"This is Nightly News, with Mr. Depressing?" by G.

I'm sure you've heard the complaints. The news only focusing on all the bad stuff. Like the Economy being on a downward spiral. In today's weather, a swirling vortex of financial woe has descended on us all and is sucking out our life force like a leech. Yeah, sometimes watching the news makes you want to dig yourself a little bunker and hide with water bottles and multiple cans of Spam. But what exactly do people want? Should the head editor of each newspaper be replaced with a Care Bear? God I hope not. But what would be great is to see some more optimistic news once in awhile.

So when is too much... too much? People want to know what's going on, right? Yeah, the state of the world today isn't a Phillideplhia Cream Cheese commercial or anything like that. And it's not like every news channel or paper is getting on a podium and having heated battles about the end being nigh. I don't think people want news sugarcoated with rainbow sprinkles; they just want to see some positive, heart-warming news once in awhile. And what the heck is wrong with that? Nothing. I know someone would say "Just don't read the news all the time". But I don't want a blindfold over my mind either.

I don't know... while I like being aware of the state of the times, too much bad news makes it harder to find a silver lining on those dark clouds. But I think to be of sound sanity and healthy mind, you can't be bombarded with arrow after barbed arrow. Once in awhile we all need that hopeful piece of reporting that takes our minds off our troubles, if only for that little bit.

"Role Models" by G.

You know, people that you look up to. Maybe you admire a certain trait of their character. Maybe you like their sense of style. Maybe you just marvel at a certain person's accomplishments in life. But what I'm going to discuss today is what the idea of a Role Model really means. Note that I don't say it's bad, but follow me for a little while here; I'll make my case.

I think that we all have role models; much of the time it's a unconscious process. It definitly begins as a kid. Usually it's some kind of famous person, athlete, T.V dude; or if you happen to be in kingergarten, your mommy and daddy. I wouldn't call these full on role models yet though, because it's more of a like than an actual ideal that you try to emulate. As we grow up, and our spectrum of thought begins to widen, we are open to more ideas and people. But what exactly is the difference between a "role model" and simply admiring someone?

Let's look at the phrase for a minute: Role Model. A role is like your part in the drama of life; a position that someone carries out the duties for. The quarterback of a football team, the tellers at a bank, the mechanics at a garage. As for models...they demonstrate and show off something. So when you pick a role model, you are choosing to have this person as your ideal for whatever role he/she plays. That's my idea of a role model... a guy who obeys the law is a good role model for being a good citizen, or a guy who handles his finances well is a good role model for being responsible. But I think that most people understand the phrase "role model" in a different way. When we call someone our role model, it seems that he/she simply demonstrates good traits in general. Isn't this simply admiration?

So which one is it? Is a role model supposed to be simply a good person in general? Or is the role model an actual "model" for whatever role they play in life? I really do think it's the latter. I don't think I have a role model, but I view certain people as role models. I would view the pilot that recently had the emergency landing in the Hudson river as a role model for the ideal pilot; brave, skilled, and calm under pressure. But a person would argue, don't we learn much of what is right and wrong through observation? Well yeah, but why do we need a role model for that? We should take the good things we observe from everyone, and toss the bad as we see fit.

Well, there's another rambling courtesy of my headache battered brain. Leave a comment with your thoughts if you like. Til next time.

"The Loss Of A Loved One" by Sir

Hello there.

This is a very delicate subject to most people. However, it must be discussed with the people that are concerned.

When someone dies, there are many perspectives from which you can see the fact.
I'm not going to use white lies here, when someone dies, he's definitely gone... from the physical plane. Of course you may not believe in that "mental stuff", but this is just a way to see things. If you do not like these perspectives, please do find something that suits you, because that just might help you a little bit more on the journey of your life.

