No More Excuses

Excuses are a procrastinators best friend. One's lack of motivation leads them to make excuses that allow  them to put off doing what they need to get done. Instead of using so much time and energy to come up with an excuse to get out of something, use that time and energy to figure out what you need to do to get the things you need to do done.

Traditions

I know Halloween brings about mixed emotions / beliefs but, I see it as a time of wonder, nostalgia and memorable moments. Every since I can remember, Dos Palos has had a Halloween parade. For those of you that aren't from Dos Palos, it's a parade that's been going on for years and people young and old line the streets to watch the students, their teachers and their principals walk by. The bands, pommerettes, letter girls and the cheerleaders perform. The combination of everything going on leads to a good time being had by everyone that takes the time to be a part of it. It allows people to see people they haven't seen in a while and smiles and laughter are everywhere. The excitement of the day continues when the students return to their classes to have their class party before going to the Halloween Carnival. Family members and friends are a big part of the day as well.Today when I walked in the parade, I saw so many familiar faces, some of them have known me since I was a kid, some were classmates and others I got to know just by growing up in Dos Palos. I even missed seeing a few familiar faces; some have passed away, moved away and some for whatever reason didn't make it out this year but, I was still reminded of what really stood out for me when I first started taking part in Halloween festivities and continues to stand out: all the smiles, treats, the innocence of childhood and the fact that you can be anything you want to be. 

Worth Repeating

"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you respond to it." ~ unknown

Question For You

First of all, I would like to thank you for supporting and reading my blog. Now for my question: I would like to know what's on your mind, what you would like to see me blog about or simply what you think of my blog so far. So, will you please leave a comment and let me know? Thanks again :)!!!  

By Example

There are things we see in this world that we don't like / would like to change. Unfortunately, group mentality can take hold and cause us to complain about what we see and / or follow along while we ignore possible solutions. People can be set in their ways but they can also be open to change. So, show compassion, be mannerable, respectful, honorable, honest and responsible. Show discipline, and be accountable for your actions / choices. Use appropriate language and be considerate of others. Give your all and always do your best. You never know who is watching, listening and taking note so, by example be the change you want to see.

Self Censorship

I must admit, I have a lot of random thoughts and a lot of things I would like to say and although I know I'm entitled to my own opinion, I also know that I'm not entitled to express what I'm thinking / feeling at the expense of someone else and their feelings. All thoughts, words and statements are open to interpretation and reflect who we are and how we're feeling. They can also put our character into question. Then there are the things that are simply inappropriate. Our audience needs to be kept in mind. I'm not saying that you need to censor yourself completely but you need to realize there's a way to say what you have to say and that you need to discern what needs to be said and what should be kept to yourself because your words and your language; spoken as well as written, reflect you as an individual. That's why you have to be mindful of the way you express yourself and remember, not everything needs to be / should be said.

Listen

SILENCE can be deafening
WORDS overpowering
loud
and
demeaning
CHAOS can ensue
from
hurt feelings
and
misunderstandings
take the time to LISTEN
to what is being said
UNDERSTAND what is being heard
respond accordingly
which may be not at all

No Matter What

The things we experience in life, help us to realize what's really important. Some of them, forever changes us. They alter our life in a way we never imagined. We anticipate things but have no idea what the outcome will be. One thing for sure is one persons nevers may not be anothers. We have different ways of dealing with / going through things. We have to make the decisions that are right for us. When we reach out, we expose ourselves to so much. That can mean more heartache, unspeakable joy or a mixture of both. However, we have to realize that no matter what we face / go through, we have what it takes to survive whatever it is. We just have to believe in ourselves and hold onto our faith.

What It Takes

Sometimes we get to a point / place where we know the way we're living isn't working / the way we should be living. We settle and go through the motions while ignoring how we truly feel inside. Not only do we hurt ourselves when we do this, we also hurt the people around us. The real us doesn't get a chance to come out and show the world and the people around us how special we are because we're too busy accepting where we're at in life and making excuses for not changing what we know needs to be changed. Believe it or not, it takes just as much, if not more energy to pretend that everything is ok as it does to do what you need to do to make things better. It's never too late to take a look at your life and evaluate where you are and compare what you find to where you want to be. Then and only then can you pick up where you left off / start over / find solutions to your problems / become who / what you want to be / walk away from a relationship / friendship that means you no good  and open your heart / your world to all that awaits you. Allowing yourself to be a victim of acceptance / circumstance is a big mistake because there are too many possibilities out there. If you know changes need to be made in your life make them. It might not be easy at first but it will be worth it. Once you validate your feelings and your wishes and act on them, you will be unstoppable and the happiness, joy, success and love you deserve will be your reward.

Erasers

There are things
we do
we say
We leave
mark after mark
The harder we press
the deeper the image
We realize
not all things  need to be said
should be done
We apologize
We are forgiven
but
The images remain
We find
erasers
have their limit

Once something is said and done, it can't be taken back. Choose your words and your ways carefully and wisely. Let the images you leave be positive, encouraging and memorable rather than hurtful, discouraging and unforgettable.