Thriving With Positive Results

 

“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.”~ Joseph Campbell 

The other day I was commenting about how in my own personal life that I find it necessary to get out there into this big scary world to socialize with the plan and idea of networking with people.

For those people that I have made a connection with, they all have been wonderful. But one just never knows who is out there searching for the things that I have that I can offer. And thus the networking can begin.

Not to say that this idea is fool proof as I have fallen flat on my face time and time and time again. But I’ve at least had the strength inside to pick back up and from some miracle of mind, find the motivation to start over again… only this time having learned the lessons that had caused me to fail the first time, so that I may avoid those pitfalls.

The response back to my commentary was one of ideal surprise and shock. A positive way of thought that apparently did not seem plausible to them before. But here I am showing my strength and resilience to face the challenges one more time.

Their surprise gave way to my own. How in the world can this person be that blown over at what I feel is necessary to have a fulfilling social life? I do not think or believe that it is anything more than what others have to do. But there are some few exceptions. Those exceptions however are of no consequence to this post. I simply do what I gotta do day & night. And then repeat when I wake the following morning.

But here is the information that my colleague probably had not put inside of their equation which caused their shock and surprise and I’m going to attempt to make it the focus of this post.

We are all free to do what we want in life. The need or desire of life’s fulfillment varies from person to person. But the one factor that does not change is the fact that we are the ones who need to find out what makes us fulfilled. We need to find out what it is in our life that makes us the most happy. Once we find out what that is, we should all bear down on it like a horny vampire trying to suck out the poison from a rattlesnake bite.

We’re not going to find it on a shelf at our local market. We’re not going to receive it from other people. Instead, we can find that happiness that we so much desire by going out on our own and reaching for it. Its not going to be falling into our laps any time soon. And other people do not know exactly what it is that we truly seek and desire. It is through our own will alone that we set off to do or say whatever it is that we say or do in order to achieve that fulfillment. Whether its volunteering in some place or doing something for others without any expectation or simply getting outside of your comfort zone and talking to people.

Don’t let others be responsible for your path to happiness. Others will almost always cut you short of what you want/need.

Be strong. Be positive. And thrive in life through those actions.

Now go out there and be happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Change

“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”~ Albert Camus

The thoughts of this came to me as I was coming home.

Even in my bummed out state that I was leaving Houston yet one more time, I was able to draw some positive feelings.

Now that I’ve been to so many SIX MINUTE CENTURY shows, I’ve definitely made some new connections. Garnished some new friendships, and strengthened those which I knew I already had.

But my point of view on going to the shows changed with the last show. And its for the good.

I’ve always enjoyed the fact that the band has never had this attitude of “we’re the band, you’re the fans.. you must worship us and our abilities”  crap, I mean its awful to think that bands out there have this sense of power and deserving.

The last show that I went to, I didn’t think that I was going to see this band or that band play live. But rather I thought of it as I was going to hang out with my friends.

Chuck, Don, Mikey, and Dr. Froth have become such an important part of my personal and social life. They along with their families and their friends.

So this last time, it was more of a sense that I was going to travel again to hang out with my friends, who just happen to play in a band AND who happen to be playing that night.

I probably should’ve had these kinds of feelings a very long time ago.  And I know that one of them is going to have the desire to smack me across my head once they read this. But for whatever reason this time, it really stuck!

All the awesome things that they have done when they are off the stage, has nothing to do with the fact that I am their #1 fan. But rather it comes from the fact that we all are friends. That is the awesome part of everything! They don’t share their news behind the scenes of what’s going on with the band both professionally and personally because I’m their greatest fan, but rather I am their friend.

Its a great feeling.

Using A Daily Oxygen Mask

Lead the life that will make you kindly and friendly to everyone about you, and you will be surprised what a happy life you will lead~ Charles M. Schwab 

If you have ever flown on an airplane before, you know how they always seem to take their time going through all of the safety procedures.

But some people actually fail to either hear or understand why they instruct you to place the oxygen mask upon yourself before administering one to a child or someone who is needing someone else to do it for them.

I’ve spoken to plenty of parents who get frustrated and downright angry and they say, “I’ll put it on my child before I will put it on myself. I’ll let myself die from lack of oxygen before I let my child die!”.

Well, that does seem noble. And even though I am not a parent myself, I can understand why they would want to help and protect their child.

