Blogs

  • Beyond First Impressions

    When it comes to people, the cliché “never judge a book by its cover” is true.

    We often judge people or have preconceived notions before even meeting them. Sometimes we make up our minds about people before giving them the time to listen to them and understand them.

    Then, when we finally do interact with them in person or observe them online, we are already listening with biases, which means we aren’t truly hearing what they have to say. Instead, we make assumptions about their words and actions.

    However, if we actually give them a chance without any biases or prejudices, we may discover that we like them or at least better understand them. I’m sure there are many people who don’t like me or have false assumptions about me. If they got to know me, their opinions might change.

    We shouldn’t let others’ opinions of people influence us too much. We have to think for ourselves and make our own assessments at times. By judging a book by its cover, we miss out on valuable friendships, relationships, knowledge, and wisdom that person could offer.

    So, the next time you feel a certain way about a person without really knowing them or studying them, ask yourself why. Then, take a step further and try not to be too judgmental. Give them a chance. Your assumptions may be wrong, and that person may have a lot to offer you, which could be highly beneficial.

  • Unlocking Morning Melodies

    Most mornings when I wake up, there’s some type of song stuck in my head.

    Sometimes, it’s a positive song, like a gospel song or something, and other mornings it’s a random vulgar rap song, LOL. I think to myself, “Why is this song stuck in my head?” and most times, it’s because I was listening to it the night before.

    This has made me more conscious of what I listen to before bed and in general. It’s obvious that the music is affecting me subconsciously, so I must be deliberate about what I do and don’t listen to.

    I can say that I feel better when I wake up and there’s a random positive song stuck in my head. That leads to a better day. I can’t say that the opposite happens when a negative song is stuck in my head, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.

    We all should be more conscious of what we consume. It might seem like a simple song, video, or social media post, but they can impact us after consumption, just like food does.

    So make sure you’re listening to something you wouldn’t mind waking up singing, and make sure you’re consuming things you wouldn’t mind affecting you.

  • Embracing Inner Confidence

    A lot of things come down to confidence.

    In sports, you might have the skill set to be a great player, but you may lack confidence, resulting in never reaching your full potential.

    The more confident I became in myself and my abilities, the better I performed in sports, leading to numerous accolades and accomplishments. However, it’s not just sports; it applies to anything you do.

    You may have a great idea or things you’d like to pursue, which can lead to success and happiness, but lack the confidence to follow through and actually try.

    The good thing is that everyone feels a lack of confidence at times. You can’t let that be the deciding factor for whether you do or don’t do something.

    Confidence increases when you look at the objective facts: ‘I can do this,’ ‘I have learned this,’ ‘I have the skill set to do this.’ These facts become more objective when you practice a lot, leading to greater confidence.

    Sometimes we can’t control how outside forces influence our confidence, but we can control our thoughts and attitude. So, step out of your comfort zone and follow through with something, even if your confidence isn’t fully there.

    It will improve as you continue to take action. Don’t let a lack of confidence deceive you into thinking you aren’t capable of something that you are indeed capable of doing.

  • Fleeting Time Reflections

    December is almost here, and every year around this time, we all begin to say, “The year went by so fast” or something along those lines.

    You’d think that after one year, we wouldn’t be surprised at how quickly the year has passed, but nope, it still shocks us every year, LOL.

    It’s the truth, though. The year does go by fast, which can be either a good or a bad thing. Some people will accomplish everything they set out to do and will be satisfied with the fast year. However, those who did not achieve much may not feel satisfied.

    A lot can happen in 365 days, but equally, a lot can also not happen. Every day matters, though. Take it one day at a time and try to make the most of each day. By the end of the year, you’ll look back and be satisfied with the fast year that has just gone by.

    We don’t have 365 days left in this year, but we do have a little over 30 days remaining. Regardless of what you’ve done throughout this year, you can still finish strong and end the year on a positive note, ready for the next year.

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  • Daily Bliss

    No matter the day, whether it’s today or any other day, make sure you do something you love.

    Of course, it should be something positive, as we all have vices or tendencies that we may enjoy but aren’t beneficial. Find something positive that brings you happiness.

    One of my favorites is writing a blog every day. I enjoy expressing myself and challenging my abilities, and writing a blog helps me do just that.

    While not everything we do daily brings us happiness, it’s still necessary to do them. However, engaging in something you love every day is also essential. So if you haven’t done it yet today, put it on your list of things to do.

