Accomplishments. You have had so many of them. Getting A's in school, making friends, achieving your sports goals. These are all reasons to celebrate. You have put in all the time and effort, even on days where you didn't even feel like getting out of bed, and it definitely paid off. You have worked so hard to achieve all these amazing things, and I want to congratulate you in everything you have accomplished so far.
I'm your cheerleader! In case you haven't heard it enough, I'm so proud of you for doing your best and completely dominating out there! Appreciation these days is very hidden behind the scenes, but you never know when that tiny bit of support can do wonders for a person. I've heard that support and praise can act as a jinx, and I totally see where people can get that idea. To be honest, I do believe in people stating the truth and not sugar coating. But every once a while, especially when we are in our darkest hour, a little kudos can go a long way. I've experienced failure countless times, and it's no doubt that I will fail more in the future. After so many falls, it surprises me how I still have hope when people have told me to completely give up on my goals. It's at times like these where I turn to those who will spark my energy to make a difference in my habits.
Always have trust in who you are. Never forget that. Believe in yourself even if no one is there to support you. You are your biggest fan, share the success and learn from the tough times. Remember to not lose focus and stay humble, because things could possible take a turn for the worse at any moment. After you think about all that, take a deep breath and just go for it 100%! I know your capabilities and you can achieve them all. You have come so far and I want you to just keep going. Each day take steps to improve yourself as a person. It will get tough, but with the right attitude, you'll get through it so much easier. Finally, don't let anyone stop you from accomplishing what you genuinely want to. They don't understand how powerful your mind is compared to their words.
You go guys! Keep up the good work! I can't see what amazing rewards are in store for your perseverance and determination! Chase your dreams!
-N
September 20, 2016
September 13, 2016
You're Never Alone
Friendship. An eternal bond that unites groups of people and makes them feel as if they are the only people on the planet. Sincere invincibility and superiority! It's not something to be messed with, trust me you will seriously regret it. Such relationships take what feels like lifetimes to build and stabilize. However, they can be destroyed in a split second. These are people who are always here for you, even when you feel under the weather. Nothing is stronger than this connection, especially when you know that you can always count on them. They are your true friends, what more do you need in life!
Now here comes a day when you are at your absolute worst. All your walls just came crashing down. You've just been left in the darkness and you are tugging on the strings that make up who you are, questioning the activities and purposes that used to motivate you every day. People have just stripped a significant part of your identity, the only reason you smile. Those people have completely shut you out, screamed until their throats were dry, and left you on the floor, curled up, and praying, "Please don't hurt me any more", as tears stream down your face.
No matter what you have been put through, the real friends will come rushing back to you. Your best friends, who are the closest thing you have to another family, understand that you think you have hit rock bottom. They remind you that the only direction from there, is up! They love you, they comfort you, whenever you need it the most. They are willing to go out of their way to appreciate you and cherish this beautiful bond that is such a privilege to all of you. Once you find these people, you have been blessed-- it really is a give from the Gods.
Before this moment you thought that no one else loved you, that no one else felt your pain. As hard as it is to believe back then, your friends are the ones who will help you get through it together. They assure you that you don't have to go through what you're going through alone. Sure, you might not even want to tell them what happened, it might be too personal and maybe even put the ones you love in an awkward position if someone else found out. But, that's the wonderful thing about friends. They know you so well! They won't poke their noses into your life when you tell them not to, because they respect your privacy. They are not going to stab you in the back and take advantage of your trust. All that matters is that you have someone to talk to, someone to rant to, and someone who will genuinely listen.
So, heres to the fabulous friends in our lives! Thank you for always cheering us up and keeping us laughing every day :) You know who you are! We love you!
-N
Now here comes a day when you are at your absolute worst. All your walls just came crashing down. You've just been left in the darkness and you are tugging on the strings that make up who you are, questioning the activities and purposes that used to motivate you every day. People have just stripped a significant part of your identity, the only reason you smile. Those people have completely shut you out, screamed until their throats were dry, and left you on the floor, curled up, and praying, "Please don't hurt me any more", as tears stream down your face.
No matter what you have been put through, the real friends will come rushing back to you. Your best friends, who are the closest thing you have to another family, understand that you think you have hit rock bottom. They remind you that the only direction from there, is up! They love you, they comfort you, whenever you need it the most. They are willing to go out of their way to appreciate you and cherish this beautiful bond that is such a privilege to all of you. Once you find these people, you have been blessed-- it really is a give from the Gods.
