William James said, "The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives."
It means that you manifest your own thoughts, your mind, and your actions. We ARE who we make ourselves to be. We can be either the master of our thoughts and life, or the victim of them. It’s all on how we hold ourselves up. You can be going through the crappiest of things, but walk around with a smile on your face. On the other hand, you can let those things defeat you. It’s all in our minds.
The ability to change yourself is a sign of strength and leadership, not the opposite. Change is never a bad thing, we just string our minds to think that change ruins our paths when it really, usually, is meant to make our paths better. Like I mentioned before, all our choices are in our minds. We change every day, but we make only a handful of extreme changes in our life. The choice to step up and be a leader can be one of those.
When I read this quote, I thought of the song Revolution by the Beatles. Then I thought about something I had written, called “Changes”. I am quite fond of this quotation by William James. I believe it perfectly describes how we should live and see things around us. It shows how we ARE who we want to be, we CAN do what we want to do. It’s just all in our minds.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
What If?
If you had one question that you wanted answered, only one, what would it be? If you had the chance to see God, what would you say? What if He was walking among us? What if He has been walking amongst us for hundreds of years and we never knew it? What if? It’s one question, but it expands to so many possibilities. If Jesus was walking among us, would he be proud or in despair? Would He try to blend in or would He walk around the earth, impacting thousands of people like he did centuries ago? Think about it. It can all trail back to those two words—what if? There lies your one question. There lies your one chance. There lies your one opportunity.
If He were living with us, how would He act? That’s a magnificent question. Sure, he may walk around in a robe and sandals. Even if He didn’t though, wouldn’t we still be able to recognize Him the same? By His love, His compassion, His gratitude, His grace. We should be able to recognize something, someone like that. He had such an incredible impact on the world. Out of all things, He sacrificed Himself for us. For you, for me. Why us, though? He could have denied us of salvation, but He didn’t. His love radiates. If He was walking among us, we would be able to recognize it easily. You cannot overlook a love like that, a man like Jesus. It would be impossible. That is, unless you wouldn’t really care about if He was among us.
The early Church had a lot to do with writings and leadership. Church today has leadership and teaches by those early writings. The most critical part of Church today would be the inadequate amount of people who are involved in the Church. Here’s the truth: there are hypocrites that are part of the Church. Most of the people are hypocrites. It is unacceptable. It is absolutely unfair. It’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen. Jesus would not go up to those people who are actually following and building their faith truthfully. And that’s the beauty of it. They are praised without praise. They are silently commended. They know who they are, as do the hypocrites of the Church. They are the people who bring themselves somewhere their heart wants them to be but where their minds are not. They are the people who let their own emotions overtake the concept of right and wrong. They are trying to be leaders but in actuality are doing everything but that. You put a face on, saying you’re into your faith. Do you not agree that the most important thing about Church is honesty of faith? Imagine this: Jesus comes down to Earth and takes in what His people made of themselves, made of the world. Would he really be proud? Or maybe you’re one of those people who wouldn’t even care.
Let’s say He was present among us. Would we even allow ourselves to be changed by Him? No, not all of us. Let us think what we want. Let us live how we want. We know everything, do we not? We know the ins and outs of life. We know everything, it’s as simple as that. Right? Wrong. We know nothing. Stop thinking we do. It takes a great amount of strength to allow ourselves to be uplifted by anything, let alone a higher power. It may scare you. To let go of yourself and become one with Jesus? To put every ounce of trust into a man who gave all His love to you before He even knew about you? You can be strong enough to do that, everyone can. We are not all knowing. We just aren’t. So if Jesus were to walk among us, would you let Him impact your life, be a part of your life? Or maybe you wouldn’t even care.
To not care about something so important, so incredible, is selfish. God gave His only son to US. Jesus died on the cross for US. Every aspect of how we would react to Jesus being among us is a factor, a test, of strength and faith. Many of us have faith, but it’s merely a mustard seed. It needs to grow. It needs three things—sun, water, and love. The sun is the sight, the thought, of something so incredible. Of a God who is there to listen. Of one person who is a constant in your life, no matter what happens. The water is the tears shed. Jesus’ tears when He was tortured and nailed to the cross. His tears for us. It’s the tears we shed when we finally understand what a sacrifice He made for us. It’s the tears that we shed when the Holy Spirit swallows you, overtaking ever part of your body. It’s the tears of freedom, a freedom of a new beginning with God. The love is the warmth we receive when Jesus is alive in our hearts. It’s a burning, a yearning, a want for more. It’s an indescribable, infallible, eternal love. Sun, water, and love. All three create something more out of a mustard seed. If Jesus were walking among us, would you let him into your heart, allow Him to help build your faith?
