Something I ponder about often,

What if we were suppose to talk to everyone we happen to catch eye contact with. What if it means that our paths should cross when an event like that happens? But we ignore it because we don't want to come off as strange or awkward? How many interesting people and adventures would we encounter if we just said "Hi"? Hmmmm... 30 day challenge of saying "Hi" and attempting to strike conversation with anyone I exchange eye contact with.

Haruki Murakami makes me think. Realized I met and became friends with Adam because I wrote on his wall randomly one day, asking him to tell me a story.... He wanted to call me.. And tell me the story... What a strange and life changing moment...

From my friend Erik

I can't go back to sleep after I read that. I'm really touched by it and I'm so happy for him!! This just goes to show me how important it is for us to be conscious of our actions because we can really have an impact on others, whether it's positively or negatively, even when we don't know it!! It also is another example, a huge one at that, that everyone has a story and struggles they're going through, we must remember to be kind to everyone. You never know who you may impact. GAH!! I'm so proud and so excited for him....

Comments like these inspire me and keep me going

I'm so grateful for them

Tiffany quoting me something related to gym that can be applied to daily life

Heres a (not verbatim) quote by george leonard:  "mastery demands falling in love with the plateaus".  Theres also this fitness writer i love that says something like for every 30 workouts or whatever the majority of them will be mediocre, a few will be terrible, and a few will be awesome.  I like to apply that to life in general and it really helps to keep my expectations realistic about having good, bad, and mediocre days. Well, just wanted to share that.  it sounds like youre kicking ass though keep on keepin on

A perspective on what soul mates are......

“People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.

A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.

A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master...”

― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

Excerpt that Renee posted as a facebook note from Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Life and Love from Dear Sugar

Dear Sugar, 

I read your column religiously. I’m twenty-two. From what I can tell by your writing, you’re in your early forties. My question is short and sweet: What would you tell your twentysomething self if you could talk to her now?

Love, Seeking Wisdom

________________________________

Dear Seeking Wisdom,

Stop worrying about whether you’re fat. You’re not fat. Or rather, you’re sometimes a little bit fat, but who gives a shit? There is nothing more boring and fruitless than a woman lamenting the fact that her stomach is round. Feed yourself. Literally. The sort of people worthy of your love will love you more for this, sweet pea.

In the middle of the night in the middle of your twenties when your best woman friend crawls naked into your bed, straddles you, and says, You should run away from me before I devour you, believe her.

You are not a terrible person for wanting to break up with someone you love. You don’t need a reason to leave. Wanting to leave is enough. Leaving doesn’t mean you’re incapable of real love or that you’ll never love anyone else again. It doesn’t mean you’re morally bankrupt or psychologically demented or a nymphomaniac. It means you wish to change the terms of one particular relationship. That’s all. Be brave enough to break your own heart.

When that really sweet but fucked-up gay couple invites you over to their cool apartment to do Ecstasy with them, say no.

There are some things you can’t understand yet. Your life will be a great and continuous unfolding. It’s good you’ve worked hard to resolve childhood issues while in your twenties, but understand that what you resolve will need to be resolved again. And again. You will come to know things that can only be known with the wisdom of age and the grace of years. Most of those things will have to do with forgiveness.

One evening you will be rolling around on the wooden floor of your apartment with a man who will tell you he doesn’t have a condom. You will smile in this spunky way that you think is hot and tell him to fuck you anyway. This will be a mistake for which you alone will pay.

Don’t lament so much about how your career is going to turn out. You don’t have a career. You have a life. Do the work. Keep the faith. Be true blue. You are a writer because you write. Keep writing and quit your bitching. Your book has a birthday. You don’t know what it is yet.

You cannot convince people to love you. This is an absolute rule. No one will ever give you love because you want him or her to give it. Real love moves freely in both directions. Don’t waste your time on anything else.

Most things will be okay eventually, but not everything will be. Sometimes you’ll put up a good fight and lose. Sometimes you’ll hold on really hard and realize there is no choice but to let go. Acceptance is a small, quiet room.

