Giving Out Complements...

  When is it appropriate to give someone a compliment?  ALL THE TIME!!!  We, as a society, have become very selfish..jealous.. and unloving.  Have you ever told a total stranger that they look amazing? That their shoes are "to die for," That their hat looks perfect on their head..and they should buy it?  I am notorious for giving random people compliments.. My waiter, a few months ago, got "You have the prettiest blue eyes I have ever seen"  He then turned bright red and could barley say thank you!! Does he not hear it often?  Or is it because I am a stranger and can point out his great qualities?  I know that when someone I know or don't know tells me that my hair is looking good, how nice I look that day or that I have a nice smile (all random things) that my heart beats faster and I turn red, in shock that someone else would compliment me.  What a good feeling.. my confidence goes up and I am ready to show everyone my great hair that day.. Then there are those days when I think my hair looks amazing and no one says a darn thing... wasted hair? or intimidation? I love making people feel good.. feel loved and told that they are doing something right.
  I had an older man and his wife stop me the other day and say, "you are so organized and so lovely..thank you for working this event."  I was having a hard day and didn't feel good at all...these simple things made my whole day and I had a newly found pep in my step.  Total strangers to me..but their words did not fall on deaf ears, instead made my bad day amazing and my confidence boost.  If each person could say such nice things to another person.. and the concept of "passing it on" continued then this whole world would be so much prettier.. People wouldn't have such doubts about themselves and would feel like they have a worth.  When someone is having a hard day, week or month sometimes another person telling them they are doing something right is the whole difference.
  Give out more compliments.. make a stranger and a loved one feel good this week.  Do you actually look at people or do you look through them?.... Make someone's day.. Not only will they feel good.. you will too.

Finding Love and Beauty..

  How can so many people forget how beautiful life is?  We should be able to find something simple and fall in love... but sadly this isn't true.  Every single day I try and find something that has a spark of beauty.. let it inspire me with music, art, jewelry, and life.  Look at the sky and make animal shapes with clouds.  Smell a flower and give it to someone. Pick up a shell and put it on a necklace.  There are so many parts of nature that should give us ideas, thoughts and motive to make the best of this life.  Would you want to be overlooked if you came back as a flower, shell, or cloud?  Its hard to overcome things when it seems like negativity is always in your face.. You lose a loved one, you lose your job, you lose your heart. Super negative things will push your back and make you question the abilities you know you posses.... It takes a strong person to move forward but it takes a person who has love in their heart to move forward and see the beauty again.  Simple blog.

where have all the heroes gone?!

  After a great discussion today I have been wondering..Where have all the heroes gone? The good "old boys"? The loyalists?  Have they all gone into hiding...the witness protection program..? I have come to the realization that people won't stand up for their actions.  They make a conscientious decision and then won't fess up to it or admit they made a mistake.  My friend brought up that people won't and can't stand up for the truth anymore because they are not honest with themselves.. WOW, it hit me.. how many people lie to me everyday? How many people won't just admit they are wrong?
  I thought about the movie Tombstone instantly.. the people who stick by their words and actions.  It is an amazing movie, not only because Val Kilmer and Kurt Russell are utter babes, but because they would say something, they carried out their words, didn't have regret and then stood tall when asked to account for their actions.  That time frame in our history is amazing.  Why can't we all be that way? On my journey, throughout this life, I have realized that if I have done something wrong I can take a stand and admit I was wrong and that my actions were not appropriate or acceptable. "Being the bigger person" as some of you put it.  I, also, have realized that lying and saying I didn't do it only makes things harder and you become a liar.  I don't understand where we, as humans, think its "OK" to cheat, lie and steal... Did we not grow up with morals or ethics?  I admit it makes it hard for children to grow up in a society where every single person lies.. every single public figure lies.. every bad choice is deflected upon another person because why take the fall when "jimmy" over there can.
  I stood there with my coworkers and friends and realized many people around me do the same thing.  I can tell you I am wrong, I will tell you I have lied, and that I am not a perfect person (BY ANY MEANS) but if I do not care for you.. I will tell you instead of being nice to you, then turn around and talk horribly about you to another person...who in turn WILL tell that person I was talking about them negatively. hahah comical that we, as compassionate, intelligent human beings do that.  When someone is late for work, having a bad day or just upset, do you yell at them?  All of us are so different but we don't know what that person just went through. Ask and then actually listen to them.. they might lie but if someone is having a bad day, had a fight with a loved one, woke up with bad news...they will be honest.  What do they have to lose?
  Then that made me think... do people only tell the truth for sympathetic reasons?  No, I know that can't be the only reason.. but it is in some situations.  My point to this is that people should and can stand by their words. They should and can be honest with themselves..maybe a change is needed.  They should and can be honest with everyone.  I know that I need to work on this, just as much as the next person.. but seeing it in light today made it a goal of mine.  My honesty might hurt some people, but it is never my intention to hurt someones feelings.. ever.  My actions might hurt some people, but it is never my plan to make someone upset.  I am working on myself and appreciate all the "good old" boys who wont back down and have dignity.  Even if they are wrong they stand by it and take the punishment.  Those are the people who need to be our role models not people who lie for a living.

When A Heart Grows..

