As Time Goes By

Yesterday I stepped outside and the air was warm. It made me jump out of my winter coat and proclaim how hot it was. Today, I looked outside and the sun is shinning ever so bright.

I feel like taking a walk and perhaps I will. It will be the first walk I've taken in a long time. I don't get the opportunity to that as often as I'd like; I don't think anyone does.

We go through life as if it's a race. We fail, we succeed, we hurt, we love, we laugh, we cry and we don't realize the simple pleasures our lives hold. Isn't it amazing the time we are given here on Earth? Some 80-90 years is all we have to get it right and there is no going back. When I think about it, it doesn't have to be that complicated.

When will we ever take time to enjoy the fresh air and just be? I think I'll take that walk now because before I know time will have passed me by. :))

Speaking Without Words

"Let the works that you do speak for yourself," are the words that enter my mind more often than not. I first heard them from my sister who quoted the first lady of our church. At the time they didn't mean that much to me but now I don't take those words lightly.

Over the past few years I've made movements to achieving certain goals in life. Along the way I've met and inspired a few young women. Of course I was unaware of my influence on others, I just thought I was living the life of Kristin. It wasn't until I was approached by a mother that I knew that what I had done.

The woman is a member of my church and someone I've known all my life. She told me her daughter imitated everything I did. She'd walk the same way, talk the same way and repeat the same sayings. I thought it was cute and I was flattered in the beginning but then I realized I was impacting this girl's life.

She looked up to me and wanted to travel a similar road as me. I knew in that moment that whatever I did it had to be positive for this young girl. I didn't want to ruin her and I wanted her to continue believing in me.

It's true that no matter what you do or where you go there is always someone watching you. They are looking at you in every way possible. Oddly enough the same people who look up to you have a reverse effect. Now each time I go to church I look for that girl because she inspires me. She inspires me to do better and reach new heights. If I fail she might give up on me and that isn't something I want. Because I know she's watching so closely I always let the work that I do speak for myself. :))

Once a Year

As the holiday season continues and Christmas nears, shoppers are growing anxious. I'm not fond of holiday shopping so I try my best to avoid peek hours.

It's absolutely insane, the way people act just to buy presents. The stores are a wreck, traffic is on all roads and personally I just can't handle that many people surrounding me in a frenzy and I'm not even getting the attention (just kidding).

But in all seriousness, Christmas isn't about buying the greatest presents or finding the hottest deals. It's celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Why is that every holiday season we have to be reminded of that, why can't we just keep that in our heads? I would think that in this day, with this war and this economy we might band together and realize what wonderful people we have in our lives.

Christmas has been and will always be my favorite holiday because even though shoppers go wild, Christmas does bring out the best in people. Think about that the next time you go and push through lines and have arguments over the last digital camera. Think about the most wonderful time of the year and how it only comes around once :))

Palin Who?

Last night Barbara Walters aired her 10 Most Fascinating People of 2008. Among the list members is Governor Sarah Palin.

She particularly caught my eye since this list was the first time I've heard about her since Nov. 5. I found myself asking the question, "What's she doing now?"

It actually made me laugh because she literally had her 15 minutes of fame and now they're over. The nation's fascination with Governor Palin was quite horrific. Everywhere I turned there was picture, a quote or a skit about the Alaskan Governor.

And now...how quickly we move on and get over our objects of obsession. Isn't it funny how bored we get? It's like playing with a new toy for a couple days and never touching it again. Although someday that toy will come back in style and it will be all the rage once again.

However, until then we'll just leave it the closet and see what we get next. :))

Time is of the Essence?

To all my readers............I'm back!

Sorry to have been away so long, but the holidays kept me a little busy. However, now that I'm back I have lots of things to share with you, but I won't overload you just yet. I'll start off simple and slow.

The past few days have been enlightening. I've learned a lot from the simplest occurrences. The most important thing I learned was something I already knew.

We all have dreams and goals in life and we all want to accomplish every single one of them. The problem most of us run into is figuring out how to do it all. I will admit it's hard, I'm only 20 and I want to do great things with my life; the journey getting there isn't the easiest.

My main concern is my want and need for everything to be instant. I believe things can happen overnight and when they don't I get disappointed. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

What I realized is that I can do what I want and I will, but I need to outline the path I'll to achieve my goals. I have to step back and look at what I need to do so that I can do what I want to do (sound familiar).

This week I made several moves to do what I need to do and now its your turn. Besides when you're at the bottom the only place to go is up. ;))

Side Part, Under

Yesterday, I watched an episode of the CW's "The Game" and what do you know a little bit of wisdom was shared once again.

And elderly, African-American woman told the main character, Melanie, that she was a "Side Part, Under". Which basically means she parts her hair on the side and curls it under; it's the safe way of doing hair.

And that's what the episode was about: playing it safe. Sometimes we are caught up in not taking risks that we forget about the spontaneouty in life. Side part, under women get accustomed to a certain way of life and it's hard for them to get out of it. I am speaking from experience.

Well, now I'd like to experience something else. I want to live my life, not have it pass me by. That's why today I pull my hair back and styled it so that I was no longer a part of the "side part, under" society. I will take risks and live in the moment.

