Life Hack “Creating Positive Change” (Day 23)

1. Write down 3 gratitude’s.

I am grateful for my communication skills in understanding that many times more than conversation communication can be about body language, what you are wearing and assertiveness. I’m feel gratitude that my parents raised me to believe in what I say and ask for what I want. They didn’t allow us to be shy. Lastly, I am grateful in the fact that I am able to stay optimistic through rough times.

2. Journal about 1 positive experience you’ve had over the last 24 hours.

In the last 24 hours a positive experience I had was being able to attend my friend Richie Le’s going away celebration. As he takes his next step in life I am beyond proud of him and excited to see what he does next.  

3. Exercise: Yes

4. Meditate: No

5. Write one positive email praising or thanking someone in your social support network: Yes

LIFE HACK “Creating Positive Change” (Day One)

1. Write down 3 gratitude’s each day

I am thankful to have such a wonderful support system. My family, friends and social circles and networks. Without these people I am not sure I would be able to have the number of opportunities I have been afforded. I work hard to make this community even stronger. It is this community that I will need to achieve my goals. I have no doubt that even though achieving these goals will take up a lot of time, these people will understand.

I am thankful for my resources. Although they could always be better and I work hard to continue to improve them, I know that my resources will allow me to achieve my short term goals.

Lastly, I am thankful for independent financial stability. Although more money would be nice, I am thankful that I am able to sustain a moderately comfortable lifestyle that allows me to travel, support my artistic side, and spend time with my family and friends. I have worked hard in the last year to do better financially in hopes of scaling down my life and being a lot less wasteful. So far so good.

2. Journal about 1 positive experience you’ve had over the last 24 hours 

A positive experience in the last 24 hours for me was being able to spend time with my girlfriend before she left for work today. We were able to do some shopping, eat lunch and spend time discussing our communication, our graduate school applications and what obstetrical. She definitely push’s me to be a greater human being and for this I am grateful.

3. Exercise: No

4. Meditate: Not yet, but I hope to later

5. Write one positive email praising or thanking someone in your social support network: Not today

Conversations… (Written By AmbassadorNique)

The day after I wrote my last post on Tumblr I was able to speak with a random young lady who had recently graduated from Western Washington University in 2011. We were both volunteering at the Seattle Community Resource Exchange, an event that gave aid and resources to Seattle’s homeless populations and anyone else who needed the resources being offered. Listening to her speak was like listening to a younger version of myself speak. The level of pride she had for her college degree and the hard work that she had put in to receive it felt familiar. I mostly did my best to listen to her speak about her not knowing if she wanted to commit to going to Graduate school or if she wanted to follow her dream of becoming a professional sky diver instructor. Ironically we had both read Malcolm Gladwell’s “Outliers” and I reminded her of the 10,000 hours that it takes to master anything. After a long conversation there was no concrete answer but she agreed that commitment was something that was definitely necessary in this case. While I believe I helped this young lady, it honestly helped me more than anything. It reminded me that nothing happens without hard work and dedication. COMMITMENT… One can not be successful without commitment.

For many recent graduates upon gradation we were hit with the harsh reality that the real world wasn’t as eager to accept fresh blood. That and student loan payments… Myself and many others returned to the drawing board re-evaluating what direction it is that we wanted to go with the rest of our lives. I personally have returned to this drawing board more times than I’d like to admit, however I am thankful to have had the opportunities to do so. While there are many directions that any of us can go without first committing ourselves to a goal there is no way to get the 10,000 that Gladwell speaks of. While I have returned to the drawing board I only hope that I will soon find what I am looking for. 

Today I received a phone call from an old friends mother that I have neglected to call in quite sometime. I never want to be the person to burden anyone when I am down, but rather share good news, resources, and opportunity. She let me know I wasn’t the only one going through hard times, and reminded me that this economy was effecting everyone. This was something that I already knew, yet I suppose we get so lost in our own world of issues that sometimes we forget. She had told me someone close to us had recently fell on harder times losing possessions much more valuable.

After ending the phone call it made me think how much I have to be thankful for. My health, my families health, my possessions, the roof over my head, my transportation, great friends, my girlfriend. If not having career in the midst of the worst depression since the 1930s is the biggest problem I face on a daily basis, I must say I have a lot to be thankful for.

Peace and Love,

Ambassador