Who I Am Makes A Difference

I am afraid to show you who I really am, because if I show you who I really am, you might not like it--and that's all I got.
Sabrina Ward Harrison

Isn't it scary how we feel a certain way about certain things and we can't even expose our true feelings for fear of how others might view us from that moment on? After talking with a friend about past experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today, I reflected long and hard on my life and what I have to offer.  There were many times that I did not appreciate at the moment of adversity, but I have learned to appreciate in the present.  There were many battles in my life where I have had to lose friends, associates, or opportunities because I stood my ground on particular matters and did not want to contradict my morals, values, or beliefs for others.  I look back on those times and ask myself whether or not I regret those times...To this day, I can honestly say, "NO" loud and clear.  I am at a certain place in my life where the opportunities that I would have gotten five, six, even ten years ago may not even matter today.  Sure, those opportunities could have landed me in other areas but I will not live off of the could've, would've, should've moments.  I am only going to live in the now and prepare for the future.  I am proud of the person I have become and realize that if I did not have those moments of staying true to myself years ago, I would not be the person I am today. Besides, if I would have shifted my stance for others, I probably wouldn't even know who I am today. I would still be searching for the true me.  There are a lot of people struggling with finding their true self and figuring out their purpose in life at an adult age.  I am just glad that I don't have that problem and it is all because I was always me during times of popularity, injustice, unfairness, and spite.  It is always easier to get what you want by being who others think you should be, but I made the choice to do all the things that I wanted to do on my own time in my own way.  I will never apologize for who I am and I advise you to never apologize for the true you. Just remember: "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
 

Get A Vision

"But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats.  No one can avoid them.  But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for."    -Paulo Coelho

 

If you feel as though you have a purpose and you have created your vision, work towards achieving your goals.  If you don't succeed in the fight while working towards your goals, it is okay.  If you do not have a vision or an identified purpose in life, you have already been defeated because you are sitting idle rather than moving forward in life. If you are in the midst of figuring out your purpose in life, even that is a goal!  You will more than likely get redirected many times and at times may feel as though you don't really have a purpose.  Just do not allow yourself to get sidetracked. Keep your goal in mind.  Many times, we feel as though life is so hard.  But, what do we really have to compare life against? So, is life really hard, or are we just being hard on ourselves?  Get a plan. Work towards it.  If obstacles come, work through them.  If things do not go as planned, do not count it as a total loss. Make another path that will still lead you to the goal at hand.  Obstacles will undoubtedly come.  It is how we handle the obstacles that matter.  We can either allow it to make us wiser and stronger or make us feel weak and defeated.  It is your choice.  More importantly, it is all in how you view your situation. Just remember that your dreams are worth working for. Don't let anyone or anything persuade you differently.

What's Your Fight?

http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2013/0213_aahm/

 There are so many conflicts going on in the world each day. Some of these conflicts tend to last for months and years. Many become so brutal and inhumane that we forget what the purpose of the conflict. Just go and search for conflicts of today. There are tons that I did not know about and I ask myself, Why? What's the purpose? Of course conflicts are bound to happen when differences come in to any situation. But killing innocent children,  involving bystanders minding their own business, shooting a person due to an argument, and harming helpless people is by far not the right way to go about handling any situation. We need to learn coping strategies and  appropriate ways to handle situations, because too many people are suffering for fights so many of us know little to nothing about. Its time we practice civil solutions and find a way to get along regardless of differences. Let's not forget the most civil fight to gain freedom to even be able to coexist without discrimination.  We are bringing the same qualities and limitations that activists fought to get rid of back into our daily lives without even realizing it.  They fought for equality and freedom...and how are we repaying them? Rather than using all of our opportunities to our advantage, we have more people dying over petty crimes,  going to jail only for a modern-day enslavement,  and rejecting the chances to rise up in society along with our well-off counterparts.  Whatever your fight is, fight it the right and noble way and quit blaming others for shortcomings.

" In America, we share a dream that lies at the heart of our founding: that no matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter how modest your beginnings or the circumstances of your birth, you can make it if you try."
- President Barack Obama, Jan. 31, 2013 -Presidential Proclamation