Power of Sleep

Last night, I was in bed, passed out, deaf to the world, at 9:30. I think the last time I went to bed at 9:30 was in college. When I say I was passed out- I mean, o-u-t. Lights were still on, T was still awake, reading, and I was gone, no waking me up. When my alarm clock went off at 6:20 AM, my eyes opened, and I felt fully refreshed, exactly what I needed to start the day.

So its really true what the doctors say, a full nights sleep is the best medicine. Lesson learned, trial day 6: to get a clearer vision, get a full 8 hours of blissful sleep. Life is just clearer with a full night sleep.

Peace, love, and sleepy time tea,
B

Maybe Smile?

Something I learned today (and possible something an old co worker told me once)- no one has power over your mood. You are the only one who can control your mood. If everyone surrounding you is in a bad mood, that doesn't mean that you have to be in a bad mood too- bad moods are contagious- but then again, so are good moods. And wouldn't it be nice if everyone was just in a pleasant, overall good mood, all the time? That would be amazing.   I want to fly a flag over the entire city of New York that just says "Smile a Little."


If you just smile- for 20 seconds, to yourself, alone, while you read the rest of this paragraph, turn the frown upside down, I can guarantee that whatever bad mood you are in, will change in 20 seconds, to something better. People in New York frown too much. The number of girls I past on the street and in the subways with a huge frown on their faces makes me sad. Their lives can't possibly be so bad that their face is stuck in a frown.

Now stop- how does your mood feel? Any better, happy? More happy? I hope so


If the frowning people smiled, it would become a domino effect, people would be a little kinder, look nicer, and not put up this sign on their forehead that says, "Look out, I am a raging terror." Being in a bad mood, and complaining about your bad mood, just isn't attractive.

So lesson learned, trial day 6: Its just easier to smile- so why not do it? Everyone is prettier with a smile instead of a frown. Even if you have to practice at it every day, life it too short to have a frown on your face and let others dictate you mood. 


Peace, love and forever smiling,
B

Everyone's 2 cents

Everyone and their mother has an opinion. If I were to listen to everyone's opinions, all the time, I think i would still be in Georgia, never gone to Indiana for school, and possibly still trying to be an Olympic Swimmer (a dream that died about 15 years ago...)- But thankfully, for myself, I heard everyone's opinion, took in their advice- but then, in the end, didn't take it, I listened to myself.

I feel that there is a trick in there. I can hear everyone's advice, take the advice in, but in the end, if I don't listen to the advice, and go with my gut feeling, what I feel is right deep down in by stomach, that's ok. Call it stubborn, call it ignorant, call it what you want- but i call it doing whats best for me.

I hit a very big milestone today, came to a realization in being comfortable with myself, and learning to trust my own initiative and gut feelings. I think this is a HUGE break through in finding my "mature" self- trusting myself and trusting my judgement. 

Sometimes, I tend to be irrational, and make decisions on the fly, but know what? All those irrational decisions, all those times that I probably should have "thought" before I "did" have gotten me where I am- and I would never go back and "think" about them if I had the chance. 

Very big mature lesson learned today, trial day 5: Hear advice of your elders, digest their advice, and possibly listen to the advice, but the real advice that matters, the real opinion that matters- is your own. Be bold, be trusting, and over all, be secure in your own decisions. 

Peace, love, and learning to trust myself to take jumps, 

B 

Liberating

Today was a big day for my love. Today was the day that he has finally cut up his family credit card. Its official that he is on his own- no back up emergency card. And I have to say- watching him cut up the credit card with a sharp pair of scissors was enthralling. It was almost as if he was breaking free. Finally, after all this time. His job has picked up, he can stand on his own two feet- and the look in his eyes when he took the last cut was pure excitement for the future.

So lesson for the day, trial day 4: financial freedom, being able to stand on your own two feet- is beyond liberating. It takes some time- but its part of growing up- and a ritual that everyone should go though.

