"Listen to your heart" what does that mean? You know what...I have come to the realization that I have no idea what that phrase means. Obviously it’s not meant to be taken literally in that one should strap on a Sphygmomanometer and literally "listen" to their heart beat. But understanding what that phrase really means is actually pretty relative. When you think about it...listening to you heart could mean a number of things, it could mean thinking about something long and hard and developing a certain disposition about it. It could also mean going with your gut instinct, acting on how you feel at the time. It could mean not thinking but just going with a feeling that you have felt strongly about for a long time. But all I know is when I say, "listen to your heart" to me, that means living in the moment, living without regrets, making mistakes and learning from trial and error. Sometimes when you sit down and think about something for a long time, and you dwell on a subject, you tend to talk your self into or out of a situation, (based on whichever is easiest). But I have learned from past mistakes that if you never fully live out a situation and go through a situation without giving up, you never know what potential outcome could work out in your benefit. I am a strong believer in love. My grandpa in his day was not the easiest person to get along with. He drank heavily, smoked, and was verbally abusive at times. Now I know if my grandmother were given the opportunity to relive that experience she probably would have taken an easier route, because she would have listen to her head and not her heart. My grandmother living through what she had to live through was not easy, but it made her the person she is today. My grandfather has taught her patients; love with out conditions, strength, and how to be happy knowing that Jesus is the best friend you could ever have. Being with my grandfather has taught her life lessons that she may have never been taught other wise. The point is next year will be my grandmother and grandfather’s 50th anniversary!! That is huge. My grandmother stuck it out, (I am in no means telling any one that purposely putting themselves in that situation is a good idea by the way), but she made it work. She was in love. Smitten. And to me that's what life is all about. Sure there will be shortcomings and hardships, there will be hurt feelings and disappointments, but life is about working out things and making life work for you. The Bible says that love holds no record of wrong doings, (along with a thousand other things about love), and I feel that if a person is willing to change, and you love that person, you will compromise. You will work together, it may not always be easy, but at least you have each other. All I am saying is ... Never live the dream that someone has created for you, Never live the dream that others think is right for you...live your life, make your own happiness, live out your dream. Let's dream <3>

Can we love we?

How you view yourself is possibly the most important thing you could ever do. Valuing yourself is probably the greatest step any person could take in the right direction. How you perceive yourself is the very essence of what holds you together. It determines your past. Your present and your future.
Think about this. Think of someone who has no love for themselves. To them...they are ugly, fat, worthless, bony, wrinkled, unattractive, unworthy of love. To them..they are helpless, demotivated, and uninspiring. Think on this. If a person really thinks of him or her self in this way..how will they allow other people to treat them. Something my grandmother told me today really stuck out to me...she said .."Before your mama got shot she was a beautiful women, she had long beautiful curls with flawless skin and a very shapely body, but she didn't think so." My mother allowed someone to beat her and call her names. The emotional and physical abuse inflicted by ex boyfriends was totally unacceptable, but to her..it was well deserved. To her she was worthless, unattractive, and lower than earth and no one could convince her otherwise. Her boyfriend even went so far as to shoot her in the head. The ultimate indication of someone who has no love or compassion for another. This was her BOYFRIEND. How ridiculous is that? What I am trying to say is before we decide to get in relationships with people we really and truly have to evaluate how we feel about ourselves. How far will you allow someone to go before it is enough? When is enough enough? When does a situation become unacceptable? If you value who you are as a person you will not allow someone to beat you down verbally or physically. I think my greatest fear in life is becoming someone who allows others to take control of my life. Allowing a situation to hold me stagnant and immobile. I never want to live that way. I want to do whats best for me. I want to grow and mature. Be strong and self assured. I dont want to feel like I need a man to hold me up financially or make me happy. I have to be happy with me first. in love..You will expect nothing short of greatness. You will maintain you dignity and integrity. You will not self degrade. You will not sell yourself short. You will live life. Laugh. Breathe. enjoy the person living in your own skin. But most of all...you will Dream. Please.. for your own sake..Dream.