Jesus sacrificed everything for everyone living today. He gave up His life for us, people He didn’t even know of. Still, He loves us the same. He knows us as we live. He knows us as we speak. He knows how we speak—to Him and to each other. He would look at us and wonder what our love was like and what if things were different. And yet again, it trails back to the big question of ‘what if’.
If He were living with us, how would He act? That’s a magnificent question. Sure, he may walk around in a robe and sandals. Even if He didn’t though, wouldn’t we still be able to recognize Him the same? By His love, His compassion, His gratitude, His grace. We should be able to recognize something, someone like that. He had such an incredible impact on the world. Out of all things, He sacrificed Himself for us. For you, for me. Why us, though? He could have denied us of salvation, but He didn’t. His love radiates. If He was walking among us, we would be able to recognize it easily. You cannot overlook a love like that, a man like Jesus. It would be impossible. That is, unless you wouldn’t really care about if He was among us.
The early Church had a lot to do with writings and leadership. Church today has leadership and teaches by those early writings. The most critical part of Church today would be the inadequate amount of people who are involved in the Church. Here’s the truth: there are hypocrites that are part of the Church. Most of the people are hypocrites. It is unacceptable. It is absolutely unfair. It’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen. Jesus would not go up to those people who are actually following and building their faith truthfully. And that’s the beauty of it. They are praised without praise. They are silently commended. They know who they are, as do the hypocrites of the Church. They are the people who bring themselves somewhere their heart wants them to be but where their minds are not. They are the people who let their own emotions overtake the concept of right and wrong. They are trying to be leaders but in actuality are doing everything but that. You put a face on, saying you’re into your faith. Do you not agree that the most important thing about Church is honesty of faith? Imagine this: Jesus comes down to Earth and takes in what His people made of themselves, made of the world. Would he really be proud? Or maybe you’re one of those people who wouldn’t even care.
Let’s say He was present among us. Would we even allow ourselves to be changed by Him? No, not all of us. Let us think what we want. Let us live how we want. We know everything, do we not? We know the ins and outs of life. We know everything, it’s as simple as that. Right? Wrong. We know nothing. Stop thinking we do. It takes a great amount of strength to allow ourselves to be uplifted by anything, let alone a higher power. It may scare you. To let go of yourself and become one with Jesus? To put every ounce of trust into a man who gave all His love to you before He even knew about you? You can be strong enough to do that, everyone can. We are not all knowing. We just aren’t. So if Jesus were to walk among us, would you let Him impact your life, be a part of your life? Or maybe you wouldn’t even care.
To not care about something so important, so incredible, is selfish. God gave His only son to US. Jesus died on the cross for US. Every aspect of how we would react to Jesus being among us is a factor, a test, of strength and faith. Many of us have faith, but it’s merely a mustard seed. It needs to grow. It needs three things—sun, water, and love. The sun is the sight, the thought, of something so incredible. Of a God who is there to listen. Of one person who is a constant in your life, no matter what happens. The water is the tears shed. Jesus’ tears when He was tortured and nailed to the cross. His tears for us. It’s the tears we shed when we finally understand what a sacrifice He made for us. It’s the tears that we shed when the Holy Spirit swallows you, overtaking ever part of your body. It’s the tears of freedom, a freedom of a new beginning with God. The love is the warmth we receive when Jesus is alive in our hearts. It’s a burning, a yearning, a want for more. It’s an indescribable, infallible, eternal love. Sun, water, and love. All three create something more out of a mustard seed. If Jesus were walking among us, would you let him into your heart, allow Him to help build your faith?
