love. live. life.

So I'm tired, I'm dirty, and I'm kind of hungry... but do you know what? I'm happy! I spent a lot of time today with my family and working on my car. And when things got frustrating, I just had to laugh! Its a beautiful life we live.

I guess that's the thing: we all have this gift of life. Some of us just kind of go through it, or fight it, and it can be really hard and not a fun experience. But then there are some of us who live life, and then it's beautiful. It doesn't matter how hard things get, you can always laugh! There is a lot of life yet to come, a long road ahead. We're going no matter what, so we might as well enjoy the journey!





















"It's not about the destination; it's about the journey that takes us there"

grateful wind

Windy windy windy!! That's kind of the way that today was, all day. It didn't seem too bad this morning, so I decided to go on my bike ride like usual. Well the wind was a little more than I thought, but it wasn't too bad so I went ahead and kept forging on. I wanted to try a little bit of a new trail today, and so I went to check it out. I ended up getting all turned around and backwards at one point, but I got it figured out! Because of the wind though, the sky was overcast and my sunshine didn't really ever show up. But you know what? It was alright! There are some things that it just has to be windy for you to appreciate, regardless of how inconvenient the wind may be.
Speaking of which, this a pretty good parallel to life. There are just some things that you don't really appreciate until your patience is tested, or your endurance. That was my big test today. There were portions along my ride when the wind picked up and I was headed right into it, and going uphill besides! But then I could take comfort in the things I would not have seen if I hadn't stuck with it. I got to appreciate those things that I would have taken for granted if I hadn't been tested. So trials and adversity may be inconvenient, but they are necessary for us to grow and to expand beyond ourselves, to be more appreciative and polite. So thank goodness for the wind!

Being spring break, and all of us kids being home from school, we all went with my mom to take my grandma out to lunch. She was so happy to have us all together with her! It made her feel so special, and we had a great time!

Something cool that I've noticed as I've made an effort to do kind things for other people:
I'm sure you've met people who just don't want to work at all, or do things that aren't going to benefit them? Well sometimes my little brothers are like that. Well I was going to go do some work as a gift for my dad, and I invited them to come with me to help. Well they got excited and jumped right in! Just goes to show how just one person taking the opportunity to help someone out can start a chain reaction getting more people involved and working together. One person can start a worldwide cooperative difference! It really can happen! And it made the normally laborious job easy to do.

part of this balanced breakfast

What? Sleeping in? What is that?? Why would I do that over spring break?!?

This morning I was up early again! It is a great feeling to be up and about that early, enjoying that beautiful soft sunshine! Plus, it makes it feel like you have so much more day, so much more life!!

Last night it rained, and so this morning it was all wet outside. But it was so pretty too! Everything looks SO much greener after it rains, especially in the springtime :) There was a little bit of breeze and my tire had been flat, so I opened up my day with a bicycle ride downtown instead of my usual stint around the river. It was nice to shake things up a bit! It is so pretty down in that part of town, with all of the historic buildings are darling little houses. It's a shame that people don't go down there more often!













But you can tell that Easter is coming up! All of my mom's flowers are beginning to bloom, in all the beautiful pastel colors, just in time! Isn't it wonderful how something that can seem so oppressive sometimes (like the rain) can really turn out to be such a beautiful thing? Here's another example where it's all in your perspective! Just like some of these photos. How often do we see a dead leaf and just pass it by? Now think, how often do we stop to look at it from this perspective, appreciative of its uniqueness and place in this world!

Anyway, I kept myself pretty busy today, both with fun things and more busy/work-ish things. Spring break is a great time to learn an important part about life: balance. Good things are good, but too much of a good thing is exactly that: too much of a good thing! So while rest and relaxation and recreation are good, and excess could be just the opposite. Exactly the same thing goes for work. Being busy and hard working is awesome, but too much so is not so much. So balance is key. That's why it shows up in so many things: religions, cultures, just everywhere! Yin and Yan, "moderation in all things", harmony. It is all one and the same.

Today I was able to experience pretty much what it feels like. I got a good amount of sleep: not too much and not too little. I spent time for myself riding my bike, enjoying the sunshine, and taking pictures; but I spent time with my family too on a picnic, and watching the river and the rain. I relaxed and just enjoyed life and the world, and I worked hard on my car. I got the carpet all put in and all of the seats changed out and installed. I did as much work on it as I could before my dad needed to check it over. So it was a good day. Peaceful, happy, and relaxing even as I was working and trying to get things done.

