Blessed are the pure in heart.

The local gas station up the street from where I live is always being run by the same man. I frequent this particular place about 3 times a week, without fail. The man has dread locks and speaks with an accent. Never a negative vibe from him. I usually just say my usual greeting, pay for my cheap cigarettes and go. But tonight I made a comment about how often he works, and he informed me that he works 7 days a week. I told him something along the lines of "well, at least you can sleep in" after finding out his ours at this BP station, but he shook his head. Little did I know, he's got a family of 4 in Africa, and he supports them by himself. "There's a second job", he tells me. "Sometimes you have to do more than you need to for just yourself...to help others". He said that he doesn't always want to grind to pay the extra, but he is working his hardest to have his kids move here to Florida. It is worth the added effort to him, a beautiful and noteworthy thing. His heart was emerging from his body as he explained all of this. I saw the raw battle against self versus selflessness, and it was obvious the latter was winning.

The trapped feeling being emitted by this man lasted but a moment, when it took a bold turn to a positive outlook. His hard work and the love for his family brought me to a realization; what it means to be happy with what I have. I only support myself. I do what I want, when I want, and enjoy my part-time restaurant job. I don't even have any pets. I take care of ME, focus on ME, and never really think past the idea of my self-indulged lifestyle.

What happened tonight hit me hard in the heart. Made me think, reflect, and above all things it drew a gratefulness out of me that I'd not yet experienced. Sure, growing up you learn to be happy with what you have, but the more I think about this man's situation the more I look like a lousy human being. There's no award for being a self-absorbed part-time worker. And unfortunately there's not a scholarship for a pure heart. But there are blessings granted to those who are of this caliber. Unseen and unforeseen. I admire what is to come for such a being as this guy, whose name I cannot pronounce, from a place in Africa I cannot locate on a map, with a heart of love I can but hallucinate.

...............................................................

I realize I am blessed when I meet someone who supports their 3 kids in another country, works 2 jobs 7 days a week here in the states.. just make conversation with people, because understanding people's struggles and values is understanding gratitude and truly defines love. Real and untainted.

All it takes is a mouth to smile and an ear to hear.

though i create for us so many goodbyes, it always strengthens our next hello.

though i create for us so many goodbyes, it always strengthens our next hello.

Love.

I live my life, a series of moments and decisions, with the knowledge that I am loved. I am loved by family and friends, that is for certain. But what is this thing called love? A feeling, passion, affection, to need or require without compensation.. And is it timeless and eternal like the God of man who can be studied in the Bible, who can be a personal companion spiritually? That can be proven, yes, but with personal experience.
I feel love given me. I see it daily. It provides me with joy and satisfies that want to be nurtured people are born with, then gives reason and opportunity to love back. But where does it come from? It is relatively easy to identify the feeling, but to find the quintessence can be a journey, if trying to rule out Creationism. So why do that? A God, body unseen but not unheard can be given that credit. The prevalence of such a creator is entirely everywhere. And the love unconditional. I struggle with a selfishness and hope that man can come up with some idea that makes sense about where everything came from. There was initially a seed planted or rather there is a boundless, infinite author of love, the author of life. This love is stronger than humanly possible--had to be in order to support all mankind despite astounding imperfection.

I've got to pick up where I left off later. Time to go live off of some lovin'

"We are happy when for everything inside us there is a corresponding something outside us." WBY

Fly

Living with the mantra Plvs Vltra, I desire to always be open-minded, always up for growing. Further beyond to me signifies having the courage to spread my wings and fly, to face challenges and experience much.

Just getting back to my family after a year away has helped me realize a lot. I understand and hold a stronger bond with my loved ones, I appreciate like never before the relationships I have and the love that is given me. Always keeping in mind what I ought to be grateful for, in this time I have more gratefulness than ever. And it just keeps getting more profound. Sacrifices were made for me to go away and pursue a dream, and have yet to be made as I further reach for the perpetual sky of my dreams and upcoming experiences.

Spain gave me knew eyes in a new land. The culture enchanted me, the people accepted and taught me. I took pieces of where I was that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I faced challenges with a language that initially scared me out of my mind, but in the end left me dreaming and breathing and living completely in Spanish.

What I take away from such a fantastic time is a joy that cannot be explained. I will never again live another year like this past. So what I only want now is to further my life and experiences, challenges and growth. Whatever life brings, let it be the wind under the wings which allow me to fly.

feelings.

Feelings.
We all have them. They are very real.

One day you may think you are in love. The next day you may never want to love someone again. Do you control your feelings, or do your feelings control you?

Do you make ALL of your decisions based on feelings? Sometimes its hard not to.
Are you really "listening to you heart"? Or Just what you temporarily want or think you need?

Life is full of decisions. Do you let your feelings make them for you? Are you just thinking about the here and now?

Does the future ever cross your mind? Don't let them take over. You will lose yourself in your own feelings that are just temporary.

Where do you want to be in 10 years? If you base all your decisions on you feelings, will you ever get there?

Before you let your feelings take over, does any of these things cross your mind?

*written by my little sister, Naomi 13 years old. her understanding and inquisitiveness is so cool.
I love you Naomi, I´m here for you. And I´m glad you´re there for me.