news and automatically assume the worse and expect a bad outcome.  Years ago I had the pleasure of having a long discussion with my uncle before he had passed away.  We were talking about how we were able to continue fighting cancer (he fought for three years, I for a year).  His statement will stick with me forever; he said "I only do it through faith that it will all work out.  If I have focused on the negative, I would have given up long ago.  Faith keeps me going; I don't understand how someone can endure hardships like this without it."  Faith is something we all need from time to time if not all the time.  We need to put our trust in something and hope for the best rather than continuing to expect the worse.  We need to trust people in order for them to trust us.  Too often we look at others and wonder when they will betray us, and I admit I do that a lot.


Without faith in anything, I'm not saying faith in God or religion or anything like that, but just simple faith in all things, that things will work out and the hardships will end, how do we make it through them?  How are we able to endure all the hardships of life and continue to keep going?  How can look at life and see that good rather than the negative and wonder "why me"?  Without trust in people how will we grow together?  How will we be able to not only understand those around us, but ourselves as well?  How can we survive in this world?

And of course we all need some pixie dust so that we can soar above the clouds.  Who wouldn't want a little pixie dust from time to time?

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” ~ Martin Luther King

During our troubles and struggles, we think things look so bleak and dark.  We don't think there is anything worth seeing, anything with beauty.  Sometimes though it is during those dark times that we need to open our eyes and see the stars shining bright.  We learn things, experience things, and grow through those dark moments.  The stars shine the brightest on the darkest of nights, couldn't we shine the brightest during our darkest of times?  During our darkest times we exhibit our strength, faith, perseverance, and become all the more stronger because of it.  If we didn't go through those times we wouldn't know the strength we have within, and sometimes we still don't see that strength, but it is still there.

We all have gone through and will continue to go through periods of darkness.  One time may be darker than the next, but each time we manage to make it through to dawn.  We never know what life is going to throw at us, which means we can never be fully prepared.  I think that is what makes things so hard to handle, we never know what to expect or how to fight it head on.  No one wants to have cancer, no one expects to lose a loved one, but we all experience those dark times. We look at those times as if they are bad experiences, but what if they are good?  What if it is because of those experiences that we are the people we are?

Maybe we need to travel through the darkness in order to find our dawning light.  If we sit and wallow in our despair and night, then we won't progress.  We won't find the morning and then be able to appreciate the beauty that was within our darkness.  When we look back on those times with new eyes we can see the stars and see the goodness that will come from that experience.  But for some reason we do find that hard to do.  I wonder why.  Why do we find it so darn hard to see the good that comes from troubled times?  The strength we gain or the new people we have become?

“To go through hurt, you have to stumble on the rocks in order to walk on solid ground.”
―Alyssa Tillmon

Throughout all of life’s trials and hurts we stumble; we fall.  We don’t know where to place our footing and which place is safe to step.  It’s an intricate dance with a difficult partner.  Because we are consistently walking on a rocky path, they shift and move making it harder to find our way to solid ground.   Now and again we are even looking around for the solid ground that we are not paying attention to where we are stepping which causes us to stumble even more.  Each time we stumble it hurts all the more.  We scrap ourselves time and time again, opening old wounds and creating new ones.  There are times when solid ground doesn’t seem to be within reach. 

As soon as we clear those rocks though and plant our feet onto to solid ground; it’s a time of rejoicing.  We may come out with scrapes, bruises, and brokenness; but at the same time it feels as though we come feeling new and improved.  Feeling stronger than before.  Often times we look back at the rocks and places we stumbled and see the beauty they hold.  Possibly even become thankful we staggered.  Sometimes falling and opening new and old wounds help us find that solid ground and be even more thankful that we have found it.  Although a lot of the time we find the solid ground and end up wondering when the next rocky path will appear.  So much so that we cannot appreciate what we have accomplished.

Throughout life we are going to go through periods where we will go through hurts and pains, but they are a part of life.  They are what helps teach us how to handle each situation.  Sure we will stumble, sure we will fall and get hurt more.  But with each pain and heartache we get stronger and learn what really matters and how to heal ourselves.  Those rocks that seem to jump out of nowhere are sometimes the things that keeps us going each day.

“We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn,' and I accept it. I've got nothing that I hadn't bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination.”
― C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

There are a few things in life that we are promised without a doubt.  Things that no matter who  you are, what walk of life you are in; you will experience it.  One of those things is suffering.  That is simply a part of life; things we don’t want to admit to anyone.  We watch people going through heartache or trial and we tend think “I don’t know how I’d handle it if that was me” or even “Glad that’s not me”.  How many of us have thought the latter?

