One Moment

Do you ever feel like you wouldn’t be the same person if something hadn’t happened to you? I feel like certain things happen for a reason, either to teach you a lesson or to help you mature. I feel like if I had grown up in a super wealthy home I wouldn’t be the same person I am today. Things like that really transform a person.

The other day I was discussing this topic with my best friend, and she completely agrees with me. After her family had a house fire about 6 years ago, she had to quickly morph into a responsible young adult. They had lost a lot, but no fire could destroy how close knit that family is. The fire had just brought them closer. That’s why I wonder if that fire happened for a reason. Maybe her family was meant to get closer or maybe she was supposed to mature quickly and early.

What if the house fire never happened? Would she be the same person? Would I still have become best friends with her? Or would we have lived completely different lives? This is why I think things happen for a reason. I can’t imagine what life would be like without her being who she is.

Although the things that happen to us may be devastating, I think it’s important to remember some positive is going to come out of it. By growing up in a home wear money is tight, I have become liable and more down to earth. By experiencing a house fire, my friend had matured into a grateful, responsible, young lady.

So weather it’s something little like a rainy day, or something traumatic like a death in the family it all happens for a reason. Like they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Life isn’t going to always be cotton candy and rainbows, so turn those tough times into positives and let them help you grow into the person you’re meant to be in life. It all happens for a reason, so let it happen.

Siblings

As kids we could not stand each other we couldn’t even be in the same room for very long let alone live together without constant bickering. But as time has gone on my brother and I have become very close. While he was a senior and I was a sophomore was the year we really became close.

In this year he would walk with me to classes, he would say hi to me in the halls, and sometimes allow me to eat lunch with him. Because we were always together there have been many awkward comments towards us. Many times I would be walking through the hall and have a girl come up to me and ask if I was the girl who was dating Ben (my brother.) At first I wanted to puke that anyone would be jealous that someone was dating Ben because ew that’s my brother. And then I gaged again to think EW THAT’S MY BROTHER I’m not dating my brother!? After this had gone on for a while we had kind of gotten used to the comments that we were close.

Yes we are close but we still argue a lot, just not to the extent that we did years ago. This weekend when he came home for Easter we experienced both the love and the hate of our relationship. He surprised me by picking me up at my soccer practice so of course there is the love part when I run and jump on him with a big hug. But just hours later the hate came along, but its all out of fun. I know my brother doesn’t like to be bothered, so what do I do … Bother him. I’ll reach for his beard and pull on his little whiskers making him a little flustered. Enough to make him agitated to start to pick on me. We then begin to wrestle each other which always ends up with me sitting on top of him and him tickling me to get off.

Although this is a fun type of hate, it also gets ugly. Like today we got in an argument about god knows what. We should not be allowed to argue with each other because we are both way to head strong to give up on our own opinions. We are both also very good arguers so we both bring to the table very interesting points that are pretty valid.

I love my brother to death, but boy, sometimes I can’t stand him. I believe our love hate relationship makes us closer creating a stronger bond between us.

Ware

                As Louisville continues their run in the tournament, there is one name you cannot miss. Kevin Ware, the player that literally snapped his shin in front of millions. As gruesome as an injury it is, I think the media is over playing the whole situation.

                Yes, I feel bad for Ware to an extent. Remember this is a 20ish year old that is going to school for free and is a king on campus. To be honest this doesn’t directly affect the team in any way. It might help them physiologically since they watched as a teammates leg came out of his skin. But as I watched their game against Wichita State, the announcers kept saying “this is where not having Ware will hurt them” and honestly it frustrated me. He was there 8^th man. Yes, 8^th, so there were 2 others to come off the bench before him and he averaged 2 points a game. He honestly didn’t contribute to the team that much. Also I don’t like how Coach P. is handling it. In an interview he said “now we have to play a walk on”. That is stupid, you are a number one seed you have a good team. And imagine how that kid feels when you refer to him as a walk on. And the best part is that the walk on had 6 points compared to Ware’s averaged 2 points.

                The thing that really bothered me was Twitter. Everyone was tweeting “#pray4ware” which is so stupid. He is an athlete that got injured, it happens. Meanwhile soldiers fighting for our freedom day daily but we don’t every pray for them. I think we need to get our priorities straight.

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Harmony Hippy

There is just something about a perfect harmony that just gives me chills all the way down my back. When two peoples flawlessly pitched voices just match together it’s like mash potatoes and gravy, peanut butter and jelly, peas and carrots you just know that those voices go together.