There is a reason why they say to give yourself the oxygen mask before trying to help someone else. Because if there comes a situation where neither one of you can breathe… then how can you help your child? YOU need to be able to breathe first, otherwise you become useless in helping that child.

Now, I’m not trying to cheese off anyone but if you stop and think about it… it is all true. You need to help yourself before you can help others.

The same application can be used in daily life. If it seems to be hitting the fan and you want to help others, you need to make sure that you are okay and able to handle whatever situation it is that causes you the desire or need to help someone else.

It becomes wise to make sure that you have the strength and fortitude to help someone, if that is what you are wanting to do. If you are not happy, how in the world can you possibly cause someone else to be happy?

Because of our imperfect nature, we all have problems, faults, issues, and what not. And I could be the first person to tell you that it is a great feeling knowing that you have the ability to be able to help others in their times of crisis. I’ve written about it so many times before in previous blog posts about how good of a job I can help others by simply listening. So many that it could seem like to the reader that I am boasting and/or bragging.

However, how can I personally expect to be helpful to someone else if I am not happy?

Ladies & gentlemen, readers and subscribers… lately, I haven’t been happy. And I’ve almost come to the point where I have shut myself off to those who are so used to me just simply being there and offering a salutation or sentiment for the sake of getting them to either laugh or smile. I do feel bad about not being there, but I would would have to put on the oxygen mask of life upon myself before I can help anyone else.

My younger brother and his family are coming soon here from Europe to be with my sister and her family. And I personally am getting excited to see them again. From that point, myself and my brother and sister and their families will leave out of town for about a week. And then when my brother and his family leave to go visit my parents, I will be leaving my own way to go to Houston that weekend to see SIX MINUTE CENTURY perform.

It is my intention that at the time I am gone away from home, that I will be doing a lot of self-reflection on all of the issues that have been causing me to be unhappy. And I will also take that time to figure out what I am going to do about it so that I am once again a happier person.

I will be with family, and I believe that to be a good thing. Even if things get rough with them (because we all sometimes have problems with family), I am even more thrilled to know that I will be able to hang out with people who have always caused my worries to disappear, even for a little while. It will most likely be so good to hang out with Dr. Froth and his wife again, among the rest of the band for one night and those in the band’s circle. Looking back at each time I have done so, I can honestly say that during those times I have never had a care in the world. And I was able to just calm down and enjoy myself. The worries of the world will just have to wait until I get home.

And so that is my personal relation to the content of this blog. I know that soon I will be able to have the time to fix what is wrong and begin to do better of what is right. And after that, I can be available for those who have used my shoulder to cry on before so that they could do it again- if necessary.

Remember, helping others is always a good thing. Being able to fix yourself before you can fix the problems of the world must come first because if you don’t, your efforts will become futile.

 

 

The Best 216 Minutes Ever

“Humor can alter any situation and help us cope at the very instant we are laughing.”~Allen Klein

Two telephone calls. Two people. 216 minutes well spent.

Yes, I was on the telephone for that period of time combined with the two calls that were made.

And in that time frame caused a series of human reaction and emotions that were off the charts!

I laughed so hard that I couldn’t breathe, and then I laughed so hard that I cried. I laughed so hard that I snorted and drooled… SEVERAL times. And I think maybe I farted once or twice when doubled over, but I hope the people I spoke to didn’t hear it.

There’s only a few select people that can make me laugh so hard that I come completely unglued to the point where I just fall out of my wheelchair and hit the floor, and then I start to laugh about that. These were two of them.

I don’t remember exactly where, but I had heard a long time ago that laughter actually does help in lowering the possibility of having coronary problems such as a heart attack and stroke. If this is true, I won’t have my first heart attack until I am 628 years old.. I laughed THAT much!!!

I’m feeling blessed to have these kinds of people in my life, rather than sitting here with my head in my hands, fuming about those who cause me pain and mental strife. But then again when I look back, I’m very fortunate to have those people in my life that know how to make me laugh.

I am usually the one who MAKES people laugh. So to get me to laugh that hard and that much, either takes a talent that is much higher than mine or I must take stock and admit that I’ve found some absolute gems in life.

And besides, other than those who prescribe to “misery love company”… who wouldn’t want to be around those who make you happy???

Its always so easy to feel dumped on. But for whatever reason it is a challenge for many for them to find their rays of sunshine on a gloomy day when they’ve been sitting on a pot of gold all along.

So yeah, nearly three and a half hours on the telephone (for those of you who can’t count and haven’t figured it out yet) and I laughed so much in that time frame than I have in a lifetime.

