Life can get to be pretty boring sometimes, with the same old routine you did last Tuesday. So I challenge you to change it up a little. With simple things as easy as making a silly face at someone when you pass them in the hallway. Put a little laughter in the school. But before you do this I think something you should keep in mind is learning to laugh at yourself. Everybody makes stupid mistakes, and you really shouldn't feel bad if you make them. If you laugh at yourself for them it lightens up the mood and people will probably forget about them anyway. If they do tease you about it later you'll feel comfortable about it, and have another good laugh anyway. Hey, laughing makes you live longer!
Another thing you can do to make the world a brighter place is to get to know the people who most people call the outcasts. If you see someone sitting by themselves go talk to them. You'll probably find out something interesting about them you never knew. Who knows they might be a really cool person and you could become best friends. I mean look at Michael Phelps, when he was little he was picked on all the time by other kids. Look at who he is now. What if the boy sitting in the corner by himself turns out to be your future boss? How would that look?...
So the next time your feeling gloomy try to brighten someone's day, it'll probably put a smile on your face too.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
To Play or Not to Play..?
The tennis season recently ended for me. I'm pretty sad about it, but it got me thinking about sports and the pros/cons of playing them. To start with the pros, playing sports is not just a great way to get in shape but it also helps you meet a lot of new, and different people. Some of my best friends are in the sports I play. Through sports I've also become friends with people I probably wouldn't have gotten to know otherwise. For example, my basketball team. There are many different groups of people I get the chance to play with. We all come from very different backrounds yet we still have that connection of basketball. In reality it took a few years for us to get to the point where we were comfortable with each other. We seemed so different from one another we didn't quite know how to act, but then this past year it clicked in our heads that it really didn't matter where we come from or who our other friends were. Our team as a whole grew into more than just a basketball team. Just think; that was only one year. We still have at least three left. So, you see how friendships can sprout so quickly.
Sports also help with grades. In order to remain playing on the team you have to have at least passing grades, and some schools now require more than just passing. It helps motivate students who normally would say hey just forget it, but now want the chance to show who they can really be. And keep this important part of their life going.
There are also some disadvantages to sports. First off there's always those crazy parents who are never satisfied with the way the coach is running things, or how much playing time their child gets. It's always a big downer when there are parents like that, especially when the coach really is trying their best. Sports also take up a lot of time. Which isn't always a problem, but after awhile you can get pretty worn out.
In the long run I think sports are a good thing. They provide so many opportunities, and connect you with so many people. So I would play if you get the chance, and even if you don't want to play organized sports go play around with your friends. It's really fun!
Sports also help with grades. In order to remain playing on the team you have to have at least passing grades, and some schools now require more than just passing. It helps motivate students who normally would say hey just forget it, but now want the chance to show who they can really be. And keep this important part of their life going.
There are also some disadvantages to sports. First off there's always those crazy parents who are never satisfied with the way the coach is running things, or how much playing time their child gets. It's always a big downer when there are parents like that, especially when the coach really is trying their best. Sports also take up a lot of time. Which isn't always a problem, but after awhile you can get pretty worn out.
In the long run I think sports are a good thing. They provide so many opportunities, and connect you with so many people. So I would play if you get the chance, and even if you don't want to play organized sports go play around with your friends. It's really fun!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Struck by Poverty
hello again,
This Wednesday is See You At The Pole. Which is a time once a year where people all around the country meet out in front of the flag pole to pray and spend some time worshiping God. It's a really great experience so I really suggest it if your school does it, and if not there's still time to make it happen! Anyway, earlier tonight there was a rally to talk about what we're going to be doing this Wednesday and what we still need to do to prepare for it. A lot of the local churches gathered together and we did some worship and prayed. Then we broke off into groups by our schools and talked about whats going to be happening. It was a good time to get everyone on the same page and also to get new ideas. When we joined back up as a big group we watched this really moving video. It was a poem this girl had written to God about the world and the suffering going on around us. It started from creation and how there was no sin when God made the earth, but then the tree came along and Eve ate the apple, and then sin entered our world. And it kept getting worse from there.. blood was shed, persecution for beliefs, the cry of those who everyday struggle just to get a meal, and pain we can't even begin to imagine. It really touched me. How can people have nothing, less than nothing, but still be so happy. While we have so much, yet we're never satisfied. Is this the kind of world we want to live in? At the same time, it opens my eyes to what true faith in God is. We should be able to be struck down by poverty, but still see how beautiful the world around us is. We should be able to lose everyone we care about, but still wake up in the morning with a smile on our face. What bothers me is we are so blind to see this! We're so caught up in our own worlds we're oblivious to what's going on on the outside. It breaks my heart to know that there are people out there dying of disease wishing they could walk one more day, while there's other people pretending to be sick just so they don't have to go to school. Now I'm not saying you have to go out and start an organization, although that would be great, but I just ask that you pray for these people. Pray deeply, with compassion. We can't suddenly stop poverty, but we can at least to this simple task.
