Is Stress Necessary?

Some things in life just are not necessary like holding grudges or being involved in a fight. But what about stress? Is it necessary? Some might say that it is not but I think it is. Stress is like an indicator that a change needs to made in order to lift a certain type of stress away. For example, the other day I was feeling very stressed out about school, homework, and life in general. The fact that I was stressed helped me realize that I really needed to take control over the things that I was slacking on. Some people might say that stress is pointless and it does nothing but cause grief but I think that it helps the body realize that something is wrong. The same way that pain lets the body know that we have a cut, stress lets the body know that a load needs to be lifted off for peace of mind. Basically. I think it is necessary because it lets us know that we need to get things done, like homework or chores. It informs people that the routine that is being done needs to be changed in order to get rid of and avoid stress.

My Own Special Work of Art

Do you know what you do to me?
Why your presence takes away my ability to see
the truth that is right in front of me.
If you really you care
about my mind and personality
then why do I despair?

For the truth of the matter is

All you see is the flow of my hair,
the smile on my face, the curve of my waist,
the switch to my walk, the way that I talk
and the shape of my thighs but why?
Can't you stop and look into my eyes
You will find
that there is more to me on the inside.
My feelings are there, my feelings are real
You already know this playa so what's your deal?

OOOOOO, I get it

You thought you could hit it and quit it
Get in, get out and be done with it
Well let me tell you something, I'm not with it.
So starting now, I'm moving on
I won't be around for you to stomp upon.
You no longer have any affect on me
and if anyone asks what you do to me
my response will be...
..."Nothing"

Im Still a Catholic at Heart

What do you have to do to prove your devotion to your religion? Go to mass every week and pray daily? Is that really neccessary? I do not think so. You can still be very in touch with your religion and your faith without doing all of that. Some people go to church because they really want to and feel that it brings them closer to their beliefs. Other people go to church because they feel it is a way to prove that they are more religious than they actually are. Attending church for that reason is worse than not going at all.
I don't feel like I should have to prove to anyone how much of a Catholic I am. I do not need people to see me going to mass or fasting for Lent to prove my faith. Just because I do not include mass in my weekly routine or believe every word in the Bible , does not mean that I am a "non- Catholic". Everyone has the right to express their faith in whatever way they choose to, whether it be by being active in the church community or by never stepping foot inside a church.
I was baptized as a Catholic, recieved first communion and had my Confirmation. I do not go to mass every sunday or on holidays. That may be wrong and some may say that I am not a true follower of God. That may very well be true but I know deep inside what I believe in and that is really all that matters.

One Line Story

Frustration and stress, accompanied by helplessness leaves a constant feeling that you are always falling short in everything you do.

Colorful Women

As I was sitting in the campus center gymnasium watching the seats fill up, the Blessing of Women ceremony was beginning. Sister Joan welcomed everyone that was in attendance and began her introduction. She spent some time talking about the different colors of the decorations and daises that were given out upon entry. As everyone looked around and took in the beauty of all the colors she was talking about, I started thinking about how it all related to my blog. I never thought that I would spontaneously begin thinking about writing blogs on my day off but, surprisingly, I did. There were multi- colored balloons and daises, it was a really beautiful scene. Sister Joan made a comment that caught my attention about the different colors of women. Basically, the assortment of colors that surrounded the gymnasium were symbols of the many women in society and the people who appreciate them. The daises that everyone was given was meant to represent each woman at the ceremony as well as the women that they wanted to bless. The whole ceremony, in general, was to show appreciation for all the women in the world and all the hardships that women have overcome in the past. Over all, it was a nice event and I am glad that I decided to attend.

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

Diamonds are the hardest gemstones and also the most valuable. Their most popular use is for engagement rings, especially the clear diamonds. Not all diamonds are clear, they come in an assortment of rare colors that each have their own special signficance.
The world's rarest and most prized diamond is the pink diamond as known as the "Pink Fancy". One of these diamonds would sell for around seven million dollars! That is a lot of money for a diamond but hey, that is what they are worth. Pink diamonds symolize creativity; for example,they promote creative expression in dancers and writers.
Yellow diamonds symbolize thoughtfulness and consideration. Diamond experts say that yellow diamonds are the perfect choice for grooms that want to do something different. It is a good way for them to show their brides how much they care.
Blue diamonds are a symbol of good health and promote peace and serenity. I have never seen a blue diamond in person but I have heard of one. The most popular blue diamond is the Hope Diamond. It was found by Henry Philip Hope, from whom the diamond is named, in 1839. It is a 67 carat stone that is mounted on a circle of large white diamonds. It was donated to the Smithsonian Institution, where it is today and has become its premier attraction.
Red diamonds have a very powerful meaning. In terms of engagement, it is a way for the groom to express that not only does he loves his bride, but also everything about her personality ad what she represents. In general terms, red diamonds symbolize strength and stability in life. It is also considered to be a stress reliever; it can help with the emotional state of mind. This particular diamond promotes inspiration in everyday activities and makes a powerful statement.

