Monday, April 30, 2012

"Who Needs Feminism" Campaign

I hope you all had a great weekend, it was beautiful out and even though I couldn't really take advantage of it I hope one of you all got to.

I wanted to take a moment today to talk about the ideas of feminism. On campus last semester we brought in a screening of the documentary MissRepresentation, and had a panel discussion after with a media fast challenge. This semester one student heard about a project going on at another college ( I believe it was Duke), and brought the challenge to our campus. We are taking people's pictures on why they need feminism.

This project has brought some interesting conversations my way. I posted the pictures on my Facebook and some guys brought their concern on me being a feminist. The problem is that many people have the wrong idea of what it means to be a feminist. Educating and bringing out the truth about what it means is the only way to make a person not fear feminism.

As a feminist, I do not hate men or bash men. Men can be feminsists and should be feminists. I love men, I have a lot of respect for the guy I am dating and his views on life and I would not be able to date someone that I had no respect for. But the idea is that a feminist wants equality for all, not just for women.

I hate labels of any kind, I do not like being labeled a Christian, a feminist or any other lables that go with politics either. Some of it I believe is because I don't like when others pass judgement on me before even knowing me and hearing certain words cause certain reactions in people. I like the door to be opened for me, I think it's a sign of respect. I like it when someone feels like they need to protect me, I feel it's a sign of love. There is nothing wrong with actions that are based out of love and respect. I love that some women choose to stay home and be a full-time mothers, but I also love it when a man stays at home and is a full-time father. I believe in choices for women and men, and fair treatment of both as well. I may not always be comfortable with the label and I realize those are my own issues. But I am all for the fact that no woman should ever be told that she can't be educated, she can't have rights or anything that is far worse, simply because she is a woman.

I am going to end that here for now but check out what's been going on here at Fullerton College and be a part of the conversation.

Fullerton College Media Fast
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Fullerton-College-Media-Fast/131171173653562

Have a blessed week!

Serena

Friday, April 27, 2012

Insert Clever Title Here

I am glad that I made it through this week. Ever have one of those moments where you give people advice, yet you don't seem to follow your own advice?

This week I have been very hard on myself. I have let down a friend, have let down family, and have let down someone whom means a lot to me. The backlash when you feel like you have been failing at life, is that you lash out on others around you. Part of me is mostly upset because one person whom is fighting a war literally and personally is the one who has been the brunt of my emotions and feelings, and now because of circumstances I can't really talk to him. The hardest thing in life is to admit when you are wrong, to forgive yourself while you are asking others for forgivness, and to be patient with time, with out knowing the future and just trying to trust that it will all work out in the end.

These are the kind of weeks where you know you have messed up, but also that life comes at you with things all at the same time. I wish I was a stronger person that didn't mess up when life got hard. But I am constantly reminded that I am human. I am being a little more open than I typically am. I think it's because my emotions are raw and I can speak more freely to people I don't know than to the ones I care about. Seems pretty backwards, but when you are afraid of getting hurt you do things to protect yourself. This week though, especially in the last 2 days, I have realized that protecting myself just makes me hurt more because I feel bad for pushing people out of my life and hurting them.

This week's lesson is that I have to allow myself to let others be human, and I have to allow myself to not be so afraid to show that I care when I try so hard to act like I don't. I wish I could have a chance to talk to the one that I really don't know when I will get a chance to talk to again, to be real and honest, but sometimes you just have to let it be and hope it works out in the end. If I can give you all advice today it would be to not do something out of your emotions that you will regret later. Pushing people away because of fear of getting hurt is not what I intended to do, but only after it happened did I realize it was what was going on.

So on a brighter note.......okay actually it's not brighter. I am talking about hurting and at work I rammed my arm on a pole that scraped it up pretty good. So I am talking about not hurting as I am actually in a lot of pain right now. I think that is kind of funny. Hopefully you all can find the humor in something today if you have been having a bad week as well. Always have to find room to smile. Through the tears there is always room to smile. Thanks for allowing me to be vulnerable today.

Serena

Monday, April 23, 2012

Just Another Manic Monday

I hope your Monday does not reflect our weather, but that it is more sunny and bright than what this day seems to be shaping out to be.

I sometimes have very random thoughts, and today I was thinking about Flash Mobs. Have you guys heard of this? I have seen some very amazing ones on YouTube, and also was a great moment in a romantic comedy. I admit it may have been cheesy, but I love cheesy.

If you are not familiar with what Flash Mob is, it's when a group of people start to dance to music in a choreographed form in a public location on a random day and time. I have always thought how cool it would be to be present when a Flash Mob was happening. I have seen Flash Mob engagements and they are so cool, because they have really had to think and play it out. Okay I am going to share one that is my favorite with you so you can watch and see what it is all about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su1YLAjty-U&feature=related

But I have always wondered who sets this up and how you get notified? I mean obviously to keep it real you can't notify people its going to happen because then it wouldn't be a surprise. But what if you were someone who wanted to be on this Flash Mob list? How do you go about getting on it? I have a very curious mind and contemplate these things. I would not want to participate, but I have always wanted to just be strolling in a public place and watch one happen. I don't know about you but that would make my day. So if you know of one, maybe you can give me a heads up, break the rules and tell me to be somewhere at a certain time and place.

