Roads

Life is defined by the roads we take, the roads we don't, the shortcuts we sometimes make, the dead end streets, and the One Way's we enter the wrong way.  Not every person takes the same roads, but we all have similar paths, and in the end we all have one thing in common: we're born, we live, then we die.  Two of the roads are similar to every person, and the way we live is where we define ourselves.  The similar paths we all share in some aspect are: education, relationships, friendships, love, career. individuality, and family.  How we take on this paths influences everything we do and all the steps we take in the future.  I'm only going to focus on six of those seven, because when I talk about my education I turn into the Hulk, and I can't smash my computer.

Relationships and love I'll throw into together.  First of all if you haven't read my month on love I highly recommend you do. because I had some pretty good stuff in there (or I might be a lil bias).  But simply put I believe every person in this world has a soul mate.  Everyone!  The key to finding them is looking everywhere for them, and especially in places you shrugged off before.  IE, the friendzone!  I spent my whole teenage life there with a ton of people praying everyday I would get that ticket out.  It never came!  Which I'm thankful for now, because only strong friendships can survive a breakup, and I think spending that time in the friend zone only made our friendships stronger.  But if you ask any successful relationship nine times out of ten they say they married their best friend!  So sooner or later friendship does evolve to more, if it is destined to!  

The road of friends and friendship should never be taken for granted!  I truly appreciate and love my friends who have stuck by me through the years, and I would not be the person who I am today if not for them.  Each friend you have has the potential to teach you a very important lesson in life that only they can teach you.  For some it takes time to get that lesson out, and others are filled to the brim of them they make a blog and blow up your phone with random text messages!  :D  But each lesson they have is worth knowing, whether it be something that should be done or not done, somebody to date or not date, parenting information, etc...the list is endless!  Just think of what your friends have you taught you do, or not do!!!  Without them teaching you that, guess what YOU wouldn't know!!!  I have a few close friends I have known since I was a wee lad, and I have a few close friends I have known for only a few years, but I swear to you I will not take either one for granted, due to the fact your old friends know how you have been in the past, and your current friends have an idea where your going.  And combining those two opinions you can figure out where you need to go!

8 Years ago to this day I was nervous as hell. why because it was the night before I started the Cheese.  If you asked me 8 years ago if I would still be a the Cheese I would of laughed at you (hence the Joker), but if you ask me today where I'll be in 8 years from now I will tell a better place because of the Cheese.  The truth is without the Cheese you wouldn't be reading this right now because the people I work with and have worked with inspire me to write it, so once again thank you from the bottom of my heart!  I'm not saying it's all been peaches and cream there but the good times definitely.  I could write a book about my times and the people I have met while working there, but words can't do it justice.  That place will always have a special part in my life, and I didn't realize it until someone else pointed out in others hearts as well.  I have the power to make Lil Timmy have the greatest 5th birthday EVER!! Whether it be helping him out playing a game, just talking to him about his favorite superheros, or wearing a giant mouse costume in all his birthday pics with Chuck!  I am kicking myself for taking that for granted over the last few years, but I promise to myself I will fully embrace that power now!!  For every person that walks through that door, because if the rumors are true, then.....  Well let's not jump to conclusions.  

First off the word individuality is a pain the butt to write, and is fricking hard to spell after typing for so long! Just thought I'd let you know that, because that's the kind of person I am!  We all are born, we all die, but only few live!  Our individuality is determined by how we take each road that we are offered.  And each road we decide to take or not to take is a huge part in creating you!  Each road I talked about before makes up you and who you will become, and the only person who knows that person is yourself!  So I can't tell you what roads to take, I only guide you with the life I have led so far.  I know marriage, kids, and working at the Cheese isn't for everyone, but it's for me and that's what is important.  I went down some dark roads in the past, but I found my way out.  I went down some bright roads and am still going down where I have no idea where they end.  And I've gone down a few one way streets the wrong way, but I just turned around and started over.  And I try very hard to avoid dead ends, because there is no point to them.  I've never been a shortcut person, and I think that's why I'm stuck where I'm at, but the truth is if I did take a shortcut in anything I did, I wouldn't be me, and I wouldn't be creating myself, I'd be creating my evil twin Sven.  :)  

  

Your mind!

