Friday, September 24, 2010
El Mundo
Sorry, I have not posted in awhile I have been so busy with my Fulbright app and SGA elections. But,I have realized more and more in these past weeks how I want to travel the world from England to Cambodia to Argentina to well EVERYWHERE (which isn't new yet is constantly growing)! Also with these thoughts have made me reach out make new friends from all across the world. I joined International Student Association to help out with the new exchange students to assimilate better into American society. It has been great! I love my new friends =)
P,.S. I taught a freshmen class about the Context of the Trial of Socrates and it went so well. The students loved it and thought I did so well and even one girl said I am her role model =) I AM SO HAPPY!!! <3
Friday, September 17, 2010
The Awakening
(Author unknown)
A time comes in your life when you finally get…when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out…ENOUGH1 Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on. Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.
This is your awakening.
You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon.
You realize that in the real world there aren’t always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you…and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are…and that’s OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.
You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself…and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.
Your stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you – or didn’t do for you – and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.
You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and everything isn’t always about you.
So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself…and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.
You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties…and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.
You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.
You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.
You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” looking for you next fix.
You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.
You learn that you don’t know everything, it’s not you job to save the world and that you can’t teach a pig to sing. You learn the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.
Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.
You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.
You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.
You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drinking more water, and take more time to exercise.
You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.
More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it’s OK to risk asking for help.
You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.
You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.
You learn that life isn’t always fair, you don’t always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people…and you learn not to always take it personally.
You learn that nobody’s punishing you and everything isn’t always somebody’s fault. It’s just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.
You lean that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.
You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.
Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than you heart’s desire.
You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.
You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.
Finally, with courage in you heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.
A time comes in your life when you finally get…when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out…ENOUGH1 Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on. Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.
This is your awakening.
You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon.
You realize that in the real world there aren’t always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you…and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are…and that’s OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.
You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself…and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.
Your stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you – or didn’t do for you – and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.
You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and everything isn’t always about you.
So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself…and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.
You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties…and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.
You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.
You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.
You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” looking for you next fix.
You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.
You learn that you don’t know everything, it’s not you job to save the world and that you can’t teach a pig to sing. You learn the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.
Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.
You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.
You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.
You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drinking more water, and take more time to exercise.
You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.
More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it’s OK to risk asking for help.
You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.
You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.
You learn that life isn’t always fair, you don’t always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people…and you learn not to always take it personally.
You learn that nobody’s punishing you and everything isn’t always somebody’s fault. It’s just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.
You lean that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.
You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.
Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than you heart’s desire.
You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.
You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.
Finally, with courage in you heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Rainy Day
A wave of nervousness, it is weird, all I can say about my day today and well the past few weeks is a wave of nervousness. I am just so nervous about my Fulbright application, graduating early, growing up, meetings upon meetings, ehhhh it is crazy. Surprisingly though, all of it is good like really good, like life changing good. I for one have never been happier in my whole entire life, two I have the best friends ever and met the most amazing people ever in Rome, three I am actually going with the flow (and it is working), and four everyone is on my side (well not everyone but everyone who matters). I don't want this to ever end, I know there will obviously be bad times in my life, but I never want to lose this happiness and honestly I don't plan on it. Either way, right now I am still nervous which is weird, but I think it is a good sign. I think it shows I am being logical about my life and that I am finally coming to the realization that my life is great and that I am really, really happy and am scared of it, but I am growing to accept it and am very okay with it =) Anyway I am feeling better now. Side-note: I really love rainy days, rain I feel washes everything clean. I am very optimistic about my future and am just plain excited!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Interpol
Let's go straight to the point, Interpol is one of my top favorite bands of all time without change without hesitation. My top 5 changes all the time, but honestly Interpol has never ceased to be in the top since I was about hmmmmm 14 so I have a good 7 years being completely in love with this band. Their music is so beautifully artistic. There songs are magic manifested into notes, bass guitars, drum kits, and pure passion. Which means I don't want to review their newest album because I respect music too much to judge it because everyone has their own taste. What I can say is their new album is good but not their best, but there are definitely some stand out songs. My favorite is 'Always Malaise (The Man I Am)', I also really enjoy 'Lights', 'Success', 'Memory Serves', and 'The Undoing' (yay for the use of Spanish). I have noticed through my years of loving them that I love their extremely depressing overly melodic songs where Paul Banks' voice just resonates throughout your spine. My favorite songs by them are 'Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down', 'Leif Erikson', 'Take You on a Cruise', 'NARC', 'Public Pervert', and 'Pioneer to the Falls' and now add 'Always Malaise (The Man I Am)' to it, and you get a playlist with very depressing, stark, somber backgrounds with very obtuse and abstract lyrics. And ya know what? This is the music that made me love them. Yes of course, I love their more upbeat music like 'Slow Hands', 'Evil', and 'Roland' as well but that was not their initial appeal to me. I related to their music so much and still do but in a more constructive non-overly depressed way, I just chill and reflect while listening to them. Plus, they are refreshing change from the terrible music played on the radio today and they dress SUPER well. Interpol is one of the best bands ever, I truly love them and always will.
