"Success is a journey, not a destination."

Some of my favorite posts to read on other peoples blogs are their lists. Lists of beauty products to share, their favorite things, or tips on how to achieve certain goals.

I'd like to share with you my own little list. These are just a few things that I have learned over the past few months that have helped me to succeed in different aspects of life. For me these are sort of things that I have always known, but I've been paying more attention to them recently. Hope ya'll enjoy!
 
 

1. Always walk with a purpose. Never look down or slouch. Walk swiftly with your head held high. If you look like you're doing something important then people will think that you are important - even if all you're actually doing is going to clean the bathroom.

2. Always keep a smile on your face. And while you're at it - make sure to smile, make eye contact, and (at least) nod, if not say hello to anyone you walk past. "Never frown, even when you're sad because you never know who may be falling in love with your smile." You never know whose day you are making brighter just by acknowledging them.

3. Learn to laugh at yourself and your stupid mistakes. Everyone makes them and there is no point moping around and wasting the day dwelling on them.

4. We all know how the saying goes "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." You never know who is going to try to step all over you on their climb to the top.

5. While on the topic of friends. It's better to have a few Best Friends than an unlimited amount of average friends. Once you find out who those few are cherish them - always. No matter how far apart in distance the years may take you.

6. Sweat pants are for the gym. Not for school (I don't care how early your class is); not for the airplane, train, or bus (I don't care how long your journey is); and most definitly not for work (unless you just so happen to work at the gym).

7. Always be willing to help your fellow man. Chances are if you are reading this blog right now you've got it better than hundreds of thousands (possibly millions?) of people in the world. Karma is a b-word (that rhymes with witch), so it's better to put out positive Karma as opposed to negative Karma. And always remember that whatever you give to others will return to you tenfold. If you can't financially help people, by all means be willing to volunteer your time. And don't forget to smile while doing it! =)

8. Dealing with disagreeable people? Most people who are disagreeable are unhappy with their life and feel the need to drag you down too. Don't let them get to you. When in doubt, "Kill 'em with kindness."

9. Get in the habit of spelling checking E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! Facebook status', Twitter updates, text messages, e-mails, and blogs. No: "How R U doing?" or "me 2" or anything along those lines. None of these look good, and are most definitely frowned upon in the professional community. It looks cheap.

10. Always be thankful for where you are in your life. Because no matter how bad you may think it is, there is always a way that it could be worse…so be glad that it’s not.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is God's gift, that's why we call it the present.”

Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about dwelling on my past, and what my future has in store for me – yes, both as separate entities. I sat here most of last night trying to blog about them and to be honest, it felt kind of old to me to be writing about the past and future – I’ve done it before. About a million times. I love to write, but I don’t want anything to be forced, like I’m doing it out of obligation, because I’m not, I’m doing it because I like to write and it’s something that I did a lot as a child and it makes me happy.


Anywho, I went through a couple different ideas that had been mulling around in my head about said past and future topic that I so wanted to write about. But nothing felt right. Then it hit me.

Why?

Why am I spending so much time focusing on both the past and future?

The past has come and gone. And everything that has happened during it is done. Can’t be changed. Every single awkward moment and failed attempt is out there. And what good is analyzing each and every single one of them? I always over analyze everything, and where has that gotten me? Nowhere. So why dwell on it?

The future is still up in the air. Who knows what it has in store for you? And while you may be working your butt off now to get to the future, you lose what’s most important – the present. Don’t ever take advantage of the fact that you’re where you are for a reason. It could be the worst or best moment of your life. But it’s these moments that create the future you – and you won’t be the person you hope to be in the future without taking time to enjoy the present moment that you’re in.

Appreciate the present because it is the only time that you live in. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” Take advantage of the time you have now because who knows how long that time lasts. Conquer your fears. Accomplish your dreams. Tell someone you love them. Do it all. Do it today.

Nota Bene:

Just an FYI, the whole Navy thing has been put on the back burner for now. I was going to do it in June but then the big sis got engaged and all. I can't willing join the Navy (and be at boot camp) when I have M.O.H. duties, and the wedding in July. I promised Mom that I would try once more with UCF for August and if I get nothing from them, then September I'm doing the whole Navy thing.