I'm not going to start this off with an apology like all my others, instead I'm going to tell you why I've been silent.  I have started four different blogs in the last four months, and all of them are a quarter complete, because I couldn't finish them.  The reason why they remain unfinished is because I wasn't believing what I was thinking.  The mind is our greatest weapon when used correctly, or it can be your own personal WMD, and for me it was the later.  I have spent the whole summer attempting to think "happy" thoughts, and soon as you have to tell yourself to think "happy" thoughts, you are pretty much screwed.  The trick to anything in this world is just be, and don't think about it!  As soon as you start thinking about anything you are screwed! You start to over analyze every little detail and start to believe the worse will happen, because the thing most people think about is the worst case scenario, and if that's all we focus on guess what you start to believe it!  That is the start of the biggest downhill battle you will ever see!  So I've been focusing on the positive side of things lately, and not been thinking about the negative.  And truth be told it's a lot harder than it looks!

Everyday I wake up I tell myself the same mantra I have adopted whenever I work out, " I can do this, I will do this, I am doing this!"  Every time before I walk through my gym's doors I say that to myself. between every rep, between every set, and between every station I keep telling myself that.  The second you say you can't do something, and believe you can't you never will!   Never use the word "can't", instead use the word maybe!!  Because then there is the possibility you can, or if you're unable to you will keep trying until you do, and the word "maybe" becomes can!  There are two great motivators in life: When someone tells me I can't do something, it dares me to prove them wrong!  The second thing is changing maybe to can, and upping what you can do now to another maybe!  My goal in life is to be better than who I was the day before!! Some day's I succeed, and some I don't!  But I never tell myself I can't do it!  Instead I tell myself maybe I can!!  

Shoes and an announcement!

First off I wanna say sorry once again about the lack of posts, but there's a few reasons.  One I was on vacation, two I'm attempting to get abs through an extensive workout (it's kinda working :) ), and three this summer is now entitled the summer I wrote a book.  Which means most of my writing time will more than likely be spent writing my book, but I will try my hardest to update this blog at least once a month, so I can get to all your awesome requests, because I want to do them all.  But this month's request comes from Kourtney.  When I sent out my text a few months ago getting ideas for the blog, she said shoes!!! High heels to be exact!  And I'm one who never turns down a challenge, so here's my blog on shoes!

Now before you make me hand you a man card, not that I have many left, here me out here.  This blog will be about shoes and how it relates to life, and putting yourself in other peoples shoes.  Now I'm not saying go try some heels on, but I must admit I looked pretty fab in a pair of heels a few years ago for Halloween, ok here's my man card now :P!  I'm saying we as people are always quick to judge people, without first trying to put ourselves in other's shoes.  I'm not saying cater to everyone in the world and feel pity for everyone in it, instead I'm saying try to put yourself in their situation before you say anything or make a judgement.  You might say that might be impossible to fit yourself into other peoples shoes, but that is so far from the truth it's crazy.  

    Now just to get this out of the way, I'm not picking on anybody right now, I'm just naming scenarios where people are quick to judge, and if they took time to actually look at that person they might realize they have a similar issue.  Teenage pregnancy, we all have been teenagers and or still are.  So I will never understand how other teenagers and adults can ridicule teens who get pregnant.  Being a teenage is hard enough, and I can only imagine how it is while bringing a life into the world that was made out of love.  Most people just see the negative side of teenage pregnancy, and never realize that the mother is carrying another symbol of love into the world.  The only thing they ever see is the Mom's future being doomed, and a child growing up having a rough time.  Have you ever thought if we took half the time bitching about other people, and putting that time instead into helping how better off the world would be.  If every person who lent an ear, a helping hand, kind words, or even just a hug to a pregnant teen hell a pregnant person in general, that warmth translates in so many ways.  For one thing the Mother will feel less stressed and more happy knowing they have one more friend in the world, instead of another person who just does one thing, nothing but judge, and usually from a far, because they are usually cowards and can never say the things they say to you to your face.  And a happy mommy equals a happy baby,  and if you have both you might have a chance helping improve a young woman's life.  

