The Virus...

Why is it such a constant struggle to deal with people everyday? I'm talking about those people that insist on making life difficult for everyone around them whether by choice or out of pure and innocent stupidity. We live in a world of many different types of animals, but I think its safe to say that human beings are the most diverse, cruel, and separated life forms. We love each other one minute and then the next we wish we had never met you. By common laws of nature everything is, for the most part, consistent, but not so much for us. Even change in nature is pretty consistent. I admit that I change my mood and personality from one person to the next, but some people are like Dr. Jeckle and Mr Jackass. Shouldn't we all treat each other with, the very least, common respect? Is it really that difficult to try and be a nice person or a decent human being to those around us? Especially those who we have come to know and trust. I think there are some pretty tough people in the world who seem impervious to the subtle attacks of mean-spirited individuals, and I consider myself one of them, but at the end of the day nature conquers my immunity and my brick wall is eroded away. Some have no emotional defense at all. I'd even go as far to say there are those with a steel fortress guarding their emotions, but no one is invincible, everyone gets hurt, and in the end we try and rebuild our redoubt. It's in our nature to be defensive as well as offensive. Negativity can spread like a virus, but I think being positive is a far stronger emotions and will always win. We just don't see enough of it in the world today to see it work. I don't expect the world to change over night, in fact it's my prediction that things will consistently get worse, so it's up to us to decide whether to break down our barriers or build them so strong that eventually we aren't even recognizable as humans anymore.

The Snippet...

Walking back from lunch today, 2 ordinary men walked by me and were having a harmless conversation amongst themselves. As they briskly walked past me I overheard one gentleman say to the other, "You need to just get off the gerbil wheel..." This made my day. What a silly and unusual thing to hear when you are taken off guard. This gave me the idea to compose a journal full of quotes from snippets of other people's conversations. I'm sure we have all walked by someone, sat at a table, or just overheard some weird stuff from people talking. When taken out of context they can be quite amusing...

Prop 8...

So as of recent a proposition that California had voted for and had passed was recently over turned by a judge in San Fransisco. Weather you are for or against the proposition is really irrelevant to this post. This post is a thought of confusion as to why things can be over turned when the majority of a state voted and passed this proposition. I'm confused about democracy. In school I learned that government is not to be run by one person's views and opinions, but rather the people make up the government. The people vote for and decide what laws and regulations there will be and the judges uphold and enforce these laws. The people decide the laws, not judges. I'm not the smartest guy or even the wisest, but I feel that what has happened is wrong. Does this mean that a judge can turn around and change the legal age to drive to 5 years old? I mean if one law can be over turned why not another? Again, this isn't a post about my connection to a proposition, it's a post about the integrity of our government. If I vote for something and it doesn't pass then I accept that the majority of my state or America has disagreed with me and I will abide by what the majority wants, not necessarily agree, but abide. It's difficult to have faith in a state or country rather, where people can vote for what they want and then have a person who has been appointed to uphold and enforce the law overturn what the majority wants. I personally feel that this is just the beginning of a downward spiral, in which people will not let democracy work...

Pat on the back and a punch in the face...

So I've started to notice that people's true colors show through when you have a big event in your life or something major changes. You realize who your true friends are and who is really just along for the ride. Why do so called "friends" only keep in contact when its convenient? I don't really understand people sometimes. You might support them through the hardest times and always be there for them when they need you the most, but when they get through those hard times and find a bit of happiness and overcome their problems, you get left high and dry and later down the road those people fall back into the same cycle of going through hard times, looking for support and just like that they forget you even existed. I'm not saying I know a lot of people like this, but enough to make me think twice about what the word "friend" means. I think we far too often throw it around and use the term loosely, but we should reserve that title for the very best of people who are consistent, reliable, honorable, and loyal to the true meaning. I realize now that if you have 1 or 2 true "friends" you should consider yourself very lucky...

One man's loss is another man's gain...

So last week I was pretty burnt from work. I guess it really wasn't too bad, but I had just come back from the honeymoon and wanted to stay in that state of mind. On Friday I moaned and complained to myself about how I wanted a 3 day weekend and I wished that I didn't have to come to work on Monday and that I could move to The Caribbean and do nothing, Etc. I'm sure we all have had these thoughts, especially the one about moving to the Caribbean, but yesterday my perspective changed a bit. I was at church at my new ward in Glendale and the guys took turns going around and introducing themselves and telling us a little bit about them. About half of them stood up stated their names and ended by saying "And if you know anyone who is hiring please let me know..." I was pretty overwhelmed by how many people who were out of work. There was even one guy who stood up holding a baby and said "I will take anything I can get right now..." It was quite an eye opener for me. I hate to say it, but it seems that it takes a room full of unemployed people to make me realize how lucky I am to have a job at all. I should be grateful that in today's economic climate that I am employed and able to provide for myself and wife. I will definitely think twice before I dread coming to work on a Monday...

Big Bad Business...

So the more I work and the more I look at how this industry is and was and will be, I realize that being a bigger business is not always the best thing. I think perhaps in my line of work, staying small and being more personal with clients and employees might be better. I feel too often that businesses have the thought that if we continue to grow and get bigger and hire more people and take on more clients and expand and grow and dominate that it will best for everyone. It might be good for the company, but I think that somewhere along the way you lose something that is very difficult to simulate when you are this giant corporation. Being personal, is one of the best things that can make a company strong. Knowing everyone's name, last name, wife's name, etc. These are the things that strengthen the loyalty of the workers and the integrity of the company. I think the problem stems from greed and not living within our means. Going too far with a thought and dream and causing it to spiral out of control and losing the reason you got into the work you do. I feel that working hard, taking in just enough to thrive and be successful is the key to a happy workplace and environment...

Greeting Cards...

So as my wife and I opened up all of our presents from our wedding, the best part of the night for me were the cards and the thoughtful words people had written in them. It's an amazing and overwhelming feeling to read the support and love that so many people have for Chloe and I. We would take turns reading and each and every time I thought to myself; " Wow, I really need to tell people more often how much I truly appreciate them." I saved all of them and we are looking forward to pulling them out and reading them in the future. If ever I feel down, alone, and insignificant I need to look no further then those cards.

The thought and realization that I had is that even the greatest and most expensive gifts do not even come close in comparison to the kind, thoughtful, raw, sincere, and loving words a person can share with another. Human expression is one of our greatest gifts and I feel it is far too often neglected and abused. What a difference a simple "Thank you", "Hello", or (my personal favorite) a smile can make in a persons life. We never truly know what a person may be going through or how they may be feeling, but if we take the time to express our most sincere love and gratitude, I believe we can give someone the best gift of all and it doesn't cost a dime...