Would you cut your arm off?

Would you cut your arm off? I just watched the movie 127 hours. I enjoyed the film but questioned my own allegiance to myself to cut my arm off. Logically it was a sound decision. It had to be done. BUT the question is WOULD YOU?

After he does, the protagonist still has to go through the canyon, repel down the rock, drink and bathe in a mold infested pond, walk until he finds others to aid him in his quest for help... I have to confess I'm not the best at give and take. I eat my dessert first and I try to reap the benefits before the blood, sweat and tears. The Dalai Lama said "judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it." Life is greater than an arm. But I can't help but use this logic in other areas of life. For example we are willing to give up a friendship rather than apologize. Whatever situation pops into your head, think about it.

I'm not quite sure if I completely agree with the statement from the Dalai Lama, but it brings insight into one's decision making process. So I challenge you to define success for yourself and see how it matches up to the Dalai Lama's advice. 

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. --Dalai Lama

--smeagers

Weed out the bammas!

Bamma is D.C. slang to refer to a person who has no style, class or swagger. Urban dictionary also defines a bamma as a phony or a fake. I had a conversation recently with a friend whose kind words during a vulnerable time stayed with me. "Weed out the bammas!" HAHA! his vocabulary is crazy but his advice was on point!


Our lives are often effected by the decisions we have to make. Many people go with their instincts, some analyze the situation, and others number the choices. However you choose to make your decisions you are making a choice. I don't regret much but take my time when I'm making a decision and you can be sure I have looked at the situation from every angle. But after analysis comes action. 


I made a promise to myself to not allow people who don't treat me well or appropriately to be removed from my life. In other words to weed out the bammas! When creating a beautiful garden, a gardner needs to maintain the flowers and cultivate them but also remove the weeds to create a picturesque scene. In the same way, we need to weed out the bammas to create our picturesque life. xoxo


In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. -Eleanor Roosevelt


--smeagers

Misusing facebook and twitter.

This weekend I was accused of misusing both fb and twitter. During my fb fast, I joined twitter to satisfy my social network cravings. It may just be my own preferences but I think fb is more user friendly than twitter. The part that disturbed me the most are the word limits placed on messages or comments. 160 characters? That's ridiculous. Yet a friend pointed out, if I was unable to fulfill these tweeting requirements, I was misusing my tweeting priveleges. As I got back on fb yesterday from my one week fast, another friend noted my use of fb. "So that's how you use fb?" I won't go into detail to spare me public humiliation but this jolted thoughts about social networking.

How do you use fb and twitter? Is the purpose to stay connected to your friends, network, message girls, get as many friends as you can, feel connected to the world in the library? What was and is its purpose? What can be identified as misuse of fb and or twitter? When you find out, let me know, thanks.

--smeagers

Don't assume anything.

Google assumption. Assumptions apply to various subjects from mathematics to religion. I assumed that assuming was a verb, the act of expecting a certain outcome. Yet in the dictionary assuming is an adjective defined as expecting too much; presumptuous; arrogant. I was shocked to find this definition, my whole life I have been misusing this word as well as the act of assuming. One of my downfalls is assuming. I'm oddly caught of guard by people's actions. I have been described as naive and innocent and that's exactly why. I expect people to have the same moral code or do things similar to my expectations or what I am used to. 

My assumptions have caused me great heartache and gotten me in trouble. To my defense, in order to organize information, your mind associates similarities into specific areas. That's why stereotypes are often created naturally. Our own reasoning power is where the power lies. Although stereotypes and assumptions evolve, we need to filter the information. 

The point is, each individual is unique. We all have different experiences and backgrounds. Don't assume anything. Learn and grow from one another. We all have different moral codes and reasons. Define yours and edit accordingly.

We laugh at honor but are surprised to find traitors in our midst. -C.S. Lewis

--smeagers

Here's to you.

"You are too nice." I've heard that phrase all my life, like it's a flaw. I was watching 27 dresses for the millionth time because I love romantic comedies ;) but it occurred to me that her kindness was being portrayed as a bad attribute. I've been told I need to put my boundaries up. I believe boundaries are a must and are warranted, but these characteristics should not be seen as negatives!

