Advice | Encouragement | Guidance | Inspiration

Happy Fourth of July 2018.

2018-07-04T11:03:00.003-07:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Fourth of July:

Many people seem to forget the true meaning of what the Fourth of July really is. It's not all about having off from work, or having BBQ's, or social gatherings. Don't get me wrong, it's part of celebrating, but the more important question you need to understand is why you are celebrating it.

The fourth of July means freedom & Independence. It's ultimately a day of celebration. Why? Because we are as free, or more free, than most of the 6 billion people on this planet. American independence is a good thing & has been a positive influence on the world, just think of all the different people who come to live in the USA. However, at the same time, this doesn't mean the USA is a "flawless" place to live in. We do have our fair share of issues, but our independence & freedom will help solve those problems - one at a time.

Although we should honor our hero's everyday, today is a very special day where we should all come together to reflect on all the Men & Women in uniform who have died & continue to die to protect our freedom. It serves as an important reminder that the evil that goes on in this world is real & that the good will always conquer in the end. Think about it, these group of Men & Woman are willing to risk it all, their futures, their fortunes & their lives because they believe in the idea that liberty & freedom are more important than any of that. To me, it's nothing short of amazing that what started as a rough assembly of untrained Men & Woman using whatever weapons they could get their hands on, managed to become the somewhat more polished continental army & went on to defeat the army of what was, at the time, the most powerful nation in the world.

On this day, I also honor those who have fought for us since that time. These Men & Woman who are long gone are no less heroic in their sacrifices for liberty & freedom, as they have continued the work started so long ago by those who fought the first fight for our freedom & in my opinion, these Men & Woman deserve to be honored just as much as those who founded our country & are currently serving. These Men & Woman will never be forgotten.

We are very blessed & grateful for our independence & freedom that comes with your ultimate sacrifice. We are very grateful & thankful for all your hardships, whether it is a war or not. We also take great pride in the birth of our country & I believe that everyday, we spark our vision of peace & prosperity for all who wish to embrace it like true Americans should.

Thank you to all who have served, or still currently serving.

You're doing a phenomenal job!

Happy Fourth of July!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Father's day 2018.

2018-06-17T15:24:00.003-07:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Fathers day:

Fathers day is a day to show your father that he is very much appreciated by honoring him. It's a day of celebration, as well as celebrating a Fathers role in parenthood, the bonds that a father shares with his offspring & the influence of Fathers in the world today as a whole.

I understand that many people don't have fathers because some may have passed away or their father was never available for them, or were never in their lives. Believe it or not, It happened that way for a lot of people, but even with these circumstances, you are taking the day to appreciate that you are fortunate enough. Why? Because there's a GOD who is bigger & above all. No matter who's alive or dead in your family, there IS a God who loves you unconditionally during your roughest times & he never fails at what he does to uplift your spirits.

To those who still have both of their parents -- I would just like to add in that your father is also not going to be around forever & chances are, you're going to miss him when the time comes, so give thanks & honor to him while he's still alive. Why? Because your father is a part of who you are, so as you honor him, you honor yourself. As you respect your father, you respect yourself. In my opinion, those who disrespect, hate or not honor their parents, never seem to do well in life even if their parents deserved to be hated.

Dad, thank you for always being there for me, for standing by side even when I didn't listen to you & for always watching my back from danger or anything unknown. Thank you for listening to me & taking care of me when I was down & upset. Thank you for correcting me whenever you felt I was going on the wrong path to life. Thank you for putting a roof over my head, food on the table & a blanket over me. Most importantly, thank you for giving me your unending support & loving me the way you do, because nobody could love me like that!

Happy Father's day! :)

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Memorial day 2018.

2018-05-28T15:05:00.001-07:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Memorial day:

Memorial day is not about BBQ's, picnics, hangouts & so fourth. Memorial day is truly a day where we thank each & everyone who protects our freedom. It's a day where celebrate those who have given the ultimate sacrifice by keeping us free of evil & harm. It means a day of remembrance of those who have served & died for our country. It means to remember those who have been wounded fighting for our country. It means to remember those who are MIA/POW & to stand behind those who are serving now.

Although we should honor those who fight for us every day, today is a very special day in particular because it gives us a time to pause for a moment to think of all the soldiers who put their lives at risk for us everyday & hero's who have died for us while serving in the US military. It's a special day where we honor our current & past heroes in the armed forces as well. There's absolutely no greater sacrifice then fighting for your own country. These people go into bloody wars & serve knowing that they may come back dead or be wounded & yet they still go into war. Words cannot express the gratitude i feel for these men & women.

We should also thank God for blessing us with a free nation & thank all our service men & women for their great sacrifice to keep this nation free. Without Gods blessings & the brave men & women who are willing to risk their lives, we would not have the great country we have. Nobody should take granted the blood shed & the lives lost to keep us free.

To all the past, present & fallen soldiers, we thank you for your time, service, & dedication to keeping the American people safe. We give a huge thank you to all of the brave men & women who have fought & who are still fighting to keep our nation free & safe. Today we honor you & salute you for defending our country & our freedom.

God bless you all.

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Mother's day 2018.

2018-05-13T09:54:00.003-07:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Mother's day:

Mother's day is a day to honor & celebrate your mom by reflecting on all that your mother has done for you. It's a day where we think about the unconditional love & support that she has given to you, along with the advice, encouragement, guidance, inspiration, motivation & strength that she has provided to you, as well as the circumstances that she has given up & have sacrificed for you all throughout your childhood years. Ultimately, it is a day where we pause to say, thank you for all that you've done for me, whether she is alive or not.

To create a memory on Mother's day is not a matter of material things. A mother doesn't really care for an expensive gift or a nice dinner. What a Mother needs most is unconditional love. A powerful memory is a Mother knowing that her son or daughter loves her with all the love there is in the world, even if she's alive or not. Just telling your Mom that you love her everyday is the greatest gift you can give her. There's no better feeling in the world to have someone tell you they love you unconditionally. It's better than all the treasure, money & power. These are the ways I believe you can honor & celebrate your mother & I know that it will create a memory that will last forever.

Personally, I think celebrating 1 day out of the year to honor, to celebrate, to create a memory & to thank your mom for all she has done is not enough. I believe we should create memories & be thankful for our moms every day. On this particular day, a lot of us are thankful for all the mothers in the world that care for their loved ones at whatever cost. However, let's always remember that we should always show our unconditional love & also honor our Mother's ALL the time & not just on Mother's day. We are thankful & grateful ALL the time.

Think about it, most of us only have or had 1 Mother. However, without a Mother, you wouldn't be here in this world right now. You wouldn't be here breathing. You wouldn't have your moms genes, or appearance. You wouldn't be here in this world making your own decisions on how you want your life to turn out. You wouldn't be here enjoying what life has to offer if it wasn't for your Mom. So no matter what your relationship with your Mother is, or who you call your "Mom" or whether your Mom is dead or alive, we ALL have 1 more reason as to why we should always be thankful, grateful & blessed on Mother's day. We are all born from somewhere. How do you think you got where you are today in this world? Mother's are those who give us life, which comes from God's blessing. You really can't ask for anything more then that.

With that being said, I want to give a big shout out to ALL the hard working Mother's in the world who show such unconditional love, as well as support & compassion towards ALL of us. We love you very much & we thank you for everything you have done for us. We will continue each & everyday to honor you for all the hard work & efforts that you put in everyday to make us feel special & wanted. Your dedication towards us does not go unnoticed.

Happy Mother's day to all the moms out there!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Easter day 2018.

2018-04-01T08:50:00.001-07:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Easter day:

The real meaning of Easter day is to recognize the commemoration of Christ's death & to celebrate his resurrection. Most people use Easter day to celebrate God's love for us humans by willingly laying down his life as a sacrifice for us. By doing so, he freed us from any debt we might have because of our sins. He then, after being in a tomb guarded by Roman soldiers, was raised from the dead. In other words, Easter celebrates him being alive. It recalls the climactic moments of his ministry & of his time on earth. Most people (like myself) believe that his resurrection changed everything about our future & because of it, we also have the hope of resurrection to a new life as well.

With that being said, people seek to remove God from everything so that they've made Easter day into a "spring celebration" with bunnies, eggs, chickens, flowers, etc. Although I don't participate in any of that stuff, I'm also not against celebrating old traditions either, but as long as you keep in mind the real reason why you're celebrating Easter day then all is good.

Like I always say to everyone, remember the reason for the season & make yourself & the world a better place. Share the gift of faith with others during the Easter season. Let's start to open hearts & inspire others with advice, encouragement, guidance & inspiration -- not just on Easter day, but everyday. While doing so, pray & hope this will make our world a kinder, better & stronger place for everyone. May all your prayers be fulfilled as well.

Happy Easter day to everyone! :)

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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I chose a different path.

2018-03-19T15:45:00.002-07:00

Written & published by Kevin Beard Jr.

Food for thought - College / school is not for me:

Recently, I've been getting a lot of questions lately that have to deal with college & why I don't attend any college, trade school, or any other schools for that manner. So in this blog, I will, very thoroughly, discuss the story & the reasons that eventually lead up as to why I don't go to college or any other school.

Before I begin though, this blog is not meant to put those down who do attend college or other schools out there. Good for you for doing what you want with your life. I truly wish everyone the best in whatever they're majoring in, with all respect. But let's face it, you hear so many stories about what makes young teenagers, Men & Woman like yourself want to go to college, but you don't hear as many stories or reasons as to what makes a person (like myself) not want to attend college or any other school after they've graduated high school. So in a way, I feel as though I should share with you all, my own personal story & reasoning's of not going to college or any other school.

So let's begin:

When I was only a little kid (before kindergarten) I remember that I was asked by my parents what I would want to be when I grew up. Who would know at such a young age what they would want to be 100% when they reach adulthood? Anything could change from now until then. I knew for a fact that when I was at that age -- I didn't know what I wanted to be for sure when I grew up & I sure wasn't thinking about it due to the fact that I was still a baby who had no idea about the real world (as anyone this age would expect)

During my elementary school years, I was a quiet kid in class who hardly spoke to anyone, especially when it came to discussions on what we desired to be when we grew up. I kept to myself about a lot of things. I was anti-social. I didn't want to be involved in discussions, or group projects & so fourth. Still, when I had to be involved, I was very low spoken & not that energetic.