I’ll prescribe to the funny bone on any given day of the week, and keep THAT company instead!!!!

 

 

 

 

Elevated Elations

“Real elation is when you feel you could touch a star without standing on tiptoe.”~ Doug Larson

 

Just another couple of days and I will be on a whirlwind of postive emotions which have been eluding me for quite some time. I’m way overdue.

 

It is hard to believe at this point, but knowing that good times are ahead just completely fill me until it overflows.

 

Once more, I’ll get to see SIX MINUTE CENTURY play live. Something that I missed back in November and had practically beaten myself up over for almost a month. This time, there will be no self-brutalization! I will be there!! Not to mention the possibility of getting to meet up with my beloved friend, Jessica again.

 

But it doesn’t end with just a couple of things. I’ve added an extra day to this trip. I felt that just in case I missed someone then I could still be available to meet up with them another day while I am there. Whether or not this extra day is going to be fruitful, I do not know.

 

I would stay a lot longer but to be back the following weekend would mean that I will be participating in a sledge hockey event that is being hosted right here where I live. Plus those who are participating were given FREE tickets to see the TEXAS STARS hockey game later that first evening. I intend on bringing as many people to this weekend event as possible. I mean, who can argue with FREE, right?

 

Then shortly after that, I will celebrate my birthday.

 

My possibilities the rest of January are endless.

 

I am more excited about my travels than anything. I haven’t seen SIX MINUTE CENTURY play since last August. The people in the band’s circles, I haven’t seen since that time as well. I wonder if they miss me as much as I miss them?

 

What a crazy and wild time I will have the rest of this month. If you would have told me two years ago that I would be doing this today? I would have told you that you were reall bonkers. But, here I am… DOING IT!

 

I’m honestly grateful for having friends that will play host for me during my visit. This time around, I’ll be staying with people that I’ve not been around since I was a little child. It should be fun.

 

And of course as it is a trip centered around seeing SIX MINUTE CENTURY, my followers and subscribers and all of my online stalkers can expect a blog post on how things went.

 

What a difference eight weeks makes!!

'So Happy!'

 

So far, so good in 2012 I would say. There’s not been any catastrophic and moronic events happening around here. Or at least not around me to where it would damper my spirits.

 

Stay positive is the key. Having something to look forward that makes me totally want to burst in joy helps keep it that way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breaking Free

“I have learned to like myself for the first time and to have some serenity. ~Keith Miller

 

So I decieded that I would tell the story first about my funny experience with a Chinese restaurant first before I posted this blog. Hopefully, someone is getting a really good laugh.

 

But none of that would’ve been posted at all, had I not taken a break for myself this afternoon and left home for a while.

 

I decided that enough was enough and I needed to break free from what I am calling “daily chaos”. (Thanks to romance author Jessica Trapp, and her idea to classify it as such as I had a wonderful and fun phone conversation with her this evening.)

 

But I needed to get to a place where it was accessible for me, as well as peaceful as possible. I chose the Chinese restaurant that is nearby. Its tucked away in a corner. Some people miss it and don’t even know its there.

 

So I took off in the light misty weather. It had been raining all morning. And it is supposed to rain all weekend long. Knowing the drought that we suffered during the summer, I didn’t care much about the rain at all.

 

I went in and was seated at a table similarly described in my previous post. But this was right in front of a flat screen television. I ordered and sat patiently. What I found very funny is that the waitress kept saying repeatedly that she was going to turn it on, and she didn’t for a while, eventually though she kept her word.

 

Looking out the window at the cold, wet earth that was there is when I began to ponder deeply. I truly have had a terrible year in 2011. But there definitely is a silver lining to the clouds: I’m alive and I’m well.

 

Can’t beat that!!

 

I knew that even though I wasn’t able to get TOO far away from home, that it was the best that I could do and I did make the best of it. And when I returned home, I felt more calm. More relaxed.

 

I think that we all should have our places of serenity, whether it is a trip to the beach or a drive up into the mountains. I think that all people should have their little “getaways from the chaos of life”.

 

Being that able or that strong to do that, only helps our mental status and we can just simply relax and “reboot” if you will, our lives and come out of it smelling like roses and ready to face the daily challenges.

 

I do not know if I will go back to the same Chinese restaurant again, the next time I just “wanna get away”. Even though it was pretty quiet. There wasn’t a lot of people there.

