Key to Happiness

My friend asked me the other day,
“Is there a key to happiness,
That lasts from day to day?”
From the point of view,
I see the world,
All I could do was laugh,
“It’s simple really”
I declared,
“Just follow your dream path.”

Be yourself,
And you will see,
How truly happy,
You can be,
Follow your dreams,
Follow your heart,
Believe in yourself,
But that’s just the start,
Because the truth about happiness,
It’s a complex art.

The world is your canvas,
And there’s no need to rush,
Your hopes and dreams,
Make up the paint upon your brush,
The only problem,
That you will find,
Is that the brush is on a shelf so high,
You climb and jump into the sky,
To reach the brush,
You try and try,
But always fall back down,
The only way to stay aloft,
Is to make a smile out of that frown.

And when you finally,
Paint your masterpiece,
You’ll want to paint another,
One with brighter colors,
More beautiful than the first,
Now that you’ve had a sip of happiness,
It’ll be hard to quench your thirst.

You’ll pass on your talent,
To a sister,
Or a brother,
And they will love it so much,
They’ll pass it to another,
Sooner or later,
The world will become,
A place where happiness,
Is seen in everyone.

Your happiness,
Your smile,
Your thoughts,
In a brightened world,
Makes the flag of optimism,
Be the one thing that’s unfurled,
So let’s paint a picture every day,
Showing happiness is here to stay.

My friend had a response to this,
I think I remember how it would go,
“Although you write those words of truth,
I must admit this so,
Sometimes you try to share your happiness,
With someone that you know,
You see the smiles on the outside,
As they hide their pain from you,
They don’t want to burden,
Your happiness that is new.”
And all that I can say to this,
I hope one day,
They will find,
The key to happiness.

What We Know From Snow – Part 2

When the power went out I bet many of you were wondering how having no power would affect your daily life.  Your life was already hard enough to begin with.  Your stress level was already at its limit.  And then the stress and problems of a power outage was added to it all.  So what is this situation an example of?  It is an example of our human resistance to change.

When something is changed in our life we seem to get angry or concerned about it.  This anger and concern is what leads to riots and protests throughout the world.  Someone in the government makes a change and there is most often a group of people that don’t agree with it. This disagreement sometimes may be based on reasoning, but it may also be based on anger and frustration due to our resistance to change.  After a few days or weeks with the change we may start to agree with it and wonder why we disagreed with it in the first place.  So wouldn’t it be better if we reduce our resistance to change before our anger gets the best of us?  I think so.

But first, let me give you a more specific example of how our resistance to change can make life more difficult.  Lets say that your friend does something that you do not completely agree with.  You cannot believe that they would ever do such a thing. You then get angry with them for doing so without thinking about their side of the argument.  Then, the fight between friends begins and it seems like the disagreement will last forever.  But if you wait for the anger and frustration to dissipate and then talk to your friend it is more likely that the conversation will end in a hug.  Hopefully, looking back, you and your friend will able to look back on that fight, not with anger, but with an open mind.  So wouldn’t you want a way to reduce that anger and resistance before it leads to breaking a friendship apart?  I have a way to make this happen.

First of all, you can count to ten and wait for the anger to subside before you respond to the change.  It is much easier to think clearly when anger is not clouding your judgment.  You can also try not to complain or make comments about the change.  Complaining only adds to the stress and makes the anger last much longer.  Thirdly, if you are in a fight with your friend, you can try to look at the situation through their eyes and with their perspective.  It will allow the anger to subside and also help you understand what your friend is going through.  It will also allow you to think of what to say to your friend to keep your friendship alive.  So what has this taught us?  It’s simple really…

“When something in your life has changed, don’t let the anger make your life rearranged.”

What We Know From Snow – Part 1

Take a step back and look around the room.  I bet you see so many things that you just take for granted.  A big screen television set with surround sound; a computer that allows you to read my blog and talk with people all around the world; maybe even a Wii or Xbox system.  But did you ever realize how lucky you are to have these things?

This week has been so brutal so many of us in the northeast region of America.  Just a little bit of innocent snow shut down power for most of the area.  Some of us still are without power.  We feel as if we have lost many of the luxuries and conveniences of life.  We feel trapped inside of our homes and the stress begins.  No heat, no hot water, no showers, no hot meals, and nothing to do.  Even with all these problems we must go on with our daily lives at work and at school as if nothing has happened.  We feel jealous of the people that are not affected and wish we were in their situation.  Most of all we feel that we cannot learn anything from this situation when truly we can.

Now think of the people around the world that face these problems every single day.  There are people that are struggling to feed their children and themselves and end up starving themselves so that their children can survive.  Adding on to this, these same people do not have a place to call their own.  They are forced to live in the streets and drink polluted water and breath toxic air.  These people will be lucky to have the small things that we take for granted.

Even though the power may be out everything is still there.  Nothing is going to be taken away.  You still have your home, your friends and your family.  All of the things that make you truly happy, you may be sitting around the candlelit table eating takeout but you’re with the important people in your life.  When the power is on these same people may be around less.  That’s what makes these times better then all the rest.  People are not preoccupied with all the gadgets and gizmos, from watching the game on TV to delving yourself into virtual and unrealistic world of video games.

Let this power outage teach you a lesson.  Let it show you what is really important in your life.  It may seem that all of life’s luxuries are tangible and rely on electricity to work.  It’s not the objects in your life that make you happy; it’s the people that are brought together by the object itself.  So go out into the world and look at everything and say…

“I’m lucky to have what I have today.”