Anyways, as I was saying, when someone dies, he does not entirely disappear. So what if the person is not represented by their mortal coil anymore? As long as even one person remembers that person, he still exists. If you try to deny it, it will do no good to anybody. People do not just disappear like that. You do not even have to love the deceased person for him to still exist. As long as you remember him and pay him his due respects, and honor him, you do a bit of the only thing you can do : Remember the person.

"I haven't told that person I loved him/her enough, the last thing I told that person was this/that." Of course you never tell someone you love him/her enough! It is impossible to do so. You can only tell that person as much as you did, and if you really loved that person, he knows it, trust me. People know when you say stuff only because you are frustrated.

Another thing : Cry. Cry as much as you can. Fill rivers with your tears if you have to, in the first moments, it helps to evacuate the bad feelings. Cry it all out, then wash your face with fresh water. Clean the slate, as they say. From then on, you'll be strong for the departed one. I'm not saying you have to never ever cry again. Just remember the person and honor him/her as you must. The person died, and if it happened, it is because you could not have changed it. So you have to remember, do not take on the heavy weight of responsibility if it is not yours to bear! Think of it this way : The person is not suffering anymore.

And to finish with a note. If you think the person has abandoned you, then you are horribly wrong. I'm not going to tell you he's anywhere or anything, because you are free to think what you want to think. However, you loved that person and that person loved you too. So if the person loved you, would he/she really abandon you? Think about it. Maybe the person was just as helpless as you? A person that loves you never means to abandon you.

Be strong for the people you love, it is how their memories are carried on.
If not for you, do it for them.

"An Observation" by G.

How vague is that? "An Observation." Well, you can blame the imagination waterhole; it seems to have dried up... kinda like the potato wedges I got from a Wal-Mart the other day. It was rather horrific. But enough yabba dabba do, lets hear this observation.

I'm a commuter student; so I, you know, commute. The drive seems to relax me, and most of the time you just zone out as the vehicle handles the curves of the road. But on some days, when you somehow are able to be alert without a injection of coffee, other things seem to jump out at you. I suppose we don't think about it much, but the quantity of cars on the road astounds me. Different makes, models, colors, and of course, occupants. The diversity of people in their Fords or Toyotas or the occasional sanitation truck. Some are paying attention to the road, some yapping on their headsets or nom nom noming a burger. Some look angry, depressed, elated, or the ever popular "blank stare".

But as further proof that I think way too much, I start to delve deeper into this. I wonder what dreams, deadlines and due dates are swimming around people's minds as they drive like they are being pursued or navigating a minefield. I have my worries, I complain about stuff, and I think I have my flaws like everyone else. But when we step out of our egocentric world for just a minute, consider this. The roads, the highways, the skies; they buzz with people in their planes, trains, and cars. You might like to think that some people seem to come off an assembly line, but I doubt it. Everyone has something about them that you would probably never guess. We complain and bicker about many things, but you know the people that drive past you everyday? The strangers around you when your in a crowd? Your profs, the mailman, the cashier, the guy working tech support? One of them is bound to have much bigger problems than you and I do. So lets count to three, take a deep breath, and let that soak into our noggins.

We all have our troubles, and if you say your worry free then your obviously living on a mountain with an endless supply of food, water, and a broadband connection. But while the human brain will hear some things and remember them for a lifetime, there are some important lessons that we need to constantly remind ourselves of. We are egocentric by nature, I freely admit it. But to project yourself outside of your own domain, and attempt to understand the experiences of others... its a real eye-opener. So remember, for all the bad luck that you feel life has thrown our way, there is without a doubt another person who is suffering even more. While assuming things about people is incredibly easy, there is always more to the story.

Fin. Got an opinion on this? Lets hear it.

"The Butterfly Effect" by G.

So I'm sure you've had it with the "Happy New Year's", so I'll spare you the overdone pleasantry, and get right into it. There seems to be a pretty big list of resolutions that people create at the start of a fresh year. Half the people who make these resolutions either try them and just let them go, or never start them at all. There is definitely a part of us that craves instant gratification, me included. But if you could get something that quickly, it probably isn't worth much in itself. So maybe we need a different perspective on all this. To accomplish that, lets briefly explain "The Butterfly Effect".

