Things My Mama Taught Me

        For the past 18 years of my life I have surely learned a lot. However, I did not learn it all on my own. I have been blessed with a mom who has such a huge place in my heart. Because of her, I am who I am today. Even though I went away for school we are closer than ever and I pray she knows I will always find a way to come back home to her. Here are a few of the things my mama  taught me:

1.     Always be honest and open.

2.     Believe in yourself.

3.     If you want something, work for it, not stopping till you get it.

4.     Never forget about your childhood. That love you had for Santa Clause can still exist today.

5.     Life is full of life lessons so go ahead and write them down in a book.

6.     You are strong. People will only bring you down because you allow them too.

7.     Be proud of who you have become, but do not be prideful when it comes to your actions.

8.     Having a bad day? Grab some Mod Podge, glitter, paper, ribbon and anything else you can imagine and create till you are happy.

9.     You deserve a man who makes you his priority. No games, no rollercoasters, just love that is real and true.

10. It’s okay to cry.

11. Forgiving and forgetting are too different things.

12. Inappropriate language is not becoming of you as a lady.

13. You are capable of getting through anything because God put certain people in your life for a reason.

14. Toms are the best traveling shoe.

15. You are loved because of who you are.

      My beautiful mom and me in front of naked statues in Spain. You know, the usual.

Life & Death

Today in Religion & the Human Quest my professor handed out this poem:

Reflection on Death-

Nothing can make up for the absence of someone we love,

And it would be wrong to try to find a substitute.

We must simply hold out and see it through.

That sounds very hard at first,

but at the same time it is a great consolation.

For the gap, as long as it remains unfilled,

Preserves the bond between us.

It is nonsense to say God fills the gap.

God does not fill it,

But on the contrary keeps it empty

            and so helps us to keep alive

            our former communion with each other

            even at the cost of pain.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I don’t know about you, but this poem certainly hit home for me. It has been 6 years since I tragically lost my Grandpa and for so long I wondered why God did not fill the gaps in my suffering heart. Now, it is not like this poem answers all my questions or makes me miss my grandpa any less. Instead, this poem allows me to look at missing someone who can no longer be with me in a more comforting light. We have all lost someone we have loved so dearly and wish were still here. Try to always remember that you are not alone.  For me, I go to my mom and grandma when I am missing my grandpa and we just laugh and smile about old memories and how things used to be. The pain is hard but reach out to others because most likely they are feeling the emptiness also.

I Love Us

Well here we are, the first day of February has finally arrived. Now, I know what you are thinking, “YES, the beginning of Black History Month!” Granted, I am more than stoked for a month like this but February is also known for that little thing called Valentine’s Day. There, I said it, so let’s all try to deal with it.

            Before Christmas was even over Valentine’s Day paraphernalia was attempting— and  yes, succeeding— at  haunting every female’s hopes and dreams. OH, you think that’s a little dramatic? Have you talked to a single girl, over the age of 16, on Valentine’s Day? No? Well don’t. Most likely she will claw your eyes out. In fact, some people have adopted a new name for the day supposed to be the most love-dovey of the whole year: S.A.D. or for those of you who are not caught up on such lingo, Single’s Awareness Day.

            But hold up, where did Valentine’s Day even come from? Doing some research I of course went to Wiki. Bother you? Okay, sounds like a personal problem. Like any other tradition there are many stories trying to explain why people do what they do. Evidently, there was once a Christian martyr named Saint Valentine. The Golden Legend has it that the night before Saint Valentine was to be executed for trying  to convert Roman Emperor Clausius II to Catholicism, he supposedly wrote the first “valentine” card himself. He addressed the valentine to a young girl, who may have been his beloved, and signed the note “From your Valentine.”

            So uh I have a question. . . If Valentine’s Day merely started by a note signed by a Saint named Valentine, then how in the world did we go from a man who really did exist to a chubby baby in a loincloth with a bow and arrow that causes people to fall in love? 

Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with Valentine’s Day, but what if we are missing the point? Through my 18 long years of life I have come to discover many things, one of them being that if companies can make money off of something, trust me, they will. Pessimistic? Huh, no, I am just calling it like it is. Think about it: What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Valentine’s Day? I sincerely hope it is love, and then probably right after that, money. . . Ever tried to buy roses on Valentine’s Day? Ya, don’t. You will come to discover that you will have to take out a loan just to afford a dozen.  Here is what I think of when it comes to Valentine’s Day:

        Valentines, handmade or store bought: It’s the thought that counts, right? I still give Valentines because I refuse to believe I am not in elementary anymore. 

       Carnations: Every Valentine’s Day at my high school, every female received a flower to let them know they were loved. 

       Chocolates: Jay, if you are reading this think Godiva. Hehe, just kitten. . . but seriously. . .

       A ginormous teddy bear: Nothing says “I love you” like a teddy bear bigger than most children under the age of six. 

Hearts: I know, a classic. We are talking big hearts, little hearts, red hearts, pink hearts, shiny hearts, glittery hearts, smelly hearts. . . .Wait what?

PINK RED GLITTER AHHHHHHH EVERYWHERE

Okay, so that’s all the material things, but here is what I don’t quite understand: One day out of the whole year we pay ridiculous amounts of money to tell those special people in our lives that we love them. But wait, why do we need a specific day like Valentine’s Day to do that. Shouldn’t every day be the day to tell the people that you love that your life would not be the same without them and that you are so grateful to know them? Maybe I am too optimistic, but maybe it’s not that ridiculous of a thought.

So no matter if you are single, married, or in a relationship, take a moment today to go to the person you love most, whether it be a husband, a wife, a mom, a grandma, a brother, a best friend or maybe your neighbor (hey, weirder things have happened), and let them know you care about them.

            With all this being said, here we go folks. It’s the month of love, so let’s embrace it happy and grateful for all those people that we love most in our lives. Valentine’s Day is going to come and go, but the people that we would give the world to spend an endless number of Valentine’s Days together are what really matter, so take a moment on February 14^th or maybe even right now to say, “I love us.”