P.S. I hope to see them in concert in November, I am going to buy myself tickets as a present after I finish my Fulbright Application. I just hope they are not sold out by then.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Love is in the Movement
To Write Love on Her Arms
Sept. 5 - 11 is National Suicide Prevention Week. Suicide is the third most common cause of death for 18 - 24 year olds. On, WEDNESDAY, September 8th, write (or paint, color, draw) the word "LOVE" on your wrist as a form of recognition.
To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Visit the site http://www.twloha.com/vision/ to learn more about it.
Sept. 5 - 11 is National Suicide Prevention Week. Suicide is the third most common cause of death for 18 - 24 year olds. On, WEDNESDAY, September 8th, write (or paint, color, draw) the word "LOVE" on your wrist as a form of recognition.
To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Visit the site http://www.twloha.com/vision/ to learn more about it.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
No more cheesy-ness...
That last post makes me feel like I look pathetic and I have a strong urge to fall in love, well that is the case, but fuck that shit right now. I am WAY to happy to deal with that nonsense and have never been happier being alone. Anyway I decided I will post an awesome quote, an amazing artist, and a brilliant songwriter to make up for the cheesy-ness.
QUOTE: "Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square hole. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." ~The Apple Company
**Thanks Apple for making people like me feel awesome, awesomer than we already know we are**
ARTIST: Ok since I have an obsession with stumbleupon, I have found many artists who are beyond talented. Leonid Afremov's, a painter from Belarus, art really caught my eye. His technique of painting with oil and palette-knife is incredible. I hope you enjoy his art as much as I do.
**This one is my favorite**
QUOTE: "Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square hole. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." ~The Apple Company
**Thanks Apple for making people like me feel awesome, awesomer than we already know we are**
ARTIST: Ok since I have an obsession with stumbleupon, I have found many artists who are beyond talented. Leonid Afremov's, a painter from Belarus, art really caught my eye. His technique of painting with oil and palette-knife is incredible. I hope you enjoy his art as much as I do.
SONGWRITER: Now for the songwriter, I have been constantly listening to Sia's 'We Are Born' album over the past few days, and I really really love her music. Her lyrics are amazing and her soulful jazz-styled pop is different and innovative compared to most music played over the airwaves today. She has a rare quality in always making the listener of her music happy even when the lyrics aren't, trust me I can vouch for that =)
Her newest album is incredible. I would suggest checking out the song "Stop Trying." It is just a fun and energetic song about just being yourself unapologetically and to not try so hard to impress people around you especially when they already like you.
Plus she hails from Australia and many awesome people come from Australia, I think it's in the water ;-)
Monday, September 6, 2010
A couple quotes...
I found this quote the other day and I think it is amazing:
“The greatest irony of life is loving the right person at the wrong time, having the wrong person when the time is right and finding out you love someone after that person walks out from your life and sometimes you think you’re already over a person but when you see them smile at you, you’ll suddenly realize that you’re just pretending to be over them just to ease the pain of knowing that they will never be yours again. For some, they think that letting go is one way of expressing how much you love the person. Most relationships tend to fail not because the absence of love; love is always present. It’s just the one was being loved too much and the other was being loved too little as we all know that the heart is the center of the body but it beats on the left. Maybe that’s the reason why the heart is not always right. Most often we fall in love with the person we think we love only to discover that for them, we are just for past times, while the one who truly loves us remains either a friend or a stranger. Here’s a piece of advice: let go when you’re hurting too much, give up when love isn’t enough and move on when things are not like before. There is someone out there who will love you even more, surely then, you will know true love."