Honestly?
It doesn't get much better than this :)

singing the difference

Last night, sadly, ended up being kind of a late night. Sooo I thought that I would take this one opportunity to sleep in. In the middle of that though, my mom came and woke me up, and asked if I was supposed to be at choir practice, which had started ten minutes before. I jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes, and raced over to the practice just in time to rehearse the song that we were performing today.

I absolutely love to sing, but singing in the morning isn't really the best for me. ESPECIALLY only five minutes after I woke up. The practice went well though, and our song was sounding alright.

Let me tell you though, there's just something about performing, that makes the whole experience better. Even if you're singing a song you've sung a thousand times before, performing it just makes it so new and powerful all over again! as proof to this, when we got up to perform our piece, just a couple hours later, the harmonies were so much more vibrant, the sound so much more full and powerful. All of a sudden we were singing the meaning and emotion of the song, rather than just the notes and the words.

Our song was one that spoke a message of peace and comfort in all manner of trials and hard times. That's how I made my difference today. By sharing the music of my soul, hopefully I helped to touch another's heart. Because you CAN find peace at any time, if you just trust and look forward,choosing to see how you can grow, to see the silver lining.

Maybe that's why I love performing so much.. I mean, I appreciate the recognition and the opportunities that I have to showcase my talents, but on the other hand I don't really like being the center of attention either. Kind of paradoxical, I know, but that's how it is. So maybe the real reason that I love stepping up into the spotlight so much is because I know that music touches people, can control their emotions. A good crowd response means they felt something. They may not even realize what it is, but they felt it.

So I'll keep singing, stepping out onto the stage, and making a difference to the one person in the audience who needs to hear what I have to say. One is enough. I'll make my difference, one person at a time.

river ride

The first official day of spring break, and what do I decide to do? Not sleep in, certainly! No way! Instead I got up and went on a lovely bike ride on the river! With the sunshine and the feeling of getting out there and doing something, the beauty all around me, I felt so energized and alive! Definitely a great way to start the day :)There were a couple of cool things that happened on my ride that made it even better. As cyclists on the trail, we all generally acknowledge each other as we pass each other going the opposite direction, but generally ignore the 'common' pedestrians. That just seems to be the way that things work. Well today I decided to shake things up a little bit. As I passed walkers or joggers going in the opposite direction I would call out a "good morning!" as I approached.

That was kind of fun all on its own. But there was a pair of older ladies who I happened across, and proceeded to call out my greeting. Their response pretty much made my day :) Their faces, their smiles, as the returned my emphatic "good morning" were priceless. I don't think that they quite expected that out of a quick moving teenager on a bicycle!

And I'm not racist or anything, but for my own safety I do do some amount of 'judging a book by its cover' when it comes to interactions with other people. And so I tend to be a little wary of African Americans, primarily because of the neighborhood in which I live. Today though, I was reminded of something. I was cycling along and hadn't seen anyone for a while, when I passed a rather large African American man cycling the other way. And he beat me to calling out "good morning"! I was probably smiling for the next five miles or so because of it! I may be a little wary of blacks at first, but in all honesty, ones like the man I passed today are some of my most absolute favorite people! Their culture is so rich!

It was just simple incidents like these that helped me to be happy today, energized even! I spent probably a whole half of my twenty mile ride with a genuine smile plastered on my face--it just wouldn't leave!! :) I even discovered how hard it is to laugh when you are doing cardio, to the point of getting the hiccups when I stopped to take some pictures!



Which brings me to another special part of my ride. I was taking pictures again--same trail but different things this time. I really appreciate being able to take the pictures: it helps me to focus on looking for the good and beautiful things in the world out there.






Here's another little story (fully illustrated! ;] ) from today to show what I mean. This afternoon my family and I went to go hike in the Juniper Dune wilderness area, primarily in what is known as the 'Juniper Forest'. Well because it's dunes and sandy, and still pretty early in the year, it is primarily all just sand and sage brush and tumbleweeds and brown grasses. It looks pretty dead and barren.

This is just like life. It is really easy to look out and see just blemishes, a barren wasteland, depressing landscapes, and all that is ugly. But if you choose to really look, to look a little closer, you can see that those same things are beautiful, that there is life growing all around, flourishing and thriving! But it's your choice what to see. My camera is helping me focus a little, that's all. It is me that is choosing to look and see the beautiful things. Besides, it is much more fun this way!

