When time flies... Time can feel like it drags on and on, but when we look back at our past and look toward our future, we find that time–that life, really–is actually very short. Centuries have gone by, and here we are, waiting for the next few centuries to fly by, which we can only hope to see. When we are young, we are busy growing up and busy growing old; when we are old, we are busy trying to be young and trying to be the youths we once were. We battle against time because, out of all the things granted to us by mother nature, this is one of a few that we cannot control. We cannot change time, but we can shift our perspectives. In a way, time moves only as fast as we let it. So while it is said that time flies when you're having fun (or drags when you're bored), if, whether we are having fun or being bored, we are in the moment–not in the past or future–time will move on, but our memories of that time will be more substantiated and valuable. In other words, if we shift our perspective of time and events, we shift our perspective of the tempo of time. And of course, the most obvious way we can deal with this conundrum of time is to simply enjoy it. Treasure it, value it, and, in due time, we will have a portfolio of memories to look back on, making time well worth it. sweet dreams. xoxo, s.k.j. "As the present now Will later be past The order is Rapidly fadin' And the first one now Will later be last For the times they are a-changin'. " -The Times They Are A-Chaingin', Bob Dylan
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It's raining, it's pouring... It finally rained in the Bay Area! After a long season of drought, the rain was gladly welcomed (even though it might not last that long). Rain is my favorite type of weather, because what's better than being inside, cuddled up with cocoa in hand and listening to that soothing pouring? So as it started to rain, I realized how blessed I am–and how much I have to be grateful for. I often get caught focusing on myself: my future, my grades, my comfort, etc. etc... And I often hear friends worrying about their "image" or what people will think of them. But if you look up at the sky as its raining, we realize that we are not the center of the universe. There is an endless expanse above us and a sea of people right by our sides. As humans, we are rather quite selfish, our heads bent down, scrutinizing our own problems and issues, but sometimes we need to look up, tilt our heads toward the sky, stick our tongues out to catch rain drops, and jump in puddles. It's the simple things that matter. For me, the constant drumming of the rain on the pavement outside washed away my current, nagging worries, reminding me that the world is so much bigger than ourselves and our problems. What a beautiful day to be alive! sweet dreams. xoxo, s.k.j. "Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.” ― Roger Miller For those days when you feel like you just can't take it anymore... Maybe its already hit you, or maybe its going to, but sooner or later you'll suddenly feel the burdensome weight or the monotonous drag of life. When stress hits, its not a fun feeling, but here are five tips that help me cope with tough days. 1. Take a shower. Warm showers help to soothe me and let me think more clearly. 2. Vent. Telling trusted family members or friends about your stress can really help. If you are not a people person or don't feel comfortable talking, try journaling, mind-mapping, or doodling. 3. Get moving. Exercise helps to clea your mind and feel more positive. Take a break from things that stress you and do something else that will keep your mind off of it, such as busying your fingers through arts and crafts, or jogging around the park, or baking your favorite treats. Even just going outside to get some fresh air should help to calm you down. 4. Meditate. Think positively, play your favorite song and sing along, or read your favorite book. Stress out your tensed muscles, close your eyes, and do nothing but exist. 5. Pet your dog. Or, if you don't have a dog, pet your cat or someone else's (friendly) dog. Having an animal that you can cuddle without having them judge you or form opinions is amazing. Plus, you can tell them all your stresses and know that it will be kept confidential. sweet dreams. xoxo, s.k.j. "We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.” – John Newton The Power of You. Truth is, people are always going to let you down. And when this happens, you might not have anyone to go to because, more often than not, the people that let you down are the people in which you put your trust and your faith. So what happens then? Are you totally lost in a world you can no longer trust? You don't have to be. There is one person that too often you forget will always be with you. Yourself. If you grow a deep-rooted sense of self-confidence, you no longer need to rely on others. If you rely on your own intellect, you need not rely on others to support you. Whatever defines you is carried with you, whether it is a belief in God, a passion for art, or a love of nature. Embrace these things, be you, and never, above all, let yourself down. Yeah, you will not always get your way, and that's okay. But never, ever, give up the things you truly value—morals, passions, dreams, love. In a world full of people that will let you down, the worst thing you can do is also let yourself down. Of course, in some form or another, we rely on people to survive. Employers give us money, teachers give us a valuable education, parents give us sustenence when we cannot support ourselves. Relationships are a beautiful and powerful thing, but we must take caution when they become dangerous. This doesn't mean to sever all relationships out of the fear that you'll be let down, but to remember that when you are let down, you'll always have yourself, and, if you let it, that can be enough. So, yeah, people are gonna let you down. But you'll always have yourself—your inner strength, your perseverance. You are powerful. sweet dreams. xoxo, s.k.j. remember: The light within you shines brighter than any light you could ever receive. quote: "We are stronger than we think. We have emotional, spiritual and even physical resources at our disposal. We may get knocked down, but we don’t have to stay down.” - Steve Goodier Life is a masquerade. Life's a masquerade. We live our lives as a seemingly wonderful dance, circulating partners as the music moves along and showing our most elegant, elaborate dresses, suits, and masks. And yet, at the end of the dance, we hardly know the people we've danced with, their faces having been concealed under the glitter, pearls, and laces of their masks. At the end of the dance, no one really got to know you at all, either. Each of our lives is dictated by interacting with other people. Rarely is there a day where people—whether physical, memories, or the results of their actions—do not affect us. And through these interactions, masks become an important—if not vital—aspect of our lives. We switch these masks constantly depending on who we interact with, and yet never seem to find anyone that we feel open enough with to share our true selves. With friends, we wear the masks of "perfect," or "happy," or "content," while with our families we wear masks of being "studious," or "hardworking," or "motivated." With teachers, adversaries, strangers, or neighbors, we bear a different mask every time. We begin to hide our true selves behind the masks that keep piling up, and then we begin to forget who we are, and, in the end, we feel a sense of utter isolation, confusion, and seclusion. Yet we can change this. We first must learn to accept our true selves, flaws and all, because we are all perfectly imperfect, and thats okay. It is only when we are comfortable with ourselves that we can truly present the unmasked version of ourselves to the world. And we should remember that anyone we interact with may be struggling with breaking free from their masks as well. The stellar student, the popular cheerleader, or the handsome jock may quiver, shattered behind a beaming facade. Help another and slowly, one by one, the broken pieces of you and the other will be glued together, being stronger than ever before. And you will find yourself. sweet dreams. xoxo, s.k.j. Picture from Shel Silverstein's Every Thing On It.
The Stars: Our Dreams, Our Power “Reach for the stars,” they tell you. And so we turn our eyes to the sky, lift our chins to the unknown atmosphere above, and stretch our hands out to the unattainable. Little do we understand that stars are only flaming balls of gas with no true substance to them at all. They are millions of miles away, drifting, lost, in the solitary, purposeless void of the universe. The stars on which we base our dreams and futures on are not the magic which we deemed them–believed them–to be. Little do we understand that there are stars closer to us than even the sun. They don’t lie in our city lights, street lights, or even in the warm yellow lights which spill throughout our homes. They lie within each of us, all of us: the twinkling eyes of an awe-inspired child, the beaming smile of achievement, the glistening droplet of simple tears. Perhaps instead of reaching for the unrealistic, insubstantial stars, we should reach just as deep into ourselves as we reach far for the sky. Our dreams, our power, and our motivation are within us, if only we’d realize it. The stars within us shine brighter than any star in the sky. The universe doesn’t dictate our futures. We do. sweet dreams. xoxo, s.k.j. Quote of the week: We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars" - Oscar Wilde |
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