Make This a Chapter in My Book...

Growing up, everytime I had a good, philosphical thought, I'd shout "Make this a chapter in my book!" Well, it certainly is not a book, but it's close enough.

I've decided to document via blog all the random concepts I've come up with over the years. Having turned 21 not more than two weeks ago, I'm pretty much ready to take on the world - blog style. I really tried to fit in to the "my boyfriend dumped me, and I got a great deal on this plus I just sewed an entire wardrobe" world of blogging, but that didn't go over too well.

These posts are loaded with random (sometimes useless) facts that you can hopefully gather inspiration from! ...or atleast, a conversation starter or two. Give it a read, so that you won't be tempted to judge the "proverbial" book by its cover... or in this case, the "proverbial" blog by its URL.

Chapter 36: Sometime You Need to Change Your Course

There was a Captain on a large ship and as he sat in his chamber, one of his sailors came down to him and said: “Sir, there is a light up ahead.”

The Captain said: “Well, is it coming straight at us or off to the side?” “Well”, the sailor replied, “it’s coming straight at us.”

“Then we must be on a direct collision course with another ship,” said the Captain. “Signal them that they must change theircourse by 20 degrees.”

The sailor ran off and did as he was told. He returned and said: “Sir, they signaled to us; ‘change OUR course by 20 degrees.’”

Well, the Captain was a little bit disturbed by this and he said: “tell them that I am a CAPTAIN and I COMMAND that they change their course by 20 degrees.”

The sailor ran off and did as he was told. He returned with their message: “I am a SEAMAN SECOND CLASS and I still suggest you change your course by 20 degrees.”

Well, by this time the Captain was mad; he was very mad, and he said, “You tell them I am a BATTLESHIP and I DEMAND that they change their course by 20 degrees.” Well, the sailor ran off and did as he was told.

Then he came back and he sat there silently as the Captain demanded: “So, are they changing their course?” And the sailor replied:

“Sir”, they said, “I am a LIGHT HOUSE and I recommend you change your course by 20 degrees.”

I came across this story while reading the book "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" (which i highly recommend). The author, Stephen Covey, is pointing out the need to change our point of view in order to see things in the right 'light' so to speak.

The sea captian saw only his authoritative rank as a means to get what he wanted, but when presented with actuallity, he then changed his course. We are the captain when we head in our own direction oblivious to the wise council we have surrounding us. Only till we are about to collide with reality do we step back to reassess the situation - and that's only if we're lucky.

Don't let your ego get in the way of the lighthouse ahead.

Read More 0 comments | Posted by HMiracle

Chapter 35: Oh Happy Day a Blog Award!

Goodness Gracioius, I got's myself a blog award!

Yep, feel free to be insanely jealous ;) I was awarded this honor by the gorgeous Sarah Says... so basically you should definitely go and check out her adorable blog!

The Rules:

*List 10 things in no particular order that make you happy.*

Pass the award on to bloggers that brighten your day.

Well, then! I guess I should get to it.... Hmmm, ten things that make me happy.

My cat, Craig... I mean, the guy is great. Doesn't matter if I happen to step on him, one shake of the "treat bag" and he's back to being my Bff. (I don't step on him on purpose LOL... he just follows me around... waaay too close)
Shopping. Yes. There, I said it. Aaand i love it. Plus, I substitute "mall walking" as an under-appreciated form of exercise. Tight buns and adorable clothes - sounds like a win win to me!
I really really enjoy driving. I dunno, there's just something about flying down a winding road, windows down, music up, warm weather... all by myself. Sheesh, i feel relaxed just typing about it!
How I Met Your Mother. That show is - wait for it - awesome. No other words to describe it. I watch it, laugh waay to loudly, and quote the crap out of it for the next week.
Spring. I love being outside, washing my car, nature hikes - right when the temperature hits a balmy 70 degrees (farenheit lol). Birds chirping, flowers blooming, basically the whole nine yards lol.
This is so random, but a good quote really makes me happy. In fact, every good quote, inspiring picture, and so forth that I find, I document in the pic-blog site called tumblr.com - here's the link to my quote-hoarding tumblr :D http://inspirationtumblr.tumblr.com/ < face="verdana">my creativity genes weren't functioning properly when it came to choosing a name. Crap.
Funny people make me happy. I could really talk to funny people all day. Like they say, "Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." (heehee... more quotes)
My Sister, Ashley. I just love her to death! .... girl can make a statue happy - I hope I'm like that too.
Aviator sunglasses and Diet Coke. Weird, I know. I feel like i always have to have both with me at all times! Of course, it's no help that I lose the sunglasses (i secretly think people are jealous of the awesomeness of my aviators so they take them.) I think i bought my 7th pair last week. And i drink diet coke like it's a cure-all for every disease in the book. <>
...

Ha! I decided to keep #10 vacant for the future things that will make me happy. I'm sure I'll find something awesome that makes me happy and update this list later on.... hmmm, always weird to think about the future, no? Exciting too :D

As to the peeps who make me happy, it's all of you guys! And i'd simply love to know which ten things make you happy! (Also, i encourage you all to look at each other's blogs.... too much greatness to miss out on. For real).

