If Only I Could Change Something...

Something I would change is that I would have gotten closer to my older brother Jake when we were younger. He is about 10 years older than me and currently lives in Tennessee with his wife. He is in the army and soon going to be shipped off  to Afghanistan. He has been going back and forth overseas for around 6 years. We have the same mother, but different dads, so while he grew up in Elyria with his dad, my younger brother and I grew up together with my dad and mom in South Amherst. Because of the huge age gap, he and I never really had anything in common, plus I was usually intimidated by him. My regret about never really talking is that while overseas he could have easily died in Germany, Kuwait, or anywhere he was stationed in Iraq, and I have never really gotten to know my older brother. I do not think it would affect many people besides him and myself. I wish I would have just gotten to know him better and I wish I had more in common with him, although that's hard when growing up in two separate households and a ten year age gap.

These are pictures from Jakes boot camp graduation in 2007 at Fort Jackson in South Carolina

I was not there. My mother, his dad, and his wife traveled down to attend.

Being Open Minded

             What I value the most in life, next to family of course, is the idea that everyone should be open minded at all times. Other people go through different things in life and it is something that should be considered. Everyone has to, in my opinion, try their best to accept everybody as they are. There are some people that believe being gay is a "road to hell" and that it is wrong and that those people should be "fixed". The problem is, that most people do not look from both perspectives. On one side, those people utterly believe that being gay is a choice, and that it is a wrong choice, but they were taught that growing up that it was wrong. In their minds, they are convinced that they are helping the gays be allowed into heaven once they are "fixed". On the other hand, how would those people like it if they were told they were wrong and needed to be "fixed" for liking someone different, and for something that cannot be controlled? Sexual preference should not matter to anyone else except for that person, and them alone. Being open minded does not mean that a person cannot chose a side on a matter that they feel strongly about, but they think about everyone else's personal points of view. They understand to the best of their ability where the other person is coming from and possibly why they feel that way. That does not mean they have to agree. It would save the world a lot of conflict if everyone could just understand and accept everybody else's point of view. It is not even hard to do, just sit back and think about the other person and not just getting aggravated and immediately attacking. This is a big part of why I am a strong believer in pacifism.

A Summers Day

This summer was mostly boring except for the concerts I went to, mainly Vans Warped Tour. Vans Warped Tour is an annual cross-country tour of around 100 bands and artists that perform on stage sometime during the day. It lasts from 11am or so until 9 or 10pm, and because it lasts long, the artists are scattered around on about eight stages around the venue (Around here it's usually Blossom Music Center). This was the second year I went and it was on of the hottest days of the summer. The heat index (how hot is feels) was between 95°-100°F and then combine that with being constantly surrounded by hundreds of people, it felt like it was 110°F outside. That day was July, 18, 2013. I saw some great bands while I was there, but I nearly passed out.


Vans Warped Tour 2013 (Location & date unknown)

Despite me drinking a ton of water, I became the closest I ever have before to passing out. I could not walk straight, my ears were ringing, and I could not see. Everything was pitch black to me even though it was only around one pm. And although that was scary, the rest of my day was fun with my friends and being surrounded by music. I saw some great bands and I am really glad I went, even though it was so horribly hot. 

Sarah Smiles

With our without an h?
a question I have heard too many times.
I guess it is just a perk,
a benefit of having the name Sarah.

As far as I know,
I am not named after anyone specific,
there was no great inspiration for my name.
I guess that is the way I like it though.

It makes Sarah my own name,
no fantastic stories or grand legends to live up to.
But that gives me a chance, a chance
to create my own stories, my own legends,
things to tell my children, my friends, my family.

But with this name, there does come one thing,
something I hear all too often.
A song with my name, two actually,
that simply say the same thing,
'Sarah Smiles'

The name is no stranger to me, I know it incredibly well.
I expect the 'h' question, and never surprised
when someone sings about me smiling.
I will never change my name, never abandon Sarah.
Because no other name will ever fit me quite as well.

Number One Rule

My personal number one rule that people should follow is that everyone should always pay attention to the world around them. If people would just pay more attention to what is going on, they could learn a lot more in life. When a person stumbles around oblivious to everything around them, they can miss out on many great experiences and opportunities. I have learned over the years in school that the students who do not pay attention in class do not learn as easy or as fast. Even in work, not paying attention can leave a person hopelessly confused and lost. In some jobs/occupations, not paying attention can get someone injured or even killed. In school, it can ruin a persons education and their overall school experience. Basically, just notice things, look around, slow down and take everything in. People can get a lot more out of life by just "stopping to smell the roses". No one has to race through everything in life.