<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:blogger='http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233595266165864443</id><updated>2024-12-18T22:17:35.140-05:00</updated><category term="challenge-day-11"/><title type='text'>Melodic Xpressions</title><subtitle type='html'>Verse and vibes, highs and lows&#xa;melodic expression&#39;s life&#39;s ebb and flow</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://xpressionofme.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8233595266165864443/posts/default?redirect=false'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://xpressionofme.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>4</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233595266165864443.post-1278410597722988919</id><published>2012-04-28T13:10:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2012-04-28T13:10:46.006-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Handwriting Analysis</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href=&quot;http://handwriting.feedbucket.com/&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;Handwriting Analysis&quot; border=&quot;1&quot; height=&quot;150&quot; src=&quot;http://handwriting.feedbucket.com/generated/20110217/C3TQ4b8AlN.jpg&quot; width=&quot;250&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The results of your analysis say:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
You plan ahead, and are interested in beauty, design, outward appearance, and symmetry. &lt;br /&gt;
You are a shy, idealistic person who does not find it easy to have relationships, especially intimate ones. &lt;br /&gt;
You are affectionate, passionate, expressive, and future-oriented. &lt;br /&gt;
You are a talkative person, maybe even a busybody! &lt;br /&gt;
You enjoy life in your own way and do not depend on the opinions of others.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href=&quot;http://handwriting.feedbucket.com/&quot;&gt;What does your handwriting say about YOU?&lt;/a&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://xpressionofme.blogspot.com/feeds/1278410597722988919/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/8233595266165864443/1278410597722988919' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8233595266165864443/posts/default/1278410597722988919'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8233595266165864443/posts/default/1278410597722988919'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://xpressionofme.blogspot.com/2012/04/handwriting-analysis.html' title='Handwriting Analysis'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233595266165864443.post-8605182500281171658</id><published>2011-06-13T17:14:00.003-04:00</published><updated>2011-06-13T17:26:47.333-04:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="challenge-day-11"/><title type='text'>30 Days of Truth Challenge - &quot;Windows to the Soul&quot;</title><content type='html'>Day 11: Something people seem to compliment you the most on.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
They say that your eyes are the window to your soul so it begs to be asked, at least from me... what is it that they see when they look into/at mine? My eyes have always garnered the most compliments, well the compliments I deemed genuine. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a name=&#39;more&#39;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;If you were to ask me I&#39;d just say that they&#39;re your average run of the mill dark brown (cause nobody has black eyes) eyes. So that leads me to believe that there must be some truth to that saying, at least I hope so.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I once experimented with the disposable color contacts. The really cheap ones you can find at the Korean (i.e. Black Beauty Supply) store. I found it painstakingly-difficult to stick my own finger in my eye so it was almost an exercise in futility trying to put those light brown contacts in. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The little woman behind the counter lead me to believe that they could be cleaned and used more than once and she happily sold me cleaning solution and the little lens tray for storage. (Mind you the damn contacts were only like $10 or $15 dollars, but all the extra &#39;ish she sold me easily rivalled that price.) To be young and dumb and coveting of those with light-brown eyes. The damn packaging clearly stated &quot;disposable-single use ONLY&quot; (smh, c&#39;est la vie, it&#39;s doesn&#39;t pay to be cheap because you really do wind up cheating yourself). I will not describe to you the malady that ensued following her advice but I will tell you that conjunctivitis is REAL. And painful. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Perhaps it wasn&#39;t my eyes that captivated my audience of suitors at all, maybe it was just my poker-face... *_o.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;center&gt;&lt;object width=&quot;425&quot; height=&quot;349&quot;&gt;&lt;param name=&quot;movie&quot; value=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/v/3cDE3Gwn5ZM?version=3&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;rel=0&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;param name=&quot;allowFullScreen&quot; value=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;param name=&quot;allowscriptaccess&quot; value=&quot;always&quot;&gt;&lt;/param&gt;&lt;embed src=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/v/3cDE3Gwn5ZM?version=3&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;rel=0&quot; type=&quot;application/x-shockwave-flash&quot; width=&quot;425&quot; height=&quot;349&quot; allowscriptaccess=&quot;always&quot; allowfullscreen=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;/center&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://xpressionofme.blogspot.com/feeds/8605182500281171658/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/8233595266165864443/8605182500281171658' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8233595266165864443/posts/default/8605182500281171658'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8233595266165864443/posts/default/8605182500281171658'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://xpressionofme.blogspot.com/2011/06/30-days-of-truth-challenge-windows-to.html' title='30 Days of Truth Challenge - &quot;Windows to the Soul&quot;'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233595266165864443.post-2676983513648020901</id><published>2011-02-15T18:59:00.002-05:00</published><updated>2011-02-15T19:02:11.386-05:00</updated><title type='text'>30 Days of Truth Challenge - &quot;That don&#39;t make no sense&quot;</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I decided to make this one a new post since that other challenge post is so long.