#12- Importance of Play

"There's clearly a parallel in nature- you don't need to look too hard to see how frequently play shows up among animals, especially among mammals, some birds, and a few reptiles." 

I never really thought about how animals and humans coincide in the realm of play. It is said that even lion cubs will engage in "play". Their play is consistent with the way they will hunt when they are older. Just like when kids play on the playground, they are practicing for adult life without the same consequences adults face.  When administrators are taking away play from schools nationwide, they are in a sense taking away their practice for the future. It is like telling a lion club to stop playing with his brother, but as a result the lion wouldn't understand how to hunt and attack as an adult. Play is a main factor in nature.. take it out and you ruin the process of nature.
    

#10- KaBoom! Do Your Best

"It's not about your all-time best performance that matters, it's how you perform consistently, day in and day out." (pg.7)

In Darell Hammond's novel, KaBoom!, he emphasizes the importance of hard work and dedication. I personally believe that how you perform and integrity go hand-in-hand. You can't perform only when it matters, true character is revealed on how you perform when no one is watching. I have learned this the hard way through my own personal experience. For the most part, I can honestly say I always try to do the right thing and wear my specified attire to work. However, one day I didn't wear the required shirt and it just so happened that day that my Boss walked in. I was reprimanded, but thankfully not too badly because she knows the time of person I am and how I usually behave while on the clock. Being consistent in character and quality can help with situations when your character is put to the test. What I learned is that you can't take a break on integrity and performance. It needs to be consistent and I need to "walk the talk".

#11- Brazil Butt Lift

Being a big workout guru, I am always looking for new and exciting ways to exercise and "get fit". I have always been self conscious of my thighs so I started exploring for ways to lean and tone thighs. Brazil Butt Lift was one of the first items that popped up on my search. Curious, I clicked the link and I am so thankful I did. Brazil Butt Lift is a program created by Beach Body to tone and lift your butt as well as other parts of the anatomy. The trainer that leads the program is the trainer for many of the Victoria's Secret Models. Needless to say I am EXCITED!!! Some might criticize my enthusiasm for a product that might not even work. But honestly, will it really hurt me to do a bunch of butt and thigh exercises for 60 days? Um, I think not.  I ordered it online and I am anxiously waiting for its arrival :) I look forward to lifting my butt two inches. Soon I will be sending my before and after pick in and thus receiving a free tshirt!

# 9: Play Time; Girl Time

Throughout my Elementary years, I always looked forward to recess. Recess was a time when I was able to run around and release all my stored up energy. My earliest childhood memory was in Early Kindergarten when I was five years of age. I had two friends that I usually would hang with around the tire swing. Unlike most girls, Taylor and Caroline (lets just say those are their names) actually liked boys; I still thought that boys had cooties. One thing we did agree on was who the cutest boy in the grade was: Conner. Even my "cootie paranoia" couldn't overpower my idea of Conner "the cutie". One day we three girls had the audacity to ask Conner if he wanted to play house with us. Of course, Caroline being the leader she was, told Conner that he would be her husband. Conner's eye suddenly opened wide and the poor boy was struck with a look of fear. Caroline, dismayed by his silence, looked at us in utter shock. She couldn't comprehend why a five year old boy didn't want to be her husband. Suddenly Conner ran off and sat down behind a big oak tree. Being young, we didn't really grasp the concept of rejection. So we ran off happily and played our own game. When the teacher called us to come inside we looked for Conner and he was no where to be found. Finally we spotted him and he was still sitting behind the big oak tree. Our teacher went over to him and told the students to go inside.  We all peered through the window to see why Conner wouldn't come inside. Come to find out Conner had actually went to the bathroom in his pants. Enough to say, I think Caroline scared Conner so bad that he actually pooped himself. Poor guy. It was then we discovered the power of being a girl and the affect we had on boys.

Blog #8: Supersize Me

While watching commercials for documentaries in English class, on of the commercials caught me attention. SUPER SIZE ME!. I unfortunately did not get the opportunity to watch this particular documentary, but the ads did a good job of provoking my interest. It consisted of a man who ate McDonald's for so many months just to see what effects it had on the body. He gained weight and also contracted high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart issues. After a short period of time he could barely eat the food he was so sick of it. He said in the commercial that he felt disgusted with himself. I mean I would feel pretty disgusting too if I ate McDonald's EVERY day!Just goes to show just exactly how UNHEALTHY fast food restaurants are for you. Like my previous post on FOOD INC., you honestly have no idea what you are putting into your body. (Processed meat and fried potatoes soaked in grease, while you slurp down and acidic COCA-COLA). EAT & ENJOY.