Of course we're are going to experience more pain than the average person because of the vulnerability that comes with the kindness that's given. But I would rather go through this than change who I am, and who I believe I should be. I always tell my roommate I wasn't made for this place and she freaks out haha! I just want to be in heaven so bad! This world is not our home and I am reminded daily by the fact that the good things, the way God hoped for it to be is seen as negatives. So for the person, struggling to be the way they are, or fighting for the way God meant it to be, here's to you!!! Let your light shine. Love you all. xoxo




--smeagers


p.s. blogging > facebook


Matthew 5

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

 ¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

    He said:    ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

    ¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.    ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

No facebook decreases depression.

Withdrawals are over I think. I'm getting more used to spending time in different ways. It's amazing the things you can do! I baked cookies, went to the gym, got kudos on my presentation which is a big accomplishment since last time they critiqued it to no end! 


Something interesting is that I find out most information straight from the source and am sooOO excited to see people. Seeing people's fb pages you get a quick heads up or update on their lives, what they're up to, who they're dating etc. But today I found out my friend has a boyfriend and I was ecstatic! :) Then I saw a friend I haven't seen in a while and I was so excited to see him! Fb has taken that emotion away from social interaction. It makes you feel like you are involved in people's lives but you aren't. It's a trick, don't be fooled!


The nerd and psychology lover in me realizes that by taking away these little bits of surprises and joys your serotonin levels aren't as high as they would be without fb. Each year about 15 million adult Americans suffer from clinical depression. I'm thinking we should take fb away from them since that statistic increases annually. LOL! ANYWAY :) 


I still miss all of you, those status updates and wall posts sound so entertaining right about now!!! LOL miss you ALL!!!!!! xoxo




--smeagers

Facebook withdrawals.

I'm not going to lie. I never thought I would have facebook withdrawals, and this early?? Maybe day 4... but day 2... ridiculous. I miss that little red pop-up notifying me that I have a message or comment etc. Instead I am left alone with me, myself and I. I find myself creating my own facebook status updates in my head. So I'm updating myself on what I'm doing... ridiculous. I don't even laugh out loud, I just snicker to myself while the letters LOL pop up in my head.

The worst part is I have no idea what you are all doing, how your day was, what's on your mind or what we're going to do this weekend! Those of you who know me well, know I'm not fabulous at texting but with no facebook I'm great at texting! I miss you all... I feel left out :(

The best part is I am so productive. I probably have done more work today than I would have in a week. WOW. 

The most important question to ask on the job is not "What am I getting?" but rather "What am I becoming?" - Jim Rohn

--smeagers 

Life is fragile.

Life is fragile... it can change in a split second. I'm lucky to be alive after my car accident and my brother joked that I was "unbreakable" since the police and firemen were astonished that I was not hurt in any visual way after my accident. Yet after all the medical examinations, more serious issues have presented themselves. Let's just say it's more serious than a broken bone.


I want to make sure that when I look back I am content with the reality that I had done the best I could, with what I had, at that time. We all want to make good decisions but we are often passive, lacking initative or are seldom active in creating results. In changing my lifestyle the next couple of weeks, I hope to create results I desire. It may or may not end up the way I wanted but my actions speak louder than my words.


Creating this blog, I am now accountable to not only myself but to you in staying true to my word. Join me in challenging yourself to align your thoughts, words and actions.


"Well done is better than well said." - Benjamin Franklin


--smeagers

Welcome!

In my quest to defy mediocrity, I realize there are changes I need to make to my daily routine. As a catalyst to this change I am creating a blog about my behavioral experiment. I tagged you in this note because you are important in my life, I've had a conversation about lifestyle change with you, I think you're funny (jason f.), or i just wanted to ;) feel free to suggest items that you feel would be necessary for me to change, or add to the list.

First week of my little experiment is no facebook. I'll be doing daily updates on this little blogspot I created just for this. I'm going to be changing one thing a week until christmas. beginning every sunday!!!!! HERE GOES!

Second week. Gym everyday. eeks.

Third week. No soda or fast food.

Fourth week. No coffee... :/

Fifth week. No TV.