Coloring This Empty Room

Guest Post - Jimmy Pittaro

Trapped inside my head
I am better off dead
This blank white room
Everything’s leaving all too soon

I want to reach out to the color of life
Yet the doors are shut and I’m inside
The shades have been pulled down
But the room is filled with light

I put my ears against the ground
And I can hear nothing but life
This is when that voice started screaming
“It’s time to get out of here and stop dreaming”

So I followed this voice out the window
And it led me to a place I can call home
Where I lived and rejoiced with others
This planet and its people I call brothers

We can fill our oceans with love
Or just keep dreaming of above
But we always reach for the top
The clouds is where we’ll stop

So we can look down on all the paint
Flowing through the Earth yet never stained
And we’ll take the brush
For a final stroke of love

To show how we’ve grown
And that the Earth is our throne

Thank You, Anthony

Guest Post - Ricki Nell

I never knew I would meet such an aspiring fellow

Though the clouds were gray, he still shined yellow

He could have sat around and sulked miserably

But he knew that was not the way life was suppose to be

He knew it was to enjoy every second that we have here

So he teaches to give, to help, to guide, and to love with no fear

No matter what is thrown at this young king

He will always be the champion fighting in the ring

He is strong and smart and there is no giving up

So lets join him now in the fight to lift the world up

Anthony you are constantly teaching me to smile and be optimistic everyday

You are a true amazing friend and I thank you in every way <3

One Heart

Guest Post - Jessi Daichman

Sun shimmer feeds the plant it grows
Frog swimmer in and out of my toes
We all feed off the sun’s light energy
Living in harmony a love synergy

A leaf falls down into the little stream
When I die I know this will happen to me
We’re all swimming in God’s beautiful sea
Gotta keep your heart open constantly
To the magic of the one we all come from

There’s no life or death cause this journey’s never done
Every single breath you take keeps the universe awake
Inside is the out
There’s no reason to doubt

That your heart is every place, every face, the entire human race
We are here to save each other from the unnatural pace
So tell yourself today “I will help show the way”
This love revolution is now here to stay

Find your own rhythm
Play it out loud
Help this earth keep spinning round and round

Forgiveness is the key to our humanity
We’ve got to accept one another
Love your sisters and your brothers
This peace is our creation
We can use it to unite all the nation
But first you’ve got to bring it back in
To your very own heart where it all must begin

The sky’s the only limit to who you can be
And what you can achieve
Don’t let anyone take away what you believe

Find your own rhythm
Play it out loud
Help this earth keep spinning round and round

How are you going to live your life today?
It’s your choice to create it or waste your life away
We’re all dreamers here
Painting our own stay
In this home called Earth where we forget to pray
To our very own soul that lets us smile and cry
That lets our consciousness fly
Through the eyes of the Divine

Take a breath…
Take a moment…
To be with your own heart
Let go of the dust
That keeps it in the dark

Let it shine so bright like the sun
To nourish everyone
Watch their seeds grow and helps their little flowers bloom
All this world needs is a little more room
A little more space
A little more being to connect the human race

Back to the start
One breath
One blood
One beating heart!

Second Thoughts

On second thought,

I won’t,

On second thought,

I can’t,

On second thought,

It’s impossible,

On second thought,

Hey, it may be possible.

Now haven’t you heard,

Those words enough,

They don’t make you strong,

They don’t make you tough,

When you try so hard,

But you’ve had enough,

That does not mean,

It’s time to give up.

Even when life seems like,

It’s rolling away,

Like it’s just out of grasp,

Way too far away,

Just keep trudging on,

Through the sweat,

And the dirt,

Through the tears in your eyes,

And the years you may despise.

Cuz if you just say,

On second thought,

I can’t,

How will you know,

What you missed?

It could have,

Changed your life,

If you had made it through,

It could have given you something,

Unbelievable to do,

Indescribable to do,

Giving up,

Won’t ever change you.

Life is a challenge,

Let’s face the facts,

But even it,

Is a possible task,

So go out in the world,

Get out from,

Behind the mask,

Make a difference,

Make a change,

And never give up.

And when you look back,

At all the things,

That you’ve done,

The game of life,

That you’ve won,

You’ll be happy to say,

“I never gave up,”

You stayed optimistic,

From then until now,

If someone may ask you,

How to give up,

You will not know how.

Flashes

If your life,

Flashed before my eyes,

Would I see past,

Your disguise?

Your hopes,

And your dreams,

Your truths,

And your lies,

All the things,

That you despise.

All these years,

You’ve held it back,

When you thought,

It was a good thing to lack,

Originality,

Creativity,

Personality,

And ability,

These are the things,

In you,

We want to see.

It’s time to break down,

Those walls you’ve put up,

And let everyone see,

Who you really wanna be,

Break the lock,

And give us the key,

Spread out your roots,

Just like a tree.

Because if you’re hiding,

Who you are,

It’s harder,

To shine like a star,

And see,

Your dreams come true,

The only thing,

You gotta do,

Is be yourself.

Be yourself,

Not anyone else,

Be yourself,

You’ll see that it helps,

Deep inside,

You know who you are,

So let it out,

Shine brighter than a star.

And when you do,

This simple thing,

Your friendship will grow,

And your heart will sing,

You’ll find people,

To whom you’ll relate,

Sadness and tears,

Won’t be your fate,

It’s time for you,

To just open the gate,

Just open the gate,

To your soul.

True Acceptance

“Everyone has felt left out at one time or another . . .”

That was a time when we questioned why life was so hard.  A time when we wondered why someone would not be our friend.  Then that all changed…  We met people that wanted to hang out with us.  We met people that laughed at our jokes and would be there for us.  Most of all, we met people that changed us forever and we felt True Acceptance.

I can relate to this.  In high school I was left out of friendships and relationships due to my disability.  Whenever I tried to make new friends I was always stopped dead in my tracks.  Then, my disability was the big thing that held me back.  It erected a barrier that was almost impossible for me to get through.  I could not hang out at someone’s house because there were steps in the way.  It was hard for me to talk to anyone since I was so used to being ignored and to being let down.  The more I tried the more I seemed to fail, and that led to me becoming shy as time went on.  I did not think that I would ever feel True Acceptance.

But then I thought of an idea . . .

If people won’t easily open up to me, then why don’t I open up to them instead?  I decided to teach others about my disability and about optimism during my senior year of high school.  And I was surprised at the response that I got.  People began to talk to me more and finally connect with me.  Those that I had never talked to before became my friends and trusted me.  People told me that they were going through many of the same things that I was going through.  I was not the only one that felt left out and ignored.  I was not the only one that was shy and I was not the only one who wanted more with my life.  Most of all, I was not alone.

