Don't let doubt control your life

The passage that I remember reading was probably the quote stating “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will” That quote has become my motto. It’s extremely important to me because I am someone who has allot of doubt in my abilities. Probably more than I should. But I now have this quote plastered everywhere. And this has really helped me become more confident. I am able to give myself the credit that I should and I am very thankful that I found this quote. This quote didn’t come from a book, it came from a magazine I read allot. It’s a bike magazine and the name escapes me at this time. But I think that this quote had played a large role in who I am today. My successes in the sports I compete in. And even the grades that I earn. I largely accredit it all to this one little quote. I don’t really know why it has such a positive impact on my life. But without this quote I wouldn’t have such a high confidence level, a positive attitude, and free spirit. Though I think maybe maturity is something lacking from my life, I don’t care, I prefer fun over boring stuff. 

Writers as readers

Question): What was the first book you remember reading? Why does this book stand out in your memory?

Answer): The first book I remember reading was probably the book Dragon Rider.  This book stands out to me because it was like 350 pages or something like that. I remember this book because I was in like 2^nd grade and I was trying so hard to read it when I really never understood a word that was said in that book.

Question): What is one of your best memories connected with reading?

Answer): Probably second grade. Second grade we were forced to read allot so I read, or at least said that I was reading when I was really talking to my friends. I had one of my favorite teachers this time in my life so I really enjoyed that class. Though I had difficulty reading, I enjoyed getting to be around friends and be social.

Question): When you read, what do you need to be comfortable?

Answer): While most people need almost complete silence to read, I have to have a fair amount of noise. I need music or TV or something that can help keep my mind going. When its dead silent I feel really awkward. I hate silence, When things are quiet I feel like that takes away from the human nature of being social.

Question): Who was your first reading teacher? Why do you remember him/her? Was it a “teacher” who taught you or someone else?

Answer): The first person who taught me to read was probably my 2^nd grade teacher. She was the first person to notice that I really wasn’t a strong reader and began to suggest that I not read such complex books and all. But I was a stubborn second grader so I did what I wanted. But she was really the first teacher to have a notice upon how I couldn’t quite read like everyone else. But I remember her because second grade was a fun grade. I still keep in contact with that teacher because of the impact that she had on my life/

Writers Dreaming

Writers Dreaming

Question)            Angelou says she doesn’t even like to talk about her bad dreams because talking about them “gives them too much power”. Do you think talking about bad dreams, or bad news, or other bad things gives those bad things more power? When have you known this to happen?

Answer)             I don’t think that you should talk about the bad things that happened to you in your life much. Why dwell on what has already happened? It’s not like you can change it. I think that you should tell someone about it if it really bothers you or if it’s something serious, but other than that, just forget about it and move on. These bad memories and dreams could make your life sad and miserable so you cannot let them win. So yes, I think that talking about the things that upset you or make you afraid consistently gives them power over you. This happens a lot today with social media, giving people access to your fears and insecurities. When someone says something bad about us, it generally gets to us. Making us upset.

Question)            After going through a major trauma at age seven, Angelou didn’t talk for almost five years. Could you live this way? Do you talk too much, or too little? What could you learn if you listen more and spoke less? How could you grow as a person by speaking more?

Answer)               Everyone deals with trauma in their own way. Angelou just chose not to speak. Some of us choose to compartmentalize, some resort to drugs and drinking, and others become angry. I personally wouldn’t be able to go without speaking, i am extremely social and love to talk. I would gain nothing from not speaking. Speaking is how we socialize and socialization is a large part of what makes humans and sets apart from animals, Is our ability to be so social with others of our kind.

Question)            Angelou says, “There is a world of difference between truth and fact.” What do you think she means by that? Do you think the same?

Answer)               I think she means that the truth is anything anyone makes it out to be. But facts are indisputable. Facts are things that can be proven, whereas the truth can be anything someone believes it be. I would have to strongly agree with what she is saying. Because allot of the stories people tell you have true aspects, but aren’t always totally what they say. Whereas a fact, you can look it up and it’s right there, written in black and white for the world to see. Yet the truth, the truth is open to interpretation.  You and someone can watch the same video, read the same story, or see the same event, and interpret it in hundreds of different ways. Like say a giant purple elephant ran through new York’s time square with a monkey on its back making balloon animals. You ask a hundred different people what they saw, you’ll get a hundred different variations of the same thing. Which are all true but the fact of the matter is that there was a giant purple elephant with a monkey on its back making balloon animals. But the truth could be a million other things. 

Do what you enjoy for reasons why you enjoy it

My dreams for the years to come

I’ve always been a person with big dreams. But you have to put into consideration that, that could be all that it ever becomes, nothing but a dream. And that’s something I always figured, was not to keep my hopes up for something that is so hard to achieve. Like when I was a kid, I wanted to be a professional bmx biker. But that’s beyond my capabilities, and it’s the same thing as when a few years ago I wanted to go pro as a mountain biker. Dreams are great to have. It’s nice to dream big, but you also have to be a realist. Life isn’t going to give you all that you want, especially if you don’t work at it. Going pro as a mountain biker would be amazing, but why make a hobby a job? When you do something as a job it kind of takes the fun out of it. Not saying that is always the case, but it is a times. So I have set my sights on something more realistic, and that is to become a therapist for people who feel like they just need a friend and someone to talk to. I’m a very easy person to talk to. I will speak what I think is best for someone, not what they want to hear. But I won’t do it as a jerk, I just want people to look at things other than how they want to. It is the best way to help people face their problems. And that’s something I enjoy doing, helping people. And it will be a good way to support my family and give them a good life.