Finally, here is a suggestion to help make someone's day :) Open/hold the door for them! It's that easy! This was challenged to some people I know recently, and they were complaining about how hard it would be. That's absurd! Does it get any easier than that! But don't forget, if someone holds it for you, remember to say "thank you!" :)

"The words 'Please' and 'Thank you' will take you farther in life than any other words"
~Dr. Dave Wells

a nobler cause

Why is it that we do things? How can we change our motivations? Have you ever wanted to change? To become more noble, or just, better? I know I have! Well here's a philosophy that sounds a little odd at first, selfish maybe, but noble all the same!

Does the word Karma mean anything to you? In the most simplest of forms it is that idea that what goes around comes around. That if you do kind or polite things, especially going the extra mile, then fortune will smile upon you. Similarly, the same goes for unkind actions. Well? It happens to be the answer! At least as a place to start :)

Let me explain:
Be noble, pretend to be better, do the right thing, even if it is just for the return for yourself. You would still be doing the right thing, doing good things. It IS a good thing. Soon you will learn to do it for others simply to do it for them, rather than doing it for them but for you. This is a nobler cause, but the first is still noble, none the less!

Everything that I have read, that I have learned, has shown these people with noble traits doing noble things. That these people doing noble things had noble traits. It is a constantly reinforcing cycle, one that is very widely applicable. But what if we don't feel that we fit into that cycle? That we don't do noble things so must not be noble? Or are not noble so we don't really want to do noble things? Well you've got to jump start your growth! Pretend to be noble, and do those noble things, and you will start to develop the noble characteristics. Then you'll want to do more of the noble acts that helped you to grow. You will constantly be getting better, but it has to start with you! Don't wait for nature or Darwin to make you a hero. Do it yourself. You have total control of who you are.

Even if you are not sure what to believe, try it out! You can hardly err by being TOO kind and honorable! Make a difference in yourself. Make a difference in the world

the missing ingredient

Money. An all consuming idea that I obsess over and try to ignore at the same time. Getting ready for college I have to figure out where it's coming from and where it all will be going.

But today? I took the privilege of being happy about my money even though it's kind of a stressful topic! The other day I emailed my city and asked about whether or not I would need a license of any sort to perform publicly on the street and make a few bucks that way. Well, they said it's alright! So I think that I just found myself a brand new part time job. At the very least I found a great new date idea! Also, I had an Amazon gift card that I wasn't sure what I was going to do with. So I treated myself and splurged a little: I ordered a longboard, that should get here just in time for spring break! I'm petty excited :)

Today though, the weather wasn't the best. We went back into the windy grossness instead of the beautiful sunshine that we have had the last couple of days. Because of this, I didn't manage to get out again today. I was still productive and got all of my homework done (which is a first in a while).

With my new found hobby of photography though I was kind of at a loss. I wasn't sure what to make beautiful, especially with the limits I have since I'm using the camera on my phone. So I took to thinking back to those people who inspire me with there inner beauty and kindness and I realized something that I'm missing-- people. Friends. I've got so many, but I never go out and do things with them. The other week when I was going on a date every single day, I was the happiest I had been in a long time! It was SO amazing! :) I'm ready to take my happiness to the next step, by getting even more out there, being with more people! Plus it will give me opportunities to do more things for more people, and share the beauty and love that I find in the world with more people!

Oh! And that reminds me! I took that gift to my grandmother today :) She was so excited! My babushka was so happy, and so impressed. She loves when we get together so she can get to know me more. She told me how much she appreciates that today, because she doesn't get that opportunity with all of her many grandchildren. So she did a lot of smiling today, and got to share more of the stories from her childhood and throughout her life. All my younger years I used to think that listening to old folks talk would be boring and dreary. I never realized how wonderful it is! I'm not even sure how to describe it. Inspiring isn't quite the right word.. it's kind of like watching a really, REALLY, good movie I guess. You know, like the ones that just make you all happy inside when it all works out right? You girls know what I'm talking about, it's just like a chick flick! :)

So now it's time to make my friends into friends as I learn to come out of my shell and touch the lives of others.

Here's to happiness!

INFORMATIONAL: peace out of pain?

Before, I said that you can find peace through the pain. Be happy regardless of your situation. But how is that possible? It seems so hard to believe!

