happiness
Happiness, defined; things that help you find happiness, keep it, and share it with others.
Imperfectly Happy
There is no possible way to be perfect. It is an expectation that is unreachable. So happiness should never be based on trying to be perfect. Life is messy and hard, and kicks you down just to kick you some more. But finding happiness is not as hard as it may seem. And it is not at the end of some long journey to someplace else. inside every person, their true happiness lies. You just have to be willing to look there first, and accept yourself regardless of the world telling you-you are flawed. Because flaws are amazing. Flaws are what makes us individuals. And once you open up, and embrace your own flaws, you can find joy in everything.
By Charlie Hancock8 years ago in Motivation
Perception Is Everything
I remember one day in high school when I was reduced to a number. I was told I was a guy's "20." With my extreme lack of knowledge and understanding towards that term, I was elated to be his "20!" For all of you who have no clue what I am talking about, it is the 80/20 rule that was discussed in Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? In marriage, you only get about 80 percent of what you need from your spouse, and you do not want to throw it all away on someone who comes along only offering 20 percent (i.e. sex and a little extra attention). So, I took that I was basically a "hot lay" as a compliment. I also took a ton of other negative, unacceptable advances as compliments. I was clueless as to what my worth was, all I knew was. I wanted to be popular and I wanted it bad but not bad enough to sleep around to get it. Undoubtedly, I was talked about due to my excessive flirty behavior by most of the guys at school. One thing I prided myself on was the fact that none of them could say I slept with them (at least at that time). It was the only vice I had when they wanted to call me names, I could always throw out my "at least I'm still a virgin card." Of course, I could jazz that card up in a few different ways and keep them from calling me the one name that brings so much shame...a "hoe (whore)!" Funny how you reflect on these things and it makes you realize while you were trying to be so cool, you really ended up being so lame (urban term). I was so stuck on being noticed, that I slacked away from my school work. Although I graduated third in my class, I could have been tied for the number 1 spot, and gotten more scholarships to pay for college. I could have done things differently in high school, but my desperate attempts at popularity had me consumed. I went to college for a year. I made a complete mess out of it; I got kicked out and was upset because they kicked me out (didn't they know who I was???). Internally, during my high school and college years, I battled low self-esteem. It wasn't until a year ago, I truly saw how beautiful I was, and that I was a true catch, someone definitely worth marrying. And that revelation makes everything a bit sweeter, now. Due to age and a great appreciation of the beauty I have (inside and out), I am able to walk around with confidence. I am able to not be so bothered by what people have to say. Perception has everything to do with confidence. When you consider what others may say, you begin to doubt yourself (definitely a tool of fear). For example, I use to be ashamed to show my feet, I was scared somebody may talk about how stubby my toes are, or call them ugly. Now, I wear them out, sometimes they are just as ashy as they want to be (not often but it's my choice). I am so unbothered about other people's opinions of me now; if I do not want to shave my legs, I don't have to, and I am still beautiful! As you get older, you realize how you see things has a lot to do with what you do in life. I am unapologetic for who I am, what I look like, and what I am currently doing in life. I just live the best way I desire too! And hope to inspire my daughter to be her true, authentic self.
By asia kiniel8 years ago in Motivation
Little Leaps of Faith
In my belief and experience as a college student, paying your way through college isn't easy, but thankfully God provided a job to pay the bills! Although I am not a social butterfly always eager to talk to people or meet new people, or even being a customer service agent, I don't think manual labor is the easiest job in the world either.
By Rebekah Lott8 years ago in Motivation
Moments
In today's society, we are faced with so many choices, decisions, that are in place because of social appearance and media. You have to be thin, but not too thin. You have to be physically fit, but not to bulky. You have to spend wisely but don't over indulge. You have to be presentable, but not over dressed...
By Terence Thirlwell8 years ago in Motivation
Stuck
The morning starts and I look at my calendar; nothing. Always nothing. No alarms, no anything. I have no money, nothing to do. I fill the day with watching TV/playing video games as per usual, surprised that debt collectors haven't busted down the door to repossess anything, but this time nothing; I feel no joy from it, just passing the time. Have you ever had that feeling, just utter and pure absence of emotion? We're all on this floating rock and without paper, we have no freedom; we're all just stuck.
By Elijah Taylor8 years ago in Motivation
Escape Your Thoughts
Ladies and gentlemen let me start this piece by giving thanks. Thank whatever you believe in, if you believe in nothing, then thank nothing for we have everything. Giving thanks for we have everything, yet we tend to appreciate nothing. In my latest trip I went from one of the wealthiest countries in the world to one of the poorest and despite seeing people in such poor conditions, I’m ashamed to say I’m not content. The world is a funny place where most of us serve others only when we believe to be serving ourselves. The grass always seems to be greener somewhere else.
By Milad Hussin8 years ago in Motivation
Why You Haven't "Found" Happiness
I have looked in careers, shopping malls, car lots, and even Amazon, but I have not been able to find happiness anywhere. We all do it; we are bored so we go out and buy something, then when we get home we find we are bored again or we are now stressed over the money we just spent. I used to feel so lied to! I felt that I had been conditioned to believe that happiness was a person, place, or thing and that I had just been left out of the VIP section of the most popular club.
By Divine Independence8 years ago in Motivation
It Gets Better, I Promise
I spent a lot of my time throughout college and the following summer wondering what would happen to all those I considered my friends at college and whether I would see them again after leaving. My simple answer is that I failed to keep in touch with many of them, due to my own insecurities about starting conversations over Facebook or Whatsapp or text. Eventually, I even stopped talking to the people I spoke to every day. It hurt a lot to think I'd lost all those connections.
By Danielle Pountney8 years ago in Motivation
Why I Began Writing - Do for YOU
I have been writing short stories, poetry (and I am currently in the process of writing two novels), since I was around 13. Many of us go through major life-changing events. Some of us are lucky where those events are happy ones. Others, not so much. To this day I still struggle with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. My childhood was unique, and a lot of times fun. The childhood many others wish they had. With the constant traveling and moving and going to fun places. But it was also filled with loneliness and an angry parent who made me feel no bigger than an ant daily. There are many people out there who can relate to a certain extent to my experiences and then some. And many more out there who have had much more difficult lives in many ways. For me, writing was a release of all the emotions I couldn't talk about. Whether it be because I didn't have a friend to talk to, or I just didn't want to open myself up. Either way, I had to get it out, or it would continuously eat at me and make everything so much harder to deal with in the end.
By Fiver Goodier8 years ago in Motivation
Surfing
Have you experienced the rush of a crashing wave? After finding your way to the surface, you wipe the water and hair from your face, only to realizes another is barreling towards you. You strategize in a hastened mindset how you will pass this next wave, and look even further to how you will conquer the set. There is no time to react, with a six foot force rushing towards you. You react, hoping a few tries are enough enlighten your muscle memory. These are the struggles of a new surfer, seemingly daunting, but experientially invigorating. All of this take place in a deceptive environment. It seems peaceful, hearing the waves crash, feeling the spray of salt water, and smelling the saltwater. All of your senses are triggered as you pursue the activity, yet the environment develops into a retreat from reality. This paradox is the appeal to surfing. Because a surfer recognizes the false mindset, and it makes the trip to the beach much sweeter and more meaningful. It challenges your physical and mental abilities, as well as the naive characterization of the ocean as a harmless place of relaxation.
By Nathan Cherenzia8 years ago in Motivation