Anyhow, during my elementary school years, I would always be asked to share what I would want to be when I grow up & I would always say, "I don't know." I had no clue & didn't care much to put any thought into what I wanted to be. I was very young & honestly didn't care. The only thing I was focused on was getting good grades, doing my work & getting out of school so I could go home & be with myself. Still, I would always have thoughts running through my mind about why elementary teachers & why my parents consistently ask "what I want to be when I grow up" as if they didn't already ask me 20 times throughout my Elementary years. While still in elementary school, I remember my teachers & staff having classroom discussions on what we wanted to be when we grew up, as well as projects that we had to do. Since I always kept to myself, I would always talk to myself & ask myself, "Do I HAVE to choose what I want to be when I grow up?" I had refused to ask that question out loud, as I know that if I did, I wouldn't like what the answer would be, due to the fact that I was irritated enough that teachers & parents would consistently ask me. That being said, I kept to myself inside & outside of school. I didn't interact much with the outside world at all. I was a homebody. I grew up playing PlayStation & driving simulators almost every day after school. At the time I wasn't interested in learning anything about the outside world, or learning how to play an instrument, or sport, or learn how cars work, or learning how to cook & do this & that & so fourth. Those thought's about learning something or becoming something or someone for my future never came about. I was always a young kid at heart & always in my own little world most of the time. I enjoyed more of my time spent outside of school.

During my middle school years, I was very mature for my age. I was always very neat, clean & organized with my stuff. My mom said I took after her & that I had developed a "thing" for cleaning in general as well as maintaining things, such as my own belongings. Anyway, I considered myself a hard worker during school. I got good grades & I never failed a grade. However, I still didn't change much in terms of my personality though, as I was still a homebody, I was always quiet & kept to myself about a lot of things. I wasn't as energetic & optimistic as everyone else was. I also hated how loud, obnoxious & immature everyone was. I didn't want to make a lot of friends. In fact, I kept a small circle of friends who had the same understanding & maturity level as I did.

Anyhow, during my middle school years is when the teachers started to reinforce the fact that soon we would enter "high school" & would have a better understanding or idea on what we would want to be when we grow up. I remember being in classrooms where the teachers would give us projects about careers that we had to do research on. There were times when the teachers would start picking us out of the crowd & ask us what we wanted to be when we reach adulthood. I replied & I said, "I don't know. I'm taking 1 day at a time. When I get there, then I'll decide." One of the teachers replied & said, "You still have time to decide, but I'm worried about you, what are you going to do after you graduate high school? College is important, you need to go." In my mind, I'm not thinking much about what the teacher is saying. I replied with a blank face & said "Okay." During my 8th grade year (last year of middle school) is when I remember hearing teachers & staff begin to introduce & talk to us about colleges for the first time & how to pick the right colleges for what you picture yourself to be after high school. What?! Colleges already? I still wasn't sure what I wanted to be yet & quite frankly, I still didn't put much thought into it. I was more concerned & focused about my current grades, rather then thinking about something that's not going to happen for another 5+ years. I kept saying to myself, "I'll take 1 day at a time, for each day is a blessing in it's own way." I will say that those around me in class seemed more ambitious about the future then I was. They had somewhat of a better understanding of what they wanted to be when they got older & also seemed eager & wanted to go to college based on all the "good" reasons that the teachers presented. Even though I didn't know what I wanted to be or know much about college (or if I wanted to go) I felt like I was falling behind. At this point, it seemed like college was mandatory. I felt as though teachers would harass & manipulate me with the same questions over & over again about whether or not I'm deciding on what I want to do after high school & if so, what college was i thinking about. I was fed up with it. Though I somehow managed to not fall into any pressure of finding out what i wanted to be or looking at colleges, it was quite annoying to say the least. Again, all I wanted to do was get good grades, do my homework & leave the school building so I could go home & be a homebody for the weekend. I still wasn't interested in learning anything about the outside world or anything in particular that is of interest of a possible career that would require a college education.

During my high school years, I started to learn how to drive, but didn't have a car yet. My personality was still the same though. I was always neat, clean & organized, both at home & in school. I was still a quiet person when I was around others in class. In my mind, I hated school. I didn't make a lot of friends, due to the fact that I wanted a small circles of friends. Furthermore, the students were even more immature then middle school & the classrooms were sometimes loud & obnoxious to the point where the teachers would have to pause every so often because of a "student" doing stupid things. I honestly couldn't stand a minute of it. I still kept thoughts to myself, but I only spoke to the teachers when I needed too & hardly spoke to any students. I was very mature & intelligent for only being in high school. I averaged a 3.0GPA & I was student of the month in December of 2009. I never failed a grade & I was always called a "hard worker" from all my teachers.

Anyhow, during my high school years is when I remember parents & teachers getting very involved & strict about needing to find a college before we graduated high school. I remember doing several projects through 9th to 12th grade. One particular project -- we had to find our "dream" career & write a paper on what the job is like, what you do in the field, what the pay rate is & all this other crazy stuff. Before the project, I remember walking up to the teacher & saying to him that I had no interest in any careers & colleges at the moment. At that point, I was given tests & Q&A's about my likes & dislikes so that teachers & parents could find out what possible careers could match what each college is for so that I could start my project. However, after I finished the test, I still didn't find anything I was interested or passionate about, nor did I want to go to any of the colleges or schools listed. So I picked a random career that I wasn't interested in & went with it just to get the grade. Yes, I had to present the project to the class & i didn't like it at all. I was very low spoken & not that energetic about the "career" I picked. Based on the presentations, It seemed as though most people in my high school knew what they wanted to go to college for at this point based on career projects, as well as the energy & consistency coming from other students while talking about the same careers, colleges & so fourth. Since I was always the quiet kid, I would always hear everyone talk about careers & colleges non-stop with so much energy inside them. One Female teacher even suggested that I should do community college if I wasn't sure what I wanted to do after high school. I remember her saying, "You won't make a lot of money if you don't have a degree. You can't make a living out of a job." I felt insulted & highly offended by that statement, mostly because I knew that wasn't true. I felt like I was a little kid being coached by a teacher on what I SHOULD do with my life, when I'm the one who will ultimately make the decision with all due respect. However, I wasn't going to fall into that trap again of feeling pressured to go to a college, or a community college, or a trade school & so fourth just because teachers & students act as though it's the "norm" to go to college, or any school for that manner. I wanted to be different from everyone else & be my own leader, not a follower of the crowd. I had so many thoughts running through my head during my high school years. In my mind, I'm thinking that teachers & also parents are extremely close minded & wouldn't accept the fact that there's still rare people like myself who don't want to attend college, or any other school for that manner because they rather work a full time job after high school while moving up & earning more money without having to pay back 80,000 dollars in debt for going to a school that's pointless for their life path. Again, thought's are running through my head. I ask myself, "What's wrong with that? It's no different then finding a good starter job, earning higher job positions, & making more money that way. It's the same thing as "earning" a degree & earning more money afterwards. It works the same way. Everybody has to start somewhere.

So as I head into my last year of high school, I would always think to myself & say, "why would I want to pay money towards colleges or another other school that I have no interest in or won't benefit me in any way, shape, or form?" Is it because teachers / parents want to sound biased about college by only telling me the good things about college, instead of giving the good & the bad? Or is it because I've done my own research on how careers & colleges work & it's my choice & I can do what I want to do & think for myself without feeling harassed & manipulated with information that you think I would WANT to hear about career's, colleges & so fourth? At this point -- In my mind, I'm starting to believe that our school systems are misleading many of it's students. Students are being told by teachers & parents that the magic ticket to a "great" life is “go to college" & you’ll get a "good job." No need for passion. No need for leadership. No need for maturity. No need for people skills. No need for honing passion & drive. No need to learn negotiation. No need for personal application. All you have to do is follow the yellow brick road & you’ll get there. That's totally wrong & I disagree 100%. At this point in my high school year, I knew I didn't want to be anything or anyone in particular as a career choice. Mind you, I'm not picky either, it's just that I have no interest or a passion for things that WOULD require going to college or any other school, although teachers & parents will make it seem like you NEED a college degree to have a good job. I disagree with that. There's MANY factors that go into having a "good" job & college is only ONE of them. At this point, I'm pretty straight-forward with my beliefs. In my heart, I knew that not going to school / college would be a better option for me. Yet, I never bothered to tell my teachers or anyone else because they would only reply back with the same old, same old. I always kept my thoughts to myself while having to sit in classrooms & have meetings about "careers" & "colleges" that I have absolutely no reason to sit & listen too. I will admit that hearing others speak about career's & colleges & so fourth became annoying & repetitive, almost to the point where it was torture. I was tired of it. All I wanted to do was graduate high school, get my diploma & then go from there while I take 1 day at a time.

After I graduated high school, I took each day at a time. I wasn't stressing about careers or colleges. In fact, I purposely took a 2 month break from everything (just to treat myself) before I started getting down to business. My parents understood that & were on my side. During these past 2 months is when I started to do "blogging" in my free time to help give advice, encouragement, guidance & inspiration to young teenagers, Men & Woman with life problems using social media.

So after 2 months (while still doing blogging on the side) is when I started to do my own research on jobs that I could see myself doing that didn't require a college education of any sort. I had found quite a handful of jobs that seemed of my interest. Most of them were in Philadelphia. These jobs didn't make "a lot" of money, but then again, money isn't everything to me. In my opinion, these were great starter jobs to eventually move my way up & earn higher positions & pay. Anyway, I applied to a full time cleaning / maintenance position downtown that didn't even start their business yet. It was called B&E services. It was a 6AM to 2PM job Monday through Friday, so I would spend half of the day working & the other half to do whatever I want. Plus I had off weekends & got paid on holidays. Basically I was already hired for a job that was brand new & didn't even start yet, how cool is that? It's a fresh start for everyone. So eventually -- once the job started, I got trained on how to do certain things & how to complete certain tasks & other things until I got into the pattern. Since then, It's been years since I started working there. I still work there today. I've been working the same job for many years. I've seen people come & go. In fact, I'm 1 of the 2 original workers that haven't quit or left the job since it started. Everybody else are new workers. However, with me -- I love the job, I got compliments from workers & strangers left & right about how hard of a worker I am, as well as how neat & clean I am at maintaining the building & making everything as healthy as possible. I also never called out sick for years. On top of all that, I got 3 different pay raises & also bonuses at the end of the year.