Before this moment you thought that no one else loved you, that no one else felt your pain. As hard as it is to believe back then, your friends are the ones who will help you get through it together. They assure you that you don't have to go through what you're going through alone. Sure, you might not even want to tell them what happened, it might be too personal and maybe even put the ones you love in an awkward position if someone else found out. But, that's the wonderful thing about friends. They know you so well! They won't poke their noses into your life when you tell them not to, because they respect your privacy. They are not going to stab you in the back and take advantage of your trust. All that matters is that you have someone to talk to, someone to rant to, and someone who will genuinely listen.
So, heres to the fabulous friends in our lives! Thank you for always cheering us up and keeping us laughing every day :) You know who you are! We love you!
-N
September 6, 2016
Livin' on the Edge!
Fears. I have them, and I'm sure you have them too. You know the feeling; your heart races, you breath shortens, your fists clench, your eyes shut tight, and you try to block out the world. You know that this therapy works as well as you want it to, so you add noise canceling headphones, just to be safe, and blast the music of your favorite artists. You use your imagination and do your best to pretend that you are in your happy place, filled with every memory that has ever made you smile. But, don't open your eyes, you say. Or you are going to have to start over and attempt to "re-zen" yourself. There's nothing wrong with that. Fears don't make you any less manly. It just makes you more human.
The only thing I ask of you is, don't let your fears control you. Don't let them bully you. Don't let them hold you back. So what? You experienced something that was a little out of your comfort zone and it caught you off guard. Big deal. But, are you really going to live with that for the rest of your life? Are you going to surrender and let that shadow trail behind you wherever you go? I hope we are thinking the same thing...No! Having fears is great! It means you have witnessed or even tried new things! Why stop now? Life is just getting to the good part!
What's really manly is overcoming your fears, pushing it to the limit, and spreading your wings no matter what possible scenario could happen! Be totally optimistic with it, go in with a great attitude and a smile on your face. You're only limited by your thoughts so carry on with that positivity and motivation to be completely fearless! Take risks, go outside of your comfort zone, and let loose. Once you do, this giant weight will be lifted and you'll be on track for bigger and better things. You can't back down now, show the world what you're made off! There's nothing in your way anymore so don't be haunted by your fears! After all, Franklin D. Roosevelt wasn't kidding when he said "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself!"
-N
August 30, 2016
Swearing, Just Words?
Anger. If you have ever played a competitive sport, or lived a healthy social life, you know that anger is a driving emotion. In my opinion, it is among the most powerful feelings. Whether we admit it or not, there is something satisfying about letting all your anger out. You all know it. That let it all out feeling, just go go go. That powerful feeling of adrenaline surging through your body can make you feel unstoppable. Basically, some way or another, anger has to be released. There are countless ways of blowing off steam. Taking deep breaths, clenching your fists, screaming into a pillow, you name them! As unique as everyone is, there are certain trends in the ways that people deal with anger and the most obvious is swearing.
There are countless “swear words” to choose from. When chosen wisely, they can liven up a conversation, convey strong emotions, and even give the user a sense of power. Honestly, where would Eminem be if all of his songs were rated PG? However, they can also be weapons that you did not ever intend to use. Dealing with irascible people can result in confusing responses that leave people wondering, “WTF just happened?”
You might be in a bad mood for whatever reason and before you know it, words just slip out. When you have a lot of work to do and a friend hits you up, you might say, S**t, can I be alone for one minute? or I’m trying to f**king work. What do you want from me? In the moment, you feel strong, but a minute passes… and another minute. As your response is left on read, you start to feel uneasy. That feeling progresses to a deeper sense of regret and sometimes denial. You start to think, Was that really necessary? It wasn’t completely uncalled for.
My choice of lifestyle, the non swearing kind, is my choice. Believe me when I say that I am not here to turn you into me. I am not trying to make you speak differently or even “do” anything. I just want you to think. Sometimes, all it takes is to recite one sentence: How would I feel if I were them? That's it. Empathy is what makes an advanced civilization possible. Without empathy, people would only care about themselves and it's pretty obvious that selfish people do not work together very well. Call me cliché, but the only trait that separates us from animals is the ability to work together.
As long as you mentally recite those vital eight words, I don’t care what you say or how you say it. Just say it knowing the full consequences of your words. Long story short, don’t be an animal; have some empathy. I know we can all do it! Give it a shot!
It was really fun writing this piece with my friend, and phenomenal writer, Aidan Truel, and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed preparing it (:
There are countless “swear words” to choose from. When chosen wisely, they can liven up a conversation, convey strong emotions, and even give the user a sense of power. Honestly, where would Eminem be if all of his songs were rated PG? However, they can also be weapons that you did not ever intend to use. Dealing with irascible people can result in confusing responses that leave people wondering, “WTF just happened?”