&amp;nbsp; I am now on &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Day 10: Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a name=&#39;more&#39;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I can honestly say that there&#39;s not one person I that I wish I didn&#39;t know.&amp;nbsp; Even as I bitched about Mr. Smith in an early&amp;nbsp;post, I can say that I learned some valuable lessons.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Are there people or a person&amp;nbsp;I need to let go of?&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I would venture to say yes; however, I&#39;ve pretty much expunged those that needed to go &quot;STAT&quot; (again, Mr. Smith was one of those individuals) but they are never really gone from my thoughts.&amp;nbsp; I keep them lifted in prayer, praying I don&#39;t ever cross their paths and&amp;nbsp;praying I don&#39;t put my hand on them if I do. #iKid&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;But seriously, I realized a long time ago that I am a compilation of the experiences I&#39;ve been through and the people and places that have had an impact and influence&amp;nbsp;upon me.&amp;nbsp; If I were to spend my time wishing I&#39;d never met them or wishing them away I&amp;nbsp;believe I would be taking away from the cummulative&amp;nbsp;total of me.&amp;nbsp; And I don&#39;t like the idea of that.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;So coming to terms with the people I&#39;ve allowed in-paths into my realm, my inner sanctum, mind,&amp;nbsp;body, soul&amp;nbsp;is what I chose to do.&amp;nbsp; Whether they detracted or enriched my life experiences I know that I was changed with each event, with each circumstance.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Maybe I&#39;m a late bloomer (wouldn&#39;t surprise me) but I&#39;ve come to love the sum of it all... me, myself and I.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe allowfullscreen=&quot;&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; height=&quot;390&quot; src=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/embed/E3kgjzUsDeg&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; width=&quot;480&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://xpressionofme.blogspot.com/feeds/2676983513648020901/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/8233595266165864443/2676983513648020901' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8233595266165864443/posts/default/2676983513648020901'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/8233595266165864443/posts/default/2676983513648020901'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://xpressionofme.blogspot.com/2011/02/30-days-of-truth-challenge-that-dont.html' title='30 Days of Truth Challenge - &quot;That don&#39;t make no sense&quot;'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/E3kgjzUsDeg/default.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233595266165864443.post-7769778232612681170</id><published>2011-02-01T12:10:00.019-05:00</published><updated>2011-02-11T19:17:43.330-05:00</updated><title type='text'>30 Days of Truth Challenge - &quot;This above all...&quot;</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I found this &lt;a href=&quot;http://networkedblogs.com/dHZNV&quot;&gt;challenge&lt;/a&gt; on Twitter via someones tweet and I decided that I would take up this challenge.&amp;nbsp; I&#39;ve missed the expressive outlet that blogging allows me.&amp;nbsp; A chance to vent and just let it all out.&amp;nbsp; I have to admit I have some ambivalence about being too open; being vulnerable but that segues nicely into...&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;a name=&#39;more&#39;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;&lt;b&gt;Day 1: Something I hate about myself&lt;/b&gt;.&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Why do I care what YOU think about me?&amp;nbsp; It seems I have lived the better part of my life worrying about what was thought of me by those I love and those I could care less about, equally.&amp;nbsp; I suppose everyone has a need to feel accepted but I would venture to say that I have, to my own detriment, allowed other people&#39;s opinions to dictate my position, stance or direction.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;To say I loathe this about myself would be a major understatement.&amp;nbsp; I seethe with hatred at this attribute of my personality.&amp;nbsp; I believe it stems from a my desire to be a people pleaser.&amp;nbsp; Strangely, enough this is not a trait of my astrological birth sign, Scorpio... or is it?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;At any rate this is what immediately came to mind when I looked at today&#39;s challenge topic. **heavy sigh**&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Shakespeare said &quot;... this above all, to thine ownself; be true&quot; and this stands in stark contrast to my being true to myself.