This is from 'Letters I'll Never Send', and I want someone to think this about me one day:
“The greatest irony of life is loving the right person at the wrong time, having the wrong person when the time is right and finding out you love someone after that person walks out from your life and sometimes you think you’re already over a person but when you see them smile at you, you’ll suddenly realize that you’re just pretending to be over them just to ease the pain of knowing that they will never be yours again. For some, they think that letting go is one way of expressing how much you love the person. Most relationships tend to fail not because the absence of love; love is always present. It’s just the one was being loved too much and the other was being loved too little as we all know that the heart is the center of the body but it beats on the left. Maybe that’s the reason why the heart is not always right. Most often we fall in love with the person we think we love only to discover that for them, we are just for past times, while the one who truly loves us remains either a friend or a stranger. Here’s a piece of advice: let go when you’re hurting too much, give up when love isn’t enough and move on when things are not like before. There is someone out there who will love you even more, surely then, you will know true love."
"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.
A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.
A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master..."
~Elizabeth Gilbert "Eat, Pray, Love"
A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.
A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master..."
~Elizabeth Gilbert "Eat, Pray, Love"
This is from 'Letters I'll Never Send', and I want someone to think this about me one day:
First off thank you, thank you for being amazing and spending every minute of every day being exactly who you are. I’m scared and anxious and I wanna tell you all the feeling I have in my head and in my heart for you. When we talk I get butterflies and every time you pick up the phone when I call I stop breathing for a second.
I wanna do whatever I can to show you how much you mean to me.
I wanna give you the universe. I want to be around you on your best day ever and i want to be around you on your worst day ever. I wanna be the one you lay your head on when you cry and the one you get a tissue from when you’re sick. I would move heaven and earth for you the second you asked me to. I loved you when I first met you and I will love you the same when your ninety.
All I want from you is a chance to prove myself. If you let me, I just know in my heart that I can make you happier than anyone else ever would because you have already made me happier than anyone else ever could.
And since this post revolves primarily around love, I want to post a blog with 2 posts called '30 Lessons I Learned from Love'
Part 1
Part 2
Yay for cheesy love posts hahaha
I wanna do whatever I can to show you how much you mean to me.
I wanna give you the universe. I want to be around you on your best day ever and i want to be around you on your worst day ever. I wanna be the one you lay your head on when you cry and the one you get a tissue from when you’re sick. I would move heaven and earth for you the second you asked me to. I loved you when I first met you and I will love you the same when your ninety.
All I want from you is a chance to prove myself. If you let me, I just know in my heart that I can make you happier than anyone else ever would because you have already made me happier than anyone else ever could.
And since this post revolves primarily around love, I want to post a blog with 2 posts called '30 Lessons I Learned from Love'
Part 1
Part 2
Yay for cheesy love posts hahaha
Friday, September 3, 2010
Young the Giant
Last night, I saw Marina & the Diamonds in concert, she was amazing which was no surprise, but the opening act Young the Giant was simply perfect. Not only were they engaging as a band and had amazing musical talent, but also the lyrics really spoke to the audience, and the music came alive when they performed. Plus they aren't too bad on the eyes ;-P They used to be named The Jakes. Seriously I think everyone should check them out...
España, España, España!!!!
After my first week of classes and well chaos, I still have this strong urge to reminisce. Over the summer, I had the huge pleasure of being in Rome for the World Cup. I was able to watch every single game I wanted to, unlike in the US. We went to mainly to Scholar's Lounge, this awesome Irish Pub near the Vittorio Emmanuele, and Fifa FunFest in Villa Borghese. It was an absolute blast plus I was able to see my favorite team win the World Cup, it was amazing!!! MY BOYS WON!!!!! =)))))
Screen at Fifa FunFest
Since I am talking about Spain, I feel the necessity to post pictures of my favorite players =)
Gerard Pique
Xabi Alonso and Cesc Fabregas
Fernando Torres, even though he was not very good during the World Cup
Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas
Carles Puyol, Alex's man ;-P
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