You might be in a bad mood for whatever reason and before you know it, words just slip out. When you have a lot of work to do and a friend hits you up, you might say, S**t, can I be alone for one minute? or I’m trying to f**king work. What do you want from me? In the moment, you feel strong, but a minute passes… and another minute. As your response is left on read, you start to feel uneasy. That feeling progresses to a deeper sense of regret and sometimes denial. You start to think, Was that really necessary? It wasn’t completely uncalled for.
My choice of lifestyle, the non swearing kind, is my choice. Believe me when I say that I am not here to turn you into me. I am not trying to make you speak differently or even “do” anything. I just want you to think. Sometimes, all it takes is to recite one sentence: How would I feel if I were them? That's it. Empathy is what makes an advanced civilization possible. Without empathy, people would only care about themselves and it's pretty obvious that selfish people do not work together very well. Call me cliché, but the only trait that separates us from animals is the ability to work together.
As long as you mentally recite those vital eight words, I don’t care what you say or how you say it. Just say it knowing the full consequences of your words. Long story short, don’t be an animal; have some empathy. I know we can all do it! Give it a shot!
It was really fun writing this piece with my friend, and phenomenal writer, Aidan Truel, and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed preparing it (:
August 23, 2016
You're Either With Me or You're Not
Spotlight. Something that everyone wants so badly that they are willing to steal it from any person in order to gain attention. Any ounce of success has to be shared with someone else, or it's considered selfish. It's now selfish to take the credit for something that you did, when everyone else didn't believe that you could....sounds weird, right? To top it off, with every ounce of failure, you are left in an abyss of loneliness and despair. No one wants to share the bumps in the road. Everyone just leaves you in the dust. They say, I told you so. And, you are just a loser-- so much potential gone to waste.
People will expect to be thanked. People will say that because of them you succeeded. Why is that? It's as if they don't want to be embarrassed by you, like a competition of who can be the best in life. Or like a pageant, some might say, where everyone is trying to promote themselves as the best friends, or even parents. Everyone else sees other people achieving amazing things without you, and suddenly everyone is telling you to give up on your dreams. When you are struggling, all the praise is silenced. When everyone else leaves, the confidence can only come from you. Various tapes of insults play on repeat, and it starts to become your motivation. You realize that you are putting in all your hard work, for someone else. You are doing all of this just to get recognition and appreciation from that one person. Meanwhile, that one person only sees you when you win. Otherwise, they don't really understand how hard you work or how long it takes to finally stand out. They think winning is easy for you and it can be done in every single attempt.
Sure, you are going to get guidance and help along the way but in the end it is up to you. Your actions speak louder than your words and you must be careful to remain honest to yourself. You don't have to continuously prove to the world that you are getting your work done, as long as you are proving it to yourself. I encourage you to ignore all of the negative comments, as hard as it might be. You don't have to take it from them, and don't let it get in your way. You don't have to surrender. You are your own incredible individual, and you are on track for a beautiful future.
And don't worry, you are not selfish. You will know when people were genuinely helping you succeed, and when people were only motivated to help you for recognition in the future. When I win, it will be for me, and absolutely no one else.
-N
People will expect to be thanked. People will say that because of them you succeeded. Why is that? It's as if they don't want to be embarrassed by you, like a competition of who can be the best in life. Or like a pageant, some might say, where everyone is trying to promote themselves as the best friends, or even parents. Everyone else sees other people achieving amazing things without you, and suddenly everyone is telling you to give up on your dreams. When you are struggling, all the praise is silenced. When everyone else leaves, the confidence can only come from you. Various tapes of insults play on repeat, and it starts to become your motivation. You realize that you are putting in all your hard work, for someone else. You are doing all of this just to get recognition and appreciation from that one person. Meanwhile, that one person only sees you when you win. Otherwise, they don't really understand how hard you work or how long it takes to finally stand out. They think winning is easy for you and it can be done in every single attempt.
Sure, you are going to get guidance and help along the way but in the end it is up to you. Your actions speak louder than your words and you must be careful to remain honest to yourself. You don't have to continuously prove to the world that you are getting your work done, as long as you are proving it to yourself. I encourage you to ignore all of the negative comments, as hard as it might be. You don't have to take it from them, and don't let it get in your way. You don't have to surrender. You are your own incredible individual, and you are on track for a beautiful future.
And don't worry, you are not selfish. You will know when people were genuinely helping you succeed, and when people were only motivated to help you for recognition in the future. When I win, it will be for me, and absolutely no one else.
-N
August 9, 2016
Who Cares?
