our form of entertainment

Home Finally!

Working in retail really makes vacations short and lonely. I am tired of being in school or working all the time and am ready to be home! I got a short little vacation with Drew and his family and I miss them already! Drew, you are the greatest and I miss you tons! Thanks for always putting a smile on my face.

I got home this morning and am totally stoked! I have already hot tubbed with my big sis, watched a movie with my little sis, and have been laughing tons. Check out these funny photos and vid. Alexis and I have too much fun on my mom's new mac desktop.

there are so many reasons to dance today

This song is so stinkin fun.

I have too many clothes. I want more everyday.

I buy expensive things sometimes.

I have more than I need.

I complain about being poor, when in reality, I don't know what it means to be poor.

Here is what it means to be poor:

80% of the world live off $10/day or less.

20% of the world (1.5 billion people) live off $1.25/day

22,000 children die each day due to poverty

1.4 million children die each year because they lack clean water and sanitation.

Consumption of Resources:

The richest 20% of the world consume more than 80% of the world's resources

The next 60% consume about 18% of the world's resources

The poorest 20% consume about 2%.

Costs:

For basic education for everyone- 6 billion dollars

Safe water and sanitation for everyone- 9 billion dollars

Reproductive health for all women- 12 billion dollars

Basic nutrition and health for everyone- 13 billion dollars

Total cost= approx. 40 billion dollars

It would cost 40 billion dollars to solve the world's greatest problems and yet...

61.6 billion dollars is spent on US diets

69 billion dollars is spent on TV ads

148 billion dollars is pent on fast food

This overwhelms me.

Go To Song

I once read that you should have a few "go to" songs for specific times in life.

A song that you have in times of sadness or stress is a complete necessity for me.

I love dancing like a crazy person and singing out of tune. Music is a glorious gift.

I have been falling in love with the Jackson 5 recently.

No, I AM in love with the Jackson 5. I like listening to new music that has no memories attached to it. New music does not evoke emotion, it brings new emotion to a new moment in time.

So as I read about these so called "go to" songs, I instantly realized that "I'm Coming Out" by the Supremes, and "Respect" just really get to me, and stir up all kinds of fun, exciting emotions- that leave me dancing and singing all over the place.

Along with that, the Jackson 5 are my new pandora station, and it only brings about my "go to" songs.

PS- I am sitting in Pleasant Blends with Makayla and Whitney drinking a pumpkin chai. Whoowee life is good.

You Are Here

There is a Buddhist meditation center in southern France called Plum Village. At least once a year in plum village, every monk kneels down before his brothers and sisters there and asks them to shine light on him- meaning to tell him how they see him.

Whoa...That is a pretty grand leap I'd say...How scary. How humbling.

After learning about this practice, I began thinking how much I wanted to do it. I think I will start with my sister and then move on to my roommates. It seems harsh but oh so necessary.

From the point of realization, I should learn how to be a better me. I will know what I need to work on, and what I am really good at. I think everyone could learn a lot from just asking someone to describe their strengths and weaknesses.

I really do want to be a better me.