Jesus sacrificed everything for everyone living today. He gave up His life for us, people He didn’t even know of. Still, He loves us the same. He knows us as we live. He knows us as we speak. He knows how we speak—to Him and to each other. He would look at us and wonder what our love was like and what if things were different. And yet again, it trails back to the big question of ‘what if’.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Hello flashback, nice to see you again
January 2009,
What did I ever do to disappoint you so much? How did I mess up? Did I even do anything intentionally? Because I'm not aware of ANYTHING at all. I'm not teaming up to scheme against you, neither is she. I hate it that you can't realize that and get it through your head. You're an asshole and you know it. All you manage to do with your so-called 'nothing but the truths' is tear us down and make us cry. Then while she locks herself in the bathroom, I lock myself in my bedroom only to conjure up more things to regret and feel guilty about. How could you do this to me, to us? For the longest time, you were my only savior, my only love, my hero. I loved you more than anything in the world and always showed it in every way imaginable. I helped you learn things as you taught me lessons about life. 'Life isn't fair' was one of those major lectures I heard weekly. And now you can't even follow it yourself; understand it yourself. I don't understand. You say you love me and touch my arm when we're in the car, but only after you yell about my attitude towards you. I'm not being fussy when I speak, I'm being protective of myself. And my strength may come off to be arrogance, resent, or even hate but it isn't. It's my way of trying to build up a wall so I don't end up crying in a corner from your words and doing things I'm trying to pull away from. Everything we do makes you want to leave even more, and everything you FAIL to do makes me want to push you out the door myself. And what hurts me is that you're never going to understand that. So no matter what I have done in the past, what I do tonight, what I'll do in the future, I'll be a scheming disappointment to you. But I'm not going to be sorry until you're sorry for everything you've done to us.
(Oh, how some things never change)
What did I ever do to disappoint you so much? How did I mess up? Did I even do anything intentionally? Because I'm not aware of ANYTHING at all. I'm not teaming up to scheme against you, neither is she. I hate it that you can't realize that and get it through your head. You're an asshole and you know it. All you manage to do with your so-called 'nothing but the truths' is tear us down and make us cry. Then while she locks herself in the bathroom, I lock myself in my bedroom only to conjure up more things to regret and feel guilty about. How could you do this to me, to us? For the longest time, you were my only savior, my only love, my hero. I loved you more than anything in the world and always showed it in every way imaginable. I helped you learn things as you taught me lessons about life. 'Life isn't fair' was one of those major lectures I heard weekly. And now you can't even follow it yourself; understand it yourself. I don't understand. You say you love me and touch my arm when we're in the car, but only after you yell about my attitude towards you. I'm not being fussy when I speak, I'm being protective of myself. And my strength may come off to be arrogance, resent, or even hate but it isn't. It's my way of trying to build up a wall so I don't end up crying in a corner from your words and doing things I'm trying to pull away from. Everything we do makes you want to leave even more, and everything you FAIL to do makes me want to push you out the door myself. And what hurts me is that you're never going to understand that. So no matter what I have done in the past, what I do tonight, what I'll do in the future, I'll be a scheming disappointment to you. But I'm not going to be sorry until you're sorry for everything you've done to us.
(Oh, how some things never change)
Responsibility
Every single day we are consumed by our day to day responsibilities, jobs, tasks, technology, everything. Can we just take a step back and look at ourselves, look at everything around us? It’s all these marvelous works. Change is happening everywhere, every minute, all the time. Look at everything around you. Stop stressing out over things that need to be cleaned, things that are due, things that are just waiting to be taken care of. Those things can wait.
We weren’t put on this earth to be little puppets for a show. We were put here to love and to care. We were put here to understand and to guide. We were put here to learn and succeed. We were put here to create a passion and desire. We were put here to create these magnificent things, magnificent beings, magnificent futures for ourselves. If we were put here to stress over everything and be SO completely consumed in responsibilities, we would have just been placed on another planet, at another time, with absolutely no light of a future for ourselves.
Responsibility can wait. Learning to live can’t.
We weren’t put on this earth to be little puppets for a show. We were put here to love and to care. We were put here to understand and to guide. We were put here to learn and succeed. We were put here to create a passion and desire. We were put here to create these magnificent things, magnificent beings, magnificent futures for ourselves. If we were put here to stress over everything and be SO completely consumed in responsibilities, we would have just been placed on another planet, at another time, with absolutely no light of a future for ourselves.
Responsibility can wait. Learning to live can’t.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Little Things
You don’t realize how much you miss something until it’s gone. You think about it constantly. You miss the little quirks of a conversation. A touch, a smile, anything and everything of what once was. If you really think about it, it’s the little things that make us happy. We may try to believe it’s something more, but it’s really not. It’s a quiet walk in the park. It’s the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. It’s a text you wake up to from the one you love in the bright early morning.