That is something that is hard for anyone to realize.  We see people around us having everything and find it hard to see through that veil we create.  No one has a perfect life full of friends that never get upset and no one is on top of the world.  To sum this concept up, here is a quote by the writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, “We are all inventors, sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate.  The world is all gates; all opportunities.”  Once we realize this one simple concept we can finally feel True Acceptance.  We can find people that share our fears and that share our ideas and become their close friends.  We can share our thoughts about something and know that there is always someone out there that agrees with them.  Most importantly, we can work together and try to get through this game called life.  Well, not just get through it, but learn from it and live it to the fullest.

Now I am in my first year of college. . .

And I’m so glad that I’ve brought this concept of True Acceptance along with me.  The people that I met here are the nicest people that I have ever known.  They always give you a smile and do all they can to help each other out.  These amazing people aren’t, like in high school, striving to get the most friends and striving to be more “popular” than anyone else.  My newest and greatest friends are just trying to form friendships that will last as long as possible since they all know that we are in the same boat together.  Now that I know this myself I can give all that they give me back to them.  Not only do I now feel True Acceptance, my friends feel it too.

Listen

Is there anyone out there?

Is there anyone,

Who hears the words I say?

I feel like my life,

Is slipping away,

I need someone,

To help me make it through today,

I need someone to listen,

Someone to listen.

Now we’ve all felt,

That way before,

When all the good things,

Went out the door,

There was no one to turn to,

No one to pick us up,

Off the floor,

But now it’s time,

For all that to change.

When your friend needs,

A helping hand,

Make up your mind,

That it’s time to make a stand,

Reach out and say,

Is everything okay?

Don’t just run away,

Back to your own life,

Far from the strife.

Yes, there’s somebody out there,

Somebody,

Who hears the words you say,

When you feel your life,

Is slipping away,

When you need someone,

To help you make it through today,

There will be someone to listen,

Someone to listen.

Wouldn’t you want,

Someone to be there,

When you don’t know what to do?

Wouldn’t you want,

Someone to help you?

Here’s your chance,

To make things right,

Be someone who listens,

When life turns into a fight.

Sometimes We Realize

Sometimes we realize,

We are running out of time,

To make things right,

For everything to be fine,

When your life,

Is slipping away,

Don’t let sadness,

Be the thing to stay.

Just look back,

At all the great days,

The time of your life,

In many different ways,

When you spent time,

Taking in the sun’s rays,

Look at all the people,

In your life you amaze.

Don’t let the sadness,

Get in your head,

No matter what anyone,

Else may have said,

Even if you think the end,

May be just around the bend,

Your smile, your passion,

Your heart made of gold,

These are the things,

That will never grow old.

And when you think,

Life is falling apart,

Think of the things,

That you learned from the start,

How to take all the love,

You have in your heart,

And spread it,

Farther than the eye can see,

From people like you,

To people like me.

And when in the end,

When you can’t carry on,

You’ll look back at all,

The things that you’ve done,

And see that you,

Had a great life,

Being optimistic,

And avoiding the strife.

And you’ll also know,

That you’ll be remembered,

Forever and ever,

Endlessly and eternally,

As one who was,

More happy and pure,

Than anyone could possibly be…

Hurricane's Wrath

It happened so unexpectedly,

Has affected both you and me,

All along the East Coast,

Saving lives is what mattered most,

Forcing people out of their home,

Leaving them no place left to roam.

It is in this time we need,

To help people out and plant a seed,

A seed of hope that won’t ever go,

To the world we can show,

That we can make it through all this,

That all our strength won’t go amiss,

I know that this will be a long road,

Thanks to the rain,

And the rivers that flowed.

Just think of that neighbor,

That gave you something to eat,

That gave you a place,

To rest your tired feet,

Even when disaster may strike,

The human connection,

Will always be there,

There’s more people that will help you,

Than you are aware. 

Now is the time,

To look at what you’ve got,

Deep down inside,

You have a lot,

Even if you lost,

Many a material thing,

You can still be happy,

And your heart can sing.

So don’t let these waters,

Wade you down,

Try to make a smile,

Out of that frown,

Look at the sun shining today,

And just think,

There’s always a way,

Out of the darkness and into the light,

Hurricane Irene won’t win the fight.

We don’t need electrical power,

To be powerful,

We only need each other,

To stay hopeful,

Remember that every,

Day is a gift,

So don’t let your mind,

Get stuck in a rift,

Now it is time,

To stay on the path,

Of optimistic survival,

After the hurricane’s wrath.

Your Choice

Happiness, the act of feeling, showing, or expressing joy, is something that all of us want to have for the rest of our lives.  It comes from many different actions, from doing well in school to hanging out with friends, and is what we revolve our lives around.  We use happiness in our conversations every day, such as when we say “How are you?” or “Are you happy with it?”  But sometimes happiness may be hard to come by when something goes wrong in our life beyond our control or when we start to think about a sad moment.  During those times, we may believe that we can never be happy again; that happiness is not in our control anymore.  Truth be told though, happiness is in our complete control, both physically and mentally.  Happiness, It’s Your Choice.

Psychology can back me up on this statement.  Let me begin by explaining the science behind happiness.  To trigger the feeling of happiness, one must first be in a situation that would normally cause the feeling.  Once in that situation, the limbic system (mostly the emotion center) of the brain creates neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) that cause you to feel good, smile, and be happy.  These two chemicals are called serotonin and dopamine and they really control how happy or sad you are.  You’ve probably felt the effects of dopamine before during exercise; it was that feel-good, loose feeling you got after stretching or running or any other physical exercise.  So what does all this science mean?  It means that in order to be happy it only takes one happy thought or just simply going to a place that makes you happy.  Just doing that puts the events in motion in your brain to bring about happiness.  On the other hand, thinking sad thoughts or being in a sad place will of course bring about sadness.  So, as you can see, Happiness, It’s Your Choice.

