It's Your Life

     Life is not easy. Just about everyone knows this. So, when it gives you a curve ball you have two choices. Sit back and complain or push forward and do something. If you want to get something done, don't sit around complaining about it and expecting people to help you through it. At some point you won't have 200 some friends, eventually you'll have yourself. Just you. That's when you learn to live for yourself.
     Stop making lame excuses to why you can't do something. Just because so and so said you can't or just because you believe you lack this or that. Those aren't even excuses, there set backs. Set backs don't have to come from someones mouth, it can come from ourselves. You ultimately make the calling decision whether you do something or not. There's no one else to blame. People around you can help and persuade you. However, you chose the outcome yourself. For example; wanting to do something as a career or life style, it's not dictated by what someone says, but what you make of it. Do not blame someone else, it's okay to be upset with someones view or decision, but blaming the person for what you do is unnecessary.
      If you don't like what someone says, instead of using words use actions. Prove them wrong and move on. Your life is yours, your decisions are yours, your mistakes are yours. Anything in your life is yours. It's your choice to live or complain. It's your choice to learn or give up. Nothing in life is handed over without a ounce of effort backed behind it. If you are unhappy about the way your life turned out, fix it. Don't say 'I can't do it because so and so said this..' instead do it because they said that, use it as motivation.
    People won't be there forever, eventually you'll find yourself alone in making decision and you won't have a large group of support. It shouldn't matter what people around you think. Your happiness is what matters. If you are happy, what is someone else to tell you to stop? Don't listen to them, it's that simple. Our lives are ours, our lives are meant to be lived and every now and again, learn from. It's your choice whether or not you make the effort to advance on your goals, not someone else. It's yours. Sometimes what other people say are your chances to motivate yourself and to encourage yourself, they may be a sand paper against your skin, but their also a learning and motivating chance. Take it while it's there and move on. In the end, life goes on whether you choose to go with or sit back and let people affect you.

Have a great day, 

Brooke.

Think Before You Judge

     It seems like now and days people keep finding new ways of putting someone down. Unfortunately, putting these people we hardly even know down is becoming more common. Why is it society finds a need to say or make rude unneeded comments about someone before getting to know them? It's coming to an extent with this world/society that it feels if you are not 'perfect' in their eyes then you are immediately a new target. For example, it seems more and more I read in the news about people ridiculing and harassing Autistic kids because they are 'loud' or a 'nuisance'. It's unfortunate people can send death threats about these kids to their parents, saying these kids should never live. These kids deserve a chance in this world as much as we do. You don't know their story, any one of us could of been autistic, but fortunately we aren't. It's not right for us to harass anyone like that. Not only Autistic kids, but, the homeless, people who can't make ends meet who try harder then you may ever see. We just immediately assume that these people do nothing and sit on their butts all day. At any time in our life, we could be just like them. As I mentioned, you have no idea if they may be hard workers that hit a rough patch or if their not. So, instead of being quick to judge them, why can't we just live our life's and stop being so concerned about ridiculing someone else's.
     We have enough time to judge and harass others for their lives, lives we really can't change. But, we don't have the time to fix our lives? We don't have the time to do something good? If more people took that time they use to judge, harass, and worry about someone else's life style and put it to helping, working, volunteering, saying more positive things; this world could honestly be a better place.
     Though, I know this world will not change just because of a teenage girl writing some post. However, I do believe if just one person reads this, then takes action towards it, it could start something amazing. We act like we can't do anything, but really, if we put in our minds we can, we would be shocked at what we could get done. As Henry Ford once said: "Whether you believe you can or you can't, you're right". Teach your brain that you can make a difference, and watch, you will! This doesn't require some complicated pre-calculus problem, it just requires some true motivation!
     Take some time to compliment someone, take some time to ask someone how their day is, offer them some assists moving something. Those small, simple, easy, things can really make a big impact. None of which requires judgment, other than judging which one you should do! 

Bad Days

     Have you ever; gotten over something, started getting better, etc. then suddenly everything went back to usual? Well you're not alone. Just recently I've been getting better; much happier, less stressed, enjoying simple things in life. Well of course that was short lived, after a bunch of my good days I finally hit the wall. Just the last few days have been full of tears, stress, and negativity. It's been difficult dealing with these last few days, since I had just started to get better. It's going to be hard when you first get this way again, but I have some ideas that I hope will help you.
     First, when you have your bad/stressful day, look at it as a rainy day. When you think of it as a 'rainy' day then you will begin to imagine a more sunny or less stressful day. Second, try thinking of the bad day as a chance to enjoy a simple thing. Such as; a warm cup of coffee (or tea), or maybe the sunset or sunrise. Our bad days always seem to remind us of a simple thing we usually seem to miss out on. Third, take some time to take a walk, head out to your local park or lake, take a nice stroll. This may or may not work, but it could reduce a bit of the stress you earned throughout your day. Lastly, try to just take a deep breath and move forward. Bad days will come and go, there's no doubt we will all get one. Sometimes the best we can do is take a deep breath and just face the facts. Sure, this isn't the best advice but it could be the only thing that gets you through the day.
     No matter what kind of day you have, or week. Remember that in the end, things will normally begin to look up. If it's not looking up, it's not the end. Take some time to smell the roses, take some time to enjoy a simple thing or two, or just take in some oxygen and get prepared for a good day later on. Whatever works for you. Remember that life will balance our good days with our bad, though it seems like we always get more bad days.

I hope you have a great weekend and stay safe!

Your Story!

