We Aren't As Smart As We Seem

I know a lot of people in retail stores in my home town because I have worked in retail in the past. I was in a store over the weekend and while paying I overheard a conversation between a cashier and a customer.The customer had given the cashier some cash and some change and the cashier had no idea how much to give them back. Maybe you have been in line and this has happened to you. 

Then I remembered being where that young cashier was and thinking to myself how it blew my mind as well. Many of these kids are straight A students and school and are great at math, so why can they not count back change to a customer?

The reason is that they spend so much time in schools teaching these complex forms of algebra that they neglect to teach fundamentals. I remember as a student being able to use the quadratic equation but when it came to nickles and dimes I was lost. It seems as though the things most practical to life are completely ignored in educational systems. So we are going to have a bunch of math experts running around that have no concept of something as simple as handling change. 

We really need to get back to teaching our kids fundamentals and stop focusing so much on the things we will never use. I think being well rounded is important and learning complex things is great but when simple tasks become mind blowing we need to fix things. We are turning into a world of very intelligent idiots and we can fix this problem by teaching fundamentals first then complex things later. 

Trust Is The Key To A Great Relationship

It is bound to happen in a relationship at one point or another. The person you care about most is going to lie to you about something. It doesn't meant its a big lie or that they are lying about anything serious, but it hurts just the same. You start second guessing everything they tell you, thinking that if they would lie about that, would they lie about this.

I have been there a few times in my life and I know the concern it can create, and I also know how it effects your trust for that person. Let me be real clear about something. If you don't have trust you have no real relationship. Relationships that last are build on a trust that you know that person will never do anything to hurt you.

Yes little white lies come up from time to time, but you should know how they can change things between you as a couple. Sometimes we lie to keep from hurting someones feelings, but you should never lie to the person you love. Maybe you tell them they look great even if they don't and that is not really what I mean. I mean telling them you didn't do something that you know you did, or telling them you were one place when you were really at another.

These things can severely limit how close you are to your significant other. If you feel you can't trust them, or they feel they can't trust you, your ability to grow closer and move forward slows down significantly. It is really hard to love someone when you think they aren't being honest with you. Love is is tricky thing and when you are playing with someones emotions honesty is going to be your best friend.

Always be honest with the person you love and try your best to earn one another's trust. Your relationship will grow stronger and you will become much closer if you do. Love is built on a foundation of trust, and trust makes you fall deeper in love! Trust is the key to a great, long lasting relationship.

Punished For Showing Love And Support

A friend of mine sent me an email yesterday and it really got me thinking. The email stated that there was a little girl that was told she couldn't attend school because of a dress code policy. At first I thought it wasn't a big deal until I continued reading. I read that this little girl had shaved her head in support of a friend who had been undergoing treatment for cancer. This brave little girl shaved her head to show her friend that she loved and cared for her, but the school would not allow her to come back because it violated their dress code. Eventually she was allowed back to school.

 I don't know about you but I thought loving others and making a difference was more important than some school dress policy. This is why America is in the shape it is in. We have allowed certain entities to become so powerful that we have no rights in an education system. If kids can't love others then what does that say about the future of America?

I understand that if a dress policy is in effect it must be enforced, but given the circumstances this little girl should be commended for what she did. It is not like it was a fashion statement of a High School kid, it was simply a young little girl with love in her heart. If she had done this to be different then they should enforce a dress code strictly, but simply being supportive is an entirely different thing.

Wake up America! We are going in the wrong direction from where we started. If you want a more promising future for your family then realize what is happening and maybe we can do something about it.

We should all strive to be more like this young girl, because she has something that we have lost through the years. Courage and Love!

Be Careful How You Use Social Media

Just about everyone in the world has a Facebook, Twitter account, or some other form of social media. While it is great that we have come so far in technology that we can communicate with anyone at any time, I feel as though there is a slight problem. Connecting with friends and family is not where the issue lies in social media, but what people are using it for. 

If you look on people's profiles it seems as though there lives are all about how much trouble they can start. This is something more common in the teenage crowd, but I have been seeing it with adults as well. Social media can be a great tool if used correctly, but many people do not use it for any good.

I want everyone to be safe and so these are the things to keep in mind when putting content on your social profiles. 

It may not seem like a big deal to put your phone number, address, etc on your profile, but there are some sick people in this world. You should be extremely careful in what you allow the world to know about you. When you tell people where you live, you could be inviting danger to come right to your front door. Not only could you be endangering yourself, but you could potentially be putting friends and family at risk. 

The second thing I see a lot is people putting pictures of themselves at parties and in not so modest clothing. Many companies today check into your social media accounts to see what type of person you are. It may seem unfair, but a picture of you half naked at a party last Friday could cause the company to change their mind about hiring you for the job. Good character is hard to find and when they see pictures of you showing qualities that they are not sure about, they could potentially reconsider. 

Finally the garbage that some people put on social media is not suitable for all ages. People at every age are on social media networks now. From Middle School to Senior Citizens alike all have profiles on some form of social media these days, and the things that people see you posting could have a poor impact on how people see you. Now in no way am I saying that you should care what everyone thinks of you, but you should know that a first impression is everything. You shouldn't be upset if people don't like who you are, but you shouldn't let it be because you come off as a distasteful person. Often times everyone can see your profile, and you are setting an example to those reading about you. The reason the world is in such a mess is because we are all seeing nothing but garbage in our society. Younger generations are looking to the older generations as a guide and the things they see on social media can have a significant impact on their character in the future. 

