Labels

Everyone has turned into Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory in case there are a few who for some reason don't watch the show) but instead of labeling objects we put a label on people and will not budge on what we believe that person stands for and what kind of person they are. Everyone has an opinion and most will share it whether anyone wants to hear it or not, however when it comes to listening to a differing opinion, well that's when it can get messy because a little something has hit the fan. I'm not even touching that one because that's just the way it's going to be until there aren't any people on this planet because obviously you're going to think you're opinion is right and nine times out of ten you're going to go on automatic shut down/defense mode when someone starts tearing apart you're opinion. Right or wrong it's something we've all done or still do and most of the time it's an automatic reaction you do (or at least I have done) without even thinking about it or realizing it until I replay the conversation in my head. I guess if anyone is still reading this and not bashing me I should say that I don't mean that you should automatically conform your opinion to go with the majority of others. Have an opinion and stand up for what you believe, as the song says if you don't stand for something you could fall for anything.

Anyway, back to the label thing, people are not like the food items in a grocery store that have a pre made label glued to the product. Instead we are each individuals that first of all have feelings , have different ways of figuring things out, like different foods, shows, books, etc. However because of this many want to put labels on people and have them in neat categories, maybe it's so they can feel superior or it helps them feel less intimidated by others I'll never know. I do know that when we do this we tend to put people in the wrong category, and lets face it no one can be put into just one category, and secondly we can miss out on knowing some of the nicest best people you could ever hope to know. I know without a doubt I've had labels put on me because of where I'm from, how I look and my religion. The saddest thing about labels is we use them as excuses to not to get to know people and assume that we know everything about them because they have this label. I think it would be a safe bet that out of all the labels people have associated with me not even a quarter of them are right.

I guess my long drawn out point is you have a right to your opinion and by all means please stand for what you believe but be careful who and WHY you are labeling people. Remember people are not objects that fit in a nice little package, how boring would that be, but should be able to express themselves and fit into as many categories as it takes to describe them. It's not that hard to be kind and show respect to people even if you don't agree with them.

Wherefore art thou Spring?

The calender shows that the first day of spring was yesterday but as I posted on Facebook earlier today someone didn't get the memo to flip the switch. Outside it feels and looks more like I should be getting ready for Christmas singing my favorite carols and putting off buying Christmas gifts for one more day instead of the second day of spring. It's actually snowing...SNOWING!! Where was winter at in November, December, January or February when this would make more sense...I'll tell you where somewhere where it was warm procrastinating because winter didn't even want to face the cold. I'm thinking there might be a bit of seasonal rivalry going on too and winter was jealous that so many was getting cabin fever and so excited for the warm up that winter was not having any thing like that happening and went to visit Jack Frost and paid him off to pay us one last visit. Now that I got that figured out I sure wish I could pay off winter to  leave until November gets here because I for one am way over dressing up in layers and still freezing. According to the meteorologists I might as well get used to it though, at least for another week or two. Lord, for my sanity please don't let it be two or more weeks of this...well it may to late for my sanity already but it would still be nice to see warmer weather already.

Winter Jam

I learned two things while at Winter Jam this year: 1) it just keeps getting better and 2) I can't handle staying in line all day and a concert that lasts 4 hours like I used to. We got in line for Winter Jam a little before 9:30 Saturday morning and by noon the line was already wrapping it's way around Rupp Arena. One would think that staying in line for about 8 hours waiting to get inside to set down for the concert would drag on forever, it sure drags on forever when I have to work, but the day went by really fast. Sadly, without fail there are always people that cut line after we spend forever waiting in line, I'll never understand that one. There was also a Comic-Con happening in the area that day so we got to see some people dressed up as various characters, which was pretty neat. There was one guy that was dressed up as Batman and looked like the real deal, some didn't have as good of luck. Anyway, we got in and found a decent seat and waited a little while longer for the show to start. In all there was 10 groups/artists and one speaker at the event, can't beat that for $10 at the door. The groups were: TobyMac, Red, Jamie Grace, Jason Castro, OBB, Capitol Kings, Royal Tailor, Matthew West, Newsong, Sidewalk Prophets and the speaker was Nick Hall. I've never seen Rupp so packed for a Winter Jam before, they said there was 17,000 people there. I believe it with seeing the crowd while trying to leave. Some of the groups I'd never heard but I can honestly say I enjoyed listening  to all of them. I was most excited to see Red and TobyMac and wasn't disappointed. Red had fire effects which is always exciting and all the groups had either a cool light effect and/or effects show up on screen. Unfortunately, the crowd was to much for me to handle to try go see if I could meet any of the artists. It was still such a great time getting to stand in line with great friends and hang out since our schedules don't allow us to spend a lot of time together and great to hear such amazing and uplifting songs for practically nothing. I was even able to get some decent pictures from where we were sitting at.

