Change; Much More Than A Penny for Your Thoughts

Change- To make or become different.

[www.dictionary.com]

 

Why do so many of us have difficulty changing? 

 One reason, Fear.

It seems quite logical to say, "I've been this way," or "I've done this my whole life, of course it's nerve wrecking to think of changing it." It may make you feel as if you're losing a part of yourself. In this regards, your question to yourself should simply be, "Do I really want to keep this part of me?" But you must ask yourself when you are thinking logically, not selfishly. Selfish is never logical. We get so caught up in ourselves and our emotions that we disregard the bigger picture. Don't get me wrong, your opinions and emotions are super important, but it doesn't always mean that they're right.

Another reason, Lack of understanding of it's importance.

Change, like Love, has become a popular topic. It unfortunately seems, that the more something is talked about, the more importance it loses in the eyes of those talking about it. It becomes tainted and skewed with everyone's opinions or lack there of. The most important things in life cause controversy between people, even loved ones. Personally, I do not think it a coincidence. There's an enemy out there who wishes for nothing more than to see humankind suffer. But that's another blog for another day.

An analogy that came to mind when I thought about writing this, was change. Yes, I'm aware this whole passage is about change, but I mean change, as in the amount you receive back when you've paid more than was asked for.

It's kind of sad how we exist in a world with brilliant parallels and we live our whole lives without seeing them. There are two sides to this analogy.

Side One.

When you think of that kind of change, 

do you automatically picture a small amount of 

coins? More than likely your answer to this

question is, "yes." Mine was too. 

This may very well be why society finds change

such a hassle. They view change as having little to no value.

They just may be right, if all they ever give is barely

the amount needed to pay the price of what they want.

See where I'm going with this?

Side Two.

No one can argue that if you give

a sum of money that tremendously exceeds the amount due,

then you'll to get a whole lot of change back.

The parallel? Change is a gift.

God's Grace.

The more diligence you put into becoming a better you,

the more opportunities you will have to change. 

We've all done things in our past/present that we're not proud of.

But it is because of God's grace, because of change, that we don't

have to stay that way.

When you think of it that way, change doesn't seem so bad. As of 10 minutes ago, this is how I choose to view change! Why not? Better a Positive Polly (or Pat for you fellas), than a Negative Nancy (or Nate).

Making changes is necessary if you want to move forward. If you want to stay where you are, then that's a different story and thanks for taking time to read something you probably disagree with. And if you want to change, but struggle with it, don't worry, you're not alone. =] I never said change was easy, I just said it was necessary. 

Change- Deeper than becoming different, it's becoming better.

[Aaronn Ralph's definition.]

*I am highly aware that you can change for the worse. But, life is what you make it. And I refuse to let change be a negative in my life, it's as simple as that. You can join me if you like. God Bless!

Don't Ever Lose You For Them

{These next few blogs will touch on different aspects of "relationships."}

Sure, actions speak louder than words, but actions accompanied by matching words can be a deadly combination. And I can't fathom why you would waste your time on someone if you know that they don't compare to what you've known. It sets them up to fail from the beginning.

"Go Back to What You Know" -Ne-Yo

Anybody else with me on being tired of being the "other" one? I swear I always find myself in a situation where the ex is still in the picture and still holds his heart.. and in the end, she "wins". It makes you want to question, "what's wrong with me?"

I am all for following your heart, but there just comes a time when you have to realize that losing YOUR worth isn't worth keeping someone around.

On the other hand, people stringing "us" along.. realize that in using someone to try to get over your past can scar that someone so badly that they end up doing exactly what you're doing now, using someone else to get over you.

We're not recyclable nor immortal. We must live with the results that come from the standards we live by. I don't know about you, but I'm tryna have some high standards. I'm ready to fly!

If it wasn't for all of this nonsense I would have already taken off. Why is it we let other people destroy our wings?

Are we victims or are we just self-consciously afraid of flying and we allow them to beat us so that we have an excuse not to?

Que pensez-vous?
(What do you think?)

You Cannot Have One Without The Other

Journalism and the first amendment are both needed in a democra
cy. One cannot function without the other. A democracy is, "of the people, by the people, and for the people." Those people need to be properly informed of the situations going on around them. Not only that, but they need to be given a voice. After all, it is their community and if it is, "of, by and for" them, they need to be able to have a say about it. That is where journalism and the first amendment come in. True journalism does not tell the people what to think, but instead gives them something to think about. And the first amendment, (being freedom of speech, religion, assembly, etc.) allows the people to put those thoughts into words. A government needs order and journalism and the first amendment are part of what help a democracy run smoothly. That is why a democracy needs journalism and the first amendment.

To further this argument I want to look a tad deeper into what journalism, the first amendment and a democracy are.

Q & A Session...

Journalism

Q: Now Tell me again, what is your definition of journalism?
A: A true journalist strives to produce true journalism which is an art. It is meant to keep their community informed on the situations going on locally and in the world. Even more so than that, everything it does should have the greater good of the community in mind. And it does all of this in an unbiased fashion.

Q: How many different models of journalism exist today?
A: There are four different types of journalism. Three of those four exist today. Those three being traditional elite journalism, advocacy journalism, and public and civil journalism.