  Certain people are made to meet.  In just a few moments your life can be altered by someone saying "hello."  Friendships are so diverse and amazing so many people forget how important they are to our health.  I have had the pleasure of obtaining some of the most amazing people in the world to be my friends.  When you feel down how many people can you call...that will listen and hear your struggle? Even if the number is one count yourself lucky.  The idea of having a person who is so in tuned with your life and your personality is simply amazing. Even a new friend can get it.. that is the best thing about friendships.  It doesn't matter if you have been friends for years, months, days, hours.. some people are just drawn to each other.  I have been gathering inspirations from many people in my life.. each one offers such a beautiful detail to the world and I want it.  Can I become more selfless? Can I give my heart to the world and expect it back..full? 

I have been trying for many years to be the best person I know how.. to change other peoples lives.. to help those in need .. to be selfless and to be a woman that people can look up to.  I know that some days it will be easy and some days it will be harder then before but the journey is worth traveling.  When is our health at its weakest?  The answer is easy..when you have your eyes closed to the world.. when you are not allowing the change and inspirations that need to get in, in.  My eyes and heart are wide open to the world.. I am fully willing to meet those people who are supposed to be in my life and I will grow, learn and be inspired by them.  I will allow my health to flourish and give as much love as possible to everyone I know.  Help me become a better person.. rekindle a friendship.. help a person by smiling.. and tell someone today how nice they look (it really does make them feel good).

cancer as a whole

  After my cancer meeting tonight I had a very overwhelming feeling of love.  I am coming up on my 6th year of battling a disease that has taken many that I love.  I often speak in front of different groups..they vary from a few,  to hundreds and sometimes thousands of people.  I got asked tonight, while speaking, if I ever feel like my battle is going to be over... My answer shocked/hurt the person asking (a 16 year old girl battling kidney cancer) "No.." Cancer is something, I have learned, will never leave my life.  Cancer has worn me thin, stomped my spirit at times and has made my life view become skewed.  Do I feel ashamed of having cancer? Not in any shape or form but I am burdened by the weight of guilt.  When does it get easier to be a survivor?  a fighter? I have no answer for that... My heart hurts for everyone who has lost the battle..to their families and loved ones.  My battle with cancer will never stop..it has been easier since I have stopped treatments but it will never end.  Telling a young woman that it will never end is disappointing to me.  I wish it was different.  Not only is it hurtful that a disease can and will take life but it will scare/disappoint everyone in its path.  I have been cursed and blessed to battle this disease.  The month of November in 2005 has forever changed my life. My treatments got harder and the pain become to the point of unbearable. I can remember thinking "is this something I can handle? can I do this? do I want to do this? When will the Lord let this pain subside?"  As with everything it passed and I have won one of the battles in a war that I almost lost.  I love having a family in the American Cancer Society.. I love being able to share my story throughout the United States and with others.  I sat there and looked around tonight.. saw my friends, people who are fighting for their lives, have beaten the disease and some who have lost loved ones..I couldn't help but think how amazing cancer has been in my life. It has given my strength, the knowledge that I can fight a disease and a spirit full of sunshine. Sometimes the hardest things in life, no matter how negative they are, can be a blessing in disguise. Keep everyone who fights in your thoughts..give some time to the ACS, give out more smiles, and remember life is SO amazing.

what makes people think they should have children?

  Every single day I see another child that has no manners.. What path has parenting gone down? Not a parent to any child I still can appreciate bringing life into the world BUT just because you can doesn't mean you should.  As some of you know, I dislike children..but some are still decently adorable.  Some women and men wait their whole lives to be parents and they make amazing figures in a child's life. But then there is over half of the population who gets knocked up and has 10 different sperm donors.  How does letting your child scream, kick, yell, bite, make a fuss and disrupt every single person in the rooms lives feel?  I can't ever remember acting a fool in public with my parents.  My mum would have (I am sure she did) stop any type of fuss immediately or we were not allowed in public. Today, I came VERY close to snatching a child who kept punching my knee and screaming at the parent..What stopped me you ask?  My job. Literally that is it.. I did give her a piece of my mind by cursing in Arabic followed by "is this yours? get him away from me now"  I am not one to back down from ANY battle and have often told parents exactly what was up and how they need to handle their child/children.  Should there be a test taken for people to have a child? Absolutely. Also letting someone wear a belly suit and take care of a screaming, unruly child for months should also be deemed.  I don't care your age, at all, but when having a child (God forbid more then one) think about what you are doing to others if you cant control that thing.  Lets hope you are not around me when you decide to become an absent minded parent..

Have you ever looked in the mirror?

Tonight, I got up and actually looked at myself in the mirror.  I know we all look in the mirror everyday but when do you stop and actually look at our features?  What makes your face unique? What are the things you like? dislike? wouldn't change? want to change? ..So many questions and thoughts came through my mind.  "My hair looks like I just rolled out of bed...is that what I am going for?"  "My eyeliner came out perfect." "When should I start using wrinkle cream more?"  I have arrived to the time in my life where I am happy with how I look.. improvement can always occur BUT I looked into the mirror tonight and wouldn't change a thing. A piece of advice: Look at yourself in the mirror often, find the beauty in your face, body and smile...remember you are unique and so beautiful. Get to that place where you would not change a thing.