If all of that science did not convince you, then let me give you some more evidence.  All that you need is a simple, 5-letter word, Smile.  We smile every single day of our life, sometimes controllably and sometimes unconsciously.  We smile when we laugh at a good joke, when we say hello to our friends, and even when we just walk into a room full of people.  Smiling can show people that we are not hostile and we are good people.  It really is the simplest thing in the world to do, considering that it takes more muscles to frown.  So how can this help you?  When you are feeling sad and down in the dumps, just smiling can bring you happiness.  When you are happy you smile, that’s pretty obvious.  What’s not as obvious is that smiling can trick your brain and body into being happy since it also releases serotonin and dopamine, which as I said before are the “happiness chemicals.”  So that means, when you smile you can be happy.  Once again, Happiness, It’s Your Choice.

Let me end with a short poem that I found from an anonymous writer that wraps all of this up:

Smiling is contagious,

you catch it like the flu,

When someone smiled at

me today, I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner,

and someone saw my grin -

When he smiled I

realized, I’d passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile,

then I realized its worth,

A single smile, just like mine,

could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,

don’t leave it undetected -

Let’s start an epidemic quick

and get the world infected!!!

Humble Pie

Some are in it for the money or fame,

They make it seem that life is a game,

That you can’t do something,

For nothing,

That everything they do,

Comes down to a price,

You shouldn’t need anything,

To do something nice.

What did we learn,

When we were young?

Before we could talk,

Before we could run,

There’s some things out there,

That should be done,

With no whining, no crying,

No wishing it done.

What am I really,

Trying to say?

The nice things you do,

At night, in the day,

Should not always be,

Along with the pay,

Sometimes its time,

To be humble today.

Although it may,

Feel good to brag,

When life is a bore,

When life is a drag,

But all of that glory,

Has a price tag,

Where in the future,

You’ll pay a price,

With the friends that you lost,

For not being nice.

To do great things,

For nothing in return,

You’ll have a great life,

With all the things that you learn,

And when in time,

The tide does turn,

Finding a person who’ll help you,

Won’t be a concern.

Strength of Compassion

Because a strong man, who has known power all his life, will lose respect for that power.  But a weak man knows the value of strength.  And knows compassion.

Those are the inspiring words that I heard when I went to go see Captain America at the movies yesterday.  I can really relate to the quote, and I believe many of you can too.  We’ve all seen someone that supposedly has everything and we’ve wanted what they have.  But then if we look deeper into their life, we realize they are very arrogant and take what they have for granted.  Celebrities have thrown their life away to drug use and criminal actions.  They have become full of themselves and have begun to believe that they are the center of attention at all times.  I don’t think anyone wants to become like that.  Here’s to the weak men and women out there that society has looked past, the men and women I believe to be the strongest of all, in their heart.
 
I am physically a weak man with my ever-weakening muscles.  I’ve had time to look at the world in a unique way.  I’ve been through many situations where I cannot do what other people can; situations where I had to realize that I physically could not do something, when mentally I believed I could do it.  It is very hard to make that realization without looking down on yourself, which is what I struggled with.  I saw others doing, what I had struggled to do, rather easily.  This, in the end, made me have a stronger compassion and more gratitude for what I could do.

I may not be able to run a mile, but I can be the mental force behind someone running in a marathon.  I may not be able to drive a car, but I can help give driving directions.  I may not be able to play a sport, but I can still watch them with my friends.  Taking gratitude for these things I could do made me stronger in my heart.  Arrogance comes from not being grateful for what you have, so I was able to avoid it as much as I could.  But really, is there anyone out there that is truly weak or truly strong?

We each have things that we are stronger at along with things that we are weaker at.  By finding the middle ground between our strengths and weaknesses, we can be grateful for our life and give compassion to others that may share our weaknesses.  There are some weaknesses we can never truly get rid of, but those are the weaknesses that teach us lessons and make us better people.  No one is perfectly strong either; we all have something inside of us holding us back and slowly pulling us down.  Life is dependent on a balancing act, where we use our strengths to counteract our weaknesses and use our weaknesses to counteract our strengths.  Too much weakness is a bad thing and too much strength is also a bad thing, so try hard to find that equilibrium.

Blank Paper

A blank paper before you,

What should you write?

A story, a novel, a mystery, a plight,

A story of a friend you hold dear,

Or one about a thought so near,

You have all the room you ever could want,

So, go ahead, write, take this as a taunt,

I know this is something you want,

If the paper stays blank,

There is no one to thank,

You have an idea,

Just spread it around,

Maybe about living deep underground,

If the paper stays blank,

You are not alive,

Because all humans have stories,

They hold deep inside,

So let it out,

Write about it,

And you will see,

That the paper isn’t blank,

And there is you to thank.

Accepted

How it feels to be accepted,
Is something I cannot explain,
But it feels like the storm has ended,
And I’m out of the rain,
I cannot thank you enough,
For making my life less tough.

But don’t cry because of me,
My life is great as you can see,
If one day you’re feeling down,
I’ll make a smile out of that frown,
You are the first to hear the words I say,
And make me not want to go away.

If only everyone could be like you,
It would make those like me,
Want to live life through,
Don’t change,
You’re already who you should be,
Don’t change,
You already hold the key,
To a perfect life.

I hope my words make,
You think about every breath you take,
Because there are people out there,
Who have one more breath as their only care,
So I’m asking you to live,
Giving all that you can give.

Thank you for taking the time,
With all my words that rhyme,
To sit and listen to me,
You’ve changed my life, you’ll soon see,
This is only just the start,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Do Me a Favor

Do you think the sun won’t shine?
Do you think life does not matter?
Well all that has to change,
Now its time to rearrange,
Make your life really shine,
I found a way for everything to be fine,
Just do me a favor and smile.
Do me a favor and smile,

Be happy for more than a little while,
Let me see that gleam in your eye,
To let this feeling never die,
That look upon your face,
Is really all it takes,
To change the world.

With all the bad in this world,
Its time for happiness to be unfurled,
It does not matter who you are,
You can still shine brighter than a star,
Black or white,
Straight or gay,
A smile will surely change the way,
You look at every single day.