One hot afternoon during the era in which you’ve gotten yourself ridiculously tangled up with heroin, you will be riding the bus and thinking what a worthless piece of crap you are when a little girl will get on the bus holding the strings of two purple balloons. She’ll offer you one of the balloons, but you won’t take it because you believe you no longer have a right to such tiny beautiful things. You’re wrong. You do.

Your assumptions about the lives of others are in direct relation to your naïve pomposity. Many people you believe to be rich are not rich. Many people you think have it easy worked hard for what they got. Many people who seem to be gliding right along have suffered and are suffering. Many people who appear to you to be old and stupidly saddled down with kids and cars and houses were once every bit as hip and pompous as you.

When you meet a man in the doorway of a Mexican restaurant who later kisses you while explaining that this kiss doesn’t “mean anything” because, much as he likes you, he is not interested in having a relationship with you or anyone right now, just laugh and kiss him back. Your daughter will have his sense of humor. Your son will have his eyes.

The useless days will add up to something. The shitty waitressing jobs. The hours writing in your journal. The long meandering walks. The hours reading poetry and story collections and novels and dead people’s diaries and wondering about sex and God and whether you should shave under your arms or not. These things are your becoming.

One Christmas at the very beginning of your twenties when your mother gives you a warm coat that she saved for months to buy, don’t look at her skeptically after she tells you she thought the coat was perfect for you. Don’t hold it up and say it’s longer than you like your coats to be and too puffy and possibly even too warm. Your mother will be dead by spring. That coat will be the last gift she gave you. You will regret the small thing you didn’t say for the rest of your life.

Say thank you.

Yours,
Sugar

Such a sweet thing Courtney Overdorf said to me,

"Your unabashed curiosity it what makes you great. I hope you never lose that."

A note to my reader from Romania

Hi! I was wondering who was viewing this blog because I've never told anyone about it before!  I'm guessing you found it through some random google searching.

I want to thank you for taking the time to consistently reading it! :)  I hope it has helped you in some kind of way.

If you'd like to talk sometime, post your email down in a comment in this post and I'll contact you! :)

I'm wishing you a wonderful day.

A profound thought that Tiffany shared with me last night on overcoming the fear of living up to your potential

Last night I asked Tiffany what she thinks she needs to do so that she would get used to the feeling of success and she said something very profound.

DT: What do you think will make you able to emotionally come to terms with the fact that you can live up to your potential?

Tiffany: Ahh I guess I was just thinking of just letting myself experience success in small doses.  Like focusing on the next immediate logical step or change in order to grow and letting myself experience success with that instead of letting my mind jump forward to the end result and getting overwhelmed with that

Texting Tiffany About How the First Meeting Went for the Accountable Group

Yaaay! The first accountability group went well!! With these things I think in the beginning people are a bit stiff since they don't all know each other yet. But it went well. 5 people out of the 10 came in today! 4 of them couldn't make it and 1 of them hasn't answered back to me. But I was actually really glad that it was a small group this time around because it was much easier to facilitate and lead. I was so nervous right before because of the whole talking in front of a group thing but after I got into it it wasnt so bad! My favorite thing about it was how people would chip in with really good advice that would help the other person with accomplishing their goal!! There was a really cool collaborative energy that was starting! For now it's going to be Thursdays at 7PM. I don't know if I want to do every Thursdays or just every other Thursdays! But yeah! I'm really glad I got around to organizing this finally! I had been procrastinating for the past 3 weeks on it!! Finally kicked my ass and set the meeting date and then just figured everything out as I went before the meeting date.

Sweet things Mike Said to Me

Mike: You're beautiful and you're the best girlfriend I could ever hope to have. I love your passion for life and growth and learning. I think its hot you were working on the solar rover and are teaching yourself about electronics and mechanics and robots. I want to share your passions and grow with you. I know were both better people for loving each otherm

You're understanding and loving and encouraging and I think everyone who meets you is lucky to have the experience :)

I know sometimes I can be jealous, selfish, immature, afraid. I'm happy that you continue to love me.