While I was working this job, I eventually i started to save up for a car, which didn't take more then 2 years. Although I knew how to drive in high school, I didn't have a car. I eventually got a 2007 Subaru (four-cylinder) with only 67k miles on it for 7,000 dollars which I paid the full amount for from a private exchange through Craigslist. After I bought the car, I started to commute a lot on the turnpike, to the point were I would have to get a full tank of gas once or twice a week. Gas in my car is about $30 on average but that wasn't a problem. I would also go through Ez pass money quickly due to the fact that I take the turnpike a lot, which was never a problem (money wise.) After I got my car & started to commute a lot, there would be problems every once & a while with my car, but what car doesn't have problems? If I remember right, I put about 3,000 dollars into the car to maintain it. While maintaining my car, I then started to pay my own cell phone bill monthly & I even got a new Samsung phone. I also started helping my parents out by paying rent monthly because rent can be expensive depending on how hard you get hit with taxes. To this day I still help my parents pay rent. Furthermore, my parents don't cook as much at home, so I usually support my own self by getting food for myself almost everyday. I also treat myself every once in a while by buying things that I need, or things that look cool to have. Going back to what I said before, I may not make "a lot" of money, but with all of the above things mentioned, I am still maintaining my bank account & have had no issues with money.

Furthermore, I also still blog in my free time, which I love doing after work. I won't stop blogging no matter what job I have. That's what I do in my free time. Now some of you may ask why I'm not a consular or pastor since I like to help people all the time through my blogs? Well, I feel like I shouldn't be paid to help others when helping others with their problems should be free. If you love others, you will do everything in your power to help them in your free time, whether you have a degree or not. When it comes to doing simple things in life, such as helping others with their problems or giving advice & inspiration -- I feel like I don't need a "degree" or "education" for that. If I don't know of something or not aware of it, I'll do my own research to educate myself. Thanks to YouTube & the internet in general, I can teach myself just about anything for free. I won't let a "degree" stop me from doing something that everybody should be doing for free. I believe in doing my own research when the circumstances are necessary. I also certainly don't look at giving advice, encouragement, guidance & inspiration as a "money gimmick" either, because I'm not about money. If deep down inside -- I love helping others through the internet or in person, then I'm going to continue doing what I'm doing in my free time while I work my primary job (which I love doing as well.) But if you think I'm going to say, "no, I can't help you because I don't have a degree in helping others" then that's the most ridicules statement ever.

Again, I'm not here to bash those who go to college, or any school, but I'm going to give you more of my own reasons why I personally don't go to college or any other school. This is not meant to offend anyone. Just remember that these reasons down below are coming from a different perspective rather then what others typically would think.

Here's my 7 reasons:

1. My success (as an individual) has almost nothing to do with education. Success, in my opinion is about personal development, (learning how to do some things on my own) self-control, (learning how to present myself in public) integrity, (taking pride in what I do) communication skills, (learning how to talk to others in a mature manner without sounding immature) relationships (building with workers, or those around me) & a learner’s heart (willing to learn new things even if I wasn't taught how during school) So in other words, my own success comes from just doing, not "learning" how to do.

2. If I went to college, It would feel like a waste of time to me because most degrees take a while to complete. For example, if I went to college & got a bachelor’s degree, It would typically take myself about 4 to 6 years or possibly longer to earn that degree & complete everything. Personally, I don't like that, especially in this day & age because the world changes too rapidly for myself to waste time pursuing something that I sought out to accomplish close too or about a half decade prior. By the time I would graduate with my bachelor’s degree, there would be a high probability that either the career or profession that I sought 4 to 6 years prior no longer exists, or has been completely disrupted. The world changes so quickly that the information I would had learned for the past 4 - 6 years could be slowly diminishing.

3. If I went to college, 9 times out of 10 I wouldn't be guaranteed the job I want after I graduate college. For example, if it's been 4 to 6+ months since I graduated & yet, I'm still looking for my dream career that I got my degree for, but yet It's time to start paying back student loans & other kinds of bills / payments, then what good does that do for me? That means I'd either have to have an internship (which is only temporarily) or I'd have to work somewhere that wouldn't be in my field just to make some money in the meanwhile. Who would want to do that? If I have your degree, I should be able to use it right away, or find someplace that will take me in & hire me on the spot, but unfortunately that's not the case due to how bad our economy is.

4. If I went to college, then a ton of debt would have a way of weighing myself down. Why would I want to owe anywhere from 30,000 to 80,000 dollars in debt? If I owed that much, I wouldn't be able to buy the things that I need to start my life right away. I'd feel held back in life. In Proverbs it says, “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.” So what that's saying is that the early years of adulthood were intended for people to build, not dig themselves out of a hole (or debt) in this case. Personally, I'm glad I don't owe any debt & that I'm debt free. It personally makes my life a whole lot easier to pay off other bills that are, in my opinion, more important to me then student loans. For example: rent, food, cell phone, toll booths, car, gas money & etc.

5. If I went to college, I wouldn't feel as independent. I would always be coached & taught by teachers "how" to do something. I would always be responsible for participating in classrooms discussions with other kinds of people. I would always be responsible for doing homework. I would always be responsible for getting good grades, & participating & completing projects. I would be given a "schedule" on when to come to class. I would always have a "lunch" or "dinner" time or whatever you want to call it. The point here is that I refuse to go through all that again. All these reasons are not why I graduated high school. The reason why I graduated high school was so I could get job a full time job & get into the real world right away & start earning money to get my life the way I want it to be. For someone who doesn't go to college, I strive to be as independent as I can be.

6. If I went to college, then I would feel as though I'm in high school again with a bunch of kids, especially because there are some people who bring their immaturity into college. Personally, I don't like loud & obnoxious people who shout & say random, stupid things while having discussions or lectures & etc. It's bad enough that I had to deal with immature people in high school, but college? No thanks. I also don't like those who pick on others like in Elementary school, (& believe me, there's a few of them.) I don't have time for that. I rather deal with mature people who are understanding. I'm also not about that "party" life where Men & Woman go out to drink & smoke until they get drunk at a party or at a dorm or whatever you call it. I have my own way of having fun & it doesn't require any of that.

7. If I went to college online, I would feel trapped at home or wherever my laptop / computer takes me. I'd get stuck with online courses, tests, book reading, homework & so fourth. For example, if you are someone who wasn't too sure about college, but decided to take online courses for the sake of it, then you would prepare yourself for having to learn information that you will probably never need to know or do in your life. I rather be independent in a way where if I ever use a computer or laptop, then it's because I'm doing something that will benefit not only myself, but other people in my own ways. Such as helping others give advice, encouragement, guidance & inspiration through social media using the knowledge in my own head & using information that I have researched on my own.

In conclusion, I'm not trying to persuade others that college or any other school is bad. However, I feel like college shouldn't be the "default" answer after high school for many students. I totally understand that teachers & parents are only trying to help you for your future, but remember that the decision on YOUR success does not depend on what others think or want you to do. Your success is based on your own decisions & goals. Remember folks, college is only an option. You can either go to a different school or not go to school at all & still be a successful person. It's not mandatory for you to go to ANY school after high school. Now If you're someone who really wants to go to college or any other school despite everything it comes with, then that's a good thing & you should keep at your goals. However, people like myself tend to look at colleges & schools in a different perspective while still respecting the other side.

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy valentines day 2018.

2018-02-14T11:57:00.002-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Valentines day:

Young teenagers, Men & Woman seem to forget what Valentines day truly is & how most people celebrate it, so in this short blog, I will briefly talk about what Valentines day means to most people.

First of all, Valentines day is not ONLY for those who have a significant other. Valentines day is not about feeling lonely to the point where you have to "hook" up with someone just for the sake of it. It's not about having sex or losing your virginity to your significant other just to "prove" that you love them on this specific day. Valentines day is not about blowing your money away by buying or receiving expensive gifts, cards, candy, or flowers for others. Valentines day is not about "faking" your feelings or emotions for another person by acting like you care or love them. If these beliefs are what you think most people do on Valentines day, then you've got some growing up to do

So what is Valentines day?

Well first & foremost, Valentines day can be spent & shared with anyone, not just your significant other. You can share & spend this day with parents, relatives, friends, co-workers & other people who you love or are close too. With that being said, Valentines day is really a holiday where we think about our significant other (or anyone else) by giving them something small, but inexpensive. It can be a heartfelt card, flowers, a teddy bear, a bracelet, heart shaped candy & whatever else comes to mind. It can be anything thoughtful that comes from the heart. It can be as simple as taking your significant other (or anyone else) to a night out for dinner, or even giving those a hug or a kiss while telling them how much you love them. Although you should show your love for others everyday -- this particular day is an opportunity to show your appreciation & express your love through your actions towards one or more people who mean a lot to you, so it's wise to show a little extra love on this day. Most importantly though, Valentine's Day is an overall holiday for reflecting & commemorating the past & current love-relationships in your life, as well as those that you have gained & lost throughout your life because if it wasn't for the experiences you've had in the past (good or bad) then you wouldn't be standing where you're at now. So be thankful for what hasn't worked out in the past (whether it's your significant other or anyone else) & be grateful that you've moved on in your relationships to bigger & better things.

Happy Valentines day to everyone!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy new years eve 2017.

2017-12-31T13:20:00.001-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - New years eve:

As we come to an end this year, let us remember all the good times we have had throughout this year. Let us remember all the wonderful memories & moments spent with family, friends, workers & so fourth. Let us remember all the good deeds we have done for others & for those who are less fortunate. Let us remember all the accomplishments that were successful. Let us remember all the laughs & smiles that we have had this year. Let us remember all the tears & joy we have had this year & lastly, let us remember how grateful & blessed we are to have seen the year 2017.

Let us also remember the "not so good" moments that were filled with hurt. Why? Because you must remember that everyone (including yourself) will go through different seasons of hurt & joy for a reason. Maybe you've had a bad year, maybe you've have a good year, maybe this year has been neutral for you. Maybe you had goals that you wanted to accomplish this year but couldn't complete or accomplish them. Maybe you feel regret about something you did this year & wish you could of approached it differently. Maybe you had a family death, or a tragic accident occur. Maybe you lost a few friends down the road & wish you could still be with them. Maybe you had an argument at work & you left your job or got fired. Whatever the reason may be, you must remember that everything that happens to you happens for a reason, neither good or bad. This does not mean that you're a weak person, for having strength isn’t about bearing a cross of grief or shame. Strength is about choosing your path, living with the consequences, & learning from them. Understand that everything happens for you, not to you. Everything happens at exactly the right moment, neither too soon or too late. It's unfortunate circumstances that will occur in your life that will make you stronger as a person in the long run. It's circumstances like this that help God shape you to be the person that he has meant for you to be.

So as we go into the year of 2018 remember that God would never give you anything you aren't able to handle on your own. There may be some of you reading this who may have had a bad or terrible year this year, but let me tell you, don’t ever regret your time of 2017, even the moments that were filled with hurt. Instead, smile because you learned from it & gained the strength to rise above it. In the end, it’s not what you have been through that defines who you are, it’s how you got through it that has made you the person you are today. You should be proud of yourself for the things you have achieved throughout the year & continue to take pride of your strength that has got you to where you are at this very moment. After all, every moment is a new beginning if you want it to be.