     That is just one example, and to be honest my brain is fried from trying to write a book at the same time.  So the moral is if you look at every person you are about to judge I will bet you will see a part of you in there.  You may not be a pregnant teen, but you were once a teenager.  You may not be overweight, but everyone knows how hurtful words can be, and if we took the time we waste beating down others and instead put it towards a good use, the world would be a better place. 

Equality!

All right first thing first, I'm about to break a rule that needs to be broken.  I promised myself I wouldn't write when I was angry, but I believe what I'm about to say would only be able to come out if I give in my deep rooted anger right now that I have been suppressing for so long.  So just a fair warning if you want a happy blog post I would skip this, but if you want to see how I truly see the world now please continue reading on.  I think that picture sums up adulthood perfectly, Wasn't it beautiful when you believed in everything!

EQUALITY!

Allright, I gave you your chance to back out, and you didn't so you're about to hear my view on equality in life.  When we are all born we are essentially created equal for the most part, two arms, two legs, brain, organs, etc...but what really sets us apart in the long run from either succeeding or failing  in life is what we do with the life we were given, but also what the people before us have also done!  We are the results of two people getting together and joining to make one person, and you as a person have two choices in life to either become the person that they want you to be, or be the person you want to be.   I have always prided myself in being the person I want to be, because if you're not being you then who are you being.  Which brings me to equality in life, workplace, sports, love, etc...Here's the hardcore truth Equality doesn't and will never exist!  In life the guy with the more money because of who his parents are will more than likely get the girl, the person who knows people or secrets will always go further in any workplace, in sports the team with the best players always win because they have the most money to buy the best players, and love well my dad taught me a very important rule before I got married, "She's always right, and if she's wrong DO NOT TELL HER!".
In theory we are the results of our own actions, but we are also who are because of the result of the actions that come from the actions.  I've always viewed my life as going to a club, a club I was never and will never be let into.  I could be standing outside in that line for forty days straight in the sun, rain, snow, etc...but I would never be let in because of the person of who I am.  I am not a kissass, I try my best not to play favorites, I attempt to treat everyone equally at first, I'm not a douche (my exgf says otherwise), and I always put others ahead of myself.   I would rather die than become the exact opposite of who I am. but the sad reality people who are nice, play fair, treat everyone equal get nothing in life.  Nice guys/gals finish last because they are too busy helping others, than themselves.  If I was in a race and I was sprinted by a guy passed out on the trail I would run my hardest to get him a glass of water and run right back and give it to him.  Would I lose the race, yes, but as long as you stay true to yourself, in theory winning or losing shouldn't matter.  But sadly we don't live in theory, we live in reality where people backstab people who help them, say hurtful words because they can, beat other people verbally and physically, and hurt themselves or others around them.  And it seems to me people who are the exact opposite of caring, loving, kind hearted  are, and always will be the winners of life.
This entire world is based and run on favoritism its the sad truth.  Our president is voted in on a popular vote, we all have our favorite movies, cars, color, shoes etc.  So how can we ask the world to run on equality when it has never been run on it.  Shouldn't us as human's all have the basic right to marry who we want, work where we want, get paid equal shares for the same amount of work, regardless of who we know.  But we don't live in that world, once again we live in reality, where people of the same gender can't marry, people get hired and promoted due to the fact of who they know, and the douches and kissass's will always get paid more for the equal or less amount of work.  So it seems in the real world the only place equality exists is in math where 2 will always equal 2, but 2 people will never equal the same, and I sadly never see that ending, ever!  Because that is the way the world has and always be run, with the douches and Aholes running it, while the good guys/gals are busy helping everyone else, and not themselves.

Now please I beg of you from the bottom of my heart to go out in this world and please prove me wrong, because I honestly believe if enough of us stand up in this world, we might have a chance to change it!  It more than likely will be a small chance, but it's still a chance.  