I know there are people who will never go through this process, that will always have the support of someone else- but something I have learned in the past 2 years, and yet again today, the ability to stand alone, financially, is freeing, and ultimately, maturing.

peace,love, and cutting up credit cards,
b

All the bars

Trial day 3: In New York City, there is a bar for everything. And if one bar is crowded, there is one right down the street that will be just as fun.

Lemonade

Trial run, day 2: It really is true, but hard to remember. When life hands you lemons, there's nothing to do but make lemonade. Because if you don't, all you have is rotten lemons, and that's just gross.

But in all seriousness, the point it, with every bad and miserable situation, there is a shining light at the end of the tunnel. The trick is, I have found, is to find the light even if it seems impossible. Keep searching and searching, never giving up.

There are change winds coming my way..... ones that have kind of swept me from under my feet, from out of nowhere. Mysterious, I know. In time, the change will come out.

peace, love and a good summer day for some lemonade, 

B

It's been awhile... but starting a new journey

Its been awhile since I said whats up to the blog world. The past 2 months have been a whirl wind, and I am loving every second of it. There have been many of ups and downs. My personal love life, well, is pretty amazing. Enough said. T is a solid rock for me, and has even turned me into a bike rider- who would have thought? He pushes me to do things that even I think I cannot do- and is there when I fall and cry (which is a lot). He makes me want to be a better person, try harder, and challenges me to no end. And I love him for it.
My social life is getting off the ground up here in NYC, we have created a small group of friends from all over, and have a great time with them. And of course, my family is great as always. My parents are basically picking up right where they left off right before they had my brother and I. Seeing how they still love each other, is a great example of how love can really last forever.

The one area in my life I keep seem to be missing the mark on is my professional life. I am finding in the past few weeks, that sitting in front of a computer is not for me. Analyzing numbers is not for me. They don't speak to me like they speak to other people. Some people see changes and patterns and just pick up on them- but not me. I see patterns in people, in actions and reactions. I see smiles and excitement in human contact and helping others. Guiding others to their ultimate goal in life tickles my fancy- this is something you cannot major in    while in college, its just something that comes natural. I have some soul searching to do, which I feel like is something I have said before when it comes to my professional life. I have been told I am a natural born leader, that I have a spark inside of me that will do great things- and where I am now is not the place for my spark.

My 24th birthday is soon, in in 15 days. And I am going to set myself on a little project for this year- professionally and emotionally. Recently, I was told, "The human brain does not stop maturing until the age of 25, and that you {I} have some maturing to do." Not only do I disagree with that statement, I actually took offense to the statement. Who says my age has anything to do with maturity. I have met 6th graders way beyond their years, and 60 year olds that seem not older than 12. So what some study says the brain stops maturing at 25? A study does not include every person, a study can always be proven wrong. And a study doesn't know me. 

My belief, the human brain never matures. We are all growing, changing and maturing all the time, every day, for our entire lives. But in order to prove this, I need to do some tracking, some observing, and all around growing. That's where my birthday comes in. For every day of the year, 365 days starting from my birthday, I am going to record one thing I learn every day- big or small, funny or serious, mature or not, anything that I actually learn, sticks in my head and builds to my knowledge of life, I want to share with everyone. I want everyone to learn with me, and help guide me in my 365 days until a 'mature' 25. 


The task is hard, considering I have been lacking in the writing department over the past few months, but this is not going to be a novel every learning, maybe just a quick jot. These jots and leanings are not only to prove the offending statement wrong, but also to track myself, maybe find where I am suppose to be and my fit in the professional world- big or small, somewhere to make a difference and a change.

So to prepare for the year challenge, over the next 15 days- I will take a trial run.... get ready. the journey starts now.

Trial day one: No one takes constructive criticism well. Its always hard to hear about your faults from the eyes of others. One way to react to constructive criticism (or at least has been working for me): smile, nod, digest the information, and once thinking about the advice, if you still don't agree, oh well. Life goes on. 

Peace, love, and here we go,
B