The Butterfly Effect is a notion that if a butterfly flapped its wings, it could cause tiny changes in the atmosphere that could change or prevent the occurrence of a tornado. But I'm not trying to bore you with theory. What I want you to take is that something very small could cause something very big. When we make our resolutions or goals, sometimes its tempting to make big leaps. These big leaps are more than often impossible or hard to stick to. To affect change in anything takes time, patience, and work. But if a butterfly can alter the path of a tornado, why can't your hard work now pay off with even greater rewards at the end?

Some people scoff at the idea of starting small. But starting small and enduring is ultimately better than going off like a rocket and fizzling a short time later. If the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare ever held water, it's with the process of achieving goals and making changes. You just have to believe that your small but strong actions today will eventually lead you to what you want. It's just one step at a time.

Good Luck.

G.

"What Keeps Us Going?" By G.

It's hard to say. The times are getting harder than ever. I've never been one to be a gloomy worrywart, but maybe this world is forcing me to have a metamorphosis. I think everyone's true worst fear is of the unknown. And what is unknown? Hell, many things. I don't know where I'm going, where I'm going to get the money to pay for the things I need, and I wonder what to do next. But I'm still here, and I think there's something that keeps our finger pressed on the play button of our lives. It seems that no matter how bad things get, there is always this tiny, but powerful glmmer of hope, Hope that this country can pull itself out of these rough times. Hope that I'll actually find my calling. Hope that one day I can truly discover myself. But hope is just that; hope. Thoughts have no force behind them unless the keepers of those thoughts choose to act upon them. As long as I continue to believe that I have the power to change something in my life or in the life of someone else, then it's worth it to carry on. To really succeed in anything, you need that combination of brains, motivation, and determination. Most people have one or two of these things, but its that missing piece that eludes them that prevents us from reaching higher. So we trudge onward. Imagine what it would be like to have all our dreams fufilled. It's these things that fuel the need to go on. And I say to you, the path to reaching anything is just one foot after another. One of these days, your going to wake up, rub the sleep out of your eyes, glance in the mirrior and see your most precious dreams be a reality. Until then, keep that fire alive.

I haven't been keeping up with Thoughts of G as much as I should be, but I'm on break for the next few weeks, and I will definitely write up some posts that are worthy of your attention. The past few I've written are disappointing to me, and were probably originated from the guilt of not writing more often... heh. Thank you for visiting this blog, and comment once in while so I know what you think of this stuff! Adios.

"Lost" by G.

It's a feeling that comes often now. It seems like everyone is so sure of what they want to do in life, and then here's me without a concrete plan. Is this wrong? Not wrong, but it could be problematic. It's nice to know that your feet have a solid path to walk on in life. But with that set path, that routine, there isn't much novelty or newness. I want stability as much as the next person, but I don't want my life to just be average. Two sides are always in this constant clash. The rational side, who wants peace and security, and the dreamer side, who wants excitement, discovery, even a little surprise.

We all feel lost once in awhile. We'll sit down and just lounge in our mind's fog, wondering what will happen next. We might even go through our past for a little bit, relieving old times and good memories. But it all comes back to that same point. Uncertainty. And we are always a tiny bit afraid of the unknown. But if we don't try to delve into the unknown at some point, we will never discover what potential treasures lie in wait there.

So we can't stay lost forever. Eventually our compass starts pointing us in a certain direction. We decide to take some course of action, and our lost-feeling-induced siesta is finally put to a calm end. There is nothing wrong with being lost once in awhile. As long as you eventually think things through and continue moving onward. We are going to lose our way often as we go through life; it is our ability to pull out the maps and chart a new course that determines what fate we receive.

Blogger'sUnite Special: "The Plight of the Refugee" by G.

