Perception is Everything

I was just looking at this blog and I realized that in 2008 I had written 46 blog entries... and this year I only wrote 7. That's pretty pathetic in comparison so I think I'll be cranking these out for the entire summer and college. Lucky you =] .. just kidding that sounded kind of conceited.. but really ;).

When I was thirteen or fourteen I remember being really confused about some problem in my life at the time and asking for my Dad's advice. He told me one thing: "Perception is everything." That phrase has stuck with me since then and whenever I have an issue I tell myself that. So I started reading a new book lately and its the first of a series. It's called "Wizard's First Rule" by Terry Goodkind. It's a fantasy/sci-fi type of book (surprise =P) and so far it is fantastic. I prefer reading about things that aren't realistic... because why should I read about the normal run-of-the-mill things when I can use my imagination and get lost in the magic of other worlds?

The main character's name is Richard Cypher and he's one of those characters that you really wish was real. I mean chivalrous, honest, strong, pure of heart and mind, kind, and ruggedly handsome (well...at least in my mind). What more could you ask for in a hero? But I'm gushing over a fictional character.. where was I? ...Right! I was reading along and I came across the quote "Reality isn't relevant. Perception is everything." So immediately a little mental red flag went up as I recognized the phrase.

Dad... have you been talking to Terry Goodkind?

Doubtful, but the phrase holds an abundance of truth and meaning nonetheless.

Perception really is everything. How you see a situation or how you see certain people really depends on your attitude and your willingness to keep an open mind. Keeping an open mind can enable you to see certain people in a different light, maybe in a way that you have never seen them before. While this can be a good thing... like getting to know someone you hadn't spoken to before and realizing they are an amazing person... it can at the same time be dangerous. Sometimes perception hinders you from seeing the truth. If you are seeing through someone else's point of view you are sometimes vulnerable to trickery and manipulation. You give them the power to make you see and believe what they want you to and not what you would normally believe in by your moral standards. How you perceive the world and people is vital to the type of life you lead. Perception is everything. That's what I learned this week.

My cat eats mice. Does that make him bad? I don't think so, and the cat doesn't think so, but I would bet the mice have a different opinion.

Time Warp

Hey there! There are so many things I have to write about here that I can't think of where to start. But here, I'll make a deal... if you are reading this I promise there will be a few entries coming soon. School is finally over and graduation is coming this weekend. I'll admit it: it feels a little strange that we're leaving (although I really can't wait to go to college baby! woohoo!). In a way I feel kind of weightless. Like I'm just floating along and this is going to be a fun, carefree summer with no worries. I hope that I'm right.

Right now I'm sitting here typing with my electric teal nail-polished fingers (yay) and I'm thinking about how strange time is. Not really the concept of what time is perse... but how it can seem to fly by and also pass on so slowly. The last week of school really just flew by... and before we knew what hit us, it was over. After all the preparations for prom (which was awesome by the way) and all the waiting, the night seemed to be over way too fast. Sometimes when you go on a date with someone and you're having a great time you just don't want it to end =]. Maybe this summer will fly by... but I intend on enjoying every second of it.

And then there are the times when everything seems to be happening so slow you could swear we were all put in slow-motion. Being a track runner you start to understand how long a minute is. An epic race can happen in 60 seconds with various steps, movements, cheering, thoughts, and emotions. And you start to realize how much can happen in a second or two. Or then there is that not-so-pleasant instance when you're at your job and time seems to be going so much slower than it actually is. I'll give you an example of work the other day at friendly's:
-I was standing there scooping ice cream and I had been there about an hour when I start playing a little game with myself. I thought "okay... when I think its been another hour I'll look at the clock again." *scoop, scoop, scoop, scoop* *whipped topping and a cherry* *scoop, scoop scoop* ... "okay its been about an hour, lets look at the clock.... 17 MINUTES?!?!?!" okay I'll look again when it gets dark outside" ... *when it's dark out* "three more hours!"

So time can go slow or fast but I suppose how you perceive it is the most important thing. Because really.. time is all we have here.

oh! and I sprained my wrist. How? ..... scooping ice cream

... yeah...laugh it up
=P