Blog # 7: Food Inc. Documentary; Reality Hits

In a recent assignment for English, we were required to watch a documentary in which we had to write a paper about. The documentary I chose was Food Inc. (2008). Watching this movie was horrifying, yet educational. I had NO idea what went into the food that we eat. When I step into the grocery store, what seems to be a variety of food, is in fact just an illusion. Our world is called a "cornucopia" because most of what we eat contains "clever recreations" of corn (commonly seen as high fructose corn syrup) which is seen in most processed foods. So now I try to avoid processed food because they are unnatural and harmful to your body. Another scary factor Food Inc. addressed was how meat is manufactured. It all started when the McDonald brothers turned their drive-in restaurant into a "fast-food" business. They wanted all their burgers to taste the same. As a result, they changed the way the burger itself was processed so that all the burgers all across the U.S. would taste EXACTLY the same. Today there are four businesses that own 85% of the meat industry. So, the same companies that are creating meat for companies such as McDonald's and Burger King, are the same companies that are manufacturing the meat that YOU eat. Gross. I honestly didn't want to eat meat ever again (but I did). Food Inc. also discusses how chickens are injected with anabolic steroids that cause the chicken's growth and development rate to increase at a insanely fast pace. And you wonder why young girls nowadays are maturing so fast? I honestly think it has to do with the steroids that are being injected to the food we eat. Isn't it funny too how cancer can be tied to the meat that comes from cows? I believe that if we change the way we eat, we could very well change our health. (For good or bad). If you want an eye-opening look at our food industry, watch Food Inc.

# 5: Double Edged Sword

In English class I wrote a paper based on an article I read called, "Is Google making us Stupid?" by Nicholas Carr. He expresses his concern for the American people's intellect and how our knowledge is slowly decreasing as a result of Internet sources like Google. Carr states that we as a nation are becoming stupid. He addresses the issues of convenience and inconvenience. For example, we lack the stamina to read through an entire book due to its bulk and length. We as a society want answers, but we want to obtain them in an easy and quick manner. A part of me agrees with what Carr has to say. He makes a valid suggestion in that we are Internet dependent nowadays. I know I am for the most part. When researching for a paper I don't automatically go to my local library, instead I hop on the Internet.   On the other hand, I think the Internet is still a valuable too and has opened many doors. Through social media, I can connect with my cousin out of state and keep in touch. Ultimately, every good invention will always have a negative aspect to it. The Internet is truly a double edged sword; Be careful how you use it.

#4 Going Deeper: A Look at Beauty That Comes From Within

 Before reading this blog, please watch the short clip below. I think you will find it very interesting and very insightful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

Having self esteem issues myself, seeing Victoria's Secret commercials doesn't really help me appreciate the qualities I possess. Instead I look down at the cookie crumbs on my shirt and think, "I need to go on a diet." Not that I just sit on the couch and eat all day, I honestly try to maintain a pretty healthy lifestyle. However, seeing these "perfect" women in magazines and TV commercials causes me to think that I'm not good enough. In my mind I think that guys will only like me if I look like that: the cosmetically and physically perfect woman. Awesome. Instead of working on a beauty that is WAY more important (which I will be getting to in a second), I am more concerned with my butt, boobs, and face. Girls everywhere are more and more critical of themselves, mainly because of what the media presents as "beautiful". God forbid if you have a pimple or a bad hair day; you will never get a man! Watching this video made me realize that in all reality, those girls we see on TV aren't ALL real. Are they beautiful? Yes, they are. However, some of them actually have freckles (which can't be seen due to all the airbrush that covers every inch of their body). The issue is in fact much deeper. Honestly, girls shouldn't be so consumed with their outer image. Should you maintain proper hygiene and wear makeup occasionally? Yes, of course. My point is that ultimately true beauty is a reflection of your HEART. Just because a book has a beautiful cover, doesn't mean the book itself is a good read. Same goes for girls! You can put all the makeup on your face you want, but the true you will be exposed through the words you say and your actions. Femininity in our country is fading and it's fading fast. Modesty in our clothing style is no longer encouraged (if anything its discouraged) and purity is non existent nowadays. I'm not saying that turtlenecks need to be worn everyday. However, I am saying that if you let meat show, you're gonna attract dogs. I understand, being insecure, sometimes in order to get that short term satisfaction of "your beautiful" or "hotty!!" can boost our ego. That's only temporary! It doesn't last. However, there is a God that says you are "fearfully and wonderfully made"(Psalms 139). He takes delight in you! How awesome is that? I think it's time that we stop focusing solely on the outer appearance, but put the focus on what's on the inside. Your heart. Just remember there is someone out there who thinks you are beautiful and loved you so much he died on a cross for you.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

 Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

#3 Mother Tongue by Amy Tan

Even after being in America, surrounded by Americans 24/7 who speak the English language, even I have trouble with my grammar. If I was perfect, I obviously wouldn't currently be in my ENC1100 English class right now. Reading Amy Tan's story about how the struggles her mother faced not being able to speak "grammatically" correct, made me really aware of how I am so quick to judge. I get frustrated, not necessarily at the person, just at my not being able to understand them. One, they probably understand the language better than I do! Amy clearly expressed that her mother was very competent and read multiple intricate books written in ENGLISH. Amy expresses a tone of gratefulness throughout her article, saying ultimately that she appreciates her "mother's tongue". She also speaks about how she was stronger in the areas of math and science, like many other Asian-Americans. Even though she was pushed and swayed by other teachers to pursue those subjects, Amy chose English. Amy says people ask her all the time why her race isn't as involved in the literature "world". She said it would probably contribute towards what most describe as the "broken" English they hear at home. Another shocking factor, is that teachers sway Asian-Americans to pursue math and science and ultimately tear them away from the English field. Ms. Tan goes on to say that being rebellious in nature she chose a different path. I must commend Amy Tan for challenging herself and embracing her "mother's tongue".

#2 Once More to the Lake. E.B. White

Memories are everlasting. Ordinarily, one does not sit in constant remembrance of past happenings, primarily because our focus is too much on the future. However, all it takes for a memory to return can be due just because of the swift brush and smell of autumn leaves tumbling along a path on a fall afternoon, two people holding hands and sharing an intimate kiss, or even the simplicity of a song. In E.B. White's short telling Once More to the Lake, he takes the reader on a journey of his greatest memory; Going to a lake with his brother and father. The tone throughout is reminiscent and lighthearted. In this quick telling of his past experience, Mr. White clearly expresses how even a ringworm filled vacation was one of the best experiences of his life. He goes on to say that even as an adult the "restlessness of the tides and the fearful cold of the sea water" can ironically make him reminiscent of a "placid lake". All it took was nature to heighten his senses and the memory of a lake and his father sits on the outer rim of his mind. E.B. then at that moment decided to take his own son to the lake. Memories are everlasting.

#1 "Campion of the World"-Maya Angelou

Each and every day I can't help but to sometimes measure up my life and weigh the pros and cons. Sometimes I catch myself thinking "Woe is me"; and repeatedly find that I can't rid myself of the petty circumstances that constantly weigh on my mind. What I think is "daily struggle" is nothing in comparison to what others in our history have faced. We as Americans take for granted what God has blessed us with. We have the freedom to say what we feel, to dress how we like, and ultimately be who WE want to be. Unlike us, Maya Angelou lived in a period of American history that didn't allow her to live a life full of freedom. This discrimination was placed unjustly upon her just because she was African-American. Maya Angelou, despite most of U.S. citizens, did not find her race inferior; but in fact superior. This is visibly seen in a book that she wrote called, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. At this moment, however, I would like to focus on an excerpt from her book of chapter nineteen: Champion of the World. Throughout this specific excerpt, Maya takes the reader on a somewhat paradoxical journey; because although the story is about a man conquering, the reader is still left feeling as if he were defeated. Ms. Angelou briefly recollects on a memory about a man, Joe Louis: "The Brown Bomber", who defended his heavyweight title against a white contender. He was soon recognized among the black community as a hero. Maya Angelou writes about that specific night that he won. However, this story was not told just to reflect the struggle, and ultimately overcome of an African- American boxer. On the contrary, this story was told to convey the sense of struggle the black race had faced for years; and subsequently still faced after the defeat by Joe Louis. Describing the punches that Louis faced during the fight, Maya writes, "My race groaned. It was my people falling. It was another lynching, yet another black man hanging on a tree."  Every punch that Louis received, was a punch that African Americans had been taking for years before. Symbolically, Maya hoped that like Joe Louis had overcome, so would her people. Ironically enough, Joe Louis proved that his people were the strongest in the world, even though they were said by others to be the weakest. Next time you think you are struggling, look up the definition of struggle.