Occasionally we need to endure suffering and mourn over loss (no matter what that loss is) in order to appreciate what we have and what we will see happening in the future.  We don’t like admitting when something difficult comes our way.  We tend to want the suffering and hardships to happen to someone else or in a movie/TV show, not ourselves.    We need to endure those moments so that we can fully appreciate when something good happens, when we are blessed.  We cannot avoid suffering, heartaches, pain and any other bad thing we want to try and avoid.  It is all a part of this wonderful journey we call life.  How you address those moments and handle them are what truly matter.

We need to accept that we will endure these things.  Accept that we will walk the valley of death, depths of hell whatever you so choose to call it.  We will mourn over things, we will cry our hearts out, we will scream out in pain.  But we need to experience those things, we need to endure them.  It’s a horrible thing to admit and hard to admit, but we need to go through them and try our damnedest to not abandon hope.

“I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.”
― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Those of you know really know me know I were my heart on my sleeve.  I am a highly emotional person to the point of being able to feel another person’s emotions as well; sometimes.  There are times when I am at the mercy of my emotions, they take over and all I feel is emotions sometimes it’s overwhelming to the point where I want to do nothing but escape them.  I do not want to be a slave to emotions as Wilde states in his novel, but sadly I am.  Too often I am ruled by my emotions and a lot of the things I do and think are results of my emotions.  I hate that about myself, I hate that I am so emotion driven and my heart is on my sleeve.  Makes it easier for me to be hurt and crumble back into oblivion.


I have been told it is a bad thing to be emotionally driven and to have my heart on my sleeve, but it is a part what makes me who I am.  I can tap into those easily accessible emotions to write even though I haven’t written anything in years. A lot of my choices and actions are driven by my emotions which can become so incredibly passionate at times that I cannot think of anything else.  I hate that.  I do not want to be dominated by my emotions and sensitivity; it should be vise versa.  How does one control such a vital part of themselves?  I cannot just ignore them or pretend that they don’t exist.

While it is easy to make me happy {I am probably one of the easiest people to make happy), it is also easy to cause me pain.  As I get older, and the more pain I go through it seems it is all the more easier to cause me pain.  And I am at the mercy of those emotions; I am ruled by them and I am not entirely sure on how to escape that trend to be able to dominate them and use them to my advantage.  I try to use my emotions to my advantage in my writing but it never works, I tend end up getting consumed by them and thrown into an abyss of my own thoughts and pain. Maybe that’s why so many authors of the past had drinking problems…I do have love for rum and whiskey.

I wonder if this is how people always get close: They heal each other's wounds; they repair the broken skin.” ― Lauren Oliver, Pandemonium

In order for someone to help heal your wound, you need to allow someone to get close enough to know what those wounds are. You need to let down the walls and other barriers and be vulnerable even for just a second. Sometimes we need to decide whether or not a person is worth being vulnerable for and if you want to take the risk of starting to allow someone in and allow them to see those dark corners of yourself. A lot of the times allowing yourself that moment of vulnerability is what ends up causing pain, but the question is, was that moment worth it? Did that moment cause another wound or did it help heal even if it was the tiniest of tiny bits.

Giving up those barriers and walls is, in my eyes, an incredible gift to give someone. You are allowing them a way into your world, even if they may not know it. It is a scary thought allowing someone in again, allowing someone to begin to get close to you. Sometimes I wonder if it is something you are conscience of, letting those barriers down. Half the time I don’t realize I let barriers down until I get hurt, recently happened: began letting barriers down. Do I want to be vulnerable and have my guards down? Goodness no, terrified of going through the heart ache and being wounded all over again. While letting someone in seems so terrifying and can cause more heartache, in time someone comes along that helps heal those wounds and make those scars fade away.

Getting close to someone means you need to let them into all aspects of you. For me all I think about is what has already been broken, I’m screwed up for whoever decides I am worth the risk. I know I am broken and at times wonder how I can ever be healed after all I have been through. I can think of only 1 person who knows it all and even then that person doesn’t know it all. How can I let someone new in? How can I forget the fears and worry to let myself be vulnerable once again?

"Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing." ~  Rollo May

We communicate with people on a daily basis in different forms. The way we communicate with a co-worker is different then how we communicate with a family member, or doctor, or even someone we feel is special. It is the only way we can build any sort of relationship with someone. So much can be said about a person based on how they communicate with another person, you can see what they value, what they are passionate or dispassionate about. Communication is one of the ways one builds and earns trust and also a way one can lose that trust/respect. The best way of understanding a person is talking with them communicating emotions, thoughts, desires. From that understanding comes intimacy and valuing one another. Intimacy is not specifically sexual intimacy, though there is a sense of intimacy there it is a different type; maybe a blog for another day.