It’s not all the big things. Granted, they do play a part in our every day happiness, but when it’s the little things that are gone and the big things are still there, you definitely notice a nice notch of a difference. It’s the little things that make us happy. It’s the little things that make us feel better. It’s the little things that get us up in the morning, ready to find out something new.
Little things play big, big things play little. How’s that for an oxymoron?
It’s not all the big things. Granted, they do play a part in our every day happiness, but when it’s the little things that are gone and the big things are still there, you definitely notice a nice notch of a difference. It’s the little things that make us happy. It’s the little things that make us feel better. It’s the little things that get us up in the morning, ready to find out something new.
Little things play big, big things play little. How’s that for an oxymoron?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Seniors, 2010
Yesterday, we were in grade school. Today, we’re seniors in high school. Tomorrow we’re going to be living our own homes with a growing family. Where does time go? Really, where does it go?
I remember being in 6th grade and I would be walking the halls of the middle school building, the place where my friends and I all thought was such a big step. We were going to be in middle school. We used to gaze upon the 8th graders and think, crap they are so old. Then when we were the top dogs of the school it didn’t mean so much. We looked upon the 6th graders, reminding ourselves of how we used to be, wondering if they saw us like we used to see the grades above us.
I remember my freshman year. I only had a couple friends who were freshmen, all the others were either sophomores or juniors and a few seniors were sprinkled in the mix. I was in JROTC, too. That was my one connection to everyone. I saw the juniors and couldn’t wait to get there. And then I saw the seniors and was thinking, crap they are so old. Seventeen and eighteen years old seemed so far away when I was thirteen, barely fourteen.
Now it’s our turn. We’re the seniors, class of 2010.
The other day I was thinking about my high school years. Each year was so distinct, so different. But there were so many parts that were the same. I remember sitting in the JROTC office with my friends like it was yesterday. I remember spending one of the last days of spring break, running with kites and writing in the sand like it was yesterday. I remember my first retreat like I was yesterday. I remember meeting one of my now best friends like it was yesterday. Things move quickly.
When someone tells you to take advantage of something because it flies by, believe them. Graduation is in four months. It seems so far away. But I know it’ll be here before any of us realize it. And when you think of all the other things we have coming up, Prom, Grad Nite.. it all makes it seem like the end of the year is moving faster. Where did all the time go? What ever happened?
This year, I have met some of the most amazing people. I have reconciled with some people who I had missed. I broke loose of others. I’ve definitely grown up a bit.
***
Yesterday we were in grade school, today we’re seniors in high school, tomorrow will soon be the next chapter in our life. We’re the class of 2010 (:
I remember being in 6th grade and I would be walking the halls of the middle school building, the place where my friends and I all thought was such a big step. We were going to be in middle school. We used to gaze upon the 8th graders and think, crap they are so old. Then when we were the top dogs of the school it didn’t mean so much. We looked upon the 6th graders, reminding ourselves of how we used to be, wondering if they saw us like we used to see the grades above us.
I remember my freshman year. I only had a couple friends who were freshmen, all the others were either sophomores or juniors and a few seniors were sprinkled in the mix. I was in JROTC, too. That was my one connection to everyone. I saw the juniors and couldn’t wait to get there. And then I saw the seniors and was thinking, crap they are so old. Seventeen and eighteen years old seemed so far away when I was thirteen, barely fourteen.
Now it’s our turn. We’re the seniors, class of 2010.
The other day I was thinking about my high school years. Each year was so distinct, so different. But there were so many parts that were the same. I remember sitting in the JROTC office with my friends like it was yesterday. I remember spending one of the last days of spring break, running with kites and writing in the sand like it was yesterday. I remember my first retreat like I was yesterday. I remember meeting one of my now best friends like it was yesterday. Things move quickly.
When someone tells you to take advantage of something because it flies by, believe them. Graduation is in four months. It seems so far away. But I know it’ll be here before any of us realize it. And when you think of all the other things we have coming up, Prom, Grad Nite.. it all makes it seem like the end of the year is moving faster. Where did all the time go? What ever happened?
This year, I have met some of the most amazing people. I have reconciled with some people who I had missed. I broke loose of others. I’ve definitely grown up a bit.
***
Yesterday we were in grade school, today we’re seniors in high school, tomorrow will soon be the next chapter in our life. We’re the class of 2010 (:
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