 

The waitress is cute, but I recall the last time I was there someone was talking with her and she mentioned she had a millionaire boyfriend who lived in Dallas. So that was out!

 

Having that time though to destress allows me to think: One day, it will happen.

 

Since then, the evening has gone well. Aside from the fact that I realized that there is just NOTHING on television during December. Kinda sucks not having cable or satellite. But I abide.

 

So yet another day in December comes to a close. Another day closer to the 2012 year. And that excites me. And I know that eventually soon here, I will have 5,000 total views to this blog. And that too excites me. Before I began to write this post, I was sitting at 4,999!

 

Either someone will have read something by the time this is posted. OR someone will read THIS post and make it 5,000. But still the same- I am grateful and humbled for all of the views that I’ve received in this short period of time. And I’m definitely thankful to all of my subscribers and followers now here to this blog.

 

I keep joking with myself with that quote from the show “Seinfeld” where the father of George was screaming “SERENITY NOW!!”. I could’ve titled this post that, but ehhh…

 

At least for now, I’m calm and at some level of peace. The rain will continue throughout the weekend. I’ll miss sledge hockey practice  this weekend due to the Mercedes-Benz incident. But I’ll be ready to go in January for that. I’ll be cheering on Team USA as they battle Team Canada for the GOLD in the 2011 World Sledge Hockey Challenge up there in Calgary.

 

I’ll probably sleep in. Do some other stuff and just shake off the bullshit of daily living and be happy. And I hope that you find your place of serenity as well.

 

2011 sucks. Yes I can complain and yes I have complained. But things ARE definitely getting better. Just one day at a time.

 

 

Change For Nobody But Yourself

“Many persons have the wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.”~ Helen Keller

Today I was met up by someone that I had not seen in a very long time. It was a nice moment from the beginning as I began to wonder what had happened to them since we had departed from one another. And then suddenly, those thoughts had changed. I began to remember why it was that I had departed from them in the first place.

I have been saying all day, “Some things never change”. And it could’ve been really depressing if I would have dwelled upon it longer. But I had the strength to shrug it off and move on.

I think that I’ve had a hard time as of lately because I see things in people that they cannot see themselves. But that’s not to say that other people cannot see things in me that I cannot. Particular situations and events arise and I stop to think to myself, “Why in the world would you allow yourself to go through with that?”. Quite honestly though, it really isn’t my call. It is not up to me to say what a person can and cannot do. I just have to worry about myself in the long run. And whatever is the outcome of the decisions of others, is not for me to worry about as it is only they, who must deal with their own actions.

I had then thought, “Maybe it is I who needs change”. And at that point, the entire struggle within myself came to an end.

Nobody should change for any one else but themselves. Sure, we can sacrifice our own happiness for the happiness of others as they say, and to do that is the greatest form of love above all.

But it is only one small and certain area in our lives that we are “changing”. We’re not really doing a lot of changing. It is more adapting than anything. To change ourselves would mean a whole new and different person. And the way that we lived our lives before is totally gone.

We should always do whatever makes us happy, and yet in the same sentence it should also be said that we don’t need to step on other people’s toes in order to do whatever it is that makes us happy. If we’re stepping on toes and running people over, its just greed. So I think that I should really throw caution to the wind in saying that being selfish is not the same thing as being happy. We might think that what we are doing will make us happy, but in the ultimate end we only made ourselves miserable.

We are in control of our own lives. We make the choices to allow every individual into our lives. And we have the control to omit them as well, if they are certainly not making us happy. Which is what I had done so long ago and hadn’t seen or spoken to them until today. And I was reminded of that by one of my best friends today. If certain people are making you unhappy, let them go.

There’s just no plausible way to make the entire world approve of us. To try and do so would be in vain. But we, can decide if someone is making us happy that we would like them to remain a part of our lives. And discard and walk away from those people who do not.

 

Bulletproof Emotions

“If at first you do succeed try not to look too surprised.” ~ Anonymous

Many times I have used this blog to express a number of emotions. I would say that a majority of the time that I am posting something on this blog is because of emotion. And probably this post is no exception.

Plenty of you who read this blog regularly have read of my highs and my lows. And those do swing fairly wide it would seem each time I review my blog as a whole. Then others who read this blog end up being some kind of silent therapist as I am just writing to get things off my chest and off my mind. And there’s really nothing wrong with that.