Ever here of Maslow? He might have come up in a government class, or debate, or psychology. Well he developed something called a hierarchy of needs. He believed that the needs of the fundamental level must be fulfilled or satisfied, before being able to focus on the next level.Here is where what I was saying fits: To make things a little bit easier, let's assume that you aren't starving or dying of thirst. Physiologically you are comfortable.
Alright, well how could you be happy, if you don't feel safe, loved or anything? Take that time to yourself, and let your mind clear! What's happening then? Suddenly, those dangers don't seem as important. There are things you can do about them, or to avoid them, or you may just feel at peace. Those people that you "know" don't appreciate you, they are just a small percentage of the people in the world! There are so many others and definitely one's who love you and care what happens to you. So by finding that peace, you automatically start moving rapidly up that hierarchy. Here is an image to help illustrate this point:

Imagine a clear jar, like the ones that you get that delicious homemade jelly in every summer. Now imagine it full of water. Add some mud, put the lid on, and swirl it around. That's life. With all of its problems, difficulties and stresses. Murky, and hard to see the light. But what happens when you leave it alone for a time, and give it the time to relax and be still? All of the mud and silt will settle to the bottom, and the water is once again clear. Life is good! The light shines brightly again, and you are happy!

So don't underestimate the power of peace. Its there, just waiting for you. Always :) Take advantage of it. Clear the waters and see the light. You will absolutely sparkle!

what's it all mean?

So much for getting to bed on time tonight! But the reason that I'm still up makes me pretty happy! I'll get to that later though.

Today, I could not believe how tired my muscles still were after the workout I put them through yesterday! Ergo I decided not to put them under quite the same amount of stress that I have been. I still wanted to go out and get my happy exercise somehow though, so I thought to myself, a walk would be absolutely wonderful! About the same time I started this blog, I was inspired by some of the amazing people I know to start documenting my life through photography, and expressing myself that way. And what an opportunity it would have been to just take a walk and look for the simple beauties that surround us and go unnoticed all too often. I developed quite the quandary however. I didn't want to go by myself, because companionship makes everything better. Here's the problem though: I much prefer the presence of one of my girl friends (take notice, two words, not one!) to that of ANY guy, but I'm not allowed to go one on one with a girl besides my sister. Kind of puts a crimp in that idea, and I haven't quite figured out the answer to that idea yet. Instead of pouting though or letting that get me down, and went and played with my dog, and took pictures with him instead (and he is feeling much better by the way!)

So The Difference of One. That's the title. But what does it really mean? Let me share a little story that might help explain..

My wonderful darling grandma has lived such a wonderful, beautiful life. She is one of the most incredible people I know. Her and my grandpa both. From her, hearing your middle name is a sign of affection, not of anger. I'm her Peter Matthew! Sadly though, as the years stretch on, she is becoming a little confused. The world has sped up with all of its new technologies and lifestyles, and it has become just a dizzying whirlwind of communication and networking, information swirling and spinning around her. This doesn't lend itself to a very good sense of well being, and so my dear grandmother struggles sometimes. Well I did my part, almost like my duty, yesterday with our nice little lunch. I treated her kindly and gave her the opportunity to be carefree for a time. I listened to her beautiful stories. That in itself is making a difference. But like I said its almost like a duty. Here's where it becomes more: she told me how much she loved the desert, she commented on all of our flowers.Well as a surprise, I made her this collage, that I am going to frame and give to her to hang on her wall. My only goal is to make her day and get her to smile!

That's what it is really about. Getting someone to smile! Doing something just to see the reaction you get. Doing it for them, and not because you have to. Sometimes keeping it a secret. But it can make such a difference! It's a difference you can make all by yourself! There was a story I heard once that showed how much of a difference this can make:

There was once a high school basketball coach.
One night after a good practice, he had just let his players go to shower and go home.
One of his players came into his office and asked if he could talk for a minute.
The coach was tired and ready to go home, just like everyone else
but he said "yes of course".
The boy sat down and asked if the coach would listen to some of his poetry,
and tell him what he thought about it.
The coach listened.
The talent the boy exhibited was astonishing.
Afterwards, the boy left and they all went home
and the coach didn't give it a second though.