&amp;nbsp; So today I will figuratively and ceremoneously cut the &quot;I give a fuck strings&quot;...what&#39;s the worst that could happen? *shrugs and bites nails*&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Day 2: Something I Love About Myself&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;“Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.” &lt;a class=&quot;sqa&quot; href=&quot;http://quotes/henry_ward_beecher/&quot;&gt;- Henry Ward Beecher&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;sqb&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;“Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else&#39;s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.” &lt;a class=&quot;sqa&quot; href=&quot;http://quotes/frederick_buechner/&quot;&gt;- Frederick Buechner&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Two great quotes, if I say so myself. I wish I could come up with something brilliant and insightful to add to those to but I digress and give you this, my soliloquy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I love the depth of my compassion. It’s not an innate ability; it was developed over many, many, many years of active listening. An ability I believe that a lot of people (at least in the network of individuals around me) never seem to fully achieve development of.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I recall an exchange with a friend when I was in about 6th grade, I said something in a feeble attempt at humor to lighten a somber mood that seriously backfired. I won’t go into detail just because it was in bad judgment then as would be now to talk about it (or maybe I’m still just a tad bit embarrassed for make an jack-ass of myself, either way…).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I learned that by actively listening it became easy for me to put myself into someone else&#39;s shoes and though that has caused me some grief from time to time, I wouldn’t have it any other way after all; when people ask “What Would Jesus Do”, I know that he would act from a position of compassion; so I’m in good company.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe allowfullscreen=&#39;allowfullscreen&#39; webkitallowfullscreen=&#39;webkitallowfullscreen&#39; mozallowfullscreen=&#39;mozallowfullscreen&#39; width=&#39;320&#39; height=&#39;266&#39; src=&#39;https://www.youtube.com/embed/l7AWnfFRc7g?feature=player_embedded&#39; frameborder=&#39;0&#39;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Day 3: &lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;Something you have to forgive yourself for.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;For some reason upon reading this one a heavy veil of &quot;ugh&quot; came upon. A million things just ran through my head in the blink of an eye.&amp;nbsp; Not because I harbor some deep-seeded guilty or shame but because all of those flashbacks stem from one quickly identifiable&lt;b&gt; or perceived&lt;/b&gt; weakness; rather lack of strength.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Like anyone I&#39;m probably my own worst critic but you&#39;d never know it because I don&#39;t exude a downtrodden, defeated attitude, when you see me more likely than not I&#39;m smiling... I speak life and prosperity.&amp;nbsp; I&#39;m quick to encourage and slow to judge; however, I get tired spiritually speaking. It usually takes me quite a bit of time to recharge mentally.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Psychologically, I really beat myself up over not have &quot;the strength&quot; (applicably) for whatever shortcomings I may have even if Moses and Mohammad themselves could not have accomplished it.&amp;nbsp; I would still find a way to find fault or blame myself for not being strong enough. *tsk, tsk, tsk*&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;And this is what I need to forgive myself. No one can be everything all the time for everyone. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Day 4: Something I have to forgive someone for.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;This one&#39;s short, quick and to the point.&amp;nbsp; I have to forgive Jody; for allowing me to fool myself into believing it &lt;b&gt;could have been &lt;/b&gt;more than it ever could have.&amp;nbsp; Love is a dangerous game when played by a fool.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Not liking this &quot;challenge&quot; right about now... &lt;i&gt;(stomps off stage; exits to the left).&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Day 5: Something I hope to do in life.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;(Hell, succeed?)&lt;/i&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;No seriously, succeed.&amp;nbsp; Of course success is a variable and relative term to the masses. I just want to be successful by my own rights and by my own definition.&amp;nbsp; Which means that I want to be the best parent, spouse (s/o), and provider possible.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;There was a time when I believed that success was measured by more materialistic things.&amp;nbsp; However, as I have matured I believe less and less in the vanity-laden material trappings of what&#39;s considered wealth and am more grounded in the those things that I feel enrich my life and my experiences.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Don&#39;t get me wrong, I wouldn&#39;t refuse a windfall *nudges Murphy [Law] and Karma* but am content with the simpler things and I&#39;d like to think that I wouldn&#39;t change my outlook if I were to become monetarily compensated &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;vis-a-vie&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt; some miracle.&amp;nbsp; I surely WOULD NOT rebuke it. &lt;i&gt;Hallelujah!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/i&gt; (LOL).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Day 6: Something you hope you never have to do.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I am somewhat superstitious.&amp;nbsp; I don&#39;t believe in tempting fate.&amp;nbsp; I&#39;m skipping this one. Up next... Day 7: (which I guess replace Day 6, or something like that.)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Day 07 — Someone who has made your life worth living for.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;This one is a no-brainer for me but I can&#39;t narrow it down to just one.&amp;nbsp; The someone&#39;s&amp;nbsp;are my&amp;nbsp;mini me&#39;s and the joy&#39;s of my life.&amp;nbsp; The oldest is 15, the next is 7 and youngest is 8 mos.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Before my last child was born, I had a miscarriage.&amp;nbsp; His or her name would have been Jared or Mia.&amp;nbsp; Rest in peace my sleeping angel.