Fall...Get back up...repeat

I heard a song this morning that I hadn't heard before and was wondering how come this was the first time I was hearing such a good song. Normally the story would end there but there was a line that really got to me and made so much sense, so much so I figured I'd write about it! Anyway, the song was Getting Back Up by Tracy Lawrence and the line was 'It's not the fall that's so hard, it's the getting back up.' That is so true, at least for me, and not only for the obvious physical falling down but falling away from someone's life or any kind of falling. First, I don't know about anyone else, but I am a self-described klutz that can trip on air. It's not hard at all for me to fall and when it happens I go down fast. However, once I'm down it takes me a lot longer to get back up because I'm recuperating from being startled by the actual fall, assessing just how much pain I really am in and am dreading getting back up (dreading to find out how many people saw what happened and I'm getting older and my back and knees don't help me get up as fast as they should). Then of course there is the falling away and not being in someone's life, which can happen because of innumerable reasons. This one can be easy or hard for the falling to happen depending on the scenario but either way the getting back up can be hard. Sometimes fate or whatever you want to call it sees fit that we don't get back up and have those people back in our lives but we get back up and go down another road and then there are times we have to get back up and work our way to have those people back in our lives. Unfortunately this one can take the longest to get over too. However you may find yourself falling in life always remember that getting back up may be the hardest part but never give up on getting back up because usually when we give up is when we're the closest to succeeding.

While I'm on this little rant I'd like to point out that this statement could even be changed to say that It's not lying that's hard, it's telling/believing the truth. I don't care who you are or what you say at one point or another you've told a lie, if it was nothing more than you saying you was alright when someone asked how you was doing and in reality you was so far from alright. Aside from these there are people that constantly lie and have to lie to themselves and others just so they can deal with what they've done and then some just get a thrill out of lying. In certain, and I dare see all, situations it could be easier to just tell a lie instead of the truth. However, once that lie is told then it inadvertently starts you down a road that you have to either keep up with the lies or stop it and admit the truth. The further you go down the road of lies the harder it is to get back and even remember the truth. The sad thing is not only in how easy it can be to tell lies but how easy it can be to believe them. I've never understood, and probably never will, how easy it is to believe a lie and most of the time it's not even questioned. However, you tell the truth and you got to do twenty questions, know the life history of everyone that ever lived and God only knows what else and if by some miracle you get past that stage you still get a look like the person is thinking I still don't believe you. I guess it's cause sometimes the lie is more closely related to what we really want to hear and/or believe and is easier to say then to admit the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts but I believe that old saying of the truth will sit you free, so I'll just stick with the truth, whether I like it or not.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it because it doesn't matter how many times you fall, but if you're willing to get back up....I wish I could log on to Facebook to share this one, I actually wrote something I think is worth sharing!

Dreams

Dreams are like reading a book, it takes you to another world for a brief time, here lately my dreams have been taking me to some strange places. Generally, I just get a good laugh at the things that show up in my dreams but some mornings after I wake up and think about my dreams I can't help but wonder if perhaps that dream was trying to tell me something. Perfect example would be the dream I had last night. I've recently got really stressed out about my job and the last couple of days have had things come up that make me worried that I might lose my job (highly unlikely but my evaluation in June will tell I suppose). I know it's pointless to even worry, what happens is going to happen whether I worry or not but I alas have let the stress and worry win for this round. So my dream last night had me on an extremely narrow road on the side of a mountain (a very tall mountain!) and the road was being worked on to make it a little safer so you wouldn't drive off the side of the mountain. At the time the road was gravel, steep and went into a very sharp curve. Then this guy that was working on the road called out to me and showed me a Blue Honda Civic (just like my old car that I recently totaled) and proceeded to tell me how that car had wrecked, where I'm not entirely sure. Somewhere and somehow this car missed a bridge and landed on this rock next to the creek/river and it was a mangled up mess. Granted it wouldn't be a dream of mine if it didn't have something to do with water and bridges. Also probably just means another messed up dream to add to my books but either way I can relate to that hill in my dream cause it feels like either way I choose to go I won't make it. I think it's time to  quit this worrying cause that's just holding me back.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31

Real World

Whoever created Pandora, I owe you my sanity for today while at work, especially since all my stations are playing songs that are just helping me stay in a mood to get some work done. It's just to bad they don't have a repeat button, of course some songs they tend to repeat way to many times. For a Monday the day seems to be going by fast, possibly since the time changed. I rather like it when the time moves up because days, I can't sleep anyway so losing an hour isn't going to really interfere with me.  I still don't get why we still need to have daylight savings time. Good news for my hopes in staying off of Facebook since wouldn't you know it every time I turned around someone was talking about how much time we spend on the site. That wasn't the good news but the fact that at church last night my friend said I challenge all of you to try to stay off of Facebook for a week. That's the good news, because now I'll stay off Facebook or die trying just because someone chose to use the word challenge and I'll do whatever it takes to succeed in a challenge. Call it competitiveness, stubbornness, or whatever you want but I'll take whatever I can to help motivate me to succeed with this and I'll use this mentality to help me accomplish anything else in life.With that I leave you with a few lines from one of  my favorite songs, Real World by Matchbox 20 (if it's really possible to just pick one favorite song by them).

