Thinking.

Do you ever look outside your bedroom window and think about how the view that you're seeing, beautiful or not, isn't even a one-hundreth of this world? It amazes me how little I feel when I really think about it. We could make absolutely no difference in this world, or we could start a revolution and change it. There are so many people on this planet, way too many to be doing nothing about everything. Would we notice the peace if there were no torture and corruption? We would take advantage of it after a while and just be used to it. Peace is such a big deal to me. I don't understand guns, I don't understand fights, I don't understand violence. We are not here to create chaos between one another. Honestly, if someone were to walk up to me, if they had a reason or if they didn't, and hit me I would walk away. Maybe they would follow me, maybe not. But I could never hurt someone unless they were literally trying to kill me or hurt me sexually. If I can survive and be okay then I don't want to do anything. Violence is nonsense. I literally do not understand it. What do you feel like you accomplished after bashing someones face in and breaking their nose? Powerful? Then what?

One day I was down in the woods sitting by a waterfall in my favorite park and I started walking back up, feeling all the layers of the rocks and sticks and leaves and dirt under my feet and I thought about how many feet walked this same path that I am walking now. Everywhere we go is not untouched. Something at some point has visited that rock, that lake, that waterfall, that field. But you, as a person, are so small. There is no way you could be everywhere in your life time. And something I don't understand is how someone can just be so comfortable with looking out the same window year after year at the same backyard with the same tree. I want to see the world, or at least a lot of it. And I want to feel the air around my body and breathe it in and taste its freshness. I want to walk through grass and feel the water after it rains between my toes and the mud on my feet. I want to climb staircases and mountains. I'm in this little town that has just became a city by population a few years ago. I've lived here all my life. I see pictures of huge buildings, of the Great Wall of China, of Machu Pichu, of everything, and it just makes me want to be there.

I want to be somebody. I know most people want to be somebody, but I don't mean it in a way like they do. I don't care to be known by everyone and loved by everyone. I want to help people. I want to change people's lives in anyway that I can. I feel like I was put on this earth to give people hope in their own lives. I don't feel like I am here just to satisfy my family and myself. I don't feel like I was put here to invent something that will save the world though either. I am here to create beauty. I want people to see my art or read the things I wrote or listen to the words I say and feel changed in some way or another. I want to make people feel like there's hope and like there is a reason they are here as well, and a reason all of the good and bad has happened in their lives. I don't want anyone to feel like they aren't worth it.

These are the rules I try to live by every day of my life.

- Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

- Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

- Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

- When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to __________ today.’

- Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

- Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.

- Make time to practice meditation, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

- Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

- Dream more while you are awake.

- Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

- Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

- Try to make at least three people smile each day.

- Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

- Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

- Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

- Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

- Smile and laugh more. It will keep the nagative blues away.

- Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

- Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

- Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

- You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

- Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

- Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

- No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

- Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’

- Forgive everyone for everything.

- What other people think of you is none of your business.

- Remember God heals everything.

- However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

- Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

- Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

- Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

- The best is yet to come.

- No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

- Do the right thing!

- Call your family often.

- Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _______. Today I accomplished ____.

- Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

- Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

- Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change.

Tattoos!

I will be getting my first tattoo within the next week (hopefully!) and if I can get through that one without passing out, then more to come! Let's just say my pain tolerance isn't the highest. But its a good way to express yourself. I'm putting my beliefs in different forms on myself. I don't want to ever lose sight of who I am or what I believe in. I feel like I am mentally going in such a good direction, I never want to get off this path.