Sarah Says... yes yes, I know you can't re-award the person who awarded you. It's like giving the principal a diploma and saying "Good job, Chief!" lol, but you still gotta check her out!

Without Rhyme or Reason <>hilariousness. Watch out for Swat teams and the natives, though ;)

Shiny-Pretty: All life's sparkling moments I love this girls blog! I mean, really. The title even gives you the warm fuzzies.

Fashion by He - haha ok, I'm sure this guy doesn't even know me, but he constantly snaps creeper photos and then posts what he thinks of them. I lol'ed.

20-Nothings this blogger is an exceptional writer and posts things most everyone can relate too... a very good read!

Alpha Blonde the title is win - win. I love girly girls!

*PLACE HOLDER*

* I've got to tell ya'll something - WORK BLOCKS HALF OF THE BLOGS I FOLLOW :.( feel free to cry with me. When i get home, however, I'll add the rest of my favs to this list. (This is also the reason my comments are limited on some blogs) :( (stupid work internets filter aka day killer!)

Read More 3 comments | Posted by HMiracle

Chapter 34: OMG I wish it was Summer

IT IS TOO COLD OUTSIDE. I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE WARM SUNNY BEACH. That is all. The following are some pics i snapped while at our summer vaca in St. Lucia.... *sighs* true love peeps, true love.

It happened to by my older sister's wedding... here's the cake.... um YUM.

Sunset the first afternoon we were there... Looks freaking awesome (but what the picture doesn't tell you is that the teeny tiny airport had lost our luggage.... i was looking rather rough at this point lol)

I am the arch nemisis of all things "insect" but this little bugger was too freaking adorable to pass up.... Posers ;)

What's a beach sceen without the proverbial palm tree??!

The terrace where the couples get married.... I hope my future hubs knows what he's in for...

Yeah... it hit me today just how much I am truly missing the warm weather. But like they say, pics are worth a thousand words...

Read More 2 comments | Posted by HMiracle

Chapter 33: Destiny vs Chance

Ok, so this has been on my mind for a while (ie... the past week) but still.

Do you believe in destiny or chance? Let's define the terms so we are all on the same page.

Destiny: refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. It is a concept based on the belief that there is a fixed natural order to the cosmos.

Chance: refers an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another.

There you have the definitions. One being the exact opposite of the other and yet not an antonym but merely a different perspective or outlook the future.

On the one side, a person who believe in destiny sees it as "What will happen in the future" whereas the individual influenced by chance views it as "What might happen in the future." Both are totally up to the mind of a person. BUT the one that you choose will change how you go about most things in life.

The point was brought up in a conversation with my sister in regards to two friends of ours who are both in their thirties and single and both wanting more than anything to be married with children before forty.

One friend believes in chance. Could she meet "Mr. Right" at the gym today? Maybe... so she goes to the gym... And to the company picnic, and to the toast masters club... etc. Whatever it takes, she'll do it... because she doesn't want to miss her chance at finding 'the one'.

Now in the other opposing corner, we have our friend who believes that 'the one' is out there and that she and he are meant to be together - she believes in destiny. No doubt about it. When the time is right, they'll meet, fall in love, the whole nine yards. So she doesn't go out to meet men at the bar, because why should she? He's out there... that one man she will spend the rest of her life with. There's no need for her to meet a ton of wrong ones if the right one is on his way, Right?

I guess it's all about perspective. Is the glass half empty or half full? I don't think either way is wrong or pessimistic, I just think it is funny to see how we can all be so similar and yet so vastly different.

In case you were wondering, I think I'd have to put myself in the 'chance' category. Maybe because i'm more of a number person - the more people you meet, the greater your odds are in meeting the right one for you.

However, I'm not going to lie, never having to go out on awkward dates sounds like a GREAT idea to me lol.... at least, my wallet won't be complaining.

Read More 1 Comment | Posted by HMiracle

Chapter 32: Determination Overload

As what goes up must come down, determination follows a similar fate... well, at least my determination does.

SO, a break from the inspiring, work-a-holic / take-over-the-world posts and time for a good ol' "I dont feel like working" post...! (you can never have enough of these, I swear).

This Friday is my 22 yr old sis's birthday.... soon to be 23. What to get her , What to get her - GIFT CARD! You just can't go wrong with these things! I want to find the creator of the gift card and shake his hand... and then bear hug him. Yes, indeed I do.

But leave it to the sister to throw a fast one... a birthday list. FML. And what happened to be on the proverbial Birthday List? Only everything that was worth nearly $100! Ok, now I know that the reason behind giving isn't so you can get... but just throwing this out there - for my birthday, she bought be two shirts ON sale (cheap) ON black friday (cheaper) USING my coupon (cheapest)... I'll ball park her gift to me at a sunshiney $30.