A few days later the coach received a note
from that boy.
It was thanking him for taking the time to listen.
The boy had worked so hard on the poetry, but no one would listen
None of his family, none of his friends,
and so he felt worthless.
That night, if no one was going to listen to his poetry,
he was going to kill himself.
He had the gun in the trunk of his car.
He was going to do it.
But that loving coach, he took the time to listen.
Now the boy has gone on, and is happy once again.
All because of one, who made a difference.

One person, one time, can make all the difference in the world to one soul. You can do it! And hopefully that will lead the one whose heart you touched to do it for someone else. Everytime you do, you start a chain reaction. This is how one person can touch so many hearts, and change the world! One person, one smile at a time.

That's not the end though-- The Difference of One is not just the difference that one person can make. It's the difference that such acts of kindness have upon the one who performs them. But that, I will let you find for yourself :)


A Smile a Day makes the world a better place-- Make someone smile today!

accomplish

I knew today was going to be a beautiful day! As a day off from school that was pretty much a guarantee :) My sister and I decided to get up before the sun and hike up Badger Mountain to watch the sunrise. It was a bit chilly, but it was a great experience. I have the best sister ever! I'm not sure she really even wanted to come, but came anyway just to be with me and so I'd have someone to hike with.


Well I carried my keyboard up to the top with me (it was kind of a pain to lug up) with the intent to play. My fingers were so cold though and we got distracted taking pictures!! But there was another gentleman who made the climb shortly after us who saw my piano and asked if I was gonna play him some tunes. I said "You bet!" thinking he was just kind of kidding. He went off a ways then came back a couple minutes later and said he'd hold me to it. So I pulled out my piano and started playing. I was kind of unsure at first, but it ended up being a really neat experience! I got the opportunity to share some of what I love, and by doing so brighten someone's day, just like the sun was just starting to brighten the mountain side.

Well having gotten up so early and gotten going doing something made me feel pretty good. I was proud to have been able to do that, and make it all the way to the top! Well when I got home I was kind of fiddling, doing little things, but staying busy. Well I have an update to the secrets to the secret to being happy! It works a little better if you are actually accomplishing something. Accomplishing something makes you feel accomplished, which is a pretty dang good feeling! Anyway, I took the time to sit down and actually think of something productive that I could do. There were little things for me to do, that might normally have felt like work, but since I wanted to be busy they were easy and enjoyable to do!! (I think I may have just found my cure to senioritis! I may graduate after all!! ;] )



One of the best parts about today was the part where I did something for someone! :D That's always my favorite: I love to do it!! Playing the piano was one thing, and was so peaceful up there away from the city! But I managed something to top that. I went with my grandma to lunch! I don't get to spend too much time with my grandma, but I love the time I do get to spend with her! She tells the best stories, and has done so much! I did my best to be the absolute gentleman for her, and I think that is one of her favorite things. Eventually my dawn excursion with my sister came up, and she thoroughly enjoyed the pictures we took. She told me a story about why she loves the desert, so I was so happy I could share some of its familiar beauty with her!











Notwithstanding the fact that I had already gone hiking this morning, I felt that it was important for me to ride my bike again. So I decided to time my twenty mile ride so that I could know how long it took so I could figure out how to fit it into my schedule. I will admit, I almost didn't make it. But having done so, again I feel that I accomplished something, and that is very nice. I got a lot of time to just think, since I had no one to talk to. It is amazing what inspiration can come to you even when you are left to your own thoughts, letting them drift, opening and clearing your mind. Even through the pain there was peace.


This was an amazing lesson for me to learn today, and not a moment too soon. For when I returned home from my bike ride, I discovered that my dog had somehow managed to rip out one of his claws. Then as we were preparing to take him to the vet, he escaped and was hit by a car. He is alright, but even so it has been quite scary. But through the pain, there is peace.

So take the time to give yourself some time. Do something that lets your mind be free, clear, open to inspiration. Exercise is a great way, or yoga or meditation. Maybe its knitting for you, or making paper airplanes. Sitting down and writing in your journal, painting a picture, playing a flute. But give yourself the time.

Find your peace.

happiness: it's a choice

How to be happy: that seems to be the million dollar question. Countless books are written on the topic. Ones that give secrets that don't work, or ones that ramble on and on until you're so confused you can't tell whether or not they really addressed it at all. Well I've always heard that you can't buy happiness. So here's my two cents on the topic, and its absolutely free!! :)

I said I was going to have a change of heart, and just be outgoing and happy and a better person. Sounds pretty miraculous-- magical even! Well the truth is that the trick to being happy, that all powerful mysterious secret, is simply to choose to be. That's all it takes. Choose to be happy, look on the bright side of life! It's really that easy!