Diamonds are Forever

Almost every girl loves diamonds. I know I do. They come in as many colors as yellow, green, blue, pink and the most common, white or clear. The white/clear diamonds are the ones commonly used in jewelry, usually engagement rings. There is a lot more to diamonds than just their unique shape and dazzling shine. Diamonds symbolize innocence and are said to have healing powers. They do not have specific powers but they help emphasize the powers of other gemstones like emerald and amethyst. Diamonds increase their powers of protection to their highest potential. This is why most spiritual healers wear rings or necklaces with diamonds surrounding an amethyst or emerald gemstone.
Diamond is the birthstone for the month of April and the zodiac sign, Aries. Anyone who is born in April is very lucky because they have a very popular gemstone as their birthstone. I bet a lot of people did not know that in other parts of the world, diamonds serve other purposes than just for jewelry. Well now they know and so do you. Share the info with someone.

A Lady of Fashion

"A Lady of Fashion" from "All Around the Town" relates to one of my previous blog entries about fashion. This story talks about the fashion trends that were around tens years after the Civil War. Women in this time period went through a lot to keep up with the "fashionable belle" image. The "look" at this time was all about big hair styles, hourglass body figures, and lots of make-up. Almost every woman paid a lot of attention to their physical appearance and wardrobe. I found it interesting that many women wore corsets to make their waists appear smaller because it reminded me of the movie, "Titanic". In this movie, there is a scene where Kate Winslet is putting on a corset and the maid in tightly pulling the strings on it to tie a knot. Kate Winslet is holding on to her bed post, looking like she cannot breathe but the maid pays no mind to her face or aching moans and keeps pulling the strings. This shows that women went through so much physical pain because of the pressure to be beautiful. The whole story was funny to me because I know for a fact that it is true. I have seen people, friends and family, go through a lot to live up to the physical beauty standards of society. I also went through a stage in my life when I thought that everyone had to have the same look and same style.
I am very glad that things have changed since that period of time. "A Lady of Fashion" made me realize how important being an individual really is to me. Of course, everyone has those moments when they want to be on top of the fashion trends but it is not a must to have one certain look.

Black + White = ?

As I said in my first post, everyone has a specific color or assortment of colors that describes them. Even black and white have characteristics associated with them. Although, I think that black and white come together to form gray, which is like a mystery color. I am sure that gray has certain characteristics that could relate to some people but I think that gray is more of a feeling in the atmosphere that is hard to explain like a "gray area". Gray is connected to everyone along with the other colors that are associate with them. It is when you act a certain way or say things that you normally would not. For example, if you are usually a calm, quiet person and you become upset, you might start to act out of the ordinary in ways that you have never acted before. This also applies to someone who is under the influence of alcohol. Their judgment becomes impaired, they do not think before they speak, they become out of control and start act differently.
I am trying not to make this sound like a psychology textbook, examining why people behave the way they do. I am expressing what I think the color, gray, means to me and how I think everyone is linked to it in some way. Basically, gray is that subconscious color inside everyone that only comes out at certain times.
I think that I am more conscious of my "gray area" now that I am in college. I have realized things about myself, good and bad, that I did not know before. I am not as self- conscious as I thought I was and I am not always the greatest listener. Hopefully as I get older, I will learn more things about myself that will help me to grow more as an adult. But only time will tell.

Caution!!!

I had a new experience with my dance team recently. I am a member of the Caution Dance Team on campus and after being on the team for a semester, I realize that my decision to join the team was a good one. About a week ago, the president of the organization asked us to perform an African dance for Project Hospitality, which was hosting an AIDS awareness day at a local church. I was excited about the opportunity because I had not been involved in that type of dancing before. It was cool to choreograph as well as perform African style dances and learn about African culture along the way.
Another thing about the experience that I enjoyed was everything that I learned from the information session on AIDS awareness. It was an eye opening time for me, honestly, because it was helpful information that I feel everyone should know and be aware of. The information was not only for people that already have HIV/AIDS but for anybody that is willing to listen. At first, it was just an African performance but then it became a learning center as well and I am glad I got the chance to take part in it.