Some of you may think,
That life will always stink,
That you have to throw your dreams away,
That happiness can never really stay,
But just think back to the time,
When a smile was not a crime,
You were only 8 years old,
And life to you was diamond and gold.
Do me a favor and smile,
Be happy for more than a little while,
Let me see that gleam in your eye,
To let this feeling never die,
That look upon your face,
Is really all it takes,
To change the world.

I’ve seen it for myself,
How a smile can change a life,
Even if it’s full of strife,
I have a disability,
Where everything is harder for me,
But then I figured out,
That happiness was the perfect way,
To a perfect life every single day,
And I wanted to scream and shout,
Tell the world what optimism was about.

And you can do the same,
Cuz life’s not about money or fame,
Not about strife or pain,
Or what in your life you can gain,
It’s about that simple look,
Upon your face,
That makes the world a better place.
Do me a favor and smile,

Be happy for more than a little while,
Let me see that gleam in your eye,
To let this feeling never die,
That look upon your face,
Is really all it takes,
To change the world.

The Unforgotten

We spend our whole life trying to make the most money, trying to move on up in the world, trying to get everything that we want. During this competition we sometimes forget who got us there in the first place and push others out of the way. In this competition there is never truly a first place, since our wants and needs forever increase. We want more money and a nice sports car and nice clothes, but do we ever want more friends or more relationships? It never really seems like that is what we are out to get, but it should be.

(These things are what make up The Unforgotten)

Today I went early in the morning to visit my nurse’s father who is 88 years old.  He is an amazing guy that has been through so much in his life.  He has made it through 4 years in World War II and years of raising his family of all daughters.  Most of his long and full life is over and there is no turning back for him.  Like most people at his age, he is slowly losing his memory and has a hard time remembering some things.  What he does remember is the truly inspirational thing, he remembers The Unforgotten.

He remembers the friendships he had over the years.  The time he spent with them is what he lived for.  They were the ones that made him laugh when the days grew dark and made him smile when sun shined.  They made him who he is today and he will never forget them.

(His friends are The Unforgotten.)

He remembers the years of marriage and raising his children from a small baby to a fully-grown adult.  He saw the beauty of life come alive when they were born.  He gave them an education that allowed them to make hundreds of friends along the way.  But most importantly, he was able to pass down his beliefs to his children and make them see life through optimistic eyes.

(His children are The Unforgotten.)

The love he gave to his wife also passed down to his children.  She brightened every single day from dawn to sunset.  She helped him take care of his family when times got rough.  She allowed him to follow his passion of singing, albeit just singing lullabies and Sinatra songs to his children.  She transformed him forever and she will never be forgotten.

(His wife is The Unforgotten.)

But his memory is falling apart for other things.  He cannot remember all of the lyrics to his favorite Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin songs that he used to sing in his youth and later on to his children.  He forgets the money he made.  He forgets what kind of car he had or how much it had cost.  He forgets about everything except friendship and love.

(So what does all this mean?)

It means that the truly important things in life are friendship and love, nothing more than those two short words.  It means that you should not always try to strike it rich and forget about creating and forming relationships with the amazing people around you.  It means that fame does not replace a need for love and friendship.  Near the end of your life, fame will not be important, money will not be important, prosperity will not be important.  What will truly be important will be the children you raised, the love you shared, and the friendships that changed your life.  These things can never be forgotten, no matter what financial state you are in or how bad life gets.  These things are The Unforgotten.

(“Money will not change the world, in the end it will only be paper, but love and friendship can change the world, and can never be reduced to nothing.”)

Decision-Free Day

Our society revolves around planning.  Planning to go to the grocery store.  Planning to go to the mall.  Planning to go anywhere.  What’s next, planning when to breath in and out?  We never stop for a second to admire the beauty all around us or do things that we really want to do.  It’s not the end of the world to stop planning for one day and go on a trip to a new or exciting place.  You could go a mile down the road or hours away going wherever the road may take you.  Life is a highway, so why not ride it all night long?

I’ve had so many Decision-Free Days in my life so far. From monster truck shows to Washington DC, I’ve been to hundreds of cool and indescribable places, too many to name.  Below I will describe one of my DFD’s and hopefully inspire you to take a break from all the stress and pain of life and go on your own Decision-Free Day adventure.

Right before I sat down to write this blog entry, I had returned from a 6-hour Decision-Free Day with my nurse with a story that you would think belongs in a week trip.  The night before I had called my aide from high school and asked him if he would be home the next morning.  He texted me back and said that he would.  So the next morning I left all technology and stress behind at 8:30 in the morning and took a half hour ride to his house with my nurse.  He showed me his house, his pool, and his cat and two dogs.  The three of us sat by the pool and ate potato chips with sour cream and drank some soda.  But more importantly, we sat back and talked about our lives and reminisced on the good times we had in high school together.  He could have not been happier to see me and we spent about an hour playing War with playing cards next to his pool.  Then the three of us went on a walk around his community and he told me everything about his neighbors and how the houses had changed over the years.  My nurse and I were going to leave right after our walk was done, but then I had an idea that literally just popped into my head.  But unlike I, and probably many of you, usually do, I listened to that idea and went with it.

That took us to the diner about a mile down the road where I had fish and chips, my friend had a grilled cheese with tomato, and my nurse had a chicken sandwich.  We continued to reminisce and talk about life during our lunch and had a great day.  But yet again, the trip did not end there like it normally would have with all the woes of life.  My nurse and I followed my friend and continued another mile or two down the road to a rustic Main Street in an old-fashioned town.  The bridge that we crossed overlooked a waterfall and two water wheels churning the water.  My nurse and I found a parking spot on the street and took a stroll down the sidewalk looking at the shops that we passed.  My friend told me about how all the shops and restaurants had changed and about what used to be there.  After walking up and down the street two times we all decided to stop and get some ice cream.  I got a flavor called Lobster Tracks with chocolate and red candies and we sat on a bench and yet again talked about life.

This trip made me wonder why everyone spends their days whining that there is nothing to do when there is really a world of excitement waiting for them outside their small, secluded world. It also made me see how fast the world around us can change and how we should take in everything before it disappears from view.  Look at how simple everything I did was; it was not like I had decided to go skydiving or anything like that.  I had only let my mind and the road take control of my day and turned just a simple visit into an extraordinary and memorable journey.