  • Folding Laundry, Reaching Goals

    Folding laundry is one of the most fulfilling things, but it’s not something I enjoy doing all the time.

    I love the results of neatly folded and organized clothes, but the process can be annoying and time-consuming at times. To help me with this, I think of the end results. I consider all the reasons why I need to fold my laundry, and that motivates me to muster up the energy and desire to tackle the task.

    Folding laundry is similar to any other task or goal in life; the rewards are gratifying, but it requires effort to get there. Sometimes, facing a big pile of clothes to fold can be discouraging, just as seeing all the tasks required to reach your goals in life can be overwhelming.

    However, like folding laundry, you can approach your goals step by step, one piece of clothing at a time. I simply fold the clothes one by one, knowing that eventually I’ll have a complete stack of neatly folded garments, and I’ll get to enjoy the benefits of having clean, organized laundry. The same principle applies to any goal or task in life. By taking things step by step, action after action, I will eventually achieve my objectives.

    So, the next time you have to do your laundry, approach it with enthusiasm, knowing that you’ll reach your goal of folded laundry, piece by piece. Maintain that same enthusiasm and approach when pursuing your other goals as well.

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  • Sacrifice for Success

    Success usually comes after sacrifice.

    To reach whatever goal or objective you desire, there’s often something standing between you and that goal that requires sacrifice.

    It could be time, friendships, money, lifestyle changes, or anything else. So, if you feel like you’re putting in effort but not seeing results, perhaps you aren’t making the right sacrifices.

    If it’s unknowingly, return to the drawing board and make some changes. If you know the sacrifices you need to make but still fail to do so, then it’s solely on you. Make the necessary sacrifices or accept your current situation.

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  • Resilient Pursuit

    The singer Aaliyah once said, “If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again.”

    Trying again doesn’t always mean attempting the same exact thing again, as that would be considered insanity. Trying again may involve adopting a different approach to your goal, exerting more effort, or even pivoting to something else.

    A dead end in a maze doesn’t signify that you can’t escape; it simply implies that you may need to backtrack a few steps and explore a new path. As long as you maintain the energy and the right attitude to find your way out of the maze, you’ll be fine.

    So if at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again, this time with a new approach and adjustments based on your past shortcomings. Eventually, you’ll achieve your objective.

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  • Unwanted Actions, Personal Strength

    Every day, we find ourselves doing things that we may not want to do, but we do them for others.

    For example, even if we don’t feel like going to work, we still go. At work, we might be assigned tasks that we’re not enthusiastic about, yet we still carry them out. Similarly, as parents, we often make sacrifices and undertake tasks for our children that we may not necessarily want to do.

    We are often oblivious to the fact that we engage in these actions daily, even if we have reservations about them. Therefore, we might as well invest our efforts in doing things that benefit ourselves, even if we don’t initially desire to do them.

    This could include waking up early, exercising, pursuing education, or making significant lifestyle changes. Ultimately, it will all be worthwhile.

    We understand that we are capable of doing things we don’t want to do, especially for others. So, it’s equally important to do them for ourselves. In the future, we will appreciate these efforts more than anything else.

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  • Cherishing Family Moments

    In the past 12 years, I’ve only spent Thanksgiving at home with my family once.

    The rest of the time, I’ve been in my college dorm, eating Pop Tarts and snacks from the gas station, or in a hotel, at a coach or teammate’s house, and in recent years, in California with my wife.

    This experience has taught me that nothing compares to the warm love and presence of family. We often take Thanksgiving, and any holiday when the family gathers, for granted. I’ve developed a greater appreciation for time spent with family.

    Being alone on holidays puts things into perspective. You realize how much your family completes you. I used to feel a sense of incompleteness when I spent holidays alone or with other families that weren’t mine.

    Fortunately, I’ve only missed holidays with family because I was pursuing my dreams or engaging in other productive aspects of my life, rather than being in jail or having a falling out with my family.

    Now that I have a wife and child, holidays are more enjoyable than ever. I’m at a stage in my life where I’m creating my own family to spend the holidays with, regardless of our location. Even if I can’t go home and spend every holiday with my entire family, I feel complete and happy to spend it with my own little family, which is truly wonderful.

    However, holidays aren’t everything. They don’t make or break relationships (or at least they shouldn’t). Every moment spent with loved ones is like a holiday to me. I’m always grateful for them, and this Thanksgiving, I feel even more thankful.