Quote Your Life

When's the last time you logged onto a social media networking website? After you logged on, how long did it take before you noticed an inspirational quote? My guess is that it didn't take a long time. We all know that person who lives through quotes. Sometimes, it can seem like quote overkill. If you don't know what I mean, log onto Facebook and look at the home page.

Sometimes, quotes have fulfilling meanings. However, when too many are posted, they become meaningless. If quote overhaul happens to you, here is what I want you to do. Log off of all social media sites and breathe.

After you breathe, have a seat and think about your life. If there was one quote that summed up your life, what would it be? If you are undecided between two quotes, choose the one that resonates with you more. When you discover it, live by your quote. After, post your infamous quote. Below it, write: If there was only one quote that represented who you are or what you stand for, what would it be?

Challenging these people to think their lives in one statement can be mind blowing. I can't say quoteaholics will be cured overnight, but, hopefully, it will reframe how they view posting quotes and how they view their lives.

Out of every quote I've seen, one takes the cake. I found it on a fortune cookie and it has stuck with it. "If you talk, you repeat what you know. If you listen, you learn." -Anonymous

Inspiration for your quote can come from anywhere or anyone. Find the quote that is true to you and live by it. When you do this, it will inspire other people to find their quote. My hope is that quotes will no longer be abused and misused.

Tonight's Gonna be a Good Night.....

When you read the title of this week's blog, did the Blackeyed Peas appear in your mind? The group did for me. Their songs are catchy and have repetitive lyrics. You may or may not be a fan of this musical group, but it's easy to recognize one of their chart toppers. Each song has a unique melodic and harmonic combination that can annoy some and draw other people in. I am not a fan of this group, but, once in a while, an aspect of a song will touch me.

The title of the blog is a lyric from a popular song by the group. In this song, there are many messages that can be interpreted. One message I interpreted is that I should take time to just have fun. It may seem obvious, but it means more to me than that.

I am known for being on the go constantly. I enjoy taking on many projects that are due at the same time. It's a sick pleasure knowing that I can conquer anything I set my mind to. Sometimes, I become so focused that I forget to stop and enjoy life. People have told me to relax and stop doing anything for 30 seconds. It's been difficult to wrap my head around this concept, but I know it is good for me.

If you know of someone who doesn't stop, tell them this:
Whatever you're working on is not going away. If you continue to work on it, then you will stress yourself out. Take a moment or two to just enjoy life. When you go back to your work, you will be refreshed and have a clear mind.

If you are like me, please listen to me:
If you are not capable of stopping yourself from taking on a lot, trust someone to tell you when to stop. The person you trust will have your best interest at heart. If you trust the person to help you, then you will be helping yourself. I cannot speak for every person, but I know that stopping for a little bit has been helpful in my personal growth.

Life's too short to get wrapped up in every detail of life. When you feel overwhelmed, remember to stop:
S-Slow down
T-Take a moment to breathe
O-Optimize and seize the wonderful moment
P-Press play again

Job Fair....Beware!

How many articles have you read about job fairs? Most people I know have read at least one article. When you think of job fair articles, what comes to your mind? Most people will look up articles that focus on navigating a job fair, how to answer interview questions, and so forth. Let's put this aside for a second. Have you questioned the scandalous tactics that are implemented? Most people don't. Why bother questioning an event that has merit. It's legally publicized, legitimate employers are present, and people are dressed in professional attire. At job fairs, people are so eager to be successful that they forget to think. When I say think, I don't mean not using your noggin. I am referring to conducting research about the actual job fair.

I used to be naive. I had my list of employers in mind, dressed to impress, and was ready to win over my future coworkers. About two years ago, I was blind-sighted. I was persuaded to work for a company that scammed people for a living. I felt deceived and confused. I went home after my discovery and tried to find articles about scandalous tactics employed at job fairs and found none. As a person who is committed to helping other people, I want to help you. Here is a list of things I'd like for you to watch out for at your next job fair:

-Is the employer scheduled to be at the job fair? Every job fair will provide a list with every employer who is scheduled to attend. If you come across an employer that is not scheduled to be at the job fair, run away!