I also want to mention that sometimes you may start a new beginning & end up in the same mess you were in before. When or if this does happen to you, do not be discouraged, for you have tried. That’s really all you can ever do. It's all God ever wants to see you do -- is try your best. So rest, regroup, & begin again with what you have learned now. So maybe you are not as good as you want to be, or as great as you one day will be, but thanks to all the lessons you’ve learned along the way of 2017, you are much more better than what you use to be & also much more prepared to enter into 2018 with more knowledge than you've ever had before. That's what REALLY matters the most.

Personally for me, giving advice, encouragement, guidance & inspiration is something that I've been more knowledgeable before than ever in the year 2017. I may not know everything, or have the solution to every problem that's given to me, but that doesn't mean that I'll give up my talent that God has given me. It just means that I'll continue to strive by helping & inspiring as many people as I can for today's youth. I love seeing lives being impacted, especially through social media. I love being looked up at as a role model for many people & lastly, I love making a difference in today's world.

My new years resolution for 2018 will be to establish a successful YouTube channel that will not only help people through my blogs, but will also be able to help those who are better at visually hearing & seeing things, such as myself speaking in front of the camera & giving advice, encouragement, guidance & inspiration about real life problems that everyone goes through at some point in their lives. To make this successful, I am planning on getting a high end quality video camera, tri-pod & a portable teleprompter that will allow me to read word for word how my blogs are shown. So stay tuned for big changes!

Happy new years to everyone!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Merry Christmas 2017.

2017-12-25T07:15:00.004-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Christmas day:

Christmas time is not about having a few days off from school or work where we relax & sit around all day. Christmas is truly a day where we celebrate the birth of Christ, "Jesus." When I see the word "Christmas" I see the word "Christ." He came because we're special to him. He died on the cross for us to live in his blood & give us hope of eternal life. For that reason alone, I am very grateful & blessed to still be alive in him.

With that being said, Christmas is very important to me because as you all may know, I take my faith & what I believe in very seriously. I personally like this time of year for Christmas because I get to celebrate the birth of my God by celebrating with friends & family. Christmas is about truly caring for one another & being blessed & happy with what you have & how far you've come in life. I personally love being able to share & enjoy giving back to others by giving them gifts that they would never expect. I love seeing smiles on faces that are desperately in need. It just warms my heart whenever I do good deeds for anyone. Aside from that, I also love all the beautiful lights & decorations that go along with Christmas, which adds to the spirit. In addition, I love the food & the drinks that go along with Christmas as well & also the presents that are associated with this time of year. So overall, the peacefulness, doing nice things for others, sharing love to others & the spread of happiness & joy while celebrating God's birthday is why Christmas is personally my favorite time of the year.

Lastly, let's remember that Christmas is not for counting the things that you have lost or don't have, but rather for counting the blessings you still have in your life, as well as everything that comes with it. So with that said, always keep a warm heart & spread the joy & happiness around you, not only on Christmas day, but everyday that you live. That's what we need in today's world.

May the bright & festive glow of Christmas candle warm the days all the year through. I Hope you have a wonderful time enjoying Christmas day & I wish everyone a happy new year that will bring many more blessings into peoples lives.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Do you deal with a lot of drama?

2017-12-04T14:49:00.001-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

How to avoid & eliminate unnecessary "drama" in your life:

Before I begin on this topic, I am writing this topic on "drama" because I feel as though it's something that a lot of people struggle to deal with. It's unfortunate that I'm writing about this, but it seems today, people are much more interested in bringing others pain & shame than in trying to make things better for everyone, whether there's drama on social media, at work, at home, etc.

Though you can't get rid of drama completely, especially when it comes to serious relationships / marriage (being that it's part of life) I feel as though most young teenagers, Men & Woman don't know exactly "how" to deal with ordinary drama when being in public with friends or co-works at work.

So in this blog, I will discuss why people start drama, what my thoughts about those who start drama are, as well as what my definition of "no drama" is, & lastly, how to avoid or eliminate unnecessary drama from your life.

So why do people start unnecessary drama?

People start unnecessary drama because they're sometimes board with their life. In other words, there is nothing interesting going on in their life so they like to cause a ruckus & watch the chaos explode. People also start drama because it moves the spot light off of them & onto other people, or a group of people. Why? Because they don't want to be on the receiving end of the drama because their faults, problems & inadequacies would come in to the light for all to see. People who do this to others fall into the same category as a bully. Sadly, some people start drama because they need drama to survive, they thrive on it when they're board, & they need it to be happy with themselves. It's unfortunate, but those who start drama feel insecure for the wrong reasons & want to start some action so they can put others down to make themselves feel better. This can probably be caused by not getting enough attention at home, or their parents don't give them praise for doing right, so they do wrong. They do wrong because they want the attention, even if that means starting a fight with someone so they become the center of attention. It's all about action & attention. Sadly, it's painful for these people to take a look within & realize that they are the ones starting drama, but at the same time, it's much easier for them to look else where & talk bad things to others by creating drama. The fact of the matter is, people who create or start drama need help in understanding that its their own misery that keeps them in the drama. People who create their own drama with others by gossiping behind their back, spreading false lies or information about them - deserve their own karma.

Now, what do I think of people who start drama?

Well, to be honest, I sometimes have trouble understanding these sorts of people who love to start drama. However, I do believe that those who do start drama do not see themselves in a realistic way. They will accuse someone of something that they do themselves. But the simple fact is they don't always know that they're the ones with the problem. For example, let's say you're someone who loves to start drama. If you have lived around this kind of thing your entire life then you will think it's normal to start drama. It's sad but true, so my point is that you can't really do anything for them, they just have to accept that they need help & get it themselves for it to do any good. However, there ARE ways that YOU can help yourself from being in unnecessary drama, but we will get to that very soon.

With that being said, most people may wonder how I avoid & eliminate unnecessary drama from my own life, so I will briefly go on & explain:

First things first, I have a personal relationship with my God, so therefore, there's peace in my heart. I don't listen to what the world speaks, but I listen to my God. I know what's right from wrong. When it comes to my personal life -- if a problem or situation arises, i can handle it without any help & move on from it myself. I don't continue to spark the fire with whoever or whatever I'm dealing with. I'm a quiet kind of guy, so I don't open my mouth & waste my time about things that don't matter. Why waste my precious time dealing with someone who starts drama? While I continue to live for God, I don't thrive on conflict or intentionally disagree with anyone to put them down or try to be the center of attention all the time. I treat others the way God loves me. While keeping my relationship with God, I don't exaggerate ANY situation & make it worse. For example; If I have plans to go to a movie with a friend tomorrow, & I call the day before to confirm the date. Now let's say that my friend tells me that he / she has to cancel & take a rain check. Now, I could just ask why & be done with it. However, the drama part comes in if I were to make a big deal about it & go off on a tangent & make a scene & call every 5 minutes trying to figure out if my friend is really doing what he / she says. Why would I waste my precious, fulfilling life on something that won't matter 1 week from now, or years from now? Listen, I'm pretty straightforward when it comes to how I handle or avoid drama from my life. When it comes to my life, I take everything easy & I'm very considerate of every situation that I'm dealing with, whether I'm in the cross-hairs of drama, or whether I'm being part of the drama. When it comes to dealing with people -- If I have to dramatize everything, then that person is not someone who I want in my life.

Ultimately, the freedom that I have found in having a personal relationship with God at a young age, as well as focusing on me & my own pain & working through it, is priceless. I find that the stronger my relationship is with God, the less vulnerable I am towards being involved in drama. I also found out that the more control I have over my life & the more that I'm satisfied with myself & the decisions that I make, the less I care about what others think, do or say. I'm blessed that I have learned how to avoid & deal with drama at a very young age. I will continue to apply my every day living with these same principles.

With that being said, here's my own tips & advice that I decided to add in for those who are either dealing with drama, or in the middle of drama. These tips I'm going to give you come from personal experience from either friends, co-workers, or anyone else who you may happen to see or deal with.

Some of these tips are complex & will work if you stick by them:

1. First things first, when someone starts drama with you, it is important that you are mindful of your surroundings & who you're around. For example, you don't want to be around drunk people, or those who are in a drinking environment because what happens if they get drunk? There ARE people out there who say or do stupid things when they're drunk, & will even go as far as making you look bad. So my point is that if you're around the wrong types or groups of people in a bad surrounding, you're more likely to have drama in your life, especially if the circumstances are there for it to happen.

2. You have to be smarter when dealing with drama in your life. Figure out a way either to keep the person who is creating drama away or completely humiliate them but through their own actions. To do this, you need to watch their actions. Just note that when they try to do harm by starting drama, then set them up so it will be clear that they did themselves in. In other words, you just have to keep your cool & be logical when you're dealing with someone who's starting drama. For example, If you notice that their actions / behavior falls into a pattern, then whether or not they're intentionally starting drama will reveal for itself. Of course if you try to beat them at their own game, you will look like a fool, just like them. So the goal here is to try to put them in their own trap by watching their actions & words.

3. In many cases, the best thing you can do when someone is starting drama with you is to brush it off & hope that the drama stays away from you, or dies off. However, If you feel like the drama worsens or still continues, then I suggest talking to a guidance counselor, or go to a trusted adult, or anyone who may be able to help with the situation. Never try to deal with the drama yourself when you're dealing with friends or co-workers who started the drama in the first place, because it'll only make you feel more frustrated or even depressed. Don't let the drama get you angry or depressed, that's just what they want from you. Instead, if you tell a guidance counselor or an adult, you're guaranteed that they will never bother you again, & therefore, you won't have to worry about ignoring them on your own. This will eventually bother the person who started the drama to the point where they will have to move on to new feeding sources, or something new to gossip about to someone else. So my point is that you have the power to change your life by changing your attitude of how you approach the situation when it comes to people & events.

4. When someone spreads drama about you or anything else related, just try to ignore it & block it out. Never say anything that will fuel the flames. In other words, don't fire back & spread gossip or say mean things behind their backs. You should always think before you speak. Why? Because If you confront the people who are spreading the lies, it is likely you will start more drama & may say something back that you really don't want to say, or mean to say, which could result in losing friends or those who you're close too. Now, I know that wanting to get "revenge" sounds like a way to take the drama off you, & back on the other person, but don't try to act like someone you're not, trust me, just be who YOU are. If people really love & accept you for who YOU are & like you for who YOU are, they will know that the gossiping are lies & may even defend you. On the other hand, If people want to believe the lies & gossiping, then let them be. You will most likely lose friends & have a bad reputation for a while, but you can't let that get you down because that's their stupidity & eventually, a rumor will be spread about them & they will learn their lesson. Think about it like this: Would you rather have a thousand fake friends, or would you rather have a few REAL friends?