Me: Awwww baby! I love you so much! You're the most understanding and loving and patient boyfriend I ever had. We are DEFINITELY better people having known each other. I've grown so much as a person ever since I met you, from social growth to emotional and mental growth. Those were some really sweet messages that you sent me. I can feeeel those feeeeels baby. I love you so fucking much. Thank you for telling me all of that. I really really appreciate it. 

Mike: Of course baby :). I love you so much.

You're the best and I want you to know it :)

Me: YOURE THE BEST. I love you baby. And I'm always here for you! REMEMBER THAT! 

Mike: Thank you baby

I wish you were here with me. I miss you a lot and I'm feeling sick and vulnerable.

Me: I wish I was there for you so I can help you feel better baby. But don't worry! You'll get through this!! <3

Mike: I just wanna say too that everyone loves us. I think were an inspiration and model to other peoples relationshiis

Me: I think so tooooo baby! :3 I think so too!! 

Two important things I learned from Barry Terry said Day 1 of Landmark

People will always judge you, no matter what. Be someone or stand for something that is worth judging.

I will die someday. And after I die, I will be put into a hole that will be filled back up with dirt. After that they will put a tombstone up. The tombstone will feature my name and my date of birth along with the date of my death. In between that there is a dash sign. A small little dash sign. That little dash sign represents my whole life between birth and death. How do I want to spend that dash? Living a life always waiting for "the right moment? Or living a life fearless of failure and just embracing the fact that it's okay to fall on my face as long as I get back up. And having done things that makes me feel fulfillment and happiness?

The concept of What Happened versus Story. How the story we make up in our minds carry over to all aspects of our lives for a very long time. It can be something that happened to you when you were 4 and it can carry over up to when your 40 or even follow you til your death. It won't go away until you confront it and acknowledge it and then find a way to resolve it. To understand it and then let it go.

What Robin told me after I texted her

To let her know that she's stronger than she thinks she is and wishin her a wonderful day and that she'll kick butt despite her feeling sick.

And she responded back with:

So many people smile because you sparkle so brightly... I hope you have a wonderful day and spread your passion for life everywhere! 💕💕💕

The feels are so real!! I'm so glad to have met her on Instagram! She's a constant inspiration for me to stay for and to keep up with yoga!

Mikey's response to one of Sjana Earp's instagram posts

Sjana: Made it safely to LAX airport! ✈️ currently waiting for a connection flight to Miami then staying at a cheap hotel tonight before a morning flight to The Bahamas to stay and play with @_bahamasgirl_ , her beautiful family and hopefully hang out with some of her marine friends too☀️😃💛🌴 I had a lot of time to ponder and explore my thoughts on the plane, and had one epiphany in particular about the purpose of life.. I used to think we had to achieve something to become fulfilled or to do what we came here to do.. "Destiny" if you like. But I was thinking, what if the purpose of life is really just to FEEL. To dig deeper, explore, discover, learn, play, develop, grow closer to people/places/things and to just exist and experience as MUCH as we possibly can? Not to "achieve" anything as such - but just to DO things. To intentionally place ourselves outside our comfort zone. To get lost only to find ourselves. To travel the world; see it's every corner. To meet new people, fall madly in love with a stranger, taste new foods, try new things, dance under the moon and skinny dip in secluded, secret places. To switch off, wander solo and listen to what your soul and heart really craves - then go after it! who says there has to be a "right" or a "wrong" way to live? Just do it I say.. Just go! Have a spoonful of insane courage and start living. Have no plans, and no intent of ever reaching a destination - knowing that enjoying the journey IS the ultimate goal. "If we were meant to stay in one place we would have roots, not legs" - unknown #foodforthought

