"The only way to enjoy anything in this life is to earn it first."

I just took my first Photography class (101) this week!! *so excited* Although I only have a little point-and-shoot (Sony Cyber-shot.. I'm not knocking it, it really is great) I am still learning a lot and actually using settings on my 'little one' that I have never ventured to use or ever understood before (yes, I call him little one because he is like my child. he goes everywhere with me. I use him more than my cell phone. He must be homosexual, I mean come on he obviously knows the best shots to take and he is pink... *smile*)

I have tried different shots, of different things, using the different settings and just *experimenting* so far.. I like being able to find a subject and practice various settings to make the picture come out better. That, I feel, is the only way I will ever get "better" at it on the first snap or two.. practice. But, I will admit that practice is hard work. I mean even though I might be doing something I really enjoy, the whole process takes time and effort... but that is what makes it good AND worthwhile. You put your heart into it add time + effort + honest commitment and you will find yourself happily encouraged and performing to the best of your abilities. Plus, it feels great. Have you ever really worked toward something? I mean really put your heart & soul & effort into something you were passionate about and gave it your all? Not something half-ass you were made to do and you just scraped by, but something you really got into and were proud of afterward? I am looking to take on this "state of mind" in all that I do...

So my quote for today is: "The only way to enjoy anything in this life is to earn it first."

You can really apply this to any situation in life. Whether it is related to a trade you are learning *like my photography* or even opening your mind to new ideas in life *say, relationship improvement* you have to accept that it all will take time and effort. But, once you truly work on it and EARN it for yourself it will feel like you just won a million dollars.

And I think that is totally worth it *smile*

Here are a few of my "new shots"... they don't look much different than everything else I have ever taken, but I can tell my mind is expanding and they WILL be better soon!:

This second one is where I am taking my Photography Class *smile*

Oh, don't worry there will be many many more...

So I like this quote I heard today. I have heard it a few times before and always thought it was kinda *corny* even though I usually LOVE corny stuff. David *my amazing bf* and I were watching our usual nightly line-up of Seinfeld & Family Guy and I heard the quote. Stewie said it...

"If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you're right."

The more I really think about this saying the more I like it, the more it really means something. I try to think about it in real life situations and honestly, I completely believe it. The power of the mind is so intense. You do have control over how situations play out in your life according to how you think about it and how you really want it to work.

I told David this. I reminded him of it and will continue to, but mostly because of his current situation. David is an amazing person. He is smart and sensitive and funny. I really could not have found a more perfect guy.. for me. We are so unbelievably compatible and I know with that, plus having the same interests and morals and values, we will be able to get through anything together. *more about David & me later* .....He is incredibly intelligent. He is a network engineer.. yea, I try to be funny and tell my friends he is my "computer nerd" and he DOES NOT think that is funny... because he works on NETWORKS, not computers. *hehe* He has invested SOOO much $$ and SOOO many long hours in studying for this ^Expert^ exam. He is taking his test Thursday so he can get his "number" and be deemed a ***C.C.I.E*** (yes, that required all of those asterisks). This is a BIG DEAL. Such a BIG DEAL that he has been a slave to all his equipment for weeks straight studying... and studying... and studying... well, he has gotten to the point of no return (really cause I am taking him to the airport tomorrow, so he has no choice) and I think his big brain is so overloaded he is thinking negatively. I will not allow that. #1 because I know he smart enough to pass it, but #2 because I really believe in the power of positive influence.

I want to be his positive influence.

So, I related it to him, just like Stewie said... "Babe, you have to think & know you will pass because that in itself will help you pass. If you think negatively like you won't, you are just ruining it for yourself before you even get a chance to take it." Geez I mean at least pretend you think you can and make you mind happy.. I just completely believe staying positive will help boost his adrenaline and confidence and calm his mind, so he can breeze through it, PASS, and come back home to me ;)


Moral of the story is... STAY POSITIVE in all you do. It may be hard at times not to doubt yourself or situation, but just remember... there is such a *power in positive influence*, even just within yourself. So think optimistically, and know you have the control in your life. Mind over matter, and heart over it all *smile*

David & Me in front of our house :)

The true feeling of a heartbeat

First I would like to start off with a big Thank You to my new friend *Jen.* I have gotten some great feedback from Jen, which I appreciate greatly. One thing really sticks out in my mind is the quote/relation to life that Jen wrote. It truly inspired me..

"One way I like to think about the passage of time is in ‘heartbeats of life’ rather than in seconds. For me, this puts a whole new perspective on the value of my time. One way that I use to get my friends to think about this kind of special time is to ask them to hold their breath for 10 seconds. For sure, it has an interesting way of letting people know what 6 to 20 heartbeats feels like, and how precious the time is for each one."

I think this is amazing. I have always wanted to be able to explain the feeling & value of a heartbeat to others, but really all you can do is lead them to learn how to listen so they can understand it for themselves.

Time is the first thing that comes to mind. How often do you really sit down, breath, touch your chest, and listen to your heart beat? Probably rarely, if ever. I would like to encourage you to do it once in a while. Seriously. I know, I know.. you are thinking, oh this is just a silly "trying to soothe my thoughts kind of BS" and really I am too busy to try to get into "that kind of mood." But you honestly don't know how relaxing it is until you give it a try. You will see after this little "exercise" how important it is for you to take a moment and acknowledge this precious thing we have inside us. It gives you peace of mind, serenity, a calm sense of power, and encourages you to consider a new perspective on the value of time.

So now- Sit down, breathe in and out a few times to relax. Try to free your mind of anything negative *just for a minute... longer if you can* close your eyes, and place your hand on your heart *that is your right hand to the middle-to-left part of your upper chest, just in case you haven't said the pledge of allegiance in a while.. smile*

Next, try to breath slowly and softly so you can feel the tiny pulses on your hand that are coming from inside you. They may be going fast, they may be going slow, but just take time to actually feel. This is life. This is you. This is a feeling that no one else can describe to you. You can only feel it for yourself....

To me, I feel the beats and I start to think about the passing of time, the value of it, ..and it makes me realize how important this time passing me by is. Day in and day out of our hectic & exciting lives, we sometimes forget to realize how fast time really is passing us by. Although we can't stop the clock, or give ourselves more time for things we need to get done, we can give ourselves the lesson of how precious every second is. Feel your heartbeat and I promise you will slow down once in a while to appreciate the time you do have.

The other KEY lesson to all of this is *learning to interpret things on our own.* The older I get, the more I realize that this heartbeat description/analogy is how all of life works. When I look back I am starting to see the times when my mom wanted soo badly to just tell me how to do something, or how explain how she knew I would feel about something before it happened.. but she couldn't. You can't make someone feel something without actually letting them experience it for themselves. You can explain a feeling in the most detailed way, but it is always just your way, coming from inside of you. Until that person has come to personally feel an emotion, or be put in a situation themselves, they will never be able to fully grasp what you are trying to "make" them feel.

Perfect example in the above heartbeat instance.

You can describe how a heartbeat feels to YOU & the value of time that it teaches YOU, but no other person will be able to define it for themselves until they stop to feel & truly listen... *breathe* *heartbeat* *smile*