5. When drama happens between 2 people & you're in the middle of it, not only should you block it out, but you should also start talking with new people to get your mind off the drama that's currently happening. It is also important that if you're in the middle of drama with 2 or more people, don't take sides, & never, ever react to what people say or do. it only makes matters worse. If you are already caught up in some drama, the best thing you can do is to back off, shut your mouth & never talk to them again until they admit that they've done wrong. I know that may be hard to do for some, but you need to choose your battles. When you are in the midst of some drama, ask yourself, "Is this the hill I want to die on?" Meaning, you would have to decide for yourself if the event / situation really matters. Now, ask yourself, "will whatever I can do or say really matter to me or anyone else ten years from now? Will whatever I can do or say make a positive difference in my life or in my friends life? If the answer to those questions to yourself are no, then once again, back off, shut your mouth, & don't talk to that person. Don't even make any plans with them or send out invites in front of people you don't intend to invite or hang out with. If someone Else's drama causes you to become distant from one of your best friends, then so be it. You're better of establishing relationships with those who you don't really know or talk to as much, such as a distant friend or worker.

6. Be more independent & take charge of your life. There's no need to make friends with every last person who you talk to or see. There's no need to have 100 friends (boys or girls) who live & thrive on drama. There's no need for people who start the drama to come to you with their every problem. There's no need to give into your friends drama & listen in to negative things. If you really want to take control of your life & be more independent, then reduce your friends who are too negative, aggressive, argumentative & unkind. Who needs that? I've learned that picking out the friends who are more mature, easy-going & trustful, while at the same time, having a small group of friends (between 2 or 3) will make your life a whole lot easier & less stressful to deal with. It will also make you more independent because the less friends you have, the more control you have over who you let come into your life & who leaves your life. It will eventually lead up to building more confidence in - not only yourself, but also the decisions you make in your life when it comes to dealing with drama.

7. If you want to avoid drama at work, NEVER share ANY personal information about yourself or your family to others who you don't know. A job is a job for a reason, & you're there to work, not gossip to others about your personal life, whether it's your manager, a co-worker, a customer, or even a friend who stops in to visit. You should only talk about work related things that are related to your job & nothing more. Why? Well because people who you share personal information at work with have power over you if you share ANYTHING with them. So my advice is to quit talking & acting like they are your friends. Instead, just be nice to everyone & smile, but don't talk about anything past the weather. If it's too late & there's drama already going around about you at work, the best thing to do is refuse to engage in that type of conversation & instead, focus on yourself. Don't become a recluse by any means, just avoid joining in their gossip. Listen if you have to but avoid commenting. If the drama gets too intense, your last option is to find another job elsewhere after you give your 2 weeks notice. Once you find another job, then you can start from a clean slate by keeping your mouth shut about your personal life & again, just be nice to everyone & smile. That is your biggest obstacle in this situation & will avoid all unnecessary drama.

8. No matter what the situation is, whether it's at school, work or anywhere in the public - never let them see you sweat when you're under pressure. If you are asked for your opinion on a personal matter, just reply that you don't have an opinion one way or the other, or you can say that you were not listening because you were busy working or doing something else productive. If someone tries to draw you into a messy situation, politely excuse yourself from the scene, & If you are asked to go out with workmates, classmates or friends, use discretion, otherwise they will come back & tell everyone your business. These people are your workmates / classmates only & nothing more. Also, try to avoid eating lunch in large groups or volunteering too much information, especially personal information about yourself. Do not display pictures of any family members, pets or boyfriends / girlfriends at work, school or in public. That would be asking for trouble. Always remain professional & courteous in public, no matter where you're at.

9. Lastly, when someone starts drama with you, turn them over to a higher power & have faith in your higher power. Trust that God will set them straight & will make them realize what they're doing to others. The best advice I can give you here is to pray for that person every day. As frustrating as it can be to get into drama, i suggest that you don't hold a grudge against that person. Let go of the situation & let God deal with them. God will work through those who start drama & set them straight. Trust me, I'd know. I've realized that including God in your decisions will make you more knowledgeable when it comes to how to avoid & eliminate drama. It will also save you from a whole lot of drama in your life & therefore, you can focus on other important things in your life & achieve your goals & dreams without the stress, frustration, anxiety, depression & other moods.

So there you have it, those are my tips & advice to you for anyone who starts drama with you. I know it sounds complex & simple. However, if you stick to these tips that I gave you, I promise you that your life will already begin to change, so make the effort & begin to avoid & eliminate drama today!

Thanks for your time in reading!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Thanksgiving day 2017.

2017-11-23T07:40:00.001-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving day was started by the Pilgrims who settled in America, & is always celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November. With that being said, Thanksgiving is a heart warming American tradition where we show our appreciation & gratefulness to this wonderful country that we live in. Although we are grateful & thankful each & everyday (no matter what religion you are) Thanksgiving is ultimately a day where we openly share with others & express what we are thankful for in our lives.

On Thanksgiving Day, we sit around the table while we celebrate family togetherness & appreciate the wonderful things we have. Everyone gathers with their friends & families for a big feast, as we each say how appreciative & fortunate we all are as we count our blessings around the table. For those who believe in God, like myself, I give him gratitude for all the blessings he provides for me, such as being knowledgeable & educated about God while spreading peace & love to others around the world. He also provides me with a blessed family who cares deeply for me & will always have my back. He provides my health, such as a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, a shower to wash in, food to eat on the table. He also provides me with money that I receive to help keep my life financially stable. When I think about how much I've been blessed, it ultimately reminds me that God has given me everything. Sure, I may have good & bad days, or I may have to work hard in life to achieve what I want, but without a relationship with my God, I would have nothing, which is why I keep my God close to my heart. All these things I have mentioned wouldn't be possible without my God. So on this Thanksgiving day, I'm grateful & blessed to have a God who shows me unconditional love, not only on Thanksgiving, but everyday.

Now that I have finished saying what my beliefs are, as well as what I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving, I do want to add that I'm also aware that some people may think that those who believe in God can only celebrate holidays such as Thanksgiving, but I understand that Thanksgiving is not a religious day for all people, however, they still celebrate this holiday like anyone else would. Weather you believe in God or not, Thanksgiving still commemorates the hardships & successes our forefathers weathered as they helped a nation forge a future of great pride, invention & heart. What I'm trying to say is that Thanksgiving is meant to be a national holiday & it's not to be confused with something uniquely Christian, Some people, like myself, like to pray at the big feast & give thanks to my God for their blessings, but I realize that anyone of any faith can celebrate their good fortune on Thanksgiving day in many other ways other than including or mentioning God. However, If you are a non-believer of God, then the least you can do is to simply be thankful (happy) for the good fortune that has come your way in your life.

I personally look at it like this - no matter what religion you are, or what your beliefs, morals & values are, at the end of the day we all shed the same blood & live on the same earth. We are all human beings & are no different from the next person. So Let's celebrate Thanksgiving together as a whole & let's enjoy this special day with friends, family & food!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy veterans day 2017.

2017-11-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Veterans day weekend:

Some people may think that Veterans day is a day where we give ourselves a day off while we relax & cook food or have drinks & etc. However, that's not the true meaning of Veterans day.

The true meaning of Veterans day is when we stop for a minute, to honor the people in the military for what they have done & are doing for our country, as well as the sacrifices they have made, including their own lives, to ensure our way of life. Veterans Day is ultimately a day where we say "thanks" to those who have served & are serving. Whether you agree or disagree with the concept, people in the military have a fundamental belief that they are protectors of our country. Put the politics aside & just consider the soldier who doesn't make much money, get much time off, or is away from his family months at a time. These reasons alone are why I will always have respect for the soldiers & vets of this country. Most young teenagers, Men & Woman don't realize where their freedom comes from, or why they have the freedom that that do, & that's a frightening thing in today's society.

To all who have served in our military - I want to thank each & everyone of you for your hard work. I thank you for making that decision to fight for our country. I thank you for putting your own life on the line to protect my family's freedom, as well as many other families across the world who are also thankful everyday. The sacrifices you have made in honor, & duty to our country are extremely worthy of praise & will never be forgotten. We will always remember your courage, strength, & patriotism forever & always. God Bless the brave Men & Women who risked their lives to preserve our freedom, your legacy will never go unnoticed. I'm proud to wear the colors red, white & blue because of these brave soldiers who fought & are still fighting for our freedom. Thank you for your hard work, dedication & service. Thank you for serving our country & protecting our freedom. Each & everyone of you are truly American hero's in my book.

God bless!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy labor day 2017.

2017-09-04T18:24:00.002-07:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Labor day:

Many people will assume or believe that labor day symbolizes the end of summer & that it's celebrated with food, drinks, barbecues, festivals, events & etc. However, that's not the true meaning of Labor day. So what is Labor day? Labor Day is an American federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September. It's a day that we celebrate the economic & social contributions of workers all around the world who make an honest living & work hard every day of their lives to make sure that their families have everything they need. In other words, it's an annual holiday devoted to the recognition of working people's contribution to society. Labor Day also pays tribute to the contributions & achievements of American workers, like those who put their life on the line for us, as well as those who have died to protect is. We will always remember those who have sacrificed, given their time, put in their best efforts & have worked hard in their lives to make our country a more peaceful, blessed, & better country to live in. You will never be forgotten.

Today we celebrate the pride & spirit of the great Men & Women who have worked extremely hard to improve the lives of not only their families, but this country. From field to field, & desk to desk, your hard work is what makes our nation the best. The work you do each day never goes unnoticed & is appreciated in every way possible, so I want to take this opportunity to say, thank you. Please take time this labor day to unwind, relax & have a good time. You deserve it!

Happy labor day!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Fourth of July 2017.

2017-07-04T08:49:00.002-07:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Fourth of July

The fourth of July is not only a day of rest, drinks, cookouts, camping, late night fireworks & etc, but it's more of a day of recognition for all the great & bold action that helped create who we are today. The fourth of July is also about freedom, liberty & the birthday of our country. Not to mention, the declaration of independence was approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776 which contributes a big part of why we celebrate the 4th of July.