Ex's are just that an X...for a reason

Sometimes whenever things don't go your way you feel like resorting back to the past because you tend to remember the good things in people of the past, and can only think of how much your life sucks in the present. I think the greatest lesson I have learned from past boyfriends is that you will never have the same relationship you had after a long break up, things will never be the same, people change, grow and move on. Just as they have moved on, you have to too. If you're not with a person, it is for a reason...and all that BS about true love comes back is crap. If they really loved you they would have never left, or gave you reason to leave.It is so easy to get wrapped up in the past. All you can think about is the good time, times you laughed, felt pretty, and appreciated. But the important thing for any one to do is really evaluate what went wrong in the relationship. Was he disrespectful? Fulfill your needs and desires? Was he there for you during hard times? Did he listen? Was he affectionate? Compassionate? Loving? Interested in your dreams and goals? If any of the answers to those questions happen to be no you should never reconsider that person. You are worth more than just a pat on the shoulder or a good morning. you are worth more than just a "you look alright" you're worth a "You are gorgeous inside and out" you're worth a "You're most beautiful in the morning with out the makeup" even worth a " I love you just the way you are" if a man is not telling you those things, you should probably think about how you view your self. sometimes we allow people to treat us certain ways because we have a poor view of ourselves. We have to love every bit of our selves before we could possibly have the capacity to love anyone else. I guess what I am trying to say is, life is too short to mope over one person if they are not treating you the way you want to be treated move on..do better ...dream...lets dream.

A tribute to the greatest kid in the world.

It is not often that I give compliments or endorse another human being as the greatest kid in the world, but even I can give props when props are due. Having a Grade Point Average of probably 1800 by now, making straight A's in school, learning to play the guitar as his older cousins teased him about his inability to create even somewhat of a sound, having integrity, being down to earth when he could have been like every other teenager and sold out to the lame sterotype that if you look white you have to be a included in some kind of faction whether is be the preppy boys, the jocks or the nerds. This kid is an individual not afraid to stand up for himself and what he belives in, not afraid to tell it like it is, not afraid to be different. This kid is amazing. Not perfect. But amazing non the less. Being able to be who you are is what this blog is about. Its about learning to look in the mirror and not care about what society thinks as beauty but knowing that you are beautiful inside and out. I feel like the person I have dedicated this blog to has mastered this concept. Life is too short to not live to not dream. life is to short to be stuck in the same town, in the same place, doing the same thing, forever (unless of coarse that is you're dream). Life is about adventure, spontaneity, fun, laughter. I feel like their is no greater example of this than in my soon to be 18 year old cousin Jose', who will soon be graduating (probably at the +2000th place in his class range), and has been what every parent dreams their kid would turn out like. I am amazed at his abilities, his limitless attitude, his self confidence and perseverance. This kid is a whiz. He can do things that I can't imagine. I pray that he will never change, I pray that he will teach his kids to be just like him. I pray that any area he may be lacking in would reach its ultimate potential. I pray that he will excel, and exceed everything he has accomplished thus far.I am so proud of you Jose' I really am, I feel like you are an example for all of us to follow and that's saying a lot seeing as how I'M suppose to be the big cousin..lol.

like him. let's dream.

-Truly, Britt

(p.s the picture with the finger over the lips...really Jose'?..lol its a little gay...but it's the best I could find...lol..LOVE yooouu) xoxoxo

Being a kid sucks...then you grow up.

When I was say 6 or 7 Years old, my twin sister and I would constantly complain about being kids. We would say things like, "Brandie man...I'm ready to grow up..We can't do NOTHING!" and then when you get old you come to the realization that being an adult isn't all what its cracked up to be. I mean it does have its perks, you can make your on money, have control of your own schedule, and do (within means) what ever you like. But it seems to me that looking back on child hood, it all was so simple.. and no matter how much your parents would try and convince you how difficult it is to be an adult, you still long for the freedom of being one. I remember like it was yesterday playing with my favorite cousin Jose'. We would go outside and roller blade, climb trees, mess up my aunt Kim's house, Etc. But I think one of my greatest childhood memories was when my little cousin would make me and Brandie his, "Specialty" baked potato, Which was loaded down with just about every condiment in the refrigerator including hot sauce and steak sauce. I mean Jose' would literally put EVERYTHING on that potato. It was so funny we would sit down like we were in a fine restaurant, he would give us napkins and plates and one of his moms drinks (that we probably wasn't suppose to drink because they were for his daddy's lunch) and we would have such a great time. REALLY.. those were the good Ole days. Now with me and Brandie in college and Jose' graduating High School (finally), things are totally different. We rarely see him and it seems like we have all changed in more ways than one. But I think of point of this blog ( which I know you all were wondering about.. ) is that sometimes the grass always seems greener on the other side, and maybe it is...but the important thing to remember is you have to be happy with where you are in life, good times roll by but you should always be willing to create more great memories with the ones you love. Its important to never forget where you come from and always look forward to where you're going. I'm happy I'm not a little kid any more and sometimes I feel like I hate being an adult, but the reality is. I'm BLESSED. Blessed to live in America, Blessed to have a wonderful family, boyfriend, friends, and dog. Blessed to be able to see, walk, talk, run. So I guess what I am trying to say is I still have the opportunity to be something great. Just gotta keep the dream alive. Let's dream folks.

-Britt

P.s- I know I said Jose' was my favorite cousin...but I love all of you guys..truly.