“Hopefully my experience can help a little bit. I'm just a small piece of the puzzle.” Ed Jovanovski

The world is a very large place. It existed before our arrival, and hopefully will continue on past our existence. There is a lot to learn from what is around us...but sometimes you learn even more by looking at what is right in your own front yard.

My post today will be very short, since 1) I didn't do much to inspire me today, and 2) I'm really tired. But none the less, it is a post!!

I am one small person in retrospect to everything around me. I have not found a cure for a disease, I have not solved a math problem unknown to man, I haven't done anything profound or extraordinary. But I have done my part.

There is more to contentment then self satisfaction. Sometimes the best feelings come from what you are able to do for others. So if your mom asks you to clean house, don't whine, just do it and know how much you are helping her out. And your uncle needs help at his business, don't lie and say your busy, go and do it and know that you made his day just a tad bit easier. There are so many things we can do for others...and the favor will be returned.

“Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.” -Elie Wiesel

Todays blog will not be very philosophical, nor will it completely reshape your frame of mind...but it will allow you to consider the important people in your life.

Yes, of course you love your family (most likely) and you understand the influence they have on your choices. You know they have your back, and want you to do well in life. This is not new to you...

And neither is the fact that your friends are what help you get through the day. I am not telling anything you don't already know...at least I hope not. See I spent the WHOLE day with one of my best friends, and the greater part of an evening with another. No matter how many times I'm with them; whether we almost get thrown out of stores, cause a riot in parking lots, or fall asleep to movies, I feel better about myself, and the choices that I've made.

There are not many people I am able to sit in the middle of a movie rental store and read the backs of porno's with. There are not many people that I am able to discuss the idea of identification-biological-sexual preference with inside of Chipotle at closing time. There are not many people that I am able to check out the butt's of older (by older I would like to clarify, that these men are not in there 40's, or even 30's...I think...and they are really attractive) men with while not caring if people see. What I'm r=trying to say is, there are not many people that I am able to fully enjoy my time with ALL THE TIME...but I'm glad that I have found the ones that enjoy me as much as I enjoy them. (I know they enjoy me cause they keep coming back for more!!)

So I would like all of you to take the time to cherish the bonds you have created with people. Whether you have known your friends for 3 years, 5 years, 9 years, 4 months, or 2 days, know that there is something unique to your relationship...and that can't be found anywhere else.

"My hands are made to hold you tight, my legs are made to help you sit while I stand, my lips are made to kiss you and my heart is made to beat for you." -Shyam Sundar

Such a simple gesture can mean so much to someone. It is more than just a symbol of commitment to a partner; it represents dedication, love, strength, hope, friendship, belief, eternity, goodbye.

Holding hands is something that you never really give a second thought to. As a child you hold your parent's to cross the street, when you get a little older its what you do to signify a relationship, and unfortunately many are faced with holding the hand of a loved one when they pass. So why do we never really consider what we mean by holding hands? Think about the last time you held someone's hand...what did you feel? What were you hoping they would feel?

During the early stages of dating there is such a build up to getting the person you are interested in to hold your hand. At a date at the movies, you both sit nervously in your chairs, both of your arms crossed across the front of your body in order to not accidentally touch the other person. But pay attention to what happens through out the movie. Slowly, your hands find a way to dangle off your knee or the arm rest between you. And not only does your hand dangle, no-no, it dangles very close to the other persons hand, sometimes you find that your pinkey even needs to stretch 40 times in a row. Now if the person feels the same way about you, they'll pick up on the hand signals (no pun intended) and slightly side there fingers in between yours. At that moment there isn't a greater feeling...its as if your hands were meant for each other....the entire movie theater could be blowing up final destination style and you would never even notice.

During a person's last few breaths, its hard to be a constant support. You normally can't lay beside them like you want to because the beds are so small, you can't hug them because they are so fragile, there are no words to express your feelings and unconquerable love you feel, so you grab their hand...and there is always a slight warmth coming from it, a heat that can't be explained, only experienced. For that person, to fragile to tell you how much they love you and how much better you made their life, a slight squeeze says it all.

These moments are made by the simplest gesture, yet we walk through life focused on the big displays. There is nothing that can change how important holding someones hand is...how important having your hand held is. Take the time to appreciate the little things. Realize the power of simplicity.

“I think a little bit of it is that we ran out of gas. I think a lot of it is that we're still a work in progress. -- and we're right on track. There's still some things that need to be done.” Bill Schreier

My best friend called me today, naturally the call was important...so I missed it (me and my timing). Any-who...she was calling to tell me she had ran out of gas...literally, and was now sitting in the parking lot of a local movie rental watching a drug deal/threesome go down. Luckily even though I suck at answering my phone when it's necessary, her mom was able to rescue her.

Now this got me thinking, not about the fuel costs, hybrid cars, or China...no-no this got me thinking about myself, and a lot of other college/high school/working people.

We run out of gas.

And I don't mean literally, I mean metaphorically...we run out of gas.

Every person, well at least I think every person, has had that moment where they have to admit that they can no longer do their everyday activities.