So take a few hours out of your day, call up that friend you have not seen in years, and go wherever the road may take you.  Follow through with any idea that may go through your head and that idea will take you to many other places you never thought you would go.  Put your stressed mind and life to the side for a bit and see what the world can truly offer.

To The World

Have you ever
Knew the truth, but decided to lie?
Have you ever
Failed to touch the sky?
Have you ever
Had your dreams slip away?
Well all that’s going to change today.

Because now it’s time to open up,
Open up
To the world,
Go bungee jumping
Without the cord,
Tell your story
Stop being mute,
Skydiving
With no parachute.

And if you say you can’t,
That all your life
Is on a slant,
Get up off that cold, hard ground,
And watch the world go round and round,
It will never stop turning
Through all your pain, your tears,
The lessons you’re learning.

Because now it’s time to open up,
Open up
To the world,
Go bungee jumping
Without the cord,
Tell your story
Stop being mute,
Skydiving
With no parachute.

And when you look back and see
What opening up has made you be,
You’ll be speechless
By the cleaned up mess,
The path you have taken
Is the one to success,
Keep telling your story
Because life never rests.

Because now it’s time to open up,
Open up
To the world,
Go bungee jumping
Without the cord,
Tell your story
Stop being mute,
Skydiving
With no parachute.

Unlock the Door

Once again defeated you fall to the ground
Broken into pieces, and you keep going down
And when everything is wrong you relieve it with more pain
Feels better for a second, but you know it’s just insane.

So hide away your problems, like you always do
Put on that fake smile, but tell yourself it’s true
No one will ever know that you’re bleeding inside
Don’t want your fear to take away your pride.

So put it in a box and never let it go
And if you add a lock then no one will ever know
The secrets, the pain, your traumas and your fears
The stuff that piles up after so many long years
But by hiding all your problems you can never let them go
So stop crying alone maybe it’s time that they should know
Learn to trust, know they care, and open up your heart
Break free of the pain by making a new start.

So…Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them see! (Let them see)
That there is more to you than what they expect you to be
Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them know (Let them know)
That you have another side that doesn’t always show
So let them see (Let them see)
Who you are (Who you are)
Because hiding things away won’t get you very far.
Sitting in your room crying, alone again
And at times like these you wish you had real friends
Maybe forgetting the pain will make it go away
But if you don’t accept it then it will always stay
So take a deep breath and let it go
The answer to your problems might be closer than you know
Don’t keep the agony bottled up inside
At some point even the toughest people have cried.

But when I look in the mirror I hate what I see
How is it possible for someone to be as ugly as me
Tired eyes and broken dreams
I wonder if life is as hard as it seems?
But you’re beautiful so be who you wanna be
The only person judging you is the reflection that you see
Be outrageous and express how you feel
What matters is what’s inside so make sure it’s real
So…Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them see! (Let them see)
That there is more to you than what they expect you to be
Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them know (Let them know)
That you have another side that doesn’t always show
So let them see (Let them see)
Who you are (Who you are)
Because hiding things away won’t get you very far.

And as time goes by this aching will no longer exist
No more problems, no more fears, no more cuts on your wrist
Maybe the old scars still might remain
But after awhile you will no longer feel the pain.
So let out all your problems, they all want to know
You’re loved by many people even if it doesn’t always show
Have faith in yourself and never forget
All that you’ve overcame, the blood and the sweat.

Whatever is Given

Why is everyone so angry,

When I am happy?

They get angry,

At anything that’s different,

They are not used to change,

But I am,

So why can’t they just,

Be like me?

I am happy,

With whatever you give me,

I am very used to change,

I know that when,

Anything goes wrong,

I’m ready to get through it,

Again and again and again,

And again and again…

I know a guy,

Who has nothing at all,

Just his family,

And very few friends,

He goes through each day,

Always happy,

Making sure,

Everything is okay. 

He is happy,

With whatever he’s given,

He is very used to change,

He knows that when,

Anything goes wrong,

He’s ready to get through it,

Again and again and again,

And again and again…

My friend knows this girl,

Who is at the top of the world,

But to her it’s really the bottom,

She’s the CEO,

Of a big company,

That’s now about to go bankrupt,

Even through all of this,

She’s never lost hope.

She is happy,

With whatever she’s given,

She is very used to change,

She knows that when,

Anything goes wrong,

She’s ready to get through it,

Again and again and again,

And again and again…

Everyone should be happy,

With whatever they’re given,

They should be very used to change,

They should know when,

Anything goes wrong,

They will be ready to get through it,

Again and again and again…

One Word

One hello can change the world,

Two hello’s can change your life,

More than two,

You will survive,

You need hello’s to stay alive.

So I dare you to go,

Out into the world,

And say hello to everyone you see,

It will show them your true love,

When life becomes push and shove.

Put a smile on your face,

Take away disgrace,

Give happiness a taste,

Make your heart open spaced,

Live your life as far as it can go,

You’ll change some lives,

Hey, you never know.

Remember how you felt,

When you thought,

Your heart would melt,

You took one step ahead,

But took a step back instead,

Until you saw that smile,

On a stranger’s face,

You picked yourself off the floor,

And knew inside,

You could do much, much more!

You’ve stood in their shoes,

When you thought,

That you would lose,

You’ve been there before,

Felt like asking for more,

So now you got to smile,

[Stay here a while]

Give all that you can give,

[Stay here a while]

Brighten someone’s day,

[Stay here a while]

You couldn’t want it any other way.

Smile,

Don’t frown,

Say hello,

Not goodbye,

Smile,

Smile,

Hello,

How are you?

Just say hello,

And smile…

A Grandmother's Love

I just heard the optimism of a grandmother of a child with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  It brought me the verge of tears and I know it will deeply affect you.  After reading this, please feel free to leave a comment describing something you’d do for a loved one, your daughter, your son, your friend, anyone you hold dear. 