This Wednesday is See You At The Pole. Which is a time once a year where people all around the country meet out in front of the flag pole to pray and spend some time worshiping God. It's a really great experience so I really suggest it if your school does it, and if not there's still time to make it happen! Anyway, earlier tonight there was a rally to talk about what we're going to be doing this Wednesday and what we still need to do to prepare for it. A lot of the local churches gathered together and we did some worship and prayed. Then we broke off into groups by our schools and talked about whats going to be happening. It was a good time to get everyone on the same page and also to get new ideas. When we joined back up as a big group we watched this really moving video. It was a poem this girl had written to God about the world and the suffering going on around us. It started from creation and how there was no sin when God made the earth, but then the tree came along and Eve ate the apple, and then sin entered our world. And it kept getting worse from there.. blood was shed, persecution for beliefs, the cry of those who everyday struggle just to get a meal, and pain we can't even begin to imagine. It really touched me. How can people have nothing, less than nothing, but still be so happy. While we have so much, yet we're never satisfied. Is this the kind of world we want to live in? At the same time, it opens my eyes to what true faith in God is. We should be able to be struck down by poverty, but still see how beautiful the world around us is. We should be able to lose everyone we care about, but still wake up in the morning with a smile on our face. What bothers me is we are so blind to see this! We're so caught up in our own worlds we're oblivious to what's going on on the outside. It breaks my heart to know that there are people out there dying of disease wishing they could walk one more day, while there's other people pretending to be sick just so they don't have to go to school. Now I'm not saying you have to go out and start an organization, although that would be great, but I just ask that you pray for these people. Pray deeply, with compassion. We can't suddenly stop poverty, but we can at least to this simple task.
A Day in Downtown Minneapolis
hey there!
This weekend I went to downtown Minneapolis with a group of kids from my church. We went to a hip hop studio called Peace Palace. In the morning we split into groups and did community work around the area. Later we met back up and had lunch in the park. It was really fun because there were a bunch of kids there and we were playing around with them. And I suppose that sounds pretty normal for a park, but the kids started doing flips off the equipment! It was so crazy! The best part was one of the kids drank his pop when he flipped off. Now thats talent!
After that we headed over to Peace Palace and they taught us how to hip hop. It was SO much fun! Just picture a whole bunch of kids who have NO idea what we're doing trying to breakdance. .. not a pretty sight! But, after lots of laughs and a few falls, we pulled it off. We even learned some dances and had a dance off at the end.
Another thing they had us do was write raps. They were REALLY funny! We rapped about playgrounds, books, music, and even BIG JUICY GRAPES! It was such a great experience I wouldn't trade it for anything. If you ever get the chance to learn to hip hop, do it. You learn about the culture and what it really means to people. Plus you meet some awesome friends!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Just Goofing Around..
hello again!
I was reading the paper recently and there was an article about young people doing different kinds of pranks across the country. It just cracked me up! Some of the pranks being done were really funny. In one of them there were people lined in a subway car mirroring each other. Another prank was a finish line put up with people cheering along the sidelines, while unsuspecting bikers/joggers would find themselves caught in a marathon race. There were so many other outrageous ones too, but what I found was really cool was that the people pulling off these pranks were just trying to spice up the world a little. Get everyone out of their old boring routines. I think that's important for our world today. Some people our too caught up in what's going on they don't take the time to laugh a little.
Another thing I was thinking of when I read this article is what it would be like to have that happen to you. So your just walking down the street and out of nowhere strangers burst into song and dance around the streets as if no one is there but them. How outrageous would that be? If it happened to me, I would probably have to join them!
Have you ever thought about doing something crazy like that? I mean besides the fun, spontaneous things you may do with your friends, but getting a huge group of people, most of whom you probably don't even know, and acting totally crazy! I think it would be so much fun! I'm sure you might get some pretty strange looks, but isn't that half the fun of it? So, next time you see someone walking down the street looking pretty gloomy, try and brighten their day with something as simple as a smile.
