Reality #31: Improve Yourself, Improve Your World

There are a lot of things in this world that we would like to change...people living in poverty, war, federal spending.

There are also things we would like to change in the hustle and bustle of our every day lives...traffic jams, rude people, bill payments.

Unfortunately, while we cannot change all of these things, we can make improvements in our lives...and this world...by making a change within our own attitudes and actions.

So, as a tribute to not only myself but to you as well, take the time to read below the 7 ways to improve yourself, as well as ways to make the world a better place...

~Mj~

 

Reality #30: Love Is Taken Too Lightly

Love is taken too lightly these days...

I challenge anyone who disagrees with me.

Think about it. Every where I hear people - on television or on the radio or even in person - talking about all the things they love...clearance sales, rebates, a certain music artist, clothes, guns, even hair products...

But should we really use love to describe how we feel about these things? I mean...

We say we love those special people in our lives and then we turn around and say how much we love tacos. Is that really fair or accurate or sensible?

We, as humans, play with one another's emotions and dangle what we consider to be "love" by a string.

So what is love? I guess it depends on the individual's own personal definition through the experiences they have had.

Love can be hard work...really hard work sometimes. But...

If love really is unconditional, it will hold any weight, face any doubt, persist through hopelessness, and last any trial...

Perhaps love is best summed up by the one that brought love to this earth....

~Mj~

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Reality #29: You Get What You Give

I've heard the phrase, "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to go now."

I think it should actually be, "Everybody wants success, but no one wants to work at it."

There are a lot of areas in life in which hard work is a must in order to have success in that area...school, love, relationships, your job, sports, hobbies, and so forth.

And the reality?? Sometimes hard work really sucks. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it is stressful and time consuming and sometimes even emotionally and physically exhausting.

There are going to be days when you think you have had enough of working hard at improving your relationship or getting a promotion at work or acing that final test.

Personally, my hard work has come in the form of relationships. One thing I have learned lately is that love is hard work. And hard work sometimes sucks.

But what you must ask yourself is if it is worth it. And if it is, then never stop working at it.

We, as human beings, naturally work hard at something in order to get what we want...a lifelong partner, a raise in pay, an athletic honor.  But you also must realize that the highest reward you will receive for your hard work is not what you get for it, but rather what you become by it.

So, the next time you go to give up on something, ask yourself if you would rather give up or put in the extra work and get what you want....happiness, love, honor.

In life, you get what you give...

~Mj

Reality #28- My Love

This past Monday, was Valentines Day and for the past five years I have had nobody to spend Valentines Day with.

Now I have had dates for some of years but I really haven’t had anyone that I truly cared about. I haven’t been in a serious relationship since my senior year of high school. I have had one night stands, friends with benefits, and some causal relationships but never have found anyone to go to the next level with since my senior year of high school.

There are days when I love being single. Just the thought of going out and being able to do whatever I want just gets my blood pumping. I love the feeling of not being tied down and just living my life for me and no one else to take care of.

Then there are times when I get lonely. The single life is fun but coming home to an empty bed every night, it takes its toll on me. There are times when I am lying in bed and I just lay there thinking about what it would be like to have someone lying next to me that I am in love with.

Ever dream about being in love? I mean truly in love with someone. The love that feels so real. Its one of best  feeling’s in the world. Then I wake up and look over and see that no one is there. I slowly start to understand that it was all a dream. The true love feeling leaves my body and the dream slips from my memory.

Right now I am ok with being single. I know there are going to be times when I wish I was in a relationship but I am good for right now. I know one night I will roll over in the middle of the night and there will be the woman that I truly love.

Jeremy

Reality #27: The Fear

Nearly my entire life I have lived maturely. In high school I studied my butt off to get scholarships to attend college, and when I got to college I spent my time studying even more (even though at times I worked hard and played even harder).

I am now out of college and am in the work force. I am employed full-time at a newspaper, doing inside sales advertising.  It's a good job and pays the bills. I have a man that says he loves me. and a family that sometimes seems to think I hang the moon.

But for some reason now, at the age of almost 24, I feel like going back to college mode, or at least young adult/no responsibilities mode. I feel like going to parties, going to clubs on weekends, those kinds of things.

And the thing is, I never felt like going and partying it up before. So why now? Why do I have this sudden urge in me to do these things?