“I drink in every day that I have with my grandson and I file it away in the deep recesses of my mind to be called up when I will want to look back at the memories.  I feel so blessed to have him in my life.  He will never probably experience the girl/boy love thing.  He gets crushes on girls on TV.  But I think that’s ok with him.  He lives in his world of video games, listening to music, playing on the computer and the love of his papa and me.  He is happy as a lark.

I sometimes cry inside when I think of what he has before him and what all of you have before you physically as time goes on.  I get angry and I want to do something about it so bad.  No wants to see a loved one go through anything.  But I don’t dwell on it.  I dwell in the moment.  It’s a gift to have each and every moment with him.  I am here to help him through his journey every step of the way.  It’s my mission in life.  It’s my lot in life.  I am his advocate when he can’t express what he needs, I am his fierce protector; I am everything I need to be for him.  I see my grandson as a gift from God.

Kids who don’t deal with the things you all deal with don’t know how good they have it.  It only shows what you are made of!  That is my point, the mindset, the attitude; it’s wonderful. Life is a gift.  Yes, some people are dealt a worse hand than others, but look at what they do with it.  That’s the beauty of it.  I sometimes wonder.  How would I feel?  I try to put myself into the place of someone disabled in a wheelchair, and I really can’t.  And why is that?  Because I’m not in a wheelchair.  I’m not disabled.  But then there are all kinds of disabilities.  There is the disability of intolerance and ignorance at people who are physically challenged.  Now that’s a deep statement isn’t it?

Eyes of a Child

Through the eyes of a child,

I am something different,

Something they have never seen before,

Children look at me,

With faces in the shape,

Of confusion and dismay.

They think inside,

Why can’t he walk?

Can he talk?

And they stare at me.

I know they do this,

By the look on their face,

They try to hide it,

But it is always there.

I do not like to see it,

But it’s a good thing,

That it’s there,

Without it the world,

Would be a different place.

I am glad that,

Soon they will learn,

That everyone is different,

And no one is the same.

I may be different,

But so is everyone else.

I am not the only one,

That is what I teach,

To children that see me.

Whether I like it or not,

That is how they see,

The world around them,

One day they will learn,

And become a mature adult,

Until that day comes,

They are seeing through,

The eyes of a child.

Outside Looking In

From the outside looking in,

Where do I begin?

I’ve been on the outside all my life,

Trying to stand it with all my might.

People running,

I’m sitting,

Cannot keep up,

Going to a friend’s house,

And not being able to get in,

From the outside looking in,

But now I am able to begin,

Anew,

And realize what,

I’ve been through.

Its not as bad as many have had to do,

I have a great life,

Not full of strife,

And have many friends,

Who will be there till all ends.

I may not be like everyone else,

I am unique,

Nothing a matter with that,

If I am on the outside looking in,

There is no possible way to win.

So that is why I deal with what I’ve got,

Because if I don’t,

Then I might be on the outside,

One day,

Not being able to look in.

Don't Let Fame Take Control

He had everything,

A nice sports car,

A house by the shore,

The big role,

In the next big movie,

Even his own chauffeur,

But what he didn’t have,

Was her.

She had all she wanted,

A large family,

In a small town,

And so many friends,

But nothing more,

Her love had left her,

But all that she wanted,

Was him.

He let fame,

Take control,

He had everything,

He could ever need,

But nothing that he wanted,

But did he know love is not worth losing,

Over fame?

He always had her,

In the back of his mind,

She always had him,

In the back of her mind,

Their love was strong,

But what could they do?

He lived in Hollywood,

She was so far away,

He was famous,

She was happy,

He thought he had everything,

She knew that she didn’t.

He started to change,

Quit the movie,

Escaped in the dead of night,

Drove across the country,

Trying to find her,

He was crazy in love.

She saw him in the doorway,

Couldn’t believe her eyes,

She didn’t even ask why,

Came up and kissed,

Her only guy,

Fame wasn’t important anymore,

He only needed her,

He had learned his lesson,

The only way he could.

Don’t let fame,

Take control,

You’ll have everything,

You could ever need,

But nothing that you want,

Love is not worth losing,

Over fame.

Don't You Forget

Throughout all these years,

So much has changed,

Nothing’s the same,

And never will be again.

But don’t you forget,

All the love we once shared,

Don’t you forget,

All the great days we had,

Don’t you forget.

For all these years,

For all this time,

Don’t you forget,

Never forget.

Time may be between us,

But I will never forget,

How your eyes lit up,

When you saw me,

All the joy we shared.

Through all eternity,

Through all my life,

Nothing can break,

Nothing can break,

The bond we share.

But don’t you forget,

All the love we once shared,

Don’t you forget,

All the great days we had,

Don’t you forget.

For all these years,

For all this time,

Don’t you forget,

Never forget.

Say Goodbye to Curiosity

Say goodbye to curiosity,

Everything will soon be clear,

The storm clouds will disappear,

There’ll be no secrets,

As long as you’re near,

Cuz everything will soon be clear.

My love to you,

Is like a song,

A song that’s never-ending,

A song that’s mind bending,

I thought that song would stay inside,

And never come out and play,

But now that it has,

And now I must tell all.

When we first met,

I closed my eyes,

And thought it was a dream,

I’d never seen,

One as beautiful as you,

As amazing, incredible as you,

Now can’t you see,

What you mean to me?

Say goodbye to curiosity,

Everything will soon be clear,

The storm clouds will disappear,

There’ll be no secrets,

As long as you’re near,

Cuz everything will soon be clear.

My love is strong,

My heart can’t be wrong,

Cuz it’s bringing me straight to you,

And I can’t figure out what to do,

I’m lost in love,

And I’m waiting for you to save me,

I’m waiting for you to save me,

What will you do?

Pain Only Makes You Stronger

You feel horrible,

As if the world is done,

You feel insane,

From everything you’ve done,

You feel the pain,

But you’re not the only one.

Pain only makes you stronger,

And takes your breath away,

Without it the world,

Would seem so different than today,

You’d never learn,

How to take the pain away.