To me, however, it’s a celebration of what we did & have accomplished in the past rather than where or what we are going in the future. As Americans, I feel that we celebrate things by commemorating them instead of living up to them. We commemorate those that died on the Fourth to give us our freedom, but at the same time, we don’t recognize our freedom that we have today because of these brave people & when we do recognize our freedom & what we have, we sometimes take it for granted or forget why we have the freedom we have. You need to understand that freedom isn't free & we should always give honor & thanks to those who paid that price for us to give us our freedom.

I do believe that the Fourth should still be a day where people come together to cookout, hangout & watch fireworks. However, cookouts, hangouts & fireworks should be done in memorial & celebration of our independence, & not just for the sake of it. In my opinion, people should honor the Fourth every day of their lives & should not allow the actions of our forefathers to be naught or forgotten. We should salute & give thanks to each & everyone of our troops for their strength, courage, determination & their ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe. You will never be forgotten. Thank you for all that you do.

Happy Fourth of July to our great country!

God bless!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Father's day 2017.

2017-06-18T11:17:00.001-07:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Fathers day:

For those who don't know the true meaning of what Fathers day is, it is a day to show your father that he is very much appreciated by honoring him & reminding him just how much he means to you. Ultimately, Fathers day Is a day of celebration, as well as celebrating a Fathers role in parenthood, the bonds that a father shares with his offspring & the influence of Fathers in the world today as a whole.

As we celebrate this Fathers day, let us never forget the good & the special times that were shared with our Fathers. Let us never forget the laughter we shared with our Fathers. Let us never forget the shoulders that we cry on when something goes terribly wrong. Let us never forget the scolding & discipline our Fathers gave to us to try & teach us right from wrong. Let us never forget those moments where he stood on your side even when we wouldn't listen to him. Let us never forget his pride that he shines us with when we succeed at something. Let us never forget his Faith in us even when we failed. Let us never forget when our Fathers helped us out when we messed up. Let us never forget how much we love & appreciate our Fathers for ALL they do no matter what your relationship is with him. Let us never forget ALL the good deeds that our Fathers done for us when we were kids. Let us never forget the ultimate sacrifice our Fathers made by willing to take care of us by having a roof over our head, food on the table, a bed & blanket to sleep in, toys for us to play with & etc. Lastly, never let us forget the ultimate sacrifice that our Fathers made by watching us being born into this world during birth & by watching us grow up from babies, to kids, to young adults.

Personally, I may have not been the best child in the world, but that never stopped my Father from ever loving me or taking care of me. Father, you were always there for me whenever I needed you. Even today, after all these years I know that if I give you one call, you'll leave everything / anything just to be there for me, & for that, I can't thank you enough. I also want you to know that I also have your back as well. You are truly my inspiration, support, strength & faith. Someday when I have kids in the future, I wish to have the same Father-like qualities instilled in me, that are in you. Thanks for being an amazing Father & example to me!

I love you Father!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Memorial day 2017.

2017-05-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Memorial day:

As we enjoy this Memorial day weekend with BBQ's, picnics & hangouts, let us never forget the true importance behind memorial day. On this day, many people give their up most respect to those who have served & those that are currently serving, to give us the privilege of freedom. Although we should honor those who fight for us every day, today is a very special day in particular because it gives us a time to pause for a moment to think of those that put their lives at risk for us & those who died for us. It's a special day where we honor our current & past heroes in the armed forces. We thank you for your time, service, & dedication to keeping the American people safe. We give a huge thank you to all of the brave men & women who have fought & who are still fighting to keep our nation free & safe.

If you know someone who's in the military, or know someone who is currently fighting for us, or a veteran who has fought for us, or even if they're someone who you don't know, you should thank them. We need to honor our countries veterans & thank those who you either know or don't know, that are in service, for they have kept us safe each & everyday of our lives. Let them know that we love & appreciate all of their hard work & dedication.

I give my gratitude & respect to our fallen military & their families & to those who continue to serve & keep us safe. You will never be forgotten.

Happy Memorial Day & as always, thank you to all veterans & those currently enlisted, for your service to this great nation.

God bless America.

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Mother's day 2017.

2017-05-14T13:09:00.002-07:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message: Mothers day

Mother's Day is celebrated in the honor of all mothers across the world. It is a day that we show our appreciation for the Moms out there who would sacrifice anything for the one's they truly love & care about. In life, Mothers play a very important role in raising their kids. Since fathers are primarily the workaholics & bread-winners of their family, the responsibility of taking care of the family & the entire household rests on the Mother's shoulders. Mother's Day is celebrated in the honor of all such mothers who will sacrifice their lives each & everyday to raise their children & take care of the household on a daily basics. Mother's Day can be celebrated in many ways. You can take your Mother out for dinner, gift her some valuables & shop for her to make her feel special & loved on Mother's Day. This special day is an awesome time to show your love for someone who has spent her life in nurturing you & raising you to be the person you are today. Whether your Mom is alive or not, every single one of us owe a lot to our Mothers who labor hard to manage both, their family & their work each & everyday. With that said, happy Mothers day to all the Mom's out there. Wishing you all the love, peace & happiness that you all so rightfully deserve, & especially my Mom. She is strength, She is beauty, she is love, she is my Mom & I love her more than words can describe. When I was a kid, you did so much for me to make sure I had the best life you could possibly give me. Your arms were always open when I needed a hug. Your heart understood when I needed a friend. Your gentle eyes were stern when I needed a lesson. Your strength & unconditional love towards me throughout my childhood years has guided me & gave me wings to fly. I can't thank you enough for all that you've done for me. You are truly an inspiration, a great role model & by far the best Mom anyone could ask for. Although I'm all grown up now, I know that no matter where I am in this world, or what's going on in my life, or how old I get, I know you will forever & always have my heart, & my love, & I hope you know that you will always hold a very strong, close & special place in my heart for as long as I live. I love you unconditionally, forever & always.

Happy Mothers day :)

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Easter day 2017.

2017-04-16T11:15:00.002-07:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Easter day:

Easter is not all about the bunnies, eggs, chocolate, candy, fireworks & etc. The true meaning of Easter is the day when resurrection took place. We celebrate Easter because that is the day that Jesus rose from the dead & was re-born again. He was crucified on good Friday & on Easter day he rose from the dead to give everyone hope that our sins could be forgiven. Easter is also the day of hope & good will. Normally on Easter day, followers of Christianity will sit together, have dinner & exchange small gifts with each other to celebrate this occasion. This celebration reminds us that hope must never be lost for as dark as the road may seem, there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. Easter not only conveys the message of hope & good will, but it also gives an opportunity to reassure the fact that good deeds & truth cannot be buried for long & will always come out successfully.

Ultimately, remember the reason for the season & make yourself & the world a better place. Like I said, exchanging gifts is one way of sharing your love & affection for others on Easter, but the best gifts of all are the gifts of love, forgiveness & ultimately, the eternal life with God in Heaven. So I encourage you all to share the gift of faith with others during the Easter season. While doing so, pray & hope that this will make our world a kinder, safer & God fearing place for everyone. May all your prayers be fulfilled as well. May you & your family be blessed with countless blessings from God. May your life be transformed magically into something beautiful & magical.

Happy Easter to you & your loved ones!

Stay blessed.

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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You are the future generation.

2017-03-09T14:31:00.002-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

My Message of encouragement #6 - You are the future generation:

If your someone who can't let go of your past because you think bad of yourself for the things you've done, or things you wish you could of changed in your past that is keeping you from moving on, then this encouraging message is for you to read.

I would like to start of by saying that no matter what your past had or has looked like -- here's the truth. First off, your past doesn't determine your future in any way, shape or form. Only you control your future. You determine who, what, how, & where you will end up in your life -- not anyone else. You don't let your past regrets define who you are as a person. Sure, your background & circumstances may have influenced who you are, but remember, you are responsible for who you become, not who you were, so forgive yourself for the wrong choices that you've made in the past & move on to much bigger & better things in your life. That's how life works, you just have to accept what has happened & move on. I understand that may be easier said then done for some people, but I want you to realize that everything in your life happens for a reason. There will be times were life will bring you down, only for you to get back up & be stronger then you were before, that's how life functions. The truth is that you have a lot of potential if you really want to make a change in your life for the better. Sure, you may be dwelling on your past right now saying that you're a bad person because of your past or your mistakes, but the fact is that your past is not evidence of who you are -- your past is only evidence of WHO you were. That's a major difference & it's something that you need to learn. Understand that who you were, who you are, & who you will become are three different people. The truth is that If you don't like how your life is going right now, or if you wish you could of had a better past, then you have the opportunity to change that right now & for your future. It's never too late to change & better your life. You have your whole life ahead of you, as well many opportunities, events, & other fun & enjoying things that life has to offer to you, so why waste your life by thinking of your past for the rest of your life? If you keep looking back at your past, you can never focus on bettering yourself or finding your destination, or even living your life in that matter. If you keep dwelling on the past, you're going to be a complete, emotional wreck & miss out on the rest of your life. Is that what you truly want? Of course not. Look, there's a reason why are eyes are in front of us & not behind us -- it's because it is better to look ahead at the bigger picture than to look back at what has been said & done. Whatever has been said & done, you can no longer change. I can't stress this enough, please don't dwell on things in the past. It's not a healthy habit to grasp. Instead, learn from your past mistakes & move forward, & I promise you, if you move forward in the right path, you will NEVER want to look back again.

The reason why I'm encouraging you to move forward is because I've been there, done that. Even I dwell on my past a few times & wish I could of done, said, or approached something differently then before, but I've learned to keep the past behind. So don't think for one second that you're the only person who dwells on their past or wish they could have had a better past, because that's not true. There are many people who are in the same boat as you are -- just some people are more discreet about it then others. Look, no matter what kind of past you had -- I don't care if you had a bad, great or perfect past. We ALL have our moments were we wish we could of done or said something differently in our past. I know for a fact that we all have our moments & we all have had our fair share of bad experiences. However, it's about how you deal & cope with situations like this that will help send you off to a more positive, but encouraging track. I want you all to remember that no matter how much you dwell on the past, or no matter how much you reflect on the bad things that have happened in your life -- that there is nothing to be ashamed about. In fact, there is hope waiting for you & you don't have to be stuck where you're at now in your life. You can do this. God would never ever give you anything that you weren't able to handle on your own. You have friends, parents, strangers & even random people who support you & are on your side. Think good thoughts about your life & lay the negatives to rest. Don't let the enemy destroy you emotionally & mentally inside. Seek God, or those to help you get through your life for the better.

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Being a real reflection of yourself.