But since the end of the Labor Day weekend, there has been things that seemed to have unphased me. I won’t go into a lot of detail, but certain things either have happened or have not happened in the past several days, and I find myself amazed at the fact that I have not gone through much emotion. Many things that I know that have either frustrated me or caused me to be sad and upset, didn’t do a single thing!!

So many times before in the past when these similar situations would occur, I would get upset and frustrated. But this time, I didn’t. Up until last night I wondered, “Why am I not upset?”.  It has been completely unusual.

It would seem that any other human being would go through the emotions. Perhaps there are a million and eleven reasons why I have not.

Perhaps deep down I knew that situations that were rising, were just out of my control and I knew that eventually they would resolve itself. Or maybe it was because I knew that I would go crazy if I allowed the cognitive distortions to take control, and I never allowed them a chance.

Or perhaps I have been distracted so much that I’ve not had a lot of time to dwell on these things enough for it to bother me. Whatever the case may be, my mood has remained constant as well as positive.

There’s been a number of things that have kept me busy as of lately. Sled hockey season has started and practices will begin soon, the fact that some major important decisions will have to be dealt with and I am doing all that I can to make sure that I have all the information that I need in order to make the decisions that are right for me.

So it really could be the distraction. However it doesn’t change the fact that these smaller things that would usually eat me up inside haven’t done a single thing to my mental state. The only thing it has done, is caused me to be surprised that I have not been down. Even though I am full of confusion as to why exactly.

Change is inevitable. How we deal with it is what makes us who we are. This by far, is a change that I haven’t really recalled experiencing in many, many years. And I won’t complain.

Our own mental health depends on how we are subject to certain circumstances. Those who are weaker, find themselves falling down and unable to get back up. Those who are a little stronger, find themselves falling down but then try to figure a way to get back up. I on the other hand have seemed to find myself already standing back up, but then asking myself, “Did I just fall?”.

My point is this: If I can do it, you can do it.

It may not be through the same ways as I have, but the end result remains the same. If you fall, get back up. Find your way to stand up again. When you find it, then do it! After you have done so, then you can worry about dusting yourself off. But always remember how you have done it, so that you can do it again and again.

Nothing can make a person more proud of themselves than to find a way to advance through adversity and come out smelling like roses on the other side. It causes your self-image to become more positive. It encourages your self-esteem, and your confidence levels can go sky high. The trick is to repeat the process whenever something or someone has you down.

And we can take my example. I probably should’ve been down. Probably at this point I should be blogging about something different. More about how upset I am that things didn’t turn out how I would like them to. But instead, I am writing about how I’ve been able to keep positive some how. And I have no idea why that is. I just know that it is what it is. It is a nice surprise indeed.

The more we learn from the lessons of life, the easier things become, the stronger we are, and the better the quality of life we have in front of us.

100

And just like that, after writing the post of “Poetry & Prose”, I come to this post.

MY 100TH POST on WordPress.

Not sure what I thought I was going to do about it when I noticed that I was getting closer and closer to this mark. I know that by now I could have passed this point many days ago, but I decided not to write about the negativity that was going on in my life and just vomit it all over my blog. I think that definitely would have made the 100th post a very long time ago. But I made the decision to wait until things were much calmer. I’m glad that I did.

Starting this blog back in February, I was not sure how long it would take me to get to 100 posts. Just the other day, I saw another blogger who had reached 1,000!! I could not even fathom it. But here I am, with many subjects written and I’ve reached this point in less than a full six months.

A lot of the content is not uniformed by any stretch of the imagination. The content spans from life experiences for sure. Some funny, some heartbreaking, some to be sought as a learning experience for others and as a warning, and yes…. the contest entries and personal blog posts that were sent to people vicariously.

There are some subjects that I posted in this blog that got more views than others. And of course, it has always kept me guessing. Just when I think that I am writing about something that is going to shake up the world, something else grabs their attention and the view counts on other posts soar by the tens and twenties day by day.

I didn’t set out to become something of an online professional. Neither do I claim to be. I just can write about my own experiences, thoughts, and feelings at the time. Many of which I hope deep down in my heart, have helped some reader.

As of this hour and the last time that I checked, I have over 1,800 views and very close to 1,900. I wonder what 2,000 will feel like? Stay tuned!

Over 20 comments have been left on various blog posts. And eight people decided to subscribe and become Disciples of Dambreaker. To them, I can never say “thank you” enough.

But a special thank you to the people whom I call “my blog father and mother”.

