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Be careful who you put your trust in, you never know who is going to turn their back on you when you need them most.

I wrote that as part of a post on January 9th, 2009 regarding the fragility of trust. I don't remember the context of the post but the lesson in it still rings as true as ever to me, especially in light of some recent events in my life.

I also wrote a couple reflections on Life and Love, and I think the primary message that can be pulled from that have to do with everyday optimism. Though the tone and mood of the poetry in both reflections are different, it's abundantly clear that the lesson to be learned is that regardless of the circumstance you should be optimistic and happy with whatever you do. As I stated in my reflection on life:

Drink in the moment,
For you will never know when the stream will run dry.

Building on the fragility of life and the optimistic attitude I feel is important to adopt, I believe that there are certain aspects of daily living that are often overlooked.

Being grateful is never out of style, and the value of a simple "thank you" is severely underrated.

I can't agree with what I wrote there anymore. People often dismiss saying "thank you" as something trivial or as a social obligation as dictated by manners; what they fail to realize is the intrinsic value of that small phrase. By saying that to someone you are recognizing their actions and showing that you appreciate what they do, and it's amazing how much a little recognition can change someone's day for the better.

Life rewards us for our effort, and although it might not become apparent immediately, it will be there.

That one phrase there helps me get through every single day of my life. I often over-analyze scenarios that I am presented with or actions that I have taken and can really come down hard on myself. It's having enough confidence that my actions are for the best and will eventually be beneficial to be or others in the future is what motivates me to keep going.

Learn to communicate with others not only through words, but through actions, and never be afraid to ask a friend for help because communication is the life blood of teamwork, and without it everything would just crumble [...] No matter who you are, what your story is, or what your heritage is like, learn to be accepting of others and welcome them with an open hand, because an open hand is easier to work with than a closed fist.

Know your bounds and continue to push them. Stagnancy and laziness are the plague of our society, so it is up to us to invoke the change we wish to see.

As obvious as it sounds, a desire for self-betterment is crucial to not only success but to the evolution of our identity as a person. Without it we might as well be a gear in the system: always moving but remaining in the same place. we have to continue to push ourselves not only to grow as individuals but to see that positive change that we desire for the world. Which leads me to my next point...

Change isn't something we should always fear. Change is something we should accept with open arms.

The world is always changing, for better or worse. And our fear of stagnancy often causes us to avoid action in order to maintain what we are familiar with; humans are creatures of habit and it certainly is hard to take that first leap into the unknown. But why? What is so scary about change? Instead of looking at what can go wrong or what you won't like with something new, envision the seemingly limitless potential for a positive outcome. There are so many "what if's" we think of, so instead of focusing on the negative just try and look at the positives instead.

It really is amazing how easy it is to regress to a state in the past that you don't particularly like, but it's not always easy to recognize that you are actually regressing. That is why it's absolutely crucial in the ever evolving concept of who you are that you take a moment to sit down and reflect upon the past, because frankly you might just stumble upon something that you might have forgotten.

Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful. - Margaret J. Wheatley

Labels: advice, Appreciation, attitude, contemplating, experience, future, general, gratitude, growing up, growth, happiness, Life, life change, opportunity, philosophy, realization, Reflection, wisdom

That being said, I plan on making an effort to chronicle my adventures and intellectual (or maybe not so intellectual) musings along the way. I've also developed a passion for photography so I'll also do my best to include photos from the journey. I've recently realized that though photography and spoken word poetry are great ways for me to express myself there is no real outlet like writing. Well, here's to a new adventure and the stories that will come with it!

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. - Lao Tzu

Labels: beginning, BK, challenge, change, choices, college, cool, dream, enjoyment, experience, future, general, Life, life change, reality

I am currently a graduate student studying education and will update my thoughts and experiences here periodically. Though the content of my blog may not always be the most intellectually stimulating, I believe that there is always a lesson to be learned from my posts, even if it's just a nonsensical story. I find poetry in ordinary life experiences and capture what memories I can through my camera's lens. At the end of the day I'm just another regular guy who needs to write his thoughts somewhere, and I hope you get some enjoyment out of my musings.

All of the best,
BK

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Revisiting the Past
Another Journey

January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 November 2010 February 2011 May 2011 October 2011 January 2012 March 2012 September 2013 September 2014