Risk

In order to get anywhere successful in life I believe one should take risks. There are times, of course, when one should not take risks, but for the most part a person is always risking something. They could be risking judgement, penalty, criticism, etc. Not all of the outcomes are bad though, there is the desired chance of success, persuasion, or change. People need to take risks in order to make a change in the world, or in order to be successful. This does not mean that one should risk not doing their homework for a week hoping that teachers will stop assigning it, that's not going to happen. The reasoning behind the risk has to be somewhat...reasonable. A good example is investing in a business that you are not positive will take off. But along with these extremes comes every day risks. We make risks like driving every day, or going on an airplane, or talking to a new person you've never met. These are all risks, but you wouldn't really be able to live if you didn't take them.

Powerful Images

I was reading my blog for the project and she linked the most powerful images of the year. I just had to share! Some of these are actually insane, I love them. My dad and I looked at them together and some of them are extremely sad, funny, interesting, or just completely insane!
Some of my favorites are number 7, I think it is honestly hilarious. She's getting sprayed in the face with pepper sprain, just look at it! How could you not chuckle a little bit when you see this?
I just started at number 8 for like 3 minutes straight. Can you even imagine? I can't even say anything about it, i'm just shocked every time I see it.
Oh my! I can't even believe number 10! I didn't even know that was possible!
My dad got a huge kick out of number 16, serves them right huh?
Number 18 is my favorite. It makes me think of the end of the world, I am speechless when I see it. IT'S INSANE!!
Okay the rest are pretty great too but number 18 is my favorite beyond favorite. I made it my desktop background.

The Lady With the Stroller

"Two more blocks. Two more, two more, two moooore. Two more blocks and we will be opening the doors to cushioned chairs surrounding a blazing fire that will thaw out the tips of my toes." This runs through my head as I wait for the symbol to change from a big orange hand signaling me to stay on my current side of the road, to the skinny, white man informing me that it might be safe to walk. "Now if only she doesn't wake up, then I'd call this a pretty successful trip to the coffee shop."

Why I looked to my right, I don't know, but maybe if I hadn't the man would have spotted a different victim to stare down until they forged over some cash. He had long, greasy hair that I assume used to be dreadlocks, and ragged clothes. Either he had a very rough night, or he was homeless. As I tried to ignore him, I felt his stare pierce through me and my baby. "Please stop looking at her!" I thought, but didn't dare say incase he took it as a challenge. I wondered why all of the others waiting to cross the street were looking away, very obviously pretending to be oblivious to the current situation. Thanks my fellow citizens.

I quickly grabbed my purse and searched for the one thing I hoped would stop making him look at my baby that way. Lipstick tossed to the right, address book to the left, handkerchief...I was wondering where that went, ah. My wallet. The color of the pink roses would usually remind me of the purchases I make on the objects that make me happy. Instead I was grabbing it in hopes of ridding of the man who was as still as a statue, piercing my child with his gaze. I frantically pulled the thin piece of paper and held it out for the man to take.

When he snached it from my hand and went on his way, my heartbeat slowed and my grip released it deathly hold on the stroller. For what seemed like an hour, the symbol changed and I quickly went on my way to the coffee shop, frazzled from the rush of adrenaline.

Revealed!

1. Definition
2. Compare/Contrast
3. Narration
4. Process Analysis
5. Cause and Effect
6. Argument

Happiness

Happiness is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. It is what someone feels at the highest moments of his or her lives. Even if something horrible is happening, happiness makes one forget the trouble and feel joy for that moment. It can be the result of one of your actions, or the actions of another. Happiness is being pleased with something, someone, or some event. It is a feeling that people need in their lives, at least at some point, to make them have a joyful life, or even a livable life really. Everyone needs happiness, and everyone is able to feel happiness if they want it. 

