Like a tattoo, your first love will scar you for life.
Without hurdles in life, we would have no goals.
Education is exercise for the mind, fitness is exercise for the body, and contemplation is exercise for the soul.
It's okay to make mistakes. Mistakes are opportunities to learn, mature, and develop. Remember, without hurdles in life, we would have no goals.
In the 8th grade, my history teacher, Mr. Montgomery, said something I will never forget. He wasn't the type of man who looked profound because he would wear red and green suits to class looking more like a clown rather an educator at times. He emphazsized, "You have to make yourself happy first, before you can make others happy." At first his statement seemed shallow and selfish, but as I matured I understood his argument. Rephrased, it may sound more poetic: "What's the point of living, if you live in misery?"
Whether we understand it or not, one of our main objective in life is to achieve happiness- maybe through simplicity, peace, companionship, love, wealth, materials- just depends on the person.
Many times in this life, if we don't stand up for ourselves, no one will. You have to work hard and diligently to create an independent life for yourself. A good life is not free, especially for those not born wealthy. It'll take time, but the callous on your hands will be well worth it. One day when you look back, you'll know...you'll know....
We must all navigate through the darkest storm, but eventually, we'll find the lighthouse's beacon that will guide us to shore.
A friend gave me a phone number, and I was about to write it down, but he said, "You don't need paper, you're smart enough to remember." Memory is one of those things is we don't use, we eventually lose.
During good times, we may not always recognize our true friends. It's when we are hungry, sick, penniless, depress, have nothing to offer- the people who would hold our hands and ask for nothing in return are the ones we should embrace dearly. Tough times will fall on all of us, whether mentally, physically, or financially. When you fall on difficult times, who will stand beside you?
When I was in college, I lived with 3 other guys one semester: Michael, Tim, and Victor. Michael wanted me to return to live with them the following semester, but I had decided to move out and try living with other students. Michael caught me by surprised when he asked, "Is it my fault you are moving out?" Many times, when people do not get along with others, they generally blame the other party, hardly ever examining themselves. I had a little more respect for Michael after that. He did things which made me angry during the semester, like egging a car parked in 2 spaces everyday, but it turns out he had some depth in his personality.
The mirror can be difficult to look at sometimes.
Good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people. The bad things which happen to good people are opportunities to develop oneself, to become wiser, and to emerge stronger. The good things which happen to bad people are opportunities to change.
In the 1989 Wilcox high school yearbook, The Phoenix, a student by the name of Patty P inserted the following quote: "To dream of the person you would like to be, is to waste the person you are." I think she was popular in school. I know I wasn't. I'm not bitter or anything. Anyways, the first time I read this quote, it just amazed me, and it still does today. It's one of those proverbs you hear and wish you had thought of it. Initially, I thought Patty had written it and awed at how a popular 18-year old could come up with it, but she quoted it.
In English class in the 10th grade, a student had mentioned the bad conduct of another student (not in the class), and Mrs. Taylor replied, "I thought we see in others what we in ourselves." I think sometimes this can be true because this thought is very similiar to "there is no honor among thieves." That is, those who cannot be trusted will doubt whether they can trust others.
Relationship on the internet is like shooting a gun in the dark- you can't see with your eyes, so you aim from the heart. Be careful who you interact with because the computer can be a brilliant disguise.
What can be worst than not having any faith? Confessing you have faith, but lacking devotion.
Wealthy people tend to make great fair-weather friends, but terrible true friends.
Those with the most, often have the least to offer; while those with the least provide the most.
Hitchhiking, I've noticed some disturbing things about male drivers (women have fears men do not have to worry about) with some type of "Jesus" bumper sticker, license frame, or cross hanging from the rearview mirror. Only once did a man with a religous message on his vehicle stop to give this tired stranger a ride. By attaching some Christian message to their vehicle, I suspect most of these people need to reassure themselves of their devotion because they actually have weak faiths. I almost want to chuckle to myself every time one of these drivers or a church van approaches and passes. As critical as I may sound, I don't rebuke anyone for not picking up a hitchhiker since it may mean giving up a part of their security.
Freedom is not necessarily free: people have suffered and died for it. You and I are lucky enough to reap the liberty of those who have paid with their lives and souls before us.
Respect is earned, never given. If it's given, then it's not respect. Showing politeness or courtesy is not the same as showing respect.
"What state is Kansas City located?"
"Duh! That would be Kansas."
When you look down on others, make sure you're not doing a handstand, because it may turn out others are looking down on you. (Downtown Kansas City is in Missouri, and there is a smaller Kansas
City on the Kansas side of the border.)
Honesty is the trait that has to rise above all other traits.
Love is when you're worried about someone not arriving home on schedule and not calling, but when you discover she's safe, concern immediately becomes ire.
I can't even follow God devotedly, so how can I follow a political party blindly?
Some people were born to lead, some people were born to follow, but some people were born to be free.
Make time instead of making excuses for adventure in your life. Your adventures will be embedded in your memory for a lifetime. Everyday, I have flashbacks of all previous adventures and can remember most of the people I've met, but sitting here at home, I can barely recall what happened a few days ago..