I heard a story the other day about a reporter who never really had anything good to say about Ted Kennedy. His political views were so different, so all the articles this wrote about Ted Kennedy always seemed to be negative. One day the reporter and Ted Kennedy were both at the same social gathering. There came a point in the night where this reporter and Ted Kennedy started talking one-on-one. Forty-five minutes later, the reporter walked away really impressed with Ted Kennedy. Despite their political differences, this reporter found that he actually liked Ted Kennedy as a person. After writing numerous negative articles about Ted Kennedy, the reporter wrote a story after that night about how good of a person Ted Kennedy actually is. They say don't judge a book by it's cover, meaning don't just look at a person and assume you don't like what you see. Rather, you have to get to know the person. The same goes for judging a person you may know. You shouldn't take one thing you know about the person and base all your opinions and decisions on that. Just because you may not agree with one thing in the person's life (a decision they made, their political views, etc.) doesn't mean that you cannot be friends with the person, or that you won't get along, or that you won't like anything else about them. Some people have a lot to offer you (knowledge, etc.), but if you write them off based on one thing you saw/heard them do that you didn't agree with, you may miss out on a lot. 
 
When someone does something to hurt you or wrong you in some way, it's easy to let that destroy your whole mood for a given time. Whenever we as humans get hurt, it's not something that we easily can let go and forget about. Depending on how bad someone hurt you, you may try hard to forget about it, but there's always memories that come up, questions that form in your mind, and thoughts you just can't shake off. I think one of the hardest parts about when someone hurts you is the fact that you can't trust them again. You may doubt all their motives, their actions, their words, and them as a person. It's extremely hard when you have to see that person frequently or they meant a lot to you in the past. Everybody has their own way of dealing with hurt and with the people who hurt them. I still haven't figured out a good way to move past things. I don't have any advice on how to move on with your life, or how to forget about what happened. However, I do know this: that person and the action he or she did to you, does not define who you are as a person. If somebody hurt you after you trusted them and after you were there for them, you may feel almost worthless. You may feel like you didn't deserve it, or wonder what you did to make them want to do this to you. But no matter how much hurt and pain you feel, it doesn't change who you are as a person. Everybody has their own beliefs in this world, but my personal belief is that God has a purpose for everybody. I believe God has called people to do things…great things…things that we can't even imagine. And no matter what anybody does to you, it doesn't change God's calling on your life. It doesn't change what you are capable of accomplishing, and it doesn't stop you from succeeding at anything.
 
There's a saying that says more money, more problems. The saying implies that the more money people have, the more problems they may have. Everybody has a different view on money. Some people prefer to live life simply, with just enough money to get by and live thier life comfortably. Others chase after money their whole life, and can't seem to get enough. I am not here to say who is right or wrong. However, I have come to believe money is not everything. There have been times in my life where money seems to be hard to come by, and every problem that requires money seems to be building up - rent is due, car payment is due, car isn't working properly and needs fixing, every bill comes in the mail at once, etc. At times like these, money seems to be on my mind constantly. I start to worry about how I am going to pay for everything, and what I may need to cut back on. At this time I actually start thinking the saying should be "No money, more problems." However, I've come to realize that I cannot worry about money so much. Of course everything costs money and money is always going to be needed. But I cannot let troubling times stop me from just enjoying life. When the mind is focusing on money and worrying about how everything is going to be paid, I cannot just enjoy everything that is currently going on around me. I try to think about how no matter what, there are people in worse situations than me, so instead of worrying so much, I should be thankful for the situation I am in. Instead of worrying about the car payment, I should be thankful I have a car, and have the ability to drive. I should be thankful I have a place I can live. Money comes and goes, so there is no point of focusing all your attention on it. This does not mean you shouldn't take care of the things that need to be taken care of, but rather instead of worrying so much about it, or letting the thought of money consuming your mind, try to enjoy the things you do have, th
 
According to Merriam-Webster, the word "passion" is defined as an "intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction" or "an object of desire or deep interest." I've recently began to realize how important passion is in anything you are doing - sports, work, starting a business, etc. I have personally experienced a lack of passion when it comes to certain things. For example, a particular job that you have no passion for. If you wake up every morning to go to work, but have no passion, it's going to be a long day, you are not going to enjoy the work you have to do, and you are probably not going to put much effort into the work. If I am given an assignment at work, or wake up with a to-do list but have no passion, I am probably going to get the work done, but with the least amount of effort. However, if I wake up and I have passion about my job or the work I do, I am going to wake up excited, ready to get going. When I go to work, I am probably going to work hard and do things well. I believe that passion drives you in the things that you do. I recently saw somebody play a few different basketball games. The first couple games, you could tell this person had no passion. They showed up to the game, they played when told to, they scored, rebounded, etc., but you could tell this person was there only physically. However, during a more important game, I saw the passion in that person. Whether they were in the game or on the bench, they got excited, they were always watching, on the edge of their chair. The passion in that person was obvious, and almost contagious. Looking at this particular person get excited about every free throw made, every steal, every point, made me also get into the game. This person was no longer at the game (playing or on the bench) physically, but they were present mentally as well. Passion allows you to push forward, try harder, do things you may even think you can't. Like the definition says, passion is intense, driving, or overmastering feeling - it drives you to do more, to be better, to give all you can. And eventually, your passion starts being an inspiration to others. 

Have the passion, take the action & magic will happen.
- Bar Rafaeli