2017-03-02T18:08:00.004-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

My message of encouragement #5 - Being a real reflection of yourself:

Whatever you believe or think about yourself on the inside is what you will manifest on the outside. In other words, whatever you think of yourself will be a reflection of yourself & how others see you. However, there's a flip side as to how you portray yourself in public. I can't stress this enough, but it is very important to be who you are & remain who you truly are. Why? Because if you think or make judgements of yourself based off of what others think of you, you will then become what others think of you & it will ultimately change what you think of yourself in the end. That is not what makes you who you are. Understand that what other people think of you is none of your business. You can't go far in life if you're always turning around to see what other people believe or think of you. You will never become who you are or who you want to be if you keep blaming everyone else for who you are as a person. You should not change for anyone, no matter what they say, think or believe of you. They don't live your life & they don't walk in the same shoes that you do. You are someone who is unique & set aside from everyone else. Nobody can be the same exact person as you are. So I suggest that you highlight your own identity as to who you are as a person. Project your real image in front of the world rather than projecting your image in a fake manner. Why? Well because people always give credit to those who always behave & act like their actual self without being influenced by others, & you should be given credit as well. Now, you may be thinking, "What can I do so that others give me credit for being myself?" Well, here's how -- be yourself by making your own decisions, thinking your own thoughts, dreams, goals & accomplishments. Accept your flaws, as well as your mistakes -- learn from them & live at your own pace. If you do these things, you will always find yourself & know who you truly are as a person. Furthermore, people will respect you.

As hard as it may be for some of you to be yourselves -- just remember that the goal here is to avoid changing yourself for others. Do not fall into being someone you're not. Don't let people change you or how you see yourself. You're amazing in your own ways & you are unique because no one can think or act like you. So just be you. Those who truly respect & like you would love to see you the way you really are, so let others accept the real you no matter how imperfect you are. Others ought to accept you the way you are rather than basing your judgement off the opinion of others. Lastly, I want you to remember that tomorrow is a blank page, just waiting to be filled with your dreams & accomplishments. All you have to do is be yourself & live the story of your own unique life. Be proud, confident & most of all, be happy with yourself. If I can do it, so can you.

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Valentines day 2017.

2017-02-14T18:09:00.003-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Valentines day:

Valentines day is not about single Men & Woman, wanting to get into a quick relationship, just so they won't feel lonely & will have someone to be with for the day. Valentines day is not about "getting laid" or "losing your virginity" by your significant other, just for the sake of it being Valentines day. Valentines day is not only about appreciating your love ONLY towards your significant other, but also your kids, children, friends, family, neighbors, & even others in this world who you may not know as well, & above all else in this world, our God.

With all the negativity in this world, & the violence & hostility that is present in this world, taking a day to celebrate love is a nice thing indeed, as we can eliminate the negativity that we see, & show the positive's throughout others in this world who we love & care for. However, keep in mind that just because today is Valentines day, doesn't mean this is the only day were we should show our love & care towards one another. The reality of life is that our love should be given, fulfilled & shown everyday & not just one time out of a year. We should learn to love our parent's, our friends, your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your husband, your wife, your co-workers, your neighbors, your kids, other children, or even strangers who we may, or may not know as well. It is important to love one another each & everyday because we have to understand that love is the key essence to life, for it will touch our hearts & awaken our minds. We should celebrate our love & care for one another every day of the year, & not simply on Valentine's Day only, for we can't make up a year's worth of thoughtlessness towards one another, with a days worth of special gifts, flowers, candy, cards, or even forced kindness being shown.

We also must realize that every day throughout the year is met with the hustle & bustle of thing's that we have to get through in a day, such as work, traffic, school, college, homework, running errands, & whatever else your day may consist of on a daily basic's. In that sense, holidays like Valentines day are designated days throughout the year where we can take time out of our day to really look back, reflect, & commemorate the relationships in our lives that we have had, or have with others in our lives, & this is why Valentines days are usually associated with having social celebrations, ceremony's, gatherings, small dinners, or even as small as giving gifts to one another, just as a little reminder to those that we respect & appreciate of them, for all they ever done, or will continue to do every day of the year.

Just remember, It's not about receiving expensive gifts, cards, candy, or flowers from others, or buying the most expensive gifts, cards, candy, & flowers for others, but rather doing something thoughtful that comes from the heart, to get the opportunity to show your appreciation & express your love through your actions, towards one or more people. Most importantly though, Valentine's Day is an overall holiday for reflecting & commemorating the past & current love-relationships in our life's, those that we have gained & lost throughout our life's.

Happy Valentines day to everyone & make sure you love others everyday of the year, for we will never know when it's our time to say goodbye.

P.s I am only what you made me, & I appreciate everything that you have gave me. It feels good to know that I have you on my side through the good times & the bad. God is good...

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy new years eve 2016.

2016-12-31T14:37:00.001-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - New years eve:

Nothing is more beautiful & powerful than a smile that has struggled through the tears & tough challenges throughout your journey of 2016. Whatever has happened to you & your life in the year 2016 has helped shaped you to be the person you are today. How do I know that? Well, because everything in life happens for a reason, whether it's a good outcome or a bad outcome. Whatever has meant to be in the year 2016 has happened for a reason. Whether you've had a bad experience or a good experience of 2016, there will always be some good that comes out of what you've experienced, so please don’t regret your time of 2016, even the moments that were filled with hurt. Instead, smile because you learned from it & gained the strength to rise above it. In the end of the year, it’s not what you have been through that defines who you are, it’s how you got through it that has made you the person you are today, & the person you are capable of being tomorrow, for every moment is a new beginning if you want it to be.

You must understand that nothing is ever wrong, because life is simple. Everything happens for you, not to you. Everything happens at exactly the right moment, neither too soon nor too late. We also learn from every step we take to be a better person. For example, whatever you did today was a necessary step to get to tomorrow & so fourth. So with that said, be proud of yourself for the things you have achieved throughout the year & continue to take pride of your strength that has got you to where you are at this very moment, but realize that strength isn’t about bearing a cross of grief or shame. Strength is about choosing your path, living with the consequences, & learning from them. Sometimes you do your best & end up in a mess. When this does happen to you, do not be discouraged, for you have tried. That’s really all you can ever do. Understand that you have not failed, you just learned what not to do. So rest, regroup, & begin again with what you now know. So maybe you are not as good as you want to be, or as great as you one day will be, but thanks to all the lessons you’ve learned along the way of 2016, you are so much better than you used to be. Understand that years will pass, but the good memories will always last, so cherish the good memories & ignore what gives or brings pain to you. Celebrate New Year in a cheerful spirit, for you have become a better person then ever.

As 2017 approaches in a few hours, let's remember to stay blessed for what we have & let's also remember to take care of ourselves by being healthy this year, for tomorrow is never guaranteed or promised.
Lastly, my new years resolution will continue to involve helping, encouraging, influencing, & inspiring others for the better. Writing & inspiring others for the better is something that I continue to strive for this year. It's one of my passions that I have loved doing for many years, & it's something I will continue to love doing. As an online mentor, I love leading the youth by example through my powerful words. One of the best feelings is to be alive & making a difference in the people I help by changing their state of mind for the better. I'm blessed & extremely healthy to see another year today, thanks to my personal God who loves me very much & has blessed me with so many things throughout the year 2016.

I want to wish everyone a safe, joyful & blessed new years eve to everyone!

Now let's see what 2017 brings to the table.

Happy new years eve!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Merry Chirstmas 2016.

2016-12-25T08:41:00.002-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Christmas day:

Christmas day is a day where we celebrate the birth of Christ, "Jesus." When I see the word "Christmas" I see Christ, he came because we're special to him. He died on the cross for us to live in his blood & give us hope of eternal life. Though Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of our Christ who died for us, I also believe that he is born everyday within the temple of our hearts & lives within us eternally. That's one of the greatest gifts we can ever receive from him.

With that being said, Christmas is generally a day that we all come together as families to show love, appreciation & joy to one another. I personally enjoy the fact that I can celebrate his birth at a very special time of the year, by enjoying myself with family & friends, even strangers who appear warm & friendly, by sharing time, food, gifts, talents, & fun with those who are in need, because they know the true meaning of giving gifts at Christmas. Understand that the true meaning of Christmas is not the gifts that you get under the tree, but rather God's love, peace & kindness that we share & spread around the world with others.

Lastly, remember that Christmas is not for counting the things that you have lost, but rather for counting the blessings you still have. So with that said, always keep a warm heart & spread the joy & happiness around you, not only on Christmas day, but everyday that you live. That's what we need in today's world.

May the bright & festive glow of Christmas candle warm the days all the year through. I Hope you have a wonderful time enjoying Christmas day & I wish everyone a happy new year that will bring many more blessings into peoples lives.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Our society is brainwashed by money.

2016-12-01T11:53:00.005-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Food for thought - Money is NOT everything:

To begin, I decided that I would write about this topic because I'm tired of today's society being "brainwashed" into fake lies about money being everything. So I'm going to express my true opinions of what having "some" money means in this world, along with the reason why money in general is NOT everything.

But first, let me talk about what having a little bit of money means for those who aren't sure what I mean.

Okay, let me simplify what having a little bit of money means to me. Here's the basics: Having a little bit of money means that I'm able to live in a comfortable environment, not a "rich" environment, but an average one. Having a little bit of money means that I wont starve -- it means that I have just enough to pay for food, even if it's just a little bit of food. It also means I will have a peace of mind. In addition, money means that I will be able to maintain adequate health. Furthermore, it means I'll have freedom, but NOT power. Having a little bit of money also means the difference in whether or not I have anything in life to cherish or value, which I cherish those who love me & I appreciate the value on everything that I have in my life. So my point is, with "some" money you can have all the basic & simple commodities, immensities & securities that will keep your blood pressure down. In other words -- keeping you content & comfortable with your living habits while trying to be stable.

At the same time however, it is impossible to live without the resource of money. For example, If a Man or Woman does not work or make any income, then neither he or she can eat. Unfortunately, we live in a world that is set up that way. Not having money can limit yourself in many ways & cause you much stress & strife, but that will depend on yourself & your own values which is understandable. I also understand that money is a means of basic survival. If you can't feed, cloth & shelter yourself, your quality of living is going to suffer, which will make it nearly impossible to place needed focus on a social life, career & leisure activities. Like I said, money has its limitations, but It cannot buy you "everything" & it cannot buy you a peace of mind. My point is that we have to have "some" money to survive. There's a fine line between being at rock bottom to living in prosperity but it's a different story for all of us. Sure, having some money is a good percent of life but money alone is not the answer, whether you're rich, middle class, or poor. It is not "everything." Though money isn't everything & doesn't equal happiness, I will say that it does solve many of life's problems & it is needed to survive in this world. But somehow the rich & wealthy people have twisted its use to self gratification only which is a shame. Like I say to everyone, the love of money is the root of evil. I personally look at it like this, I know what I want in life, I know who I am as a person -- what I feel i must have done, experienced, obtained & accomplished, & I don't base that entire concept on money or power, nor do I feel superior to others. I love & respect those regardless of whether they are in a lower class or living in poverty. Though I believe that It's very important to have a sense of security financially & emotionally because without enough money to live comfortably then there's no words, hug, kiss, or person who can "fix" that issue in itself for you, but there is hope. There will eventually come a point where once there's enough stability in your life & you're able to manage what you cherish & value in terms in money -- that you're able to be content with other people & to be comfortable with what you have & to uphold your morals, values & self-worth. However, patience & prayer is a must.