Happiness is like the feeling one gets on Christmas morning if they celebrate Christmas. Or when one meets someone they love, like a family member, after an extended period of time. Happiness is like being a little kid and having no worries. It's like traveling to a place you have been waiting to visit all of your life. It's like being with the one's you love, doing the things you enjoy. Happiness can be found in great things, as well as small. Happiness is being as far away from sadness, even for a moment.

This weekend has been one of the best weekends of my life, one where I have been happy with my life and my family and friends. I went up to my cabin with my two brother, mom, dad, and dog. We left on Wednesday and arrived back home only a couple minutes ago. My grandma and her husband, who are from North Dakota, came on Thursday and left this morning as well. We did absolutely nothing except watch movies, play games, and sit by the fire. We talked and laughed and everyone was simply happy. 

It doesn't take a winning ticket to the lottery, or a big promotion at a job, happiness can be found in the simple things in life. Although these things would just as well make a person happy, sitting with family and enjoying dinner can cause happiness easily. As long as a person allows for himself to have a good time, and enjoys the company around him, he will feel happiness. It is really easy if you surround yourself with others who are happy, it's like something contagious, if one person is happy, others will be too. 

If one surrounds himself with people who are very happy with their lives and express it in a pleasing, or not annoying way, then he will eventually find himself just as happy. If he surrounds himself with people who see the glass half empty, then he will also see the glass half empty, and therefore will most likely not feel happiness, or at least not as much as in the other scenario.

When someone feels happiness, they live a better life. This is because they enjoy the things they do and people they are surrounded by, and as a result simply enjoy living more. If you enjoy living, then life is better. If you are not happy, people will not want to be around you, there won't be things in life to live for really, and your life will not be even close to as pleasurable as one who is happy. It's a fact, you can't live a good life without being happy.

Holiday Season

The traditions assignment really got me thinking about the holiday season, and to be completely honest, I was about to jump out of my chair I was so excited. And NOW it's snowing. I can't even believe that it's almost Christmas time again! For me, it is absolutely the most wonderful time of the year. I would take the snowy, snowmobiling weather over any 80 degree beach. But not just the weather, because believe me, I am not one of those people who actually like the freezing wind that nearly slashes your face open when it hits you, but only because it means that Christmas is almost here. And even if you don't celebrate Christmas, the entire season is the most wonderful experience. Everyone is happy. Everyone is helping, and giving, and receiving, and it is just the best time ever. I love Christmas. I love the season of Christmas. And I love being able to snowmobile, sled, four-wheel, and so on during this time. I AM SO EXCITED!

.....I wrote this on Saturday night, I know I have no life, but I realized I didn't post it until right now. Great.

The Rhetoric of Communication

The different messages people send out may not be recognized by the person, but when looking at the situation from a different perspective, a message can be perceived as very rude even though it may not have been meant to be rude. A couple examples include:

• When a businessperson leaves a restaurant table to answer a page, he may think that he is doing his work and it's okay, but really the message is that work is more important than the person you are at the restaurant with, and that means that the person is not very important at all.
• A doctor leaving the table to answer a page is an excusable act, but it also puts a damper on the night considering the doctor now has to leave and the dinner is ruined. 
• An answering machine that cuts off after 30 seconds is basically saying, say something quickly because by the time you hit 30 seconds, I probably will be tuned out anyways. It gives off a message that you have better things to be doing than hearing from the person leaving the message.
• When a telephone solicitor mispronounces my name I instantly know that what they are about to talk about in completely unimportant, and usually I'll just hang up. But the message they are portraying is that they don't care enough to figure out how to pronounce your name, they don't even know you at all, and they really don't give a crap but only want slash need to get paid.
• When a fax is marked "Urgent", a person instantly feels a rush of most likely dread, anxiety, and anticipation.  At the same time, the situation is probably not as urgent as one may think, otherwise the sender of the message would say what happened straight up.

These are some examples of what your message can give off, even if you don't mean to. This is how technology has changed us and how a message is perceived.