So, what choice do I have?! Yesterday I ran out to the mall on my lunch break. Some old fart blew past his "YIELD" sign and nearly ran me over in the parking garage then proceeded to yell explitives at his windshield to which I silently replied with my middle finger.

I walked into the store only to find the purse she wanted at the top most part of the ceiling on some hanger thing. I had to ask one of the workers to get it... three attempts with three different ladders later, she finally hands me the FUGLIEST PURSE EVER.

I bought it, cringing at the $75 bucks I'd just spent on a purse that was made for Lady Gaga... turns out I'd bought the wrong one... hallelujah! I think cross my fingers that the poor sales clerk will be off duty when I return it. I'd hate to see her face.

Oh, so I went on an ebay listing spree... listed anything and everything that wasn't bolted to the floor of our house. Two American Girl Dolls - Ok... a doll is a doll, right? WRONG... these women are going crazy asking me these in-depth questions about these freaking dolls! "Do they stand" "Where is the sweater" "Does this come with it" ....SHEESH ladies! What you see is what you get!

Anyways, enough with my ramblings... only 2 more hours to kill before I can leave for the day... maybe man-up and return that fugly purse from hell.... lol.

Read More 0 comments | Posted by HMiracle

Chapter 31: New Determination

So my real estate dream job. Stupid? Maybe. The market is dead. Exciting? Possibly. Risky? As. All. Get. Out.

So whyyyy, Heather, would you want to get into a risky, unstable job? Well, dad and everyone else I've talked to, I'm glad you asked.

It makes me happy.

Simple as that! Why do something that doesn't make you happy? That is an even better question. I thought about it a lot yesterday after hearing of a friend who hates their job, can barely pay for their living conditions, and yet cannot afford to switch up their careers. They are stuck, and that scares me to death. The thought of not being able to change your situation sounds similar to a prison sentence (minus the cable television).

Then I thought about the past things I did that everyone told me not to. Granted I'm 21 so there is not a long list here but regardless... it'll begin to add up.

Selling my car: Everyone said I wouldn't be able to - that I couldn't find a buyer in this "dead market". I listed it anyways.... and by list, I mean I posted that baby on every site possible. And guess what, It sold.
Buying a car: Everyone said "Don't get a two seater... you'll only regret it." Fine, maybe I will... but it's my car, my choice. I bought the two seater. Haven't regretted it yet (ok, maybe a little when I can't find room for my shoe boxes.... lol)
Getting a manual transmission: Now this aspect I faced the most opposition on. "Don't do it!" "In this traffic!? Youre crazy!" "Let me know when you want to sell it after the first month..." and on and on they went. I bought it. And I FREAKING LOVE IT.
Don't quit your desk Job: .... to be continued.

So, as the list shows, I've reached yet another cross-roads. Do what people think is best or do what I think will make me happy? It's risky - to "do my own thing" so to speak... but, like they say, with great risk comes great reward and the potential for great loss. As I see it, I've got nothing to lose and the world to gain! ....for now at least. Better risk it all before I have a mortgage and a full-time career.

Whose with me!? Live it up! You've only got one life.... make it yours and not anyone elses. I'll leave you with this quote: "Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death..."

Read More 1 Comment | Posted by HMiracle

Chapter 30: Twenty Ten vs Two-thousand Ten?

Regardless of whether it's twenty ten or two thousand and ten (I prefer the first since it is easy to type/say .... haha yeah, I'm being lazy).... I've got to post my New Years Resolutions so that ya'll can hold me accountable at the end of the year when I say "No way... Did i really say i was going to do that?!?"

So, let's see what we've got here....

Concealed Carry Permit... (yeah yeah, I know, I've already posted about getting this, but it was a new year's resolution that I accomplished a little bit early... regardless, the card is still in the mail)
Real Estate License (Already signed up for the classes and am slowly plugging away at them... at least it's forward movement and not stationary!)
New Job (yes, it's about that time.... 2+ years as an intern is slowly eating at my soul. I've already applied at one place! What's the worst that can happen? They say "no"?)
Redesign my Room.... (I know ya'll are like "what a crappy resolution" LOL but this is a big step for me... I mean resign like "magazine photo op" worthy redesign!)
Read 5 Self-improvement Books... (I hate reading.... ergo this will be epic if completed)
Join Toast Masters (Ok, you know that fear of public speaking? Toast masters is a group of random people who meet up and talk in front of each other to improve on speaking skills..... um.)
Motorcyle Permit/License (oh yes.)
Save $100 a month to invest in the Stock Market at Years End (I think this will be a good, baby-step approach to getting into the crazy lucrative world of trading! .... watch out Wall-Street!)

So there you have it. 8 simple goals that I plan to accomplish this year... and maybe before the summer is over??! .... ok not the "5 books" one.... I am one slow reader. lol no joke.

So, if you had to pick your most favorite new year's resolutions, what would it be?!??! DO tell!

Read More 3 comments | Posted by HMiracle

My Book

Why?

Why you ask? Not sure. I've always wanted to write down the randomness I think of, and even more so I would love to see who agrees with me and the other alternatives to my ideas.

Because?

Because