-Does the employer specifically state that they’re only looking for the best and most qualified candidates? If an employer tells you this, chances are that they are looking for anyone as long as they’re 18 years or older and they passed the background check.

-Does the employer give you a vague job description? If an employer is legitimate, they will give you some guidelines. They won’t share everything, but you should have a good understanding of what you’d be getting yourself into.

-Does the employer ask for your social security number, bank account information, or any other personal information in addition to what's listed on your resume? Run far, far away! You should never give this information to anyone at a job fair.

-Does the employer require you to pay any money before you start working for them? This one can be tricky. Some jobs require you to pay for licensure depending on the industry you work in. If you start your own business, it is expected to pay some money. If they ask you to pay for your background check or pay any money right after you accepted a job offer, decline the job offer. You should not have to pay to work for someone.

-Does the employer tell you that they hire people over the phone? If so, run away! A legitimate employer will hire you only in person.

-If an employer doesn’t want your resume, don’t give them anymore of your time. Legitimate employers want to see who they’re hiring. Sometimes, employers get busy and don’t always look over your resume before the interview, but at least they want to see what your qualifications are.

-The last point seems more like common sense, but I cannot emphasize how true this is: is it too good to be true? Does the employer guarantee that you will get rich quick? Do they tell you that you only have to contribute so many hours as a part-time employee? Do they tell you that you have to ability to control your future? If this is the case, you do not want to invest any time into the company.

This is not meant to be a comprehensive list. It is a guiding tool that I created to help you. I wish you much success at your next job fair.

To be Great is to be Grateful

When you look around you, do you take what you have for granted? The natural reaction is probably no. I want you to really think about it. Do you like the car you drive? Are you happy with your body weight? Did you go to work today? These may seem like simple questions to answer, but they test motives and what we value.

This morning, I went to visit my mom for a little bit. Our conversation started as it always does. Questions pertaining to Toastmasters, preparing for teaching in the fall, and about my every day life emerged. Out of no where, she disclosed a shocking detail to me. A couple my mom's family have known for years lost everything in a house fire. Imagine working all of your life for the things you've wanted and needed. One day, it's all gone. Homeowners insurance can cover partial damage, but it cannot replace memories, photographs, personal items close to your heart, and pets. 

After she disclosed this to me, it made me realize how grateful I am for everything I have in my life. I will admit that I sometimes look at life from a negative angle. For example, I am waiting for the school year to begin. Once it begins, I will bring in an income again. At the moment, I impatiently wait for the start of the new year. However, I know that a job does await me. I have to practice patience. 

At this moment, I think about the moment my mom and I were in the same room together. That's a precious moment. I will never get that moment back. I could lose her at any time. I don't want to think about that right now. At some point, it will be a reality.

What I am saying is that it is important to be grateful for everything you have. It may seem like a tiny sprinkle on top of a giant cake, but that tiny sprinkle has meaning. Enjoy it. In fact, savor it. Time will only tell when that moment will be over.

Recognize Greatness

Do you set goals for yourself? If so, how large or small do they seem? How long will it take to achieve them? When you achieve your goals, how do you feel afterwards? Do you feel proud? What happens when others don't recognize them? How does it make you feel? You may be the type of person who doesn't need approval from others to feel worthy or the type of person who needs to hear kind words from other people when you achieve greatness. If you crave recognition, or know of someone who does, then stay tuned.

Let's take a look at me. I've always been a goal setter and goal achiever. When I achieve one goal, I will set the next one and achieve it. Each time I achieve my goals, it's a mini victory for me. However, the victory doesn't always seem victorious. When I achieve a goal, I want my accomplishment to be recognized by other people. Unfortunately, more times than not, this doesn't happen. If you can relate to me, then you know how upsetting this is. However, I've learned a few things and would like to share them with you. This is not a comprehensive list. These are themes that have come up in my life:

-No one will ever be prouder of your accomplishments than you. You spend so much time following through on your goals. Unless someone is empathetically connected with you, then don't expect others to be as proud as you.

-There are the occasional jealous people who do see your greatness. They will purposely try to bring you down because they want what you have. If this happens, avoid these people as much as you can.