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I determined; rather discovered&amp;nbsp;a long time ago that my oldest exhibited my heart, compassion; sensitivity of emotion.&amp;nbsp; When she was small you could barely raise you voice above a whisper when speaking to her because she startle easily or think you were yelling at her.&amp;nbsp; So glad she is growing and maturing; facing her challenges head on and head strong.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;My middle child has my fortitude and resolve, my fire and will.&amp;nbsp; She&amp;nbsp;has my inquisitive nature of science, especially astronomy.&amp;nbsp; SN: For as long as I can remember I wanted to an astronaut until I witnessed the Challenger explosion in the skies over Melbourne, Florida.&amp;nbsp; That dreams was not only deferred but tabled indefinitely&amp;nbsp; She has yet to learn to temper all that energy and wield into drive but I have no doubt that she will master it in time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;My lil man... I&#39;m excited to see what if his little personality will be.&amp;nbsp; I already know that he&#39;s full energy (somebody should have told me...) and happy.&amp;nbsp; I just pray he stays that way.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Day 08 — Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;Alexander James Hawkins Smith... you want his social security too?&amp;nbsp; #Memba back on Day 2: I spoke of my compassion and how it has caused me grief from time to time... well I present to you Exhibit A: Mr. Smith (as he will be referred to hereafter&amp;nbsp;IF I&#39;m able to maintain my composure) was once married to a relative and as with most unions procreated&amp;nbsp;resulting in several&amp;nbsp;offspring.&amp;nbsp; Excluding all the sordid details that lead up to the &quot;living hell&quot; and &quot;shit-like&quot; treatment.&amp;nbsp; It basically&amp;nbsp;boils down to when compassion is over extended and&amp;nbsp;goes hella HELLA&amp;nbsp;wrong!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;I loaned this... this... *signs the holy trinity* person a sizable chunk of change to pay back taxes on&amp;nbsp;a home he owns and was living in at the time with small children that was about to be foreclosed upon.&amp;nbsp; This was in 2006... it is now (looks at the calendar/clock) four years, one month and 10 days, fourteen hours and 36 mins outstanding and long the fu... overdue.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;When I tell you&amp;nbsp;this one action branched out into all types of hell #ikidyouNOT.&amp;nbsp; Family members assumed that because I tried to help out, that&amp;nbsp;there must have been&amp;nbsp;MORE&amp;nbsp;to the situation.&amp;nbsp; Nevermind the fact&amp;nbsp;the children couldn&#39;t fend for themselves... and no one else was attempting to be part&amp;nbsp;of a solution for our smallest relatives.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;(heavy sigh of discontentment and disgust)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;I can&#39;t stand for people to put their low-moral having ass-attributes&amp;nbsp;off on someone else.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Ultimately, I guess&amp;nbsp;it&#39;s my fault after all it&#39;s said that &quot;no good deed, goes unpunished&quot; and &quot;the road to hell&amp;nbsp;IS paved with good intentions.&quot;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-family: Times, &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;, serif;&quot;&gt;Damn it.&amp;nbsp; All.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Day 09 — Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Strangely and oddly this one was a former co-worker of mine.&amp;nbsp; An older lady whom I&#39;d come to know and value her opinion of life&#39;s rollercoaster.&amp;nbsp; She had the longest, prettiest salt and pepper hair.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;She used to advise me on all manner of things regarding family, friends, love, etc.&amp;nbsp; A wealth of wisdom embodied, she was.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Have you ever known someone that lies and embellishes things just for the sake of... I don&#39;t know, breathing?&amp;nbsp; Well a mutual acquaintance came to me with some information about someone close to her.&amp;nbsp; I &lt;strong&gt;believe&lt;/strong&gt; that this was the catalyst that began our drifting apart.&amp;nbsp; I spoke to her about it and sure enough THIS time the town idiot was telling the truth.&amp;nbsp; Never did I imagine that what I revealed to her could have been remotely true but sure enough the next day she confirmed it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I think she was ashamed to have found out about it that way, from me... vicariously through the town idiot.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Turns my stomach whenever I think of it.&amp;nbsp; Things were never the same after that.&amp;nbsp; I went to her on a couple of occasions to try to remedy the situation; apologizing,&amp;nbsp;sadly&amp;nbsp;to no avail.&amp;nbsp; Just couldn&#39;t get back to the place where we were.&amp;nbsp; So I told myself that if she&#39;d rather not be friends; at&amp;nbsp;least we can still be cordial.&amp;nbsp; Or so I thought.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Weeks passed by and her &quot;hi&#39;s&quot; and &quot;hello&#39;s&quot;&amp;nbsp;seemed to be more and more forced (from my perception) until they all but stopped.&amp;nbsp; She outright began to ignore me and my attempts to speak.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I had to come to terms with that... count to ten, so-to-speak.&amp;nbsp; There wasn&#39;t anything I could do change what had transpired; or her feeling about it or me.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;One thing is for certain I regret I ever opened my mouth.&amp;nbsp; I&#39;m sorry (if) I hurt her.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;She retired probably 6 mos after all that went down.&amp;nbsp; I often think of her and how she may doing.&amp;nbsp; I hope she&#39;s well.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
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