Is is once again the start of another Blogger's Unite Day, in which the power of the web's numerous blogs is put to good use by spreading a powerful message for a noble cause. Now, let's begin.

One cannot easily think of the trials the refugee has to go through. But we can at least try to walk in their shoes. Imagine having to pack up and leave your home, on the spot. You don't know when you will ever see your home again as you walk away. You don't have a real place to go, and your possessions consist of the clothes on your back and little else. Staying would mean having to face persecution of many kinds, or being caught in the crossfire of conflict and war. You might even be separated from your immediate family. How would you deal with this situation?

This is the plight of the refugee, and many of them do not get the help that they so desperately need. As a refugee you would want to find safe haven by fleeing to another country and applying for asylum. However, not everyone will be able to get to a host country. Even more refugees are separated from their friends and family in the process of having to leave their homes.

People don't ask for war to show up on their doorstep. People do not request to be persecuted because of their beliefs and religion. These things happen beyond their control and tear the lives of normal people apart. They say home is where the heart is, but refugees are missing that part of their soul.

The worse parts of Humanity are what come out and displace these unfortunate people. But maybe the best parts of Humanity can redeem the world a little bit for what it has done to these refugees. As long as conflict and discrimination exist in this world, the existence of refugees will continue to be a sad reality.

So, what can you do? At the very least, arm yourself with some information. Check out the U.N Refugee Agency, or take a peek at this list for fifteen other organizations that help out refugees. You are sure to find some way that you can contribute to this effort.

I conclude this post with a simple message. Having a home is something that many of us take for granted. These people have been given a very unfortunate situation and are doing their best just to survive. Whether by spreading the message, donating time and money, or directly finding ways to help, the citizens of the world have a duty to at least be aware of problems like these and try to do something to help out our other human brothers and sisters. I thank you for reading this post, and hope you took something useful from it.

If you are interested in Blogger's Unite, visit their webpage here.

"Justice" by G.

What do you think of when you see that word? I prefer to think of that statue of “blind justice”, a blindfolded woman holding a balance and a sword. Justice with equality and without bias; that’s what the justice system supposedly strives for. But the concept of Justice goes deeper than that. Can you equate “Justice” with “Revenge” sometimes? Perhaps. I would like to believe that people really do collect some kind of “karma”, and that they will eventually pay for their bad actions. But sometimes, just by seeing the things around you, or paying attention to what’s going on in the world, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of justice. I’ve always thought of Justice as simply punishment for bad deeds. If a person does something bad then I don’t think that it should just be let go. But that’s a more moral and simple kind of Justice. People usually think of Justice either in the courts or in law enforcement. Whether the accused will be guilty or innocent. Whether investigators will catch the criminal. But Justice can span farther than that. Individual people sometimes choose to take it on themselves to bring Justice to something or someone. But why do we feel so strongly about this? It’s simply a part of being human. Some things wound the soul so deeply that people feel that they need to take some kind of action to heal that wound. Big victories don't come often in life, but rest assured that once in awhile, Justice is served to the ones who deserve it.

"Strike the Match" by G.

We live. And as we live, we think and feel. I know that we humans have many wants. Potentials that have yet to be reached. Sadly, many of us don't go to that higher level. We kid ourselves into being content with who we are now, even though we know we can be so much more. Well... you can change all that, right now. By striking the match.

Something that I stress often is that you only know for sure that you are living this one life, right now. There is no better time to reach for the stars than the present. Your goals are waiting. Your happiness and content are waiting. But Life waits for no one. I assume that since you are reading this, you have a little spare time on your hands. If you think you've done everything you wanted to do in life, give yourself a pat on the back. But for the multitudes of others like us who have yet to accomplish everything they want; listen up. The time is now for you to strike the match and change what you want to change. It's a simple choice; really it is. You are either content, or you aren't. But nothing is going to happen unless you light that fire in your own heart. A fire of motivation. And of hunger. Hunger for what you want.