I am not saying that Facebook and Twitter are the devil by any means. I think they are a great example of how far we have come in Technology, but use these things to deliver good messages and for people to see a positive profile. There is enough negativity in the world without seeing it on social media. What you put out there for the world to see can not only endanger you, but it can have an impact on the generations that follow. Set a good example and use it for what it was made for.... to connect people from across the world, not to see how much drama and attention you can get from it.

Keep these things in mind and keep striving to live better tomorrow. Enjoy your Facebook and Twitter accounts, be safe about it, and show the world some love and maybe we can all live in a better more positive environment.

Spend Time With Your Family

I have a friend that makes great money but works 50 plus hours a week. He probably has more money than he knows what to do with, and honestly he has more money than he has time for. What I mean is that even though he makes great money he is missing out on so much that life has to offer.

I know we all want to make money so we can live and buy the things we want, but when you have no time to do the things you enjoy is there really any point in having all that money? When you have a lot of money and no time to spend with your wife or family then you are not really in the plus in any way. On the other hand if you have the time to spend with your family you may not be able to provide for them the way you would like to. 

You need to decide what is important to you. If working long hours is what you have to do to support your family then do what you have to do, but I would suggest that you take a long look at your priorities. I can say that your family at home would much rather be with you and have less things than for them to have everything and you never be around. 

One reason the world is in the mess it is in is because there are fewer relationships being built at home. Children need there moms and dads and they need that bond from a young age. Kids lack respect for adults now because they are never around there adult figures in the home. We could be moving in a different direction if we would spend more time with our families. Yes it is important to work, but it is important to realize that your family should always come first. 

Learn to balance your family life and your work so that you can not only provide, but also be there for your family. Family is far more important than the things money can buy. You can never get the time you lost back so make sure you make the most of it. 

Getting Your Hear Broken Is Tough: How Can In Benefit You In The Future?

Moving on from a bad relationship or a long one can be really difficult. One of the toughest times in my life was when I was just out of high school and had my heart broken. When it first happens you feel like you are never going to get over it. Months later you still feel the pain when you think about it, and nothing seems to take your mind off the fact that you lost someone you cared about 

For me the hardest thing was realizing that the person I cared about didn't really care much about me. Well I moved on as will the rest of you reading this even if you feel like there is no way. It takes time to realize that the person you cared for so much just wasn't the right person for you. I know it sounds cruel to say, but I feel like getting your heart broken is something everyone should experience. I feel as though is builds character. The more things you experience in life the stronger you will ultimately become.  

I sure didn't feel this way at the time, and if someone had said to me you need to have your heart broken I probably would have said they had no soul. Looking back now I thank God that I experienced the heart break because I have a new outlook on life. Some people are just no good for you, and no matter how bad you want them God knows what is best for you. I used to pray that things would get better and they just never did. Now that I have moved on I know that not everything is going to go the way that I want. Sometimes God's plans for us are a lot different that what we had hoped for, but in any circumstance we are right where we are supposed to be. 

Getting your heart ripped out of your chest lets you experience rejection. Believe me you will be rejected a lot throughout your years on this earth, but you will keep fighting to find what is right for you. It teaches you to bounce back and that you can overcome things. Most people like myself, will not let their heart be vulnerable for a long time after a break up, but just like anything in life we must get back on the horse and try again. We also get to see what God feels like during these times in our lives. We love someone so much yet we are rejected the same way God loves us but many people reject Him as well. 

Anyway, just remember that if you haven't had your heart broken yet, you will at some point or another. If you already have, think of how you have grown from that experience. Don't do like I did and become bitter for a long time. Life is too short to become angry over someone that didn't care about you. In time you will find the person that God planned for you to be with. If the person you think you want to be with at one time or another never breaks your heart then you will never find the TRUE love of your life. Stay positive, live your life, understand that the things that happen to you help you grow, and keep striving to live better tomorrow!

Get to Know Yourself

Over the years our personalities change significantly. Some people change very little and some dramatically either for the better or for the worse. We can go from being shy to outgoing, happy to sad, or any combination you can think of.

It is undeniable that our personalities are what makes us who we are. It is something that makes us unique from everyone else. People can have similar personalities, but everyone is different in some way. The personality we display doesn't necessarily reflect the real you unfortunately. We often hide our true feelings and hide behind fake smiles or intimidating body language.

So what does this mean? 

We are hiding our true identities from the people around us. The people we are close to are never going to see the real us, and even worse you won't know yourself. We get so caught up in doing what the newest trend is that we forget about who we really are, and what separates us from the rest of the world. Chances are if you would take the time you would discover things about yourself that you never knew. 

If you were to sit down by yourself for a few hours each day, and do something other than sift through other people's Facebook status, you would probably discover some hidden talent or gift. We all have something in us that makes us 100% original and it is our duty to find it. You don't need to follow the crowd on this one, you need to get to know the real you!

Take a few minutes to a few hours a day to get to know yourself. Stop following others and start being true to yourself. Instead of being caught up in everyone else's life, get to know the person you live with everyday.... YOU! You never know what you will discover about yourself until you make it a priority, and the people you care about most will be impacted as well. Keep striving to make your self better and stronger so that you can live better today and tomorrow.