      I hate to inform you; life will never follow your plans 100%. Although, if you remain positive and keep your head up, then you may achieve better. We all have a story, and each page lies a different plot that will lead to an interesting conclusion. Like in a story we read on to find out what better comes out of it, treat your life like a story. Instead of sitting back when life hits you with a curve ball, get up and swing your bat at the next ball. Life isn't meant to be easy, if it was it wouldn't be as fun. Take a set back as a chance to improve.
      For me, I have had some trouble in my past, I prefer not to talk about it; but things just didn't go my way. Instead of getting bitter I decided to get better. Sure, I still have my set backs and curve balls but I try to remind myself of the positive I have yet to face.
     That's what I believe we all need to do; don't get bitter, get better {Josh Shipp}. Let's not sit back when our plot gets sour, let's get up and face this head on. One day all of our mistakes and set backs will make sense. If they don't and if nothing gets better please don't end your story. There is so much out there that has yet to be explored. Life has many more chapters, if you don't like the one your on change it. Don't sit back and take it. There are so many amazing stories about people who have made it through their tough times and came out on top. Steve Harvey had gone through homelessness and divorce; here he is today a successful motivational man who many have come to enjoy. Brent Smith {of Shinedown} has gone through drug addiction, he became sober and now is an amazing performer. Everyone successful around you has faced a difficulty at some point that you may never know about, you're no different. So, when you face a time in your life where things have taken a turn, don't look negatively on it, take a more positive route. In the end, remember to smile and stay positive.

Stay Positive,
Brooke

 Ps:

Leadership

            I see the question "What is leadership" appear in a lot of places, and I thought I would take some time to give my opinion on it...
         First, I feel like a leader shouldn't be defined by some position that a person has earned. Anyone can be a president (or high power), but only few can actually lead well. A leader to me would be any individual (no matter what rank they are in society), who takes the time/steps to encourage, motivate, persuade, someone else to do well and achieve great goals. It shouldn't be just a higher power individual, and I feel like that's where we go wrong with naming 'leaders'. Second, as a firefighter I do have a Chief, Deputy, Lieutenant, etc. but none of them are any good if they aren't good leaders. Yes, they have 'positions' of higher power but they are suppose to encourage us and teach us to do well. In my fire department our higher authority is a group of wonderful leaders who teach us very well, but I know some people and fire departments aren't as fortunate. Like I mentioned previously; anyone can be considered a leader by their position, but only few can actually show leader qualifications. Third, what I consider good leader qualifications. Well, like I said before anyone who can; teach, encourage, and motivate another person(s) to do well. However, a leader can't just stop there, they should really take over, until these other individuals have reach full potential and rubbed it off on others. Basically, when one leader takes over, many other leaders should develop afterwards, it shouldn't be a influence we are ashamed to share, but one we are happy to see spread. We need a little less negative influence and a lot more powerful and positive influences; to achieve that we must change our 'Leaders'. Anyone can become a high position, but that will never make them a leader until they can actually show they can be one! 
        I highly encourage you to take the steps and become a leader to someone around you, whether it is one or one-hundred people. Just take the steps and spread a positive influence to those around you! Make your words count!

Changes

     Some people change your life for the better and that's great. Although, don't put so much reliance on one person to make your life better. As we know, or should; no one will be around forever. Whether they passed away or they just simply walked away from your life. In these situations where our happiness has basically been removed we tend to get down and give up. However, instead of getting bitter we should get better (quote from Josh Shipp). Don't look at this situation as a way to find all the negatives about yourself or even just finding negatives about life. Instead, look at the situation as a way to become strong on your own. That person was an influence, since no one can 100% change you they can only influence you to make your mind up. We can't go around hating not only ourselves for something like this but life. It is hard losing someone; no matter how (death or walking out). We can't let that be our down fall, but let it be a time to look at yourself and realize that person had started something, if you like it keep it going. If that person walked out of your life, you realize they weren't really worth it, if the person passed on, they don't want you to cry for them but celebrate what they have completed in there life or maybe just they want you to keep your life going. We will come to a point where someone we care about will leave, but we can only get stronger and less depended on someone else and more depended on ourselves to be happier. Never lose sight of your dreams and remember that there is so much out there no matter what negatives happen! 

Stay Strong, 

Brooke

Don't Lose Sight On Your Goals

     Don't lose something because of what ifs, it truly will hurt in the end. Whether it's love related, job related, or anything in between, don't let it slip from your hands because you are focused on the 'what if's'. Those thoughts of 'what if I'm not good enough?' 'What if he/she says no?' can hold you back from something amazing. Make a effort to avoid them, think more positively. What could be the worse if that person you like doesn't like you that way back? It will hurt to hear no but at least you have the closure that you did know how things would of went. You can think you're not good enough, but someone else may think you fit what they need perfectly. However, you didn't take up that chance because you were too worried about what would happen. Later on you will notice that those 'what if's' made bigger impacts on you then you thought. What is a life without a little risk? 
    Being nervous is perfectly normal. But being nervous shouldn't stop us from going after what we want. Try to fill your mind with more positive things, don't sit back and watch things pass in front of you because you got scared. This is defiantly easier said then done. To this day I regret not asking someone I had feelings for because of the what if's. Instead of focusing on negativity like everyone else, stand out and focus on the positives that may come your way. It's okay to be turned down, something better will lay ahead of you. 
     That's another thing you will get from challenging the what if's. Being turned down may/will happen to you, but you can only expect something better to come after. So don't get negative because things didn't work out the way you wished they would of. Just focus on having a positive outcome later down the road. 
      I agree this will be something hard, but remember to always stay positive. You only live once, if you live it right the first time you don't need a second time.

Stay Positive, 

Brooke