Unexpected

As I sit here reflecting back on my 24th year only one word seems to come to mind,

"Unexpected"

Now this is both an amazing thing and a scary thing all at once.

Thinking about all the time that has passed.

Thinking about where I was when I was 23.

Thinking about what's to come.

Why I say unexpected is because so many things happened that I never thought would.

My brother in law Mikey dying.

My niece Evelyn being born.

Finding myself starting to fall in love again but quickly seeing it end.

Seeing my family change but in a good way that I never thought possible.

Seeing the growth in myself.

Seeing life go on.

It honestly is such a beautiful life, full of amazing moments and hard times and sad ones.

All culminating into this picture to look at and just feel one's place.

Self realization and awareness make life fulfilling and real.

To begin my 23rd year was something that was none the less a bit bumpy and hard. 

Followed by times of extreme trials for the family and myself.

But then it began to heal and become happy again.

I didn't want to believe it honestly finding myself feeling an energy and zest for life.

Progress and certain pasts disappearing.

Yet to end my 24th year and going into the big 25 I do so with hope and maturity I feel.

I just recently got hurt. 

Not physically but emotionally. 

Heartache for a bit. 

I am not the victim though, I had my part in the ending of something I thought could be extraordinary

But I guess it just wasn't meant. 

And I am okay and will be okay.

If you are reading this I am sorry, I think only the best of you, and hope life treats you kind. 

I feel more than any other age, 24 was unexpectedly amazing.

No other age than 24 did I grow up.

I love Peter Pan, but I'm sorry Peter this lost boy has found himself growing up.

25 may take me from my Neverland to some extent but I will always have it in my heart.

So here we go 25. 

I'm ready for you.

Thank you 24 for all you did for me and the amazing journey I got to go on.

Now more than ever I will be listening to Adele's 25 album! :)

Lunch With Starbucks

I've come to realize Starbucks truly works miracles.

 I will be the first to admit that I am against the whole Starbucks culture.

Laptops out, book club discussions, college students in ratty cardigans. Bleh.

But I decided to just sit down and break out my laptop and finish some schoolwork and work on some work emails I was needing to respond to.

Next thing I knew I was listening to music, looking up an old computer game and spinning into that all too familiar black hole of internet black whole world where you waste hours.

I then found myself becoming super productive and finishing schoolwork, work emails and reading productive articles and soon fell under the spell of Starbucks's culture.

But then I decided to check out an old site I use to read every now and then.

The name sounds cliche:

The Art of Manliness

Main site here: 

http://www.artofmanliness.com/

Now looking at this site I would think "Oh geeze, another prove you are a tough masculine guy type crap."

But honestly, I just read two very interesting articles and it isn't that macho guy image,

Or even how to make your voice deeper type vibe.

It is about being a man of good worth. I honestly suspect the guy who writes it is Mormon and that's perfectly fine.

He is a great writer and conveys his thoughts and the messages really well and it doesn't seem to target any type of guy honestly (well straight men, but just replace every word women or her etc. with guy or man).

It's a motivating site and offers great insight and honesty which I like and need to incorporate more in my day to day life. Pushes you to be the best you can and not in a nagging way but encouraging like we a men and we can be great. Just need to be reminded at times.

I read an article about your Status as a Man and the pitfalls of being in a modern world. Loved it.

article click here: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2015/12/11/men-status-the-pitfalls-of-our-modern-status-system/

And the other was about Porn. Yes porn. 

Let's be real, we have all watched it at some point and either found it alluring or got sucked into it.

I don't have an addiction at all but what the article talks about and what the guy says 

is honestly something that jumped out at me. Something motivating.

Reminds me of what my mom would say to us when we used profane words

"Would you eat or put trash in your mouth!? No. So don't speak trash."

Or something to that extent.

And the line that I LOVED from the article was..

"Porn is sexual junk food."

Nailed it.

LOL. This picture says it all. 

Article click here: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/10/08/the-possible-pitfalls-of-too-much-porn/

So thanks Starbucks, we may just have another lunch date soon.