Is it the fear of growing up? Of settling down? Of feeling held back for some reason?

I mean, in reality, what I really want in life is to be happy, to love, to have children, to be successful.

So why now do I want to go back to what most would consider immature ways?

Is it just doubt running through my mind?  And if so, is this doubt that everyone unavoidably experiences at some point in their life??

Love.
Life.
Dreams.
Me.


I thought I knew once. Now I'm not so sure....

~Mj~

Reality # 26- The Dream Girl

I sit in the middle of the night staring at the computer screen. My eyes are getting heavy. My head starts to fall and hits the keyboard.

I open my eyes to find myself with a beautiful woman. This woman does not look familiar but I know her.

This is our first time meeting but everything feels right. We are just talking and having a good time.  

Her phone rings and I know it’s not a good phone call. She tells me that she has to go. I don’t want to her to go but I know she has to.

So she gets up and tells me that she has had a great time. I stand up and give her a hug. She starts to walk away. I want to stop her and ask for her phone number but I just watch her go.

My head pops up from the keyboard. I whip my eyes and see the computer screen still waiting for me.

I now know that I let the girl of my dreams just walk away without asking for her number. Who knows what could have been but I did nothing. I just stood and watched her walk away.

I know I may never dream of her again. I know that she is not real. I know she is just part of my imagination.

I just want one more night of her in dreams. I will not let her walk away. The dream would not end with her walking away.

“Dreams are like stars… you may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny.” Unknown.

Jeremy

Reality #25: What Better Time Than Now?

Last week I visited the local library and checked out a book. It is probably almost 700 pages and has a full-list of contacts.

And I hope it changes my life.

For years now I have been planning to write a book. Now, I am finally going to try.

I know it won't be easy. It may never even be read or even published for that matter.

But if I have come to realize anything it is that there is no better time than the present to do the things you've always wanted to do. So, what better time than now?

While I can't give details of my idea away, I will say that it is going to be geared toward young children.  I don't know how it is going to turn out. I don't know who to send it to once it is written. I don't know who/how to get an illustrator. But what I do know is that I am going to take a leap of faith and try.

So, what is it that you are willing to take a leap for? What better time than now?

~Mj~

Reality #24: This Is Letting Go...

This thing called life is full of questions.

When your little, the questions range from "Why is the sky blue?" to "Where do babies come from?"

Eventually, the questions we have change with our age. We go from asking what may seem like petty questions to asking the more difficult questions that deal with topics like relationships, moving, and career choices.

But perhaps the most difficult questions of all time, in my opinion, are these: How long do you hold on? When do you let go? What do you fight for? What do you run away from?

To be honest, my mind is blank right now on what to write, puzzled by these questions as they deal with situations in my own life.

Why does it always seem easy to give someone else advice? To answer someone else's questions? And yet, I can't even answer my own.

Nevertheless, remember this:  you are the only one that can answer the questions to your own life.

Ask tough questions. The answers are simple.

~Mj~

Reality # 23- Lying in the Bed

I remember when I was kid, I would lay in my bed and stare at the stars. I had a roof over my head but I had little star stickers that I could stick to my ceiling. The stars would glow in the dark. So every night I would just lay in my bed and stare at the stars.

A couple of days ago, I was lying with this girl in her bed. The lights were off and I looked up at the ceiling and saw that she had some stickers that glowed in the dark.

Just looking at the stickers on the ceiling made me feel like I was a kid again, just laying in my bed staring at the stars. It made me really think about how much I have grown up. How much things have changed since I was a kid. 

On one hand I was sad. I realized that growing up sucks. Being an adult means I have responsibility, I have bills to pay, I have to work, I have to take care of myself and there is no mom to come to the rescue anymore.I miss that. I miss not having a care in the world. I miss not having to worry about cooking dinner because I know my grandma is cooking it. I miss not having responsibility. When your a kid, the world is a giant playground. Everyday is playtime all day.Who doesn't want that? That sounds like the life.

Then on the other hand, I was happy to be where I am today. I have had great memories. I have made wonderful friends. I'm laying next to an attractive woman. I have the freedom to go out in the middle of the night and just walk around Wal Mart. I have the opportunity to turn my dreams to reality. I have the opportunity to fall in love.

What I'm trying to say is don't rush getting older because the older you get, the more you wish you were younger. It's the vicious circle called life.

Jeremy