While listening to the band called First Aid Kit, you get those chills and you know these two singers were born to sing together. An example of this would be in their cover of Tiger Mountain Peasant Song by the Fleet Foxes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMrqBldlqzA. For one these young ladies voices are fantastic on their own, but as they collide together the chills begin.

As their voices creep together, you can feel every little hair stand up on your neck. It sends a burst of nerves to your heart warming it with every note. For me it’s my comfort zone. When I am feeling down in the dumps, it’s my go to thing to listen to some high quality music. No, not the regular stuff you hear on the radio. There is so much more talent out there than what is over played on the radio.

First Aid Kit is a fabulous example of these unrecognized artists. Not a lot of people know who they are but after you listen to them, you won’t be able to stop. You become addicted to the sweet harmonies of these two sisters voices becoming one. You can hear so much passion in their voices along with the harmonies, and the uniqueness of their voices gives you that sort of comforting feeling. It has the uniqueness that you can’t hear on the radio, it won’t be on the billboards, they are much underrated for the talent they have. I feel like they are doing so much more than singing a song, they are telling a story. The passion in their voices, gives you a much more sophisticated professional feel then songs on the radio rapping about drugs and booty.

Not only do these underrated artists have higher quality voices than most of the artists on the radio, I feel like they put a lot more meaning behind what they singing. Yes, they are higher quality voices and on top of that they aren’t over played. People don’t hear them every day. When you listen to music that is off the pop-charts you get the opportunity to introduce these feel-good voices to people who wouldn’t normally listen to this unappreciated music.

So the next time you are feeling down and you just need something heartwarming. Tune into some music that’s of the mainstream. You may find that the secret harmonies could really turn your day around, get those chills and enjoy that feel good music.

Golf

                With spring finally starting to come through I want to spend more time outside. My favorite way to enjoy the nice weather is golfing. Nothing is better than playing a round with some of your friends on a nice day. Even though it hasn’t been the best weather, the snow is gone at least so I have been able to go every day since they opened last Thursday. I am a decent golfer, almost a scratch player, I plan to get a lot better this summer.

                I started golfing at a very young age with my dad. I picked it up quickly and have been playing ever since. When I was 8 I played in some tournaments and I actually won 2 but as a got older and got more serious with baseball I couldn’t play golf as much. Even in high school the golf season is the same time as football so I couldn’t play for my high school team.

                Luckily, here in Iowa the public courses offer a season pass for about $200 to kids. I have had one ever since I can remember. Since golf is pretty expensive this is helpful in the summer. I play about 50 times a year so the pass saves me a lot of money

                The best part about golf is it is a hobby that will last for a long time. Once I retire in the far future I will probably be on the course every day.

#SocialMedia

                Today’s generation revolves around technology. Whether you think that is a good thing or bad you must admit that it is doing something. Changing the way we communicate to the way we behave. I think that social media makes people think they are tougher.

                Twitter has its pros, keeping in touch with your favorite rapper or just funny tweets, but it also has its cons, the #thirsty girl or the hard ass that is so #faded he can’t open his eyes. Twitter creates a wall between you and the audience. It gives people the idea that whatever they say won’t have a response and if it does it will be throw over the same wall through Twitter. For example, if you have a problem with someone don’t go on Twitter and talk about how “fake” they are and how you could beat them up. Say it to their face which if you are willing to say it to their face, good for you but I honestly hope they punch you in the face.

                I don’t really care about what you do on the weekend as long as I’m not involved but DUDE YOU ARE SO COOL THAT YOU HAVE WEED AND A BOTTLE. #ShitNoOneEverSays. Like I don’t know who thought it would be a good idea to post pictures of very illegal things on the internet. Yes, Wiz Khalifa posts pictures of weed, but he is a full grown man and is famous. But personally my favorite or the kids who talk about how #faded #turnt they were because they see millionaire rappers saying that. Like dude people can see this, including employers or THE FLIPPING ADMINISTRATION. So when you  get in trouble for weed or drinking don’t be angry it was all on you. Sure people can talk about the things they did on the weekend but there is a big difference between having a conversation about something and posting something about it. People post the pictures or tweets simply to show off. They want others to know that they are having more “fun” than you. They think it makes them tough to do illegal things. Like cool man do illegal things but don’t let the world know.

                What I’m afraid of are people that become completely dependent on social media. I can’t lie, I love Twitter and I think it is one of the greatest things ever but I will admit and spend too much time looking at it. Also I will admit I too get the false sense of security. Tweeting at celebrities or athletes that could easily destroy me but I know they won’t do anything because they are famous.

                So despite my love of Twitter I still admit that it is ruining society as a whole. I don’t know what the outcome will be but it won’t be good.