Communication can relay so many different messages and not just what is being said but how it’s being said, words that are chosen, even non-verbal cues can relay a different message than the words themselves. Ever watch a person while they lie and see how they act differently as opposed to telling the truth. How about looking into the eyes of someone you love while they say those words to you as opposed to mom saying them. There is a huge difference in the meaning and how each are interpreted. But regardless of who is communicating, or what their message is there is a sense of value and understanding. When you communicate emotions/feelings, thoughts etc. you are letting someone into your “world” whether it is happy and cheerful or dark and bitter.

Just the other day, I had a conversation with someone about passions being the driving force in life and how those passions can communicate our darkest thoughts. Communication can help us be stronger in different situations because we talk about the trials and struggles we deal with on a daily basis. Some of us feel as though we have been to Hell and back more times than we can count (yes I feel as though I have). But talking about them tapping into those emotions to communicate and create something like art, music, or a piece of writing creates a strength we didn’t know we have. Even more so when we tap into that experience and let someone else in on the pain you’ve felt. It makes you all the more vulnerable to them. While that is a scary thought; me being a person who is driven by emotions and communication am waiting for that person I can let in, that person I can reveal the darkest corners too. But that too is a subject for another post.

“No one can tell what goes on in between the person you were and the person you become. No one can chart that blue and lonely section of hell. There are no maps of the change. You just come out the other side.  Or you don't.”    ― Stephen King, The Stand


So often we go through tribulations that affect who we are as people.  They change our outlooks, way of thinking, even sometimes the way we act.  Others in our lives sometimes try and figure out why these changes were made and try to analyze or compare us to who we used to be.  So often we hide what we are going through, even if we don’t other people cannot see the inner turmoil we go through on a daily basis.  The changes within us are exactly that it is within ourselves.  We cannot pinpoint the exact moment when the change occurred. We cannot say “It was this exact point when this happened” As King said in his book “there are no maps of the change” there is no way we can determine when the change occurred because it is a gradual process.

We are always trying to analyze things not just within ourselves but within those around us, but how can we do that when cannot see the personal hell each person goes through.  There are things I am sure all of keep hidden even from our best of friends and spouses.  Many times we cannot even see the personal hell we go through because we either try to hide from them or put on a  happy face and pretend they aren’t happening.  A lot of tribulations we deal with we can’t find our way through until we come out the other end a changed person.  I know with my tribulations I didn’t notice the changes that were being made.  Almost 7 years later I look back and realize I am a different person because of the things I have been through, they helped mold me and make me into who I am today.  I cannot pinpoint the exact moments, I can say which trials helped mold me, but as far as what trials changed what I cannot say.

That’s how life works.  There is always going to be mountains to climb and valleys to pass through, but you cannot map out the course and determine when you will hit trouble or when you will come out of it, or even what that trouble will do to you as a person.  You kind of have to put faith in whatever you believe in even if it is faith in yourself to make it through to the other side.

“Certainly she no longer thinks of the future, because every day the future proves itself to be a duplicate of the present. So instead she roots through the past.”  ~ David Gillman  "City of Women: A Novel"

How often are we disappoint in the “future” because it is not turning out the way he had envisioned?  We plan out this marvelous future and every day that that plan does not come true we get disappoint and we soon begin to stop looking or thinking of the future and instead think “what’s the use?”  Once we begin to think that and think that the perfect future we want isn’t going to happen, then we start looking at the past and wishing things were like that again.  But things are in the past are there for a reason.

We want everything to happen exactly as we plan it.  How we want it when we want it.  We want everything to happen now rather than wait for it to happen in its own time.   Because of that we think that things are not going happen, we think things are going to remain the way they are now.  We see every day as the same as yesterday.  We don’t see the future we are expecting slowly shaping and forming, so then we look at the past.  We see things in the past that we want and say we miss even though during that time we most likely wished it would pass.  What good does reliving the past and living in it as opposed to looking for the future, striving for the future we want?  All living in the past do is make us miss the present and future.  We miss out on so many things and sometimes...it makes us depressed.

We tend to see a future for ourselves and want it now, this instant, but many times we don’t want to do the hard work, just do the bare minimum.  So then it takes longer and we get even more frustrated and then give up.  I know there were times I did that, gave up and looked at the past and wished things were that easy again, even though during that time there were struggles to overcome.  In order to get the future we want, we need to struggle.  We need to fight tooth and nail for what we want instead of expecting to simple happen because we want it too.  We also need to accept that sometimes life has alternate plans.  Simply because things aren’t happening the way we want, we shouldn’t root ourselves into the past.  No good can come out of that.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt, This is My Story

Too often throughout life there are people who try to make us feel inferior to them. It starting earlier and earlier in childhood and extends far into adulthood. There is no rhyme or reason behind this, it's just the way some people in this world react to others they deem too different. But that just seems to take so much of their own time to worry about making others feel less than worthy.