As always keep love, and peace in your heart through the day!

Coming Soon!

Allrighty Guys and Gals, April was a busy month for me putting out a post a week about love.  Very tiring on my mind and heart too, I pulled no punches and just let it flow, and I'm usually not like that!  So I put out an open invite for topics and I got a ton, and I plan on doing them all!  Starting with equality because I have alot on my mind about right now, and it won't be pretty, but it will be truthful from my heart.  My plan is a post every two weeks from now until June or July to get all the good ideas I got done!  There will be some down right serious ones, some inspirational ones, some dark ones with a message, and a few funny ones (thanks Kourt).  But as I promised before if you read them I will write them, and I will try to have the first one done this week, so you all can hate me by the weekend.  But as I have always said it doesn't matter who hates you, it matter who loves you in the end!  So peace and love in your hearts and I'll be seeing you all soon.

Dane

Love: Part 4

First off I wanted to say thank you to all of you that read this again, I truly mean it!!! Thank you!! I was told by Jess to never stop writing blogs, and as long as they are being read I don't plan on stopping!!! :)  Anyways here's the culmination of a whole entire month's worth of talking about one of the most powerful things in the world, love!  To be completely honest I had no idea where I was going with this in the beginning, but each post and each thought kept coming so naturally I knew I had to get it out, so it could be heard, and not be lost in the giant jungle that is my mind.  Where there are many ideas fighting for the forefront, such as novel ideas, new job ideas, comic ideas, and etc...but hopefully now that I have cleaned out my mind some new idea will step forward and demand as much attention as love demanded!  But last week I had an epiphany why this had to be done, and you could call it Project Awesome 2.0, but I believe this is much bigger than just an upgrade, so I have named it Project: Love!  Shocking I know!! But here's what this whole month has been leading too (total lie, Project: Love hit me last week around Tuesday!) But it will change your life!

Project Love might seem like a simple exercise but it will make you think, trust me I've been racking my brain since Tuesday just thinking about it.  Project Love's goal is to help you more appreciate love and life, and hopefully shrink the all too common negative thoughts we have about ourselves and our life.  I'll be honest I have been having more negative than positive thoughts lately, and sharing my insight keeps the negative thoughts at bay.  

Step 1:  Get nice and relaxed and take a few deep breaths.  Completely clear your mind.

Step 2: Make a list of things you love about your life and yourself. Be truthful and honest, because that is the only way this will work.

Step 3: Count up how many you have and write that number at the top and date it.

Step 4: Make a list of things you don't love about your life and yourself.  Once again be truthful and honest!

Step 5: Repeat step 3 but with the second list,

Now don't lose these two lists, because you will be doing some things with them.  First off look at your love list and your goal is to include every love you have on your list everyday in any way possible, big or small, just to make sure to acknowledge it somehow each day.  It could be as big as giving a certain person in your life a big hug and telling them thank you, or a simple text with a heart and a thank you!  Big or small make sure to include it everyday!!! Just make sure to represent that love in your life everyday!

Now the second list will be even tougher, but if you fully believe you can do it, you WILL shrink that list on a monthly or possibly weekly basis, depending on how hard you want to work on it!  If that thing in your life happens that you do not love, just say the words "no thank you" and move on!  Whether it be eating too much, telling yourself you are fat, not a good person, etc... Because the moment you start to dwell on negative thoughts the more power they will gain in the long run,  Trust me I know this from first hand experience, and once you give the negative thoughts power, it is extremely difficult to gain that power back! But it can be done!

Now you can update your lists weekly, or monthly its up to you, but I'm doing mine monthly because it's hard to gain much footing and progress in a week.  You just have one goal to make the love list go up, and the not love list go down,!  Simple!  Now to show you I practice what I preach I'll show you mine!