That person realizes they can no longer wake up at 5 am, run 2 miles, clean the house, send the kids off to school, go to work, run errands, get home in time to make dinner for the family, help with homework, finish a presentation for the next day, and then go to sleep at 12...just to do it all over again.

Or maybe that person realizes that they have written over twenty essays this semester, and they can no longer remember how to type on a keyboard, or do they ever want to.

Or maybe that person realizes they can't fill out any more scholarships for college because no matter how awesome they make themselves sound, they aren't smart enough, enriched enough, or poor enough.

Or maybe that person realizes that they can no longer fight for their country, because they have a family back home they haven't seen in three years, and they cannot deal with pulling that trigger one more time.

We run out of gas, we all get to a point where the world is too much, and a constant headache forms in the back of our skull and just. won't. go. away. Everyone experiences a moment where they just want to lay down, take a nap, and not feel that they have done so much, but have so much more to do.

All I have to say is STOP! Stop everything you are doing and lay down on the ground (really I mean this) Lay down on the ground and feel yourself become one with the world around you, close your eyes, BREATHE, realize that what you do is helping someone, whether it be you or another, realize that all of your work will pay off in the end, but most importantly realize that your well being is more important than a project.

Sometimes we need to slow down in life. Take a moment to readjust ourselves to the pressures we have weighing us down. If you've run out of gas...don't worry there is gas station in your future...and it's ok to have someone help you refuel.

“There's no half-singing in the shower, you're either a rock star or an opera diva.” Josh Groban

I love singing, but I'm bad at it. I scare myself in the shower, I can't sing while I drive because I distract myself, and I can't sing at Karaoke bars cause I blow out the amps. However, I love singing...LOVE singing...and I've decided that since I love it I'm going to do it whenever I want...like in the Target parking lot, the produce section of Super Wal-Mart, or while vacuuming my living room.

This really has nothing to do with singing, I mean it does for me, but it won't for everyone else, unless you too feel that you are horrible at singing, yet enjoy it.

This has to do with doing what you enjoy, without letting others tell you, "hey dude, you suck! Stop before I kill you!!" Everyone your entire life has told you what you suck at, maybe not upfront...but they snuck it in with the "you are sooo good at knitting, stick to that instead of puzzles" or the "wowww I'm so glad you tried skydiving...glad you got that out of your system."

Now the next time somebody sneaks in the you're no good at this or that line simply say "piss off! I enjoy myself, and even if that means I scare away half of New York with my version of Don't stop Belivin' then so be it...cause I DESERVE to be happy"

So go ahead, indulge in an activity that either you, your aunt, or your neighbor's dog thinks you suck at, because in the end you'll have a smile on your face, and you won't ever live with the regret of never taking that chance.

“A broken heart is what makes life so wonderful five years later, when you see that special guy in an elevator and he is fat and smoking and saying 'Long time no see'” Phyllis Batelle

New Years normally brings around the resolution to lose weight, for probably close to half of America. Gym memberships will be made, unhealthy foods will be thrown out, weight loss commitments will take action across the nation. But we all know the sad story of defeat that ends people's high hopes for a better them. Half way through the year, the month, the week, the day, a little part of you says, "it's so hard to get fit, I'll never look the way I want to, What's the point if I'll gain it all back, I'm happy fat, It's not like anyone will see me differently, I can't do it." This little voice in your head has beat you out every year so far, and it's time things change.

I am by no definition skinny. It's true...I do not look like Megan Fox, Victoria Beckham, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Katie Holmes, Angelina Jolie, Hillary Duff, Emma Watson, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Cameron Diaz, or Gisele Bundchen. I do not fit into a size 2 dress, nor am I able to wear a bikini.

However, I'd rather wear an over sized Poncho, and a larger size of pants in order to eat a Twinkie without hating myself. Now I'm not saying I want to be fat for the rest of my life, that is not true at all. I do want to be healthy, be able to run when I want to, wear sexy heels that don't make my calves look even bigger, and turn heads.

In order to lose weight, and still feel that I like myself I have taken on a different type of methodology other then self loathing. Are you ready??

Wight Loss starts with self respect. This is so important I'm going to say it again...WEIGHT LOSS STARTS WITH SELF RESPECT. If you look at yourself in the mirror and cannot see one thing that you like about yourself, then you aren't looking at the right reflection. You have to want to lose weight because you see something special in yourself that you want everybody else to see too. It is the feeling that you are worth the best that fuels your weight loss, that feeling allows you to stick to all of the plans that you have made for yourself.

You ARE worth losing weight for, you are worth the long hours at the gym, the soreness you feel in the morning, and that hunk of chicken with out all of the butter.

So as I start the new year, I'm trying to be healthier; eat good food, exercise a little more, and most importantly see myself in a positive light and know that I do deserve to treat myself as worthy of a little positive change. I challenge all of you who stumble across this post, to go look in the mirror and find what you like most about yourself, and then remember that moment for the rest of the year as you work to make a better you. This is a place if you wish to, that you may share your hard times and accomplishments, I will strive to open myself up to all of you as well.