-There are people who do see greatness, but won't give recognition because they think you hear it all the time.

-Don't achieve goals solely for external recognition. If you crave recognition because of insecurities, I recommend working on improving your overall wellness. I say this because I've had to work on this. 

Keeping these things in mind, here's what I want you to take away from this list. If you don't need to be recognized, know that there are people who do. Simply saying "Congratulations" can do wonders to one's self-confidence. Recognition Kings and Queens, please listen to this carefully: You are amazing. Everything you do is worth recognizing as greatness. You are worthy of everything you've ever accomplished in your life. Please see it in yourself. Recognize your own greatness. When you do, you will become a happy, self-sufficient, and confident person.

Give a Little, Give a Lot

Let's take a trip down memory lane. Think back to your high school and/or college days. When you were in school, did you strive to achieve certain goals? Did you want to be the star athlete? Would it make you happy to become Class President or Homecoming Queen? How bad did you want to achieve your goals? If it's a goal you set, then you probably wanted to conquer it. When it was time to conquer, did you follow through? Really, did you truly put your foot down and give it your all?

If you're having a difficult time answering my questions, let me help you. When I was in high school, I secretly wanted to run for Class President. Did I go for it? Nope! Why? It was my fear of being told no and because I wasn't popular. In college, I wanted to train for the Miss America pageant. Did I go through with it? Nope! Why? I didn't think I was pretty enough, fit enough, or intelligent enough. I was capable of being trained, but I didn't think anyone would support such an endeavor. Post graduate school, I had the opportunity to teach English in China. It was an all expenses paid trip. All I had to cover was my personal expenses. Did I take the opportunity? Nope! Why? I let someone's opinion of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity impact my decision. I didn't try to go through with it after hearing his opinion. 

In the examples I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I wanted to achieve my goals, but I didn't even try. I allowed the opinions of others to affect my self-concept, which contributed to me giving no effort to achieving my goals. Had I gave even a little bit, I would have known whether or not I was cut out to achieve my goals. I don't regret any decision I've made in my life. The decisions I've made have impacted who I am today.

I am a stronger person now than I was in the past. If I want to achieve something, I give everything I have in me to achieve my goals. There are still situations that scare me and make me question whether or not I am worthy of achieving a goal. When this happens, I will give a little bit. After that, I will give a little more. Eventually, I will achieve them.

The moral of the story is to try. When you want to tackle a goal, regardless of the size, give a little effort. Each time you give a little effort, it becomes easier to give more effort. Eventually, you will give a lot. You will get what you put into achieving your goals. Goals may not be achieved the first time, but no one can ever say that you didn't give. 

Make Today Count

Hold your breath for 10 seconds. After 10 seconds, release. What did you think when you held your breath? If you're like me, you may have counted down the number of seconds in your head. It's as if you knew you would stop holding your breath and would start to breath normal again. When you held your breath, did you think about the possibility of not breathing again?

How many times have you uttered comments that involve doing something tomorrow, planning for the future, or telling someone that you will see s/he later? If you really think about it, it probably happens more often than you realize. It seems normal to talk about the future, as if we know it will happen. What if the future doesn't happen? What happens if life flashes before our eyes and we don't realize it?

As scary as it may seem, there is no guarantee that you will live tomorrow. As humans, we rationalize our lives based on factors we can or cannot control. For example, genetically, people live to be in their 90s in my family. I don't smoke cigarettes, use illegal substances, rarely drink alcohol, and don't eat too many foods that aren't good for me. I don't participate in wild activities and am cautious about the decisions I make. Based on this information, it is probable that I will live to see tomorrow. Even then, there is no guarantee I will.

Each day, people pass away unexpectedly, watch life through a camera lens, or spend all their time planning for the days ahead. Before they realize it, life has passed by at the speed of lightening. At this point, people may live with regret or look back and wished they had lived a different life.

You don't have to take today for granted. It is important to be a responsible adult, but sometimes it is necessary to smell the flowers and enjoy the moment. The moment will not last forever, but the moment will shape the rest of your life.