For the past 20 years, I've been a cautious, thinker. There's nothing wrong with being those things, but sometimes it's best to simply be. As a "side part, under" things are set in place and there is little room for error but, that's not what life is about.

All of my "side part, under" women and men, it's time for a change. Look in the mirror and if you see something you don't like - change it! :))

It's Not That Complicated

I recently had a conversation where a little wisdom was shared with me. The person I spoke with said, "There are only two kinds of people in this world: sheep and wolves".

I being the complicated person I am, asked him what that meant. I knew that it was self explanatory, but I wanted the philosophical answer. He gave me one, but in the end his thought pretty much spoke for itself.

That experience made me realize that sometimes things aren't that complicated. Often when we try to come up with the best answer, we are overlook the simple one. I'm guilty of always over thinking because I feel like the simple answer is never right.

However, the simplest answer is most of the time the best answer. I, along with many of you you out there should take some time and step back. We need to step back, breath and say to ourselves, "It's not that complicated."

Once we look at things in the their simplest form, life will treat us a lot better. All those worries will go away because as I said, it's not that complicated. :))

Poor Thanksgiving

It seems like every year, Christmas comes earlier and earlier. Pretty soon Christmas will start in July. We'll just skip Independence Day and go right into the day of gift giving.

Advertisers push their products as soon as the first leaf drops on the ground. It's almost frightening that companies care more about the dollar than the true meaning of Christmas. From the very beginning, it's been about the birth of Jesus Christ but, to the advertisers that doesn't matter.

However, in all the hoopla over Christmas, I always feel bad for Thanksgiving. It seems like no really cares about Turkey Day. It too serves as more than a day off from work.

Thanksgiving is about gathering family and friends and having a good time. While turkey day isn't my favorite holiday, it sure gives me great pleasure to sit around the table with my family and know how blessed I am.

Thanksgiving makes me look back over the year, think about all the times I complained about something a family did and realize that I wouldn't know what to do without him or her.

I think that's the reason the major holidays are at the end of the year, so we can all reflect over the 365 days that just passed and be grateful.

So this Thanksgiving I'm going to gives thanks in a different way. Instead of giving thanks for all the great things in my life, I'm going to be thankful that I have a family to complain about and know that at the end of the day, I can always turn to them if ever in need.

And then.........I'm going to get fat at the dinner table :))

Se La Vie

Last Sunday was an important day for U.S. troops. According to They New York Times, the Iraqi Cabinet approved a pact to withdraw troops in Iraq by the end of 2011. In fact, it was passed by a 27 to 1 vote (almost unanimous).

Let's think about this for a moment; let's give it some thought. So the American people want their soldiers to leave Iraq and the Iraqi people want American soldiers to leave their country. Then why are we still there?

What good can our soldiers do if they are unwanted? What respect will they gain if they are overstaying their welcome? It's been six years and we are through. We are through fighting this war that can not be won, we are through losing lives and we are through trying to help those who don't want to be helped. So when will it stop?

That's the burning question that has no answer. I think if the people we are trying to help don't want our help than we shouldn't impose. It's not fair to the men and women risking their lives everyday. Their jobs are often overlooked, mainly because they are pushed behind the scenes. There aren't pictures on the news or in the papers that truly depict what they do. And yet they are still over there. American soldiers are the ones who are there everyday faced with the challenge of defending a people who said "no more".

It's time we listen to the people and the people have spoken :))

Life's Challenge

Do you ever stop to think about the day to day ratio of happiness and sadness?

Usually, our days are full of joy and happiness. We laugh, we joke around with our friends and we generally have a fun time. However, every once in a while we're thrown one of life's challenges. They often take us by surprise and we have no idea how to handle them.

We normally don't know what to do because we've yet to encounter the experience. We complain, cry and get down right frustrated because we don't have the answers. Venting seems to be the popular way of getting past our troubles (I know). More times than not, we are so confused and unaware, we enlist the help our friends and family. We continuously search for the answer, the right answer (whatever that may be).

Eventually, when all has passed we realize that what was done, was done for a reason. And when we least expect it we return to our regular lives and routines. Why? Because it's a part of life's challenge.

So until that day comes, when we overlook our troubles, we take the current days one at a time. We choke it up as a part of life and we pray that those days are few and far between. :))

The First One

This is my first blog and I have nothing to say. Actually, that's not true. I have a lot to say, the problem is I have too much to say. As you follow this blog, you'll learn that I have an opinion and I am very eager to share it. You'll see my passion for life and the things I love. You'll see that my heart is bigger than my body and that I have a difficult time realizing I can't solve the world's problems.

Sometimes you'll hate me because I'm always happy. I love to find the brighter side because quite frankly, life's too short to see the negative. Finding the good in everyone is one of the best traits a person can have and I like to think its within me. And occasionally, but not often, you'll catch me in a mood. It happens, even to the happiest of people but, what can you do?

Life is one of those crazy mysterious, you can't know where it takes you. Then again isn't that the beauty of life? Everyday is a new a day, a new challenge and a new beginning. When I don't like soemthing, I change it; that's what life's for. And when I do like something, I keep doing it. You should do what makes you happy too.

So there you have it; my first post of my first blog. If you're reading right now you just made history (LOL). I hope you enjoy :))