Democracy

Q: What is your definition of democracy?
A: Democracy is allowing the people to have an opinion, but in an orderly fashion. If everyone got what they wanted right when they wanted it, the world would be even more of a mess than it is now. Democracy gives people the inspiration to think for themselves and puts the tools to make those thoughts happen in, (what are supposed to be), the hands of people who know how to properly use them.

Q: What is the difference between "election politics" and "public politics"?
A: Election politics are more focused on the candidate trying to convince the public that their opposing candidate is wrong. In other words, it is more broad and keys in on the candidate's thoughts being right rather than the issue itself. Public politics come into play more after the candidate has already won. They can now take into consideration the view points of the public and focus on more issues rather than just the hot topics.

Q: What was the Lippmann v. Dewey debate?
A: This debate took place in the 1920's and consisted of the contrasting beliefs of Walter Lippmann and John Dewey. These men had two very different opinions on the role a journalist should play. Lippmann believed that journalists should be mediators between the government and the public. Dewey thought Lippmann's idea to be idiotic, saying that the general public could not comprehend elements of that nature. He proposed that journalists should filter what was presented to the public and what was not. Dewey's argument became the more popular one and soon after "community journalism" was developed.

First Amendment

Q: What does the First Amendment say exactly?
A: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion of prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Q: Are any of those protections important in your life?
A: All of these protections are important in my life. Faith plays a huge role in who I am. If I could not freely practice my beliefs, life would be such a burden. Freedom of speech and the right to assemble go hand in hand with freedom of religion. And the rest of the protections affect me because they affect people I love and care about. I believe everyone should be entitled to their own opinion and that their opinion should be given a voice.

Diversity

(White, African American, Haitian)

Q: Why is diversity in religion, speech, press, assembly and petition so important to a democracy?
A: The reason diversity of all of the above are vital to a democracy should be self-explanatory. A democracy as stated before is "of, by and for the people." And no one person is exactly alike.

Q: How do journalists and the First Amendment ensure that people hear diverse voices in the marketplace of ideas?
A: Journalists will take the ideas of the people and convey them to the public. The First Amendment protects the journalists and gives them the right to do so.

Q: Can you speak from personal experience about how diversity, protected by the First Amendment or championed by journalists, made a difference in your like?
A: Diversity protected by the First Amendment makes a difference in my life every day. It allows me to hear the view points of my fellow classmates, co-workers, family, etc and why they have those view points. Even though, by human nature, I will be pulled towards those who think as I do, I can also observe and respect other people's points of view.

Missing the Memories that Haven't been Made

I have met some of the most amazing people this year in Lexington. One in particular I know will be a life long friend, shout out to my girl B. And the many others I've met, especially my other roomies have great potential for being people I will never lose touch with. But do you ever get the feeling that there is more? I just know there are people out there that I haven't met yet that will become a huge part of my life. I am beyond ready to meet them and make memories that will be engraved on my heart forever. Really feelin this whole New Years just around the corner. Here's to a new beginning!

What's Your Background Noise?

Stumbled upon a question to ask myself, which led to a possibly scary revelation. I'll try to make it short and sweet..

-Had to write a paper on the media and the ten human motivations for it and how they applied to our lives.

-Of course music was mentioned many times in mine..

-Three sections caught my eye.. I estimated that 42 hours of my week was filled with music for "entertainment"

-That same 42 hours could be used for "escape".. because, well.. music is my escape

-It then mentioned having background noises, just to fill space.. which.. I ALWAYS have music playing.

*But I thought, no I need music, its not just a background noise..

I stopped.. Am I living in a constant escape?

Yes I love Music. But as I have even written in one of my own songs "silence is golden."

I should turn the music off even just for an hour, have time with God and FACE the world with Him.. not Music.

slightly painful to say, but oh so true.

"The Inevitable." Starring, The Heart.

Researchers have described falling in love as a way to self-expand. Some think they have it all figured out, even putting steps to the process of falling in love. Can we really take what one person says abut love as the answer? The question in itself should give the answer away. Of course not. When it comes to love there is no one answer, because there is no one question.

The past week or so, there has been one question in particular that has stood out. How long do you wait? You really like a certain someone, told them how you felt, but they don't want to be in a relationship right now. A friend of mine says she talked to her boyfriend about it and he said 3 to 4 months, because guys take a while to open up and feel comfortable. Others say to move on immediately. I've come to think the answer lies within yourself. You decide whether that someone is worth all the time in the world or not. But in reality, that makes it all the more difficult.

Love has become such a common word that I hate to even write about it. But unfortunately, the heart is inevitable. There is no getting around the fact that some point in our lives we try to continue walking and our heart tells us, "No." I'm just trying to learn at what point should you no longer listen to the very organ that pumps life into your veins and say, "Yes, I can't stay here any longer."

So close I can taste it.. tastes like Strawberry ;]

Does the road of life have corners? Cause I'm pretty sure somethin is just around the corner for me. "Just around the river bend!" tehe. But in all seriousness, I have been writin songs like crazy.. and they're not too shabby. I'm just ready to meet my Destiny. I think we'd be pretty good pals =] In the mean time? "Oh yeah thats right I'm doin me" Church, work, babysittin, and makin memories I will never forget this summer. PLUS, checked my UK account today.. sophomore year COMPLETELY paid for, I'll have money for the Macbook I want AND plenty more where that came from. God is fantastic!