After reading Frothtonomy enough times, I actually made the decision to begin a blog of my own. The author of that blog here on WordPress gave me the influence to these 100 posts that exist today. He is “my blog father”. Thanks for being so moist, my man!!

Shortly after I began this blog, I became a colleague/friend with J.S. Chancellor, who is actually an author of wonderful fiction. I give her special recognition because she helped me along the way with how WordPress functions and could actually work better for me. She is “my blog mother”. Always willing to help and never holds a grudge when I ask her silly questions- especially when the answer was right there in front of my face. She’s been there to simply POINT at it and smile. Thank you, my wonderful friend. My heart always shines a place for you and your friendship.

These two people have their blogs in the list of links in the Blogroll on the left side of the page.

At some point, I began to include images in my blog posts. Then I began to add memorable quotes from well-known people or dialogue from popular American films that was in relation to the content of each blog. I don’t remember exactly when I started doing that, but I believe it has helped fill the blank void of just words on a screen.

To those who inspire, thank you. To those who have been supportive, again… thank you.

For those just seeking information, YOU’RE WELCOME!

This means at least a little something to me that I have 100 posts. Who knows how far this will go?? I enjoy it, and comments and questions are always welcomed. I am looking forward to the next 100 posts in the future.

So I sign off of THIS particular post, with all the love in my heart for those who are there and have been there.

Thank you & Much Love to All!!!!!!!

Stick in the Mud

Stick in the mud!

“I’m a perfect example of the grumpy, old man. I’m really good at it.”~Ned Beatty

Can it for a second there, Ned!!

There is a really big problem in the world that there are those kinds of people that just cannot seem to have any joy and peace in their lives. And not only that, but they just cannot allow anyone ELSE to be happy either.

I live around many of those such people.

Today I was finally, finally, FINALLY able to make some progress in planning that trip to Houston at the end of this month. I think that I will make it, although it might not be as fun as the trip that I took in April. At least on the personal side of the trip, by that time I am going to be broke as a joke like a poke with no smoke.

Still though, I can do my best and make what I can of it. The whole idea that I now can see the light at the end of the tunnel after fighting and battling for two long months over this, just overwhelms me with happiness.

When that realization struck me, I exploded with joy! And I ran out into the 102°F heat and decided to tell anyone that would listen. But of course, there’s always gotta be some stupid jerk-off that lives a miserable life and has for many years, and just won’t let anyone else around them do as much as crack a smile around them. Why they are so bitter, I do not know!

I wasn’t even talking to these people directly in the first place. I was talking with someone and telling them of my excitement, and then these “gems of glory” chime in with their down-putting and negativity.

Geez!! I probably could ask the rhetorical question of whatever did I do to them, but I know for a fact that I have done nothing to them. Lousy, stinking, no fun-having neighbors I live with, I swear.

But you know what??? NO!! They are not going to do this. Not to me, not this time. I don’t care what they’ve said about Houston and their poor experiences back when they were a toddler, I am going to go. I have to go, I need to go. The business side of this trip is very much depending on me to show up.

And I WILL have my fun. As much as I can. And nothing that these people can or will say is going to stop me from doing it.

There’s a lot of people in our lives who are just terrible at being a big stick in the mud. They don’t ever wanna bend from their ways and they don’t even want you to be who you are, because you are the one that is bending- living your life the way you want to, and not the way that they want you to.

People need to stop bowing to the wills of those people who are simply out to stop others from being happy. We need to quit allowing others to run over our lives. And yet we need to learn how to live for ourselves, and not always for others. Compromise is one thing, slavery is another.

If we make the wrong choices in life, we’ll pay for it. Not them. They are not going to be the ones taking the hit. We are. And if we make the right choices in life, then we’re going to be so much happier that we did it in the first place.

Our lives… our decisions… our consequences.

But there’s one thing that is for sure. I know for a fact that I have scores of people who will be happy for me that I am going back to Houston. Some to the point of extreme happiness that they are losing their minds just thinking about it. Yep, I’m serious. Total loss of self-control over an extreme sense of jubilation.

For the rest of them, they will simply be happy because “I” am happy. Those scores of people are the TRUE friends. And you can bet your last dollar that they are the ones that are going to be there if I get pushed over and fall. They are the ones that are going to catch me and help me stand up again and always watch over me so I will not slip again.

These people who are relentless to be the stereotypical stick in the mud, have nobody. And they always fall. So in the end, whom do you think is going to be happier??

Look out, Houston. Here I come!!!