I was reading the paper recently and there was an article about young people doing different kinds of pranks across the country. It just cracked me up! Some of the pranks being done were really funny. In one of them there were people lined in a subway car mirroring each other. Another prank was a finish line put up with people cheering along the sidelines, while unsuspecting bikers/joggers would find themselves caught in a marathon race. There were so many other outrageous ones too, but what I found was really cool was that the people pulling off these pranks were just trying to spice up the world a little. Get everyone out of their old boring routines. I think that's important for our world today. Some people our too caught up in what's going on they don't take the time to laugh a little.
Another thing I was thinking of when I read this article is what it would be like to have that happen to you. So your just walking down the street and out of nowhere strangers burst into song and dance around the streets as if no one is there but them. How outrageous would that be? If it happened to me, I would probably have to join them!
Have you ever thought about doing something crazy like that? I mean besides the fun, spontaneous things you may do with your friends, but getting a huge group of people, most of whom you probably don't even know, and acting totally crazy! I think it would be so much fun! I'm sure you might get some pretty strange looks, but isn't that half the fun of it? So, next time you see someone walking down the street looking pretty gloomy, try and brighten their day with something as simple as a smile.
procrastination is not a good destination...
hey readers!
I have a bit of a problem. I'm what you would call a procrastinator. For those of you who may not know what that means, it's someone who puts things off until the last minute. In my J-10 class we're supposed to blog twice a week as part of our grade, but being the procrastinator I am, just started blogging today. Sorry Mr. Worth! So, I decided to write this blog about procrastinating and why it isn't the best choice. By doing this maybe I'll be able to convince some of my fellow procrastinators (including me!) to not put things off anymore.
I tend to procrastinate a lot, which can be a problem. Procrastinating causes a lot of late nights, and rushed feelings to the point where you really aren't doing your best. Researching on the computer, I recently learned that procrastinating is out of habit, so if you haven't started, DON'T! It gets to be a pain! I'm a pretty busy person so when I do get a chance to relax, homework isn't really the first thing I want to do. If my homework is due the next day, I'll do it right away (a cheesy little rhyme for you). The problem really comes when the assignments are due a week later, those are the ones I wait until the night before to finish. I always have it done in time, (grades are really important to me) but I tend to have to stay up late in order to finish them.
There are a few things I haven't procrastinated on, and I've found it's so much easier to do it right away. Then later in the week I don't have to worry about it. But still I tend to fall back on my old habit, and put the next assignment off until the day before it's due..so, I've made a plan. I've decided that as soon as I get the assignment I'm going to split up the work I have to do equally between the days. That way when it's due I'll already have it done, which means..no more late nights! Now I've realized this sounds a lot easier than it probably is, but i have to do something to get out of this nasty habit. So, I'm really going to try...starting tomorrow.
I have a bit of a problem. I'm what you would call a procrastinator. For those of you who may not know what that means, it's someone who puts things off until the last minute. In my J-10 class we're supposed to blog twice a week as part of our grade, but being the procrastinator I am, just started blogging today. Sorry Mr. Worth! So, I decided to write this blog about procrastinating and why it isn't the best choice. By doing this maybe I'll be able to convince some of my fellow procrastinators (including me!) to not put things off anymore.
I tend to procrastinate a lot, which can be a problem. Procrastinating causes a lot of late nights, and rushed feelings to the point where you really aren't doing your best. Researching on the computer, I recently learned that procrastinating is out of habit, so if you haven't started, DON'T! It gets to be a pain! I'm a pretty busy person so when I do get a chance to relax, homework isn't really the first thing I want to do. If my homework is due the next day, I'll do it right away (a cheesy little rhyme for you). The problem really comes when the assignments are due a week later, those are the ones I wait until the night before to finish. I always have it done in time, (grades are really important to me) but I tend to have to stay up late in order to finish them.
There are a few things I haven't procrastinated on, and I've found it's so much easier to do it right away. Then later in the week I don't have to worry about it. But still I tend to fall back on my old habit, and put the next assignment off until the day before it's due..so, I've made a plan. I've decided that as soon as I get the assignment I'm going to split up the work I have to do equally between the days. That way when it's due I'll already have it done, which means..no more late nights! Now I've realized this sounds a lot easier than it probably is, but i have to do something to get out of this nasty habit. So, I'm really going to try...starting tomorrow.
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