Now, let me get on to those who are cocky & claim that money is "everything" because I have a lot of say. Sorry, but I got news to tell you -- money isn't everything. No matter how much money you may have, or how little you have -- money does not define your happiness & it certainly doesn't define who you are as a person. Money is not "everything." There are so many things that come from within yourself that you just don't know. Let me ask you something, how can money buy happiness, love, respect, self-reliance, dignity, joy, sadness, pain, understanding, compassion, regret, peace, harmony, family, grace, etc. I could go on for hours. If at the moment having money & materialistic things can give you "everything" including your own happiness, then that's your opinion, but it's a bad opinion if I may be honest. Why is it a bad opinion? Because some things that money can possibly buy can actually nullify your life -- you can very easily lose sense or worth & value on things such as your morals, integrity, humanity, & self worth because without those important traits, you are greedy towards yourself & others & you know it.

I tell it like it is & I don't "sugar coat" anything, but money is just a means by which to get by in life. It's not a necessity for happiness or to judge a person, no matter what anyone thinks, true happiness comes from within yourself. Let me ask you a question -- If money brings happiness & "everything" to you then how much money (exact) would you say you need? Oh, that's right, you don't have an exact answer or amount because no matter what amount of money you say, you'd need more & more because you need to spend. So simply put, if you need to have a constant flow of cash to supply your "happiness" or "everything" then your not really living life or being happy because you need to constantly distract yourself with buying new things. Though It is true that money buys distraction from unhappiness, it will not last for long. The distraction & excitement will end & you will go back to being unhappy again. Also, if money didn't mean anything to you, then you'd love yourself & accept yourself regardless of your money. Money is only a ticket to make a purchase & that is all. You can't base your life & happiness on money & assume that it's everything. It just doesn't work like that. What's important in life is that you love yourself & that you take care of those who love you back, it's called, "give & take." You can have all the money in the world but without those who love you -- you have nobody. You could have all the money in the world, but without your own health you have nothing. You can have all the money in the world & buy the biggest most comfortable bed but it won't necessarily buy you sleep. Do you see my point? You rather want something for the sake of it than to learn to be content with life & to learn how to live with yourself & be appreciative for the things you have. You live on the hope that tomorrow things will be different & tomorrow you will be happy. It doesn't work that way. The desperation &/or greed that defines your emotions & relationship to money as "everything" is what makes the world a miserable, dangerous, & convoluted place - fraught with mixed up priorities, illusions of happiness, & delusions of purpose.

With that being said, there are 2 problems with those who claim that money is "everything:"

1. One of the problems with those who claim that money is "everything" is that those who are wealthy & rich usually become depressed overtime because they come to the realization that there is no real happiness to the things that they buy. So after cycles & cycles of having everything that the rich people want, they then start to desire that of which they can no longer have, & that is happiness WITHOUT materials. Understand that It becomes easy for the rich & wealthy to be depressed after time because it becomes very hard for the them to attain such things at a certain point, especially when people in their lives may be fake, & may want to just lounge around & use them for their money & expensive values. When this happens, sometimes the best alternative to the mind of the rich & wealthy are drugs (which isn't actually the best alternative) but a alternative temporary happiness, to substitute for their no longer satisfying temporary happiness after buying "everything" they already have.

2. The second problem is that society values rich people with higher paid jobs, nice cars, nice homes, good furniture, nice clothes, etc, that when young teenagers, Men & Woman particularly go to school, or walk out in public -- that often times other people are judged how rich they are by their race, their clothing, personal items -- their education & knowledge. So to me, it seems like the ones who appear to be "better off" have a better chance at making friends or being spoken to, rather then speaking or making friends to those who seem to look poor & do not seem to have much. It gets so deep to the point where some young teenagers, Men & Woman even seek out the people whose families are well off. It's extremely biased & sad, but it's true. You are being selfish when you do that. You think you can serve yourself & that you can serve others who are superior like yourself, but really, It's in the reaching out to others who have money & nice things that fulfills your needs & desires. The more you pick out those kinds of people, the more worse & unloving of a person you become.

Now, for those who are rich but disagree with the 2 problems that I mentioned above, let me just tell you that you're most likely looking at it from the perspective of a rich & wealthy person who feels superior to others, but imagine if you were born into poverty or lower class. How would you feel? I'm sure you'd realize that money isn't "everything" because you'd either live off pay check to pay check, or you wouldn't have a lot of money in general. Therefore, you would find other things in your life that would alter your happiness & make you content, like your family & friends & those who love you, wheres though people who are rich & wealthy are spoiled & used to getting what they want & when they want. They don't care about the middle class, lower class & those living in poverty. Young kids or young adults who are claimed "rich" feel superior to others who aren't at their "level." They find money as being the most powerful source they can ever have. It's a shame, but most parents nowadays teach their young kids & upcoming adults on how to obtain the cost of something expensive rather then appreciating the value of it.

It's no wonder why others are drawn toward people like myself because it's hard to find someone who's pure of heart & motive -- we become healthy just to be around. It's no wonder if we start a charity or business for the greater good of everyone that it's always successful -- because everyone wants to contribute to a non-selfish entity. Unfortunately, the masses believe that money can buy one's happiness, because it actually does provide satisfaction, but only momentarily. Temporary happiness is the same as temporary love, it isn't real. For example, with money you can buy a house but not a home. With money you can buy a clock but not time. With money you can buy a bed but not sleep. With money you can buy a book but not knowledge. With money you can buy a doctor but not health. With money you can buy a position but not respect. With money you can buy blood but not life. With money you can buy sex but not love. So what I'm trying to say is that you can BUY things, but the reality is that it won't effect anything if you don't value it.

Now you may ask -- so why do we continue to go after these things then? Well, because we are in a on-going cycle of little high's & low's from the material we gain in this world. It is the same as a dangerous addiction, except from this addiction there is no apparent harm, yet there is harm indeed. We ourselves become materialistic people. For example, we become obsessed with what's on the mannequin, & on the T.V. screens & movies, as well as the news stations who are all about the ratings & money. We are allowing ourselves to become ignorant, because it is all really just a set up for us to consume more & to also put money in the hands of the greedy. It is all an illusion, but we continue to do so anyway because it apparently puts a quarter of gas in our tank of "happiness," but that's not true for most people like myself. Personally I like to think of money is like any addictive substance. It's fire. It can burn us. What you need to understand is that where our treasure is -- is also will our heart will be. If money becomes the most important thing, then it'll be what we most often think about, which is "everything." Even in the best scenario, money distracts us from the other wonderful non-monetary things we could have been doing-- like building relationships with others & working on bettering ourselves & the world around us. In my opinion, money is the evil of the roots only if you let it be. I can't stress this enough, but money has to be controlled or you become greedy & pure evil towards yourself & others.

Aside from that, I can't close this thought without mentioning God in it. For those who think money is "everything" well first off, I believe. I believe that he created everything, & he created each of us, He knows us intimately & has a purpose for each of us. He made us each so he could love & admire us for who we are, which we do by being ourselves & using our natural gifts & talents -- not love & admire us for how much money we have. But understand that we don't really reach our stride until we get close to God by reading his word & praying & finding our connection to Him. We all yearn to sort of find some kind of nirvana, & it's really just in getting to know our maker. Really it's about doing unto others, living honorably, making a difference & asking him for help along the way, & while we do so, he rewards us with great blessings in this life & then we get eternal life. It's a win-win situation.

That heart pull we feel when we sing a hymn, help a child, experience love itself, & give to charity, that is God's way of speaking to us to do more & more of that, even to commit our lives to it. We can trust that feeling, as it is God's love, & God's pleasure. It's like walking into the light. That is the path to everything, not money. Money is the root of all evil.

Lastly, I'll end it with a quote from the bible:

1 Timothy 6:9,10)

"However, those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation & a snare & many senseless & hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction & ruin. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, & by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith & have stabbed themselves all over with many pains."

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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Happy Thanksgiving 2016.

2016-11-24T05:06:00.002-08:00

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

Special holiday message - Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for the land that we have that is called America. It's a time to get close to the people around you by spending time together & sharing food & kindness with those who you love & are thankful & grateful for. Although we shouldn't only be thankful & grateful on Thanksgiving day, but we should be thankful & grateful every day of our lives. We should appreciate & never take for granted all that we have. It's a time where we count are blessings & all the good that life has to offer to us. Thanksgiving is the only national holiday that has no particular or specific political heroes, politics or religion. Everyone loves gatherings & food regardless of their beliefs, religion & culture. This kind of holiday can be celebrated by just about every ethnic background. It crosses all types of boundaries in the spirit of thanksgiving by spreading love, kindness & peace. Furthermore, Thanksgiving is important to Americans because it celebrates the time when the pilgrims shared food & kindness with the Native Americans rather than fighting & acting very hostile. So we take this time to gather around as families, couples & groups to take this time to pause & give thanks & appreciation around the world.

With that being said, I am very grateful & thankful for my own loving God who's a great God to me. One who listens to me & will always be on my side no matter what. I give thanks to God first because without him I wouldn't have everything else that I am thankful & grateful for. Aside from that, I am thankful & grateful for my friends & family who love me unconditionally no matter what I'm going through. I'm also thankful & grateful for my health & living conditions -- that I'm able to have a roof over my head with blankets & food on the table. I'm thankful & grateful that I have a wonderful girlfriend, a good job, a car & a little bit of money in my pockets to treat myself & others with. Lastly, I am extremely thankful & grateful for those who fight in the war to save our freedom. Those who put themselves in the line of duty to protect us from harm & danger. I could never thank you enough for all that you do. Much respect.

I send my warm thoughts & best wishes to you & your families this Thanksgiving day. May you continue to have many blessings & many reasons to be thankful in the coming year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Written & published by: Kevin Beard Jr.

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