Mikey: this is a beautiful epiphany! I can only hope everyone has or shares a similar one of these at some point in their life. I remember reading a survey about the number one thing elderly people regret as they approach death and it's not doing things they wish they had, fleeting moments of should I and then letting outside influence or doubt shy them away from living. People live inside of other people's dreams all the time, whether it be their parents expectations or the idea of "success" . One of the most liberating things you can do is begin to live for yourself and your experience/dream instead of being ruled by your surroundings, be it physical or otherwise. We all struggle in this demanding world and it's to be expected. It's how we let those struggles shape us that's important. Some say it may be selfish to live for yourself but one of my favorite quotes from my favorite rapper E-dubble is "Charity is great but you can't help until you make it too" so whether it' spiritual, financial, or philosophical we can't help without first having a foundation or place to contribute from. Thinkin about that usually makes me more focused on goals without feelin guilty or selfish because if your intention is good and can produce abundance for yourself and others alike then it's a positive endeavour imo. It enables me to understand what I can do in the future for people who aren't me when I'm more complete and centered as an individual overall :D

Seth Godin on "The Right Moment"

The right moment

You might be waiting for things to settle down. For the kids to be old enough, for work to calm down, for the economy to recover, for the weather to cooperate, for your bad back to let up just a little...

The thing is, people who make a differencenever wait for just the right time. They know that it will never arrive.

Instead, they make their ruckus when they are short of sleep, out of money, hungry, in the middle of a domestic mess and during a blizzard. Whenever.

As long as whenever is now.

Great Advice for how to excel in College

From /u/colenotphil in the thread:
http://www.reddit.com/r/marketing/comments/22p86n/marketing_student/

Current marketing student, getting a B.S. in Marketing at the University of Connecticut, USA.

1. Get an internship in any way possible. I applied through everything from visiting my school's marketing department office to usajobs.gov. I applied to everything and was persistent and polite, got several offers for this summer (and I'm just a sophomore).
2. I personally have found that the technical and analytical skills are more valued, but this differs from job to job. I self-taught myself Photoshop and Illustrator CS6, I have been learning programming languages through codecademy (free!), and I strongly recommend that you become a whiz with Excel. Seriously, know every feature inside and out, including keyboard shortcuts and macros. You will not believe how much this has worked to my advantage; I took a class at my uni that went into the harder parts of excel and access, but I'm sure there are online resources.
3. Start reading industry material (e.g. blogs, magazines, etc) now. Just like a layperson wouldn't understand the Wall Street Journal at first reading, keeping up and reading every day will teach you more than you would expect.

Personally, I love marketing, but it is the most popular major at my business school; you have to work to make yourself stand out. One in two students is looking for an easy A. I have purposely chosen the best and/or hardest professors throughout. Why? Because I have quickly learned that GPA doesn't matter (so long as its not shit) as much as people skills and actual business knowledge.

Recapping Thu Ngh about what Professor Morgan said about Self Assurance

AHHH THUUUUU I LOVE YOU!!! ^_____^ All of the answers to your questions arewithin you Thu ~~~~~!!!!  :) I'm taking the classes at OCC! EEPS!!! They are absolutely AMAZING!!!!!! 3 hours seriously go by SO FAST!! I learn sooooooo much in those classes!! And also my professor is all into self development and being a good person!!! So he's very inspirational and motivational!!! He was talking about traits in successful people and one of the traits was, "self assurance", 'its different than confidence because has its ups and downs. I can't teach you how to have self assurance, it's either you have it or you don't.Self assurance is from within and it's what keeps you going no matter what.  Self assurance is the unwavering faith that you won't give up on yourself. The whole world can give up on you, but that doesn't have anything to do with you. You pick yourself up and go at it again." And OMG I almost started to tear up ;___; it was so profound!!! 

Richard Branson on how to be a badass entrepreneur

Don’t wait for someone to pick you. Most people go through life doing exactly what’s expected of them, and waiting for people to pick them for things – for a job, for a promotion, for a good grade, for a spouse, the list goes on. If you are waiting for that, I have bad news for you. No one is going to pick you. No one is going to give you an envelope with a million dollars in it. No one is going to say, “wow, what a great office manager you are. Here, takes these keys. You deserve a new car!” No one is going to pick you. So what do you do? You pick yourself. You choose yourself. You give yourself permission to dream huge dreams and to pursue them. Great accomplishmentsare the result of relentless pursuit. Focus on your health, on the blessings you have already received, and will receive. Act as if you already had the things you want. Don’t be afraid to do what makes you happy. Give yourself permission by picking you.