We are not alone

   Is the sun rising or setting in the photo above? It all depends on interpretation; there are always multiple points of view for a situation, it just depends on your perspective.

   In our daily lives, we experience a plethora of emotions. We can be having the time of our lives  one day, and as quickly as it came, our joy and excitement is replaced by sadness and regret. The depressing reality of this constant circle of cruelty overbearing our lives can destroy a potentially bright outlook. Fortunately for us, we are predisposed to not dwell on this reality but to live our lives in the present, or so I would like to believe. Why should you regret the past and contemplate about the future? Look at yourself right now. That is what should be important to you. Everyone has had a bad experience, some more than others, but that does not justify their actions in the present. You are who you are now, not who you were in the past or will be in the future.
     Pessimism can be a definite downer, drowning us in our own "doom and gloom" thoughts. Let me ask you, is the sun rising or setting in the photo above? It all depends on interpretation; there are always multiple points of view for a situation, it just depends on your current perspective. If you continue to go by your days focused on the negatives, you leave yourself without the opportunity to truly see the world and to embrace all the positivity. The greatest things in life are not hidden in an exotic wonderland waiting for a worthy beholder, but instead, they are what is closest to you and your heart. Whether it is family, friends, or a significant other, we all have someone who will always be there for us. You are not alone and will never be. When things are looking tough, just remember, someone still cares and will be happy to share the burden.
     Don't let one unfortunate event define the rest of your life and yourself; the concept of identity is a hard one to grasp, especially when you confine it to such a small parameter. The next time you are feeling regret, think about the people in your life, think about how they are there for you, and think about what you would say to them if they were in your situation. We were created to be compassionate and understanding creatures, so let us utilize that god-given skill to help you the next time you're in need because remember, we are always there for you.
   
 

Just keep swimming...

     I was recently confronted with what we all have experienced every now and then in our lives - frustration. This simple emotion can completely dominate our entire body and mind. There is no other feeling that is worse than the feeling of the inability to complete a task. You have worked so hard and practiced countless of times to be defeated by just one obstacle. As we have heard throughout our lives, "just keep going" or "you can do it" have been commonly used to encourage and to motivate the individual to continue on the trek to success.
    My experiences have led me to understand the hardship that comes with accomplishment and have taught me to maintain an optimistic view on things, especially when things look gloomy. Why should we get down on ourselves for something that did not go according to plan? There is no logical reasoning to support that kind of behavior or mentality. Knowing your competition is the first step to any task that we wish to succeed at. Frustration can be our worst nemesis, especially when it teams up with anger. These two go hand in hand and can be devastating as it engulfs our logical mindset and replaces it with blind fury.
     You have exerted so much effort to achieve where you are today with your fair share of frustration along the way, proving that obstacles are simply tests that can and will be conquered. With the proper mindset and motivation, the challenges you face will become a part of you in the future, where you will look back and prosper from the experiences that you have been rewarded for your efforts. In the words of Dory in Finding Nemo said, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."

Perspective

    Destiny and fate are curious things to consider when your life is something that you feel should be absolute and strictly planned out, with clear and definitive mile markers that show your progress every step of the way. Do you believe in destiny? As a dictionary definition would put it: "the hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future." To an extent, that is true. The "hidden power" which has been concealed by many aliases, such as God or another other-worldly being, is in control of what we do. To what extent does this power stop? It is difficult to think that our entire life and its meaning is dictated by somebody else, so where along this road do we acquire control?
    Arguably, different perspectives can be taken from "destiny," ranging from a life completely dictated by another being or just the random coincidences that occur in ones' life, such as meeting a long-lost friend on a vacation trip. My point being, fate is defined differently by different cultures, and even by different people, but what is true and what is false is left for the respective individual to find out on his or her own.
     A road that seems to lead to nowhere but the vast emptiness of our world can be two completely distinct images for different people. Should you continue on this path, you could either discover something great and fantastic, or continue to be on the same path that seems to be never-ending. It is all determined by perspective.

Simple Indulgences

     There comes a time when you just feel the urge to do something; it might be something that you've wanted to do for a while now, or it could be completely spontaneous! Take blogging for example, I am still new to this whole "blogging" idea, but it is something that I have taken a liking to. It's something about being able to express my thoughts and feelings without the fear of the inevitable glares and opinions of others that has brought me here. 
     Perhaps one day, I will be enlisted amongst the ranks of the popular bloggers, but as of right now, I am content with what I am doing. After all, hobbies are meant for the individual as a calming mechanism for the soul, an escape from the ever so threatening reality that we have all come to know so well. 
    

Homesick

    Just last year, I was in my small and quiet suburban home enjoying my simple life one day at a time, and now, I am constantly on the move, balancing family, college, and my social life on an ever so delicate platter that I like to call "Life." One single misstep could lead to a complete disaster, shattering everything that I care about. Ever since I left the comfort of familiarity, I have longed to find it again; never would I have imagined it to be so difficult. With a positive attitude and a smile on my face, I go out to find something familiar to grab onto but with no success. My freshmen year in college is about to come to an end and I regrettably have to admit that I still have yet to find my balance.
   At this point, I am still homesick. Not in the sense that most people would assume, but in a way where I cannot go back to my old self. This new life has both provided me with pleasure and suffering; I have to just accept that and adapt. I miss not having a care in the world and embracing simplicity, but we all know that is not how it is meant to be. Life does not cater to the individual and must continue on its track of uncertainty.
   Looking at myself now, things are so much more different than it was before. The grueling schedule of an "adult" has completely consumed by former child-form and slapped me in the face with the hand of responsibility. Where was my warning?! Everything attacked me so abruptly and now I am left cornered and defenseless. It is not that it is unfair, but that it is hard to bear. "Choose your major" seems innocent enough, but when you sit down and think about it, the barrage of questions begins. What do I want to major in? What am I going to do with myself in the future? Is this what I will be happy with? All of these questions leave me with so many more questions. Perhaps it is this uncertainty that is the source of my wavering confidence, along with the new "me" whose body I suddenly occupied and must make something out of. Whatever the case is, my goals are simple: Get myself together and embrace this life like I did the old.
For now, that is all. Blogging really gets my creative juices pumping and thought process rolling, I think I will be back sooner than later.