A Touching Note

Yesterday, I received this message on facebook from someone in the group For Positive Change. It was entirely touching, and I absolutely adore people like this. I strive to be like this. I think i'll do something like this for my birthday. But of course, it's my big 2-1 so i have a lot of stuff i want from people and i want to be selfish for once. Haha. Let's not talk about it tonight. Instead, read this letter I got, and i hope that you think about this type of thing everyday. 
<3

Hi Everyone,

So today is my birthday and I have just ONE request.

What I want more than anything else is for you to really love yourself today. I am requesting that you do something really GOOD for yourself--anything.

If you have been waiting to start something--to follow your heart, I want this to be the day you just do it.

If you have been feeling guilty about something, take time and say out loud "I forgive myself for ....."

If you haven't talked to someone in years, let today be the day you reach out. Say you're doing it for a friend on Facebook.

If you haven't told someone you love them, let this be the day you do so.

If you want to do something really fulfilling, volunteer for a good cause.

If you need to forgive someone, let this be the day you do so.

I want today to be the excuse for you to do something good for yourself. Maybe it's just stepping back from the craziness and doing a little meditation and reflection.

Whatever it is, my b-day wish is a good excuse for you to do the one thing you KNOW would make you a happier, more fulfilled human being.

Sick of Sarah

Hey guys! I wrote my second article for Hollywood Music Magazine!
Check it out! 

To Lighten the Mood

One of my best friends posted this on facebook and I just had to share. SO hilarious. I hope it makes your day =]

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your
computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize
you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was
younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure
I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the
person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work
when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the
rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't
want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of MsWord and it asks me
if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I
did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this -
ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?), but
when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voice mail.
What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing
anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to
answer when they call.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or
Saturday night - more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and
suddenly realize I had no idea what the hell was going on when I first saw
it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than
take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to
finish a text.

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and
hunger.

25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod
and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to
prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and
sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty,
and you can wear them forever.

28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?

29. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are
going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

30. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not
know what time it is.

31. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car
keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the
Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3
feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

Oh and, new post in the next few days. I'm working on my to-do list!
Love Love Love!

Misfortune

Yesterday, I saw a lady with a sign while driving down the main street of my city. Her sign read "Family needs work for food and bills." This isn't very common in South Orange County. Chances are, she wasn't even homeless. She didn't look it at last, she just looked like she had fallen on tough times.

The fact that she was able to put aside her pride astounds me. My heart went out to her. It just breaks my heart to see the way this economy has debilitated us, although things are moving forward.

What really gets my panties in a bunch though, is that Americans as a whole seem particularly numb, or oblivious to those who've met misfortune within our country. We have no problem donating to help the unfortunate outside our boundaries - sending so much to those without clean water (yet we have people here without clean water), to those suffering from diseases (yet Americans are not immune to these diseases), etc. I'm not saying that our help is bad. On the contrary, I've just always been a firm believer in fixing our country - our people - before we face the world's problems. How are we to stand undivided when we are not helping those around us?

I hate driving to Irvine and seeing the complete lack of homeless. But wait, isn't that a good thing if no one is homeless? Au contraire, mes petits amis, there are no homeless because they are transported out of the city. Even more unfortunately, this is not just a problem in Irvine. It's across the country.

The media of course, feeds this stigma. (Much as I strive to be a part of it, I loathe it all the same.) The focus is on helping the world with endorsements from Brangelina, U2 and the like. A sorry attempt to bring our own problems to light can be seen through the Keeping Up With The Kardashians episode when they "adopt" a homeless man from outside of Dash. They "fix him up," give him new teeth (so very important?!) and then drive him to the shelter to find a home?!

How does this help him in the long term? No one facilitated anything of use - how is he supposed to pay the rent on the home? He was given a fish, it fed him for a few days. If he had been taught to fish, he could love on his own.

Sometimes people just need a little motivation - someone to believe in them. Not every homeless person is a druggy or an alcoholic. There are some, yes, but this is not an all inclusive group. Many homeless have fallen on tough times (see the article on people living in their cars but still working, this is just one of many) and many have some sort of disability - mental or physical.

Why don't we have more programs to help? Or rather, more effective programs? Is it a pride thing, America? We cannot just sweep this under a rug.

Another thing that really annoys me is the negative connotation associated with the words we use to describe those unfortunate enough to know have a roof over their head. "Homeless" implies they are without a home. Home is not a physical location. These people are without a roof. "Bum" implies laziness. Vagabond. Squatter. ETC. The list goes on. There are far too many stigma for them to overcome.

I cannot lie, I too have been guilty of homeless discrimination. For the past year I have and an intense fear of the homeless. Some would say it rational (seeing as they lit my house on fire) but I see it as irrational. An entire of group of individuals were not responsible for it. Three were. Prior to this instance I would engage in conversation and buy food for those I encountered. I cannot teach them some task to help them break free, but I could help them immediately and offer hope.

I am thankful my new job allows me to converse with some homeless people. Though this seems strange to be thankful for. But it's helping me better myself and overcome my fears. Like always, I hope I've been able to positively impact their lives, at least to help them through one more day.

This blog was not meant to judge the people of Orange County or the US, but to merely raise awareness to this issue. The people of Orange County / America could be helping. Overall though, what does our message of neglect send to the children?