Inspirational K

After an impromptu sushi dinner last night, the boyfriend reluctantly brought me to a nearby mall. I wanted to just walk around, help my body digest the food we just ate. We walked aimlessly until he said he wanted to go to Game Stop. We walked upstairs and went in to browse at new game titles. Needless to say, we left without buying, like most Game Stop visits. We continued our way and passed a quaint, new board game store, or so I thought, called Marbles. I pulled the boy in and started looking around. The games were nothing like we’ve seen before. Wooden strategy games, brain puzzles, thought-provoking books—basically a store to feed your brain. I was entranced, and oddly, the boy was too. We spent nearly 20 minutes in the store, reading the books, testing the games. We fell in love with a board game and spent $35 on it…very out of character for us. 

Besides the board game, I also bought a fantastic book. When I was in the store, I browsed through it a little and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to leave the store without buying it. It’s a book titled “The Book of Doing” and has a bunch of creative activities to spark your imagination and bring joy. But little did I know that it’s much more than that. I began reading it today…although for a book, there’s not much reading involved. It’s exactly what it is: a book of doing. The first several pages explains why the author, Allison Arden, wrote or rather made the book. And the rest of the pages involve everyday activities that are meant to make you see doing them differently. 

After this roller coaster of a year, from the terrible car accident that my bf was involved in to losing both my jobs (first laid off, second from lack of luck and judgement) and everything else in between, it’s been one helluva ride. It’s taken so much of me to convince myself that everything’s going to be alright…that this was meant to be and greater things will come. It’s never that easy, but after sitting and convincing myself for so long, this book has reminded me that it’s time to get up and do. Nothing good is ever going to come out of me sitting on my couch. I need to get up and start doing things, even small, everyday projects that I used to enjoy but never had time to do—painting, drawing, writing poetry, scrapbooking. The only thing that I’ve been doing these past weeks that are remotely close is cooking and blogging about it, but that’s not the same as doing something for myself. 

As of today, I vow to live up to my expectations. I will do great things that make me happy. Time is valuable and I will make my time worth it. I will dedicate time to myself to do things that I enjoy. I will pick up old hobbies that I have put aside over the years due to “growing up.” And last, but not least, in the spirit of the book, I will do one activity each day without picking and choosing. 

Thank you, Allison Arden, for helping me remember that there’s more to life.

~K

I’m a very sympathetic person and will shed tears for even strangers, but it never fails to irritate me when parents blame brands, companies, and the law for their own negligence. I understand that parents don’t have ultimate control over their children, but I do believe that proper upbringing will raise children to become rational decision makers. 

Just several months ago, two young children in my town drowned to death with no adults present. Their parents actually gave them permission to venture out on their own and play without any adults. They were concerned when the boys didn’t return home after dark. Yes, this is a very tragic incident, but those parents should have watched after their children. To reach the park with the river that they were found at, one would have to cross multiple high-traffic roads to get there. It’s not like a neighborhood park with swings and a jungle gym—and these children actually told their parents that they were going to the park, thus the parents knew the obstacles that their children were going to face. 

Another recent incident was when a teen with only a permit drove several of his friends in his new WRX while speeding on the highway, crashed, and killed all but himself. Also, tragic, but totally uncalled for when an uncle of one of the dead passengers blamed the law for having set such a “low” age to obtain a license—and he suggested that the age should be raised to 25. It’s absolutely absurd, because the boy who was driving the car, didn’t even have a valid license! There were also indications of the passengers not wearing their seat belts and that they were intoxicated or high. And to bring it back to perspective, where were the parents? To rule out questions of why an unlicensed teen was bought a new car—I was also bought a new car to practice in before I got my license, but it was no WRX, and I knew to drive it only with a licensed adult in the car.

Grieving parents would rather blame anyone else but themselves because they can’t live with the guilt of knowing that the incidents could have been preventable. Had they educated their children of consequences, of rational decision making, their children might still be here today. In today’s news about Monster Energy Drink causing the death of a teen, as other readers have noted, “You can overdose on most anything if you don’t use it as directed.” The packaging has a warning label and it has been noted in nutrition and health sources that children shouldn’t even be consuming caffeine. And now that their daughter is dead, the parents are questioning the regulation of caffeinated drinks. 

I’m sorry, but shouldn’t it be the other way around?

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(Source: icanread)

I’m so disgusted, upset, and angry right now. Read this story about Amanda Todd. She was bullied in real life and online. It’s horrible the things that people said to her. Please help spread the word and end cyberbullying.

king-of-hyrule:

People tell me all the time to get out and do something with my life. To not be a loser or a drug addict or someone who means nothing to society. I’m young, I’ll admit. But I’ve tried and tried to take a step towards being who I want to be. You know who I want to be? I want to be me. I don’t want…

What a beautifully eloquent statement this is. I hardly ever read through such long text posts on Tumblr, but I couldn’t stop reading this. Props to you. I hope this helps motivate some of the younger people out there.

~K

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Simple designs that gets messages across. <3

(Source: opiumdesign)

I love that about books too. That’s why I normally opt for fiction novels, versus non-fiction. But isn’t it about time that someone says, “Of course your life will never be as interesting! You’re always just sitting there reading!” 

If we want an interesting, fulfilling life, we must step out of our comfort zone and do the unexpected. We need to take our imagination a step further and make them into realities. 

~K

(Source: halivsworld)

Absolutely enchanting.

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