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!

Unwelcome

     Sometimes we get involved with something and immediately get an 'unwelcomed' feeling. This happens fairly often, unfortunately. However, we may not be able to change what people think about us, we can change how we think about the situation. For example, if you just joined a new group and you feel like the people around you don't accept this; give it time. This doesn't ultimately mean everyone will like you by the end, if anyone at all, but it will begin to show people who may become more accepting. Although, there may be cases were no one will ever accept you into the group, the best you can do is remember what you are there to achieve. These people around you may not be the best support group, but if you just leave, you're letting them win, and that is giving up. We can't just give up because people around us don't like us, if we did. nothing would ever get done. It is difficult when you feel unwelcomed (maybe unliked) but at some point that feeling may just go away, and maybe it won't. You'll just have to push through it, keep looking out at your goal. If one or two people take the time to be your friends that's great, if not, that's alright, you still have friends outside of what you're doing who would support what you are doing. Don't give up because of feeling unwelcome to a group, work hard and achieve what you set to achieve.. If you give up, you are going to be the one unsatisfied. Just remember everyone can have their own thoughts, but you can make your mind up whether you want to sit back and take it, or stand up and say "I got better things to be worrying about". 

Sincerely,
Brooke

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

Social Media

     If our youth was negatively affected by anything it would be: Social Media. First, everyday somebody posts a "selfie" on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, for what? The comments. Now and days much of our youth decides that they will focus on the way they look based on what others say. Why is it we turn ourselves over to the world to judge? Is it not enough to be judged by people on the streets. Feeling good about ourselves should be based on our personal feelings, not on the world and how they feel we look. As I've mentioned before; no one will ever please everyone since we have our own opinions we're titled to. I am guilty of posting a "selfie" here and there to feel good but I post it for enjoyment and less of thoughts and opinions. Second, a pretty common occurrence in headlines is suicide over cyber bullying. Using social media can be dangerous, it can lead to so many bad things. However, choosing to sit there and take it is your own fault. Not saying you should fight back (not recommending that at all) but I do suggest to ignore it, maybe delete what you said, don't make it a big deal. Finally, social media has pretty much taken over our youths lives. Each day they need to update Facebook, they need to tweet song lyrics, they need to post what they're eating on Instagram. It really shouldn't be this way, I get enjoying yourself with social media; watching vines, liking photos, sharing memories. Although, remember there is still a world out there that is ready to be lived. Overall, sometimes the best way to solve all of this, is the off button. Especially, when cyber bullying occurs; don't put up with it just power your device down and ignore it. It's not always that easy but it is worth a shot. Get out and enjoy life, have fun, and don't worry about what people on Social Media have to say. 

Cheers,

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

Failure is not always bad

Through life we struggle with failure, sometimes that isn't a bad thing. For example, you just failed your math test, you can sit back and do nothing and take the failure, or you can use that failure to lead to a success. Sure, failure sounds bad and how could it make success? Well if you learn from the failure it can teach you how to be better. Use your failure to lead to something better, sitting back isn't going to get you too far. However, it's not always so easy to just pick up from a failure, but keep trying. Remember your resources; if it's school related you will have your teacher, book, sometimes online review. If it is a problem in life, use your family and friends to help. It takes time, you may meet other failures before you are able to meet the success you want. Just remember you aren't alone, and there are others out there that can help you achieve success. Next time you fail say to yourself; 'I will do better next time' instead of 'I am failure'. 

~ Cheers, Brooke