Part of me wished that it actually works out with UCF, and part of me doesn't.

Happy 24th Anniversary of MLK Weekend!

This past weekend happen to be Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. I was lucky enough to get to venture up to D.C. and visit my older sister and her fiance. I helped them do a little planning. Tagged along on random outings to paper stores (for invitations), dress stores (for the obvious), and reception halls (duh). Chimed in with my opinion, when asked, not over-stepping any bridal boundaries, and provided a little comic relief when differing opinions got heated.

I had quite the adventure from the moment I stepped off the plane. Mom and Dad were supposed to pick me up from the Baltimore airport, having decided to forgo the rental car and just rely on Jordan's car (a 1989 Volvo, mind you) and the D.C. Metro (by far more reliable than aforementioned Volvo) as means of transportation, Murphy's Law kicked in. Jordan's car decided to break down a block away from her apartment as they were coming to get me. So, me with large suitcase in hand (well, on wheels) decided to figure out the train/subway/bus route between Baltimore and Washington D.C.

Everyone knows my amazing ability to get lost anywhere, no lie, I have even gotten lost driving down to south Florida and all that entails is hopping on I-95. Yeah, judge me. I'm even judging myself right now. I was hoping since I didn't have to do any of the actual driving I might actually be able to get by without getting lost. Wishful thinking that was. Let me count the ways I managed:

1) in the airport. Couldn't find the baggage claim, bus stop, or even the information desk. I blame it on poor planning on the airports end. Not my own. 2) the train station. Couldn't find the right ticket counter to buy my $6 MARC train ticket to Union Station, almost gave in and purchased a $35 Amtrak train ticket to Union Station because I was so frustrated and people in Baltimore were not being helpful. 3) once at Union Station I had to catch the Circular Bus. Was unable to find the parking garage that the bus stop was located in and almost ended up on a Metro that would have taken me in the complete opposite direction. Finally, a homeless man, who had already seen me pass by a million times pointed me in the right direction. 4) once I was sitting on the bus, map in hand, confused look on my face, waiting for us to leave the Union Station bus stop, a friendly fellow bus rider asked me where I was headed and if they could help me in anyway. I pointed to the general location that I wanted to go on the map and they pointed to a bus that had just pulled out and said "you need to be on that bus." Great. 5) I got on the correct bus, but almost got off at the wrong stop. I mean really, why exactly would you have TWO bus stops called 'Navy Yard' on the same bus route, and blocks apart?

Laugh. Go ahead. I give you permission. That's the point. I often times laugh at my own stupidity.

I finally, ended up finding my parents on the street corner across from Jordan's apartment waiting for a tow truck for the Volvo.

Just in case you were wondering...

We saw snow.

We got eaten by dinosaurs.

We sold slaves.
Side Note: We DID NOT sell slaves. Obvi. This building (currently the City Hall for Alexandria, VA) was once a slave market (where slaves had once been sold. You know, before Honest Abe and all).

We drank in the park.

We went to church.

We got mooned.

We drank copious amounts of Bailey's. Yum.

My apologies for the picture being blurry....it was from my cell.

Dear John

I just finished reading my 3rd Nicholas Sparks book. The first 2 are probably obvious, The Notebook and A Walk to Remember, but the 3rd one is going to be his most recent book that has been turned into a movie, Dear John. Out of the 3 books, Dear John is the first one that I have read before seeing the movie, and it is by far my favorite. Obviously, I'm not going to give away anything that happened in it for those of you who are going to see it on Febuary 5th when it comes out in theaters, but trust me, it would definitly be worth going to see! I will more than likely be a bawling mess when I go and see it, suprisingly enough I managed to keep it together throughout the entire book up until the last 3 pages...for some reason those last 3 pages just got to me.


Unfortunately, I have no idea how to post a video on here. I Googled it, and cannot for the life of me figure out how to do it soooooooo here is the link for ya'll to go check it out.



Dear John Offical Trailer