Straight up, what did you hope to learn about here
If I were someone else, would this all fall apart
Strange, where were you, when we started this gig,
I wish the real world, would just stop hassling me

Forgive me, I just had a 'squirrel moment' but you know if I could write as decent posts as the titles I can come up with, this blog might be half way decent to read! 

Blurry Vision

Yesterday I got my eyes checked again and had the fun time of picking out new frames. I like getting new frames but it's such a pain trying to see if the frames I picked out actually look halfway decent on me and I'll be okay with wearing them until I get a new pair. I am that person that has my face right up to the mirror trying desperately to see. That sadly isn't much of an exaggeration, my eyesight is that bad. Although I must say I am so excited because I finally was able to get a prescription pair of sunglasses as well as regular glasses. I don't even remember the last time I wore a pair of sunglasses. I've had to wear glasses ever since the beginning of sixth grade so needless to say it's been awhile. I actually get the sunglasses today and seeing how the weather is supposed to be nice this weekend it just adds to my excitement! Not even joking it takes nothing more than a little thing like that to make me happy. I'm thinking about having Lasik surgery done at some point but it kind of freaks me out just thinking about it. Although it'd be nice to not have to wear glasses, except I'm not used to seeing me without glasses and I just look so different. Hopefully by the time I can start saving and get the money for it the cost of the surgery won't be as high. I did check on it last year in hopes that I might could get over my fear and get it done but wasn't expecting how expensive it could be. I think I have come up with a plan that within the next three years I can check again on it and possibly get it done though. Until then I'm going to enjoy this time of actually getting to wear sunglasses and just be glad I have glasses so I can see.

Ramble is what I do best

Good grief, I have a bigger problem with Facebook than I thought. I think I could have less problem sticking with a diet than completely staying away from Facebook or at the very least not logging on as many times as I do.I've only been on Facebook one time since I said I was going to see how long I could stay away  but only to go to Valerie Harper's official page and leave a comment. I tried very hard not to even do that but I just couldn't help but feel like I at least needed to do that even though I'm sure she'll never read it or it'll mean anything that I did leave a comment. Speaking of Valerie Harper, did anyone else hear/read about the terrible news she received. I'm not even going to lie, I cried as I read the article on people.com. I've always admired her as an actress and absolutely love the character she has made infamous, Rhoda Morgenstern. I'm to young to have gotten to watch Mary Tyler Moore show and Rhoda when it first came out but thank God for reruns and DVD's so now I can watch any time I want. I remember the first times I watched Rhoda and thought OMG that is me! After recently reading Valerie's autobiography 'I, Rhoda' I have to say I admire her even more not only for her amazing acting talents but for what seems to be a genuinely sweet, strong person with a personality you always hope you have but wonder if it's portrayed that way. I truly try not to even say the word hate because it is such a strong word but I can honestly say I hate cancer. I've lost way to many family members to it and most recently a friend. Granted, I don't personally know Valerie Harper or anything it's still sad to read about someone you welcome in to your home on the television and for those thirty minutes or so you feel like you're right there with them going through things with them. After re-reading that, perhaps I take things to the extreme and really do need to get out more but hopefully I'm not the only one that does that to a certain degree and maybe I don't really take it to that extreme that I wrote but either way it's sad she's having to face this and I truly wish her the best and absolutely admire the fight she has and the outlook she is keeping with this horrible news.

Another Lesson gets Learned...

It's always interesting when you hear something that you needed to hear and didn't even realize you really needed to hear it. It's even more interesting when the source is something or someone you would least expect. Case in point today I was listening to Chonda Pierce (she's a comedian in case you've never heard of her) and just laughing at her jokes not thinking anything about it. Then she takes a serious note and something she said just really got to me and reminded me that it's all good! Now if I can just remember what she said and keep on applying it to my life I'll be even better. I have a tendency to learn a lesson only to forget it and get stuck in the same lesson sometimes because I keep forgetting to apply what I learned from the lesson the first time(s) I've been in this place. It's my deja vu lessons as I like to call them, I thought I had the answer and was applying it but somewhere a long the line I either didn't get all of the answer or quit applying what I learned to my life. Some may think that is bad and that you failed cause you got to learn a lesson over and over but sometimes I think it could be we just need a reminder in that lesson. Think about it, when I get in my comfort zone and things are going fine I start taking things for granted and forget about things and I personally don't want to get complacent and take things for granted. So if I have to go through a lesson I've been through again, I'll take my mental notes and fight my way through it or perhaps it'll be a new lesson it's time for me to learn. Either way I'll learn what is necessary to make me who I need to be and keep doing what I need to do.