The pitfall is that it actually takes getting out and doing something. I've noticed that the days I spend all day on my computer, or not getting anything done, maybe just watching tv, those are my bad days. It almost makes me depressed. And when I'm depressed I don't feel like doing anything. It's a vicious cycle! So how do you fix it?? Get out there! Ride your bike with your friend! Do something! :)

This past week I've discovered some things that help make it easier to choose to be happy, that people might mistake as the answer to happiness. They are really all rather superficial, but they help and can sure be nice!

All week we had state standardized testing for the sophomores, so the rest of us got to sleep in. Its amazing what a difference even just getting enough sleep makes! But that's not really the point I was getting at. Since there was so much extra time, my Seminary hosted a Dating Week where we were just encouraging people to go on a bunch of fun double/group dates all week. Since I'm on the Seminary Council and was partly in charge, I led by example and did a lot of encouraging, dating, and helping. This meant that I was smiling at everyone, being friendly, and encouraging and helping as much as I could. I was always doing something!

So happiness is a choice. But here are the secrets the choosing to be happy:

1. Smile!! You can trick yourself into being happy simply by "putting on the face" of being happy
2. Sleep-- Get plenty of it at night so you don't sleep through life! Its too precious to miss!
3. Be active-- get out there and do something! Ride your bike, take a walk, do your homework. Just do something! (Exercise is great for relieving stress though!)
4. Last but certainly not least, Do something kind! They really aren't kidding about that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you do something nice. Even if its just taking your sister out for ice cream!

I said I was going to be happier and better. Well this is how! I'm going to choose to be! But I'm not going cold turkey, as it were. The secrets are to be used so I am going to use them! My plan is to try and smile and be more friendly, and to go to bed a lot earlier than I have been, say between nine and ten each night. Then at the very least I am going to ride my bike every day, but that isn't quite enough. Doing one thing is good, but staying busy is better! So I'm not going to waste a single moment. I've got plenty of homework to keep me busy, fixing my car, getting ready for college, time to spend with friends, all sorts of things to do! And finally, I'm always looking for ways to do something nice. The one I find easiest is to just open the door for a girl, or tell her she looks nice today :) Man if everyone would do even just that, this world would be so much better! But I'm trying to spread happiness, so even through this blog hopefully I'm accomplishing something and doing something nice!

Let's get out there and make our difference!


"Happiness is a choice. Why would you choose to be otherwise?"
-Peter DeFord

a fresh start

Here we come out of the cold, gray, wintry months, into the sunshine of a new spring. As the weather has turned warmer, I've committed to let my heart turn with it. To be a better person, happier, more open and outgoing.

There once was a time when I was sinking -- I was doing too much, expecting too much, never allowing myself time to breath -- and this was keeping me from doing the things that I wanted to.

The things I want to do. I have a simple, yet lofty goal. To make a difference. A while ago I didn't realize how important this was to me. But something happened to remind me. I'm one of those people who goes to donate blood every eight weeks, as soon as I am eligible to again. Well two months ago, I went in to the donation center like usual, and began the process. But my blood clotted up and I was unable to finish the whole amount. This meant that my blood would not be used to save someones life. I hadn't realized how much even just that act of donating meant to me until that day. I was a little surprised with how upset I was that I was not able to complete the donation.

Now I have come to realize what my drive is for all that I do. I want to make a difference. I know I have the ability to influence others and change the world for the better. A few months ago, my school was involved in a cancer awareness program. Suddenly I discovered my career. That was the turning point in my life when I really knew what I wanted to do. Biomedical research, so I could help to eliminate that terrible source of pain for so many people and their families.

The world is constantly changing, in so many ways. But it all starts with just one person. But one important truth I have learned over the years is that you must help yourself before you help others. Sometimes you can do both at the same time, but if you aren't in a good place, and try to get others there, you might both get into trouble.

So here is my fresh start! Beginning anew with the sunshine, I am going to be happy myself, and do all that I can to make a difference, and bring more happiness into the world.

DISCLAIMER of sorts

All pictures in my blog are my own, except for the black and white photo of me that contains the copyright to Catherine Hahn (she did a great job!) and the image of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

I retain the rights to all of these pictures save for those two.