Quit. You tell me. You are wasting your time. You threaten me. You make me feel like I am abandoned, so why are you doing this to me? The words coming out of your mouth are continuous, without hesitation, and even silence fears your presence... and you keep shouting. You won't shut up. And me, I still don't know what I did that made you suddenly snap at me. What's wrong with doing what you love with the people who you enjoy spending your time with? Is that such a crime? The ugly truth is that there will always be party poopers. Just when you think that you are having a good time, they will rush to drag you down and ruin your moment. All that happiness has just been ruined by a single person in a flash. The worst part is, they think they know you well enough to put a label on who you are.
Why does their opinion even matter? Keep on doing what you love! Do whatever makes you smile and laugh! Of course, there are self-explanatory things that you kind of have to do in order to get to your dream future, but that doesn't mean that you have to completely disregard your happiness right now. Try new things, make new friends, share more memories so you have something to smile about later, like when you are working hard to get to where you want to be. It is true- you can have both success and happiness. Working hard is a given but please, don't give up on the activities that you truly enjoyed just because you thought it would serve as a distraction. Also, don't just do things because it is supposed to guarantee a specific career. Pursue the actives that are unique to you, and couple that with some dedication and perseverance. Now you are good to go!
It really doesn't even matter what they think. No one can tell you how to live your life, it is simply ridiculous. After all, success comes from a genuine passion for what you do!
-N
Why does their opinion even matter? Keep on doing what you love! Do whatever makes you smile and laugh! Of course, there are self-explanatory things that you kind of have to do in order to get to your dream future, but that doesn't mean that you have to completely disregard your happiness right now. Try new things, make new friends, share more memories so you have something to smile about later, like when you are working hard to get to where you want to be. It is true- you can have both success and happiness. Working hard is a given but please, don't give up on the activities that you truly enjoyed just because you thought it would serve as a distraction. Also, don't just do things because it is supposed to guarantee a specific career. Pursue the actives that are unique to you, and couple that with some dedication and perseverance. Now you are good to go!
It really doesn't even matter what they think. No one can tell you how to live your life, it is simply ridiculous. After all, success comes from a genuine passion for what you do!
-N
August 2, 2016
My Purpose: #SpreadHappiness
Smiles. The priceless and unique actions that seem to glow forever, though it may have only lasted a second. Making someone smile, now that's a whole other story. I cannot even begin to explain the meaning behind that feeling of pure happiness and joy. It's a feeling like no other when a smile, as enchanting as a birth of a star, begins to emerge from your beautiful face.
To all my strangers, peers, friends, and family, I have only ever wanted to spread happiness in my life. So please excuse the excessive Thank you's and apologies, because I just want to keep you in a positive mood. Please excuse the random smiles that I throw at you on the street, because I just want to be kind. To me, there is no other feeling so comforting when you make someone's day with a sweet and simple gesture. Making people happy and keeping the world smiling is definitely a huge component to the legacy I want to leave behind. I know, it may seem simple, but I have always wanted to make a difference in our world and sharing stories of hope and optimism is how I want to get started. Knowing that you were the light in someone's hour of darkness, is the most rewarding thing to me and I strive to make these moments occur on a fairly regular basis.
So I challenge you to be the bigger person, take the high road, and continue the cycle of kindness in our society. Be the change you want to see in our world. There are so many beautiful, heart-warming reasons to be happy and I'd love for you to share them among each other. Happiness is a very contagious thing, because your smile will cause another person to smile and soon you'll have a room full of happy people. Share the love and be empowered to step out of your comfort zone in order to be the positive energy that our world could use a lot of.
-N
To all my strangers, peers, friends, and family, I have only ever wanted to spread happiness in my life. So please excuse the excessive Thank you's and apologies, because I just want to keep you in a positive mood. Please excuse the random smiles that I throw at you on the street, because I just want to be kind. To me, there is no other feeling so comforting when you make someone's day with a sweet and simple gesture. Making people happy and keeping the world smiling is definitely a huge component to the legacy I want to leave behind. I know, it may seem simple, but I have always wanted to make a difference in our world and sharing stories of hope and optimism is how I want to get started. Knowing that you were the light in someone's hour of darkness, is the most rewarding thing to me and I strive to make these moments occur on a fairly regular basis.
So I challenge you to be the bigger person, take the high road, and continue the cycle of kindness in our society. Be the change you want to see in our world. There are so many beautiful, heart-warming reasons to be happy and I'd love for you to share them among each other. Happiness is a very contagious thing, because your smile will cause another person to smile and soon you'll have a room full of happy people. Share the love and be empowered to step out of your comfort zone in order to be the positive energy that our world could use a lot of.
-N
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