Eleanor stated it beautifully in saying no one can make you feel inferior unless you let them, unless you give them the power to do so. Sometimes it is difficult to not give power to someone's words or actions, many times they hurt and do in fact make us feel inferior. But the key is to address the feelings off the bat and not dwell on them. The more we dwell on the things said or done, the more we begin to feel that maybe this person was correct after all.

We tend to think what others think of us is correct when what matters is how we view ourselves. If we continue to allow others the power to make us feel less than worthy, less than them, then we will begin to think that and believe it. We will begin to pull back thinking we aren't capable of things. We need to let comments and actions roll off our backs. I know easier said than done, but it is something we should be trying to do.

Easter may not have the same meaning to everyone. It is a day of rebirth and new beginnings in one way or another. Spring is here finally and life is beginning anew. Enjoy this beauty all around.

I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles." ~ Nelson Mandela

We all have difference of opinions about different situations, events, and causes. Sometimes we use those differences to dislike someone and argue with them. While a good spirited debate is fun from time to time, getting to the point to where you hate the other person and refuse to listen to their views causes a problem. Speaking with people with a difference of opinion gives us the ability to see the same thing from a different point whether we agree or not.

A lot of the time having a different perspective on a situation can change your viewpoints. How often after a debate have we thought "huh, never thought of it like that"? A difference of opinion, different insight gives us a new way to look at things, a new way to even think about something. A lot of the time we are so stuck in our thoughts that we don't want to consider an alternative possibility.

Having different outlooks and thoughts help us grow in our own opinions and understandings of the world around us. It allows us to think and discuss independently rather than depending on the views of others like a newscaster or reporter. How boring would life be if we all thought and viewed the world the same way?

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Too often we are hunting and searching for a treasure of one sort or another; generally happiness, love or peace. Sometimes we don't listen to or follow our hearts for fear of failing or that something is better than what our hearts want. We put a lot of stock into reasoning and logic, but don't pay attention of desires and emotions. We tell other people "just follow your heart" but then we don't follow that same advice. Why is that?

If we took the time to listen to our hearts more and follow our hearts desires, don't you think we would be happier, feel loved and at peace more? How many people simply say their jobs are not what they wanted to do? They didn't follow their passions, but went into a field that was prosperous or was chosen for them? Are those people happy? Some of them yes, others no. If I had followed my heart in career choices I would be happier. If we follow our hearts and know where our hearts would rather be all the treasures of life that we seek and desire would be there.

We need to put a little more stock and value into the matters of the heart, into following one's heart and seeing where it leads. There is a lot that can be said about following your heart. Its such an important part of our bodies and life, shouldn't we listen to it more often?

I do a lot with Paulo Coelho quotes, but that is because a lot of what he says and writes are so inspirational and astounding that it does change how you view things. If you haven't read one of his books, I highly suggest at least The Alchemist where today's quote comes from.

P.S If I followed my heart, think would I find Blackbeard's treasure? Or a lost Shakespearean play?

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." - Alan Watts

We will not always be able to understand change going on around us, whether it is small or large. It doesn't always make sense why things change the way they do, and we are unable to understand and get a hold of these changes. Some changes happen gradually while others hit us like a ton of bricks. Like Mr. Watts said the only way we can make sense of the change is to accept it for what it is and jump head first into it.

We need be able to "join the dance" as Watts stated rather than fight against it. When we fight and struggle with the change life tries to make, we always tend to fall on our butts and are unable to understand. Many times when we fight the changes, we end up getting hurt and are unable to adapt and then lose out on something pretty awesome. We will get left behind and feel even more lost in this journey through life than we would if we accepted the changed and added it to our path.

Having changes in life adds to the quality of it. It keeps us on our toes and ensures that we don't get "too comfortable" in the way things are going. Sometimes we need a little change in things to help us appreciate what we had, as well as what we still have in our lives. We often forget that and plunging into change and making sense out of it helps us appreciate life all the more.

What changes don't make sense to you, and how can you join the dance to make sense of them? Hasn't changes in our life made things better in the end?

"We are all one - the web of life." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Too often life we forget that we are more a like with each other than we assume. We look at what is different among one another rather than what we have in common. Are our differences really that big of a deal or are we making them bigger than they really are? Are we using differences as excuses to judge and stereotype one another? We ignore all the ways that we are similar but why? Why is the color of one's skin, sexual preference, religious beliefs something that determines who they are as person? Why are those things that determine whether we like them as people? Why are we so quick to judge based on something either they have no control over or something they decide is best for them? Isn't that the point of having free will.

We need to begin to realize that while we all have differences we have similarities as well. We are connected in more ways than we like to think. Once we realize that we won't hate each other so much. We will be able to accept one another easier and better than we are now. Because we know we will be judged we tend to not be ourselves. We are too worried about what others will think of us that we can't be ourselves. To me that just seems so sad.