You’re not in this alone,

You have help from me,

And friends and family,

Let your feelings show,

Don’t sit around and mope,

Let your feelings show,

You always gotta hope,

Let your feelings show,

You gotta learn to cope.

Ask for help from me,

You’ll be happy to see,

That I’ll get you through this,

Away from the abyss,

Don’t give up,

Help does exist,

Just ask me,

And I’ll assist,

Because I’ve been in pain before.

Don’t feel horrible,

As if the world is done,

Don’t feel insane,

From everything you’ve done,

Don’t feel the pain,

You’re not the only one.

Pain only makes you stronger,

And takes your breath away,

Without it the world,

Would seem so different than today,

You’d never learn,

How to take the pain away…

Life is Like Football

The goal in life,

Is to get a touchdown,

But its hard to do,

With defenders around,

Make sure to hold the ball,

When you hit the ground.

Some days you run,

Others you throw,

You never know,

How many yards you’ll go,

Brace for impact,

You might be sacked.

Get some yards,

Come so close,

To first down,

But you must punt,

Some people call this,

Giving up.

One day the football,

Slips from your hands,

A fumble,

Its up to you,

Will it be saved?

Or will it be lost?

A foul is called,

When you mess up,

A mistake to learn from,

Sometimes a timeout,

Is all you need,

To learn to get out there,

And take the lead.

You may be on defense,

Offense or safety,

Its not everything,

To be quarterback,

Everyone has a part,

In the game of life.

And when that catch is received,

In the touchdown zone,

You stop a while,

And do a dance,

15 points are needed,

Winning this game,

You have a chance.

Be Thankful

Let the world end now,

I don’t wanna see the sunshine,

I don’t wanna see the rain,

You said that you loved me,

Through and through,

And that’s enough for me.

I cannot bear our love,

Ever falling apart,

Ever breaking apart,

It should be never ending,

Our love should last forever,

And never go away.

But if the world should end now,

Our love would still be there,

And never fade away,

I could leave this world,

Knowing that you loved me,

And that’s enough for me.

Love is not a simple thing,

It’s lost and found,

Brutal and serene,

It must be saved when it is true,

That’s what the end of

The world would do.

You and me,

Have something special,

A bond that cannot disappear,

When we are near that bond is strong,

Our love can never go wrong,

If it’s the one thing left behind.

But if the world should end now,

Our love would still be there,

And never fade away,

I could leave this world,

Knowing that you loved me,

And that’s enough for me.

Mistakes

You’ve made them so often,

They cannot be counted,

Some good and some bad,

And even some sad,

But don’t let them take you down,

Don’t let them stop you,

Break you or burn you,

Let me give an example…

The tranquil lover,

About to say I love you,

Remembers his first kiss,

Which ended in disaster,

The one he loved did not love him,

He went way too fast,

So now he stops and thinks,

Am I doing that now?

His relationship is saved.

Mistakes aren’t failures,

They’re lessons,

Without them where would you be?

Disasters are times for rebuilding,

Renovating your life,

Turning the bad to the good,

Mending your life as you would.

Mistakes made once,

Shouldn’t happen again,

Made more than twice,

You gain more advice,

If you learn from them,

You’ll be amazed in the end,

If you learn from them,

Your life you can mend.

About Me

Despite my disability I haven’t stopped getting involved and trying to change the world at the same time.  In September, I begin my second year of college at the community college 5 minutes away from my house.  My major is Communications (hence, I am using those skills right now) and I hope to integrate blogging, social media, writing, marketing, and motivating into the career of my dreams.  Not many people with my disorder believe that they can go to college and make a future for themselves, and that is one of the many reasons I started The Optimist’s Guide to Life.

Me?  I enjoy working on my computer and even have my own website design business called “Anthony’s Abilities.”  I also like to write and sing my own songs, play Texas Hold‘em with my family, and go to the movies.  In other words, I just enjoy everything life gives to me, hanging out with friends that mean the world to me, and the small things that turn a good day into an amazing day.

How did I find optimism?  In short, the English teacher from my Junior year of high school read two poems, “Through the Eyes of a Child” and “From the Outside Looking In” that I had written, to her classes.  Once she told them I had written the poems, they asked me to come and talk to their classes about my disease and my perspective on life.  This was my turning point in life where I finally felt accepted and knew my voice wanted to be heard.  33 English classes and a blog later, here I am, forever Optimistic.

So, I am just like every one of you reading this blog, except I am in a wheelchair.  That’s because I have a type of Muscular Dystrophy called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  As this disease progresses, I lose more and more of my muscle function requiring me to constantly adapt my way of doing things.  But this hasn’t stopped me.  With my “never give up” attitude, I have gained a spirit that never gives in to my physical condition.  While Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy steals my muscle function and independence, what remains strong is my desire to excel in academics and life and to teach acceptance of disabilities, while having fun at the same time.

So far, I have been successful in academics by getting accepted into the National Honors Society and I am teaching you about my disability by creating this blog.  But, the most difficult part of being in this wheelchair is the immediate barrier it puts up when trying to make friends.  Sure, everyone in my community and school might say hello to me and know my name, but I don’t have the camaraderie of friends that I continuously strive for.  But this changes for one week of the year, possibly the best week of my life.  At MDA Camp, a one-week camp that I have attended for over the past 10 years, the counselors don’t notice the wheelchair; instead they notice the person in it.  The week is filled with hanging out, sports, pranking, campfires, poker, and dancing.  By the way, I have danced with over 50 girls especially at MDA Camp.  I have continued this same trend at Camp Promise East in Connecticut for the past 2 years.  I became too old for MDA Camp, so I was forced to search for another camp, and I am so glad I found the one that I did.  Each year I go, I become stronger and feel more and more inspired to continue following my dreams.  There is a limitless amount of acceptance at these two camps, so why can’t this continue for the other 51 weeks of the year?  With your help, maybe it can…

The next time you notice a person in a wheelchair, instead of just saying hello, try to find ways to include them in your activities so you can get to know the real person who would love to just “fit in.”  My motto is “despite my disability, my abilities have NO bounds” and I hope I have inspired some of you to embrace our differences and that by having friends that understand you, can make all the difference in the world.