4-29-12

Love: 16

famly, friends, job (sometimes), car, fitness, health, sense of humor, listening, speaking, music, superheros, writing, thinking, connection with people, helping others, sharing inspirational thoughts

Don't Love: 11

job (sometimes), negative image of myself, negative feelings, anger, inability to share, education, negative words that come out sometimes, lack of smiling, being ignored, loneliness, overthinking,  

So hope you take the challenge with me, and who knows all my writing my lead to a book one day :)!  One can hope!!

Thank you and always keep love and peace in your heart!

Love: Part 3! Things we do for love!

I have a few confessions to make: First my last post was dedicated to two people extremely close to me, but it's lasting message applies to everyone and everything I do in my life.  Second:  I have been asked why I do what I do, and say the things I say. The answer is simple making other people laugh, smile, think positive, keeps me the same way.  I may not be smiling (due to years of bullyage and insecurity about my smile), but that doesn't mean I'm not happy.  So I have learned by spreading what I have learned through life has helped, and hopefully will help others in the future.  And lastly Third:  I love my words have touched others, and being told they look forward to my little texts throughout the day, or getting a laugh or a smile when they really needed one (that chicken suit idea killed!  And I will do it before I die).  Human strive on communication and constant connection with other people and through Facebook, blogging, cell phones, etc... we never have a reason to lose that communication!!!  So as long as people are reading and enjoying message I promise I won't stop. And fun fact apparently I have someone in Russia who reads my blog, and that is pretty badass!!!

Now to the proverbial meat and potatoes!!!  As I have told you I'm doing 4 posts this month on Love, because it's far enough past February, and the greeting card created holiday.  Plus I wasn't really feeling writing about love during that time, because of the over saturation of that word in that month!  I never thought I could hate such a beautiful word, but when it's shoved in your face for a whole month and half, it makes me sick.  Love should come naturally and not forced!  Close your eyes and think about the ones you love, and ask yourself what would you do for them because of love.  The answer might surprise you, or it might not.  But if you think with your heart you will find out the true power of love and what it is capable of doing.  I have done a lot of things for love!  For my family, friends, work, and myself, because if you don't love yourself it is damn near impossible for anyone else too!  

For my friends I have put myself out to you, for a shoulder to cry on, for laughs when needed, and advice when needed.  And I do it all out of love!  I love all my friends!  And I feel privileged to be able to call you that!  And I know in all of you friends that I love, I would receive the same treatment back if I asked.  And that just further shows that love is evolved friendship.

For my work, I'm still there :)  There aren't many things I love about the Cheese, but one thing that has never changed is the people aspect.  I have had the privilege, and still have the privilege to say I work with the coolest people in the world.  Everyone has touched my heart, and keep me at the Cheese.  People say the Cheese would crumble without me, but I believe I would crumble without the Cheese,  That place has been my proverbial rock, and at times my happy place when I really need a pick me up! It helped me though a really dark part in my life, and for all those reasons I will forever love the Cheese!

And finally myself, this blog and project awesome is a testament to what I do everyday out of love for myself.  Like I said in the beginning spreading joy gives me joy, I bring smiles and laughter to others to help keep myself the same way, because without interaction the tears would be flowing.  I read books constantly about happiness and help spread those teachings to others, to help inspire them, because they have inspired me!  We all need inspiration!  We all have crappy days, fights happening, relationships on the rocks, days where we are bullied and soon as we let those days take the better of us, THEY WIN!  Not you!!  So I have found words of inspiration throughout the day help myself fully love myself, by sharing those same words that have brought me strength in a time of crisis.

In conclusion, I'm sorry if this sounds like rambling and doesn't make sense, (I wrote it at 1 in the morning), but I just had things I wanted to say about love!  And Love has the ability to change people, a certain I Love You to a child, or a kind hug from a friend, accepting an apology, or just listening are HUGE THINGS people do out of love, and they  have a huge impact!!!!!!  I wasn't sure where to put that, but it had to be said.  Like I said, it's one in the morning, and I'm tired :)!  So just think about what you do for love, or have done and if you feel like it please comment.  

P.S. May will be grab bag month, so if you have a topic you want to me write about let me know, and I'll see what I can do :D!!

May you always keep love and peace in your hearts, and I'm heading to bed!