Okay well that is my random blog for today. Just a helpful hint, if you are planning on proposing to someone in a public manner, make sure the answer will be yes before hand or it could be uncomfortable for everyone involved.

Okay have a fantastic manic Monday!

Serena

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Cheers to the Freakin Weekend

I think my job is lowering my immune system and it really stinks. I work at a scrub store and medical people come in all the time. My boss had bronchitis, and everyone at my work seems to be sick. So of course I am looking forward to this weekend and doing some stuff with my college clubs and I get sick.....AGAIN! So cheers to the freaking weekend!

Lately I have wondered what we would do without access to the internet. I know that I for one have become so dependent on it, from using it to do homework, to research, to talk to loved ones. And tonight my internet was acting up so I had to restart my computer and luckily it resolved the problem. And I was upset the whole time thinking "man I should have installed the phone application so I could have written my blog." But honestly right now the internet is the only communication I have with a special someone and I was worried that I would miss an opportunity to talk to him.

And of course from my blogs you guys know that I think, ALOT! hahaha, so THAT also got me thinking about how people in wars back when there was no internet had to wait for a letter from their loved one which could take weeks. I know I have been spoiled with my access of internet. But I want to ask you, when is the last time you have received a letter in the mail. I forget that just as much as I love to receive them, so do others. It gives us a break from the mundane. We are used to seeing bills, junk, and boring mail. Then a special holiday happens and boom you get a card and you get so excited. But how often do we receive personal mail outside of special occasions? A better question is, have you sent a letter or note to someone when it is not a special occasion? I am guilty of this, and it is sad because I used to be so great at sending cards and letters. The only one who gets something from me now is someone whom I know is in a war zone and I know who appreciates any taste of home. But he is not the only one who would love that. My grandma is always sending me little things here and there. Every letter or card I get from her is filled with clippings of magazines or newspapers or pictures that she cut out. I enjoy that, but I have never thought that she does that because perhaps she would enjoy the same thing. We all take for granted that everyone is on the internet, on Facebook, has email. I have to sometimes remember that not everyone does and my grandma is one of those people.

Sometimes when I am sick I have more time to sit and think and I have told myself that I need to write a letter this week. This letter should not be because of anything but just to say that I am thinking of someone. I encourage you all to do the same. It could make someone's day, and in return you may actually get a reply which could make your day!

I should have been in bed because I am trying to feel better before tomorrow, but I forgot that I was going to write a blog on Wednesday, then on Friday, and now it's Saturday night and it still needed to be done so here it is. So I am off to sleep, but really think about making someone's day in a non traditional way this week.

Through it all don't forget to smile everyone,

Serena

Monday, April 16, 2012

Its a beautiful day


After some very up and down weather, today is a very beautiful day. But this to me has more than one meaning today. Yes the weather is gorgeous, girls are out in their tiny tiny shorts, I have my flip flops and tank top on and sunglasses can be seen throughout campus.
But it is a beautiful day, we are alive, we woke up today. After my second class I got an email from someone special. The title of that email was "When you think life is tough", and he had enclosed a link. I was standing in line at Subway and reading this article, and tearing up. The article was about a brave soldier who had lost both his arms and his legs because of an IED in Afghanistan. The article talked about how in spite of it, he was in good spirits, and was looking towards coming back to the US, how he was glad to be able to drink milk, and the support he had around him. He has a baby and a wife, and they returned his wedding ring to him and he stated how happy he was because he thought it was gone forever. They talked about how he was more concerned with his other soldiers, than he was with himself even though he was the one who took the brunt of the blast.
I got teary eyed because of all the times I've complained about my finances, my job, my friends, my family, yet this young man was grateful to be alive, even though it will require an adjustment. We take so much for granted, and I was thinking that often times our hard times are hard for us, but someone could be dealing with something much worse. So today I just wanted to remind myself and also you guys to be grateful. The life you know and have could be gone in a blink of an eye. I want to know that if things get worse that I can still manage to smile like this soldier seems to be doing. What a great reminder for the beginning of the week, to get us to the end of the week.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/16/quadruple-amputee-to-undergo-surgery-after-afghanistan-blast/

Saturday, April 14, 2012

OOPS

First off, I have to apologize for not keeping on schedule with my blog, but last week felt like a whirlwind!

So I hope you all had a Good Freaky Friday or Friday the 13th. I am going to tell you a story about my day yesterday, which is kind of funny. I hope it gives you some enjoyment this fine Saturday.

First off, my car needs new tires and I hate driving in the rain because what is normal for most tires now makes my tires really unreliable. But I did arrive to school safely and was actually very early to class. Now I had some stuff to take care of after class for two different clubs I am involved in. After the first one I walked across campus to help out with the second one. By this time it was POURING. I did not have an umbrella because I lost it the last time it rained, so I was wearing my hooded jacket. I get there only to find out that the event had been canceled.  But while I was there a guy had said he almost got hit by lightning on his way over, and I told him if he ever did get hit then he should play the lottery.

My car is parked near my class which is a long distance away from where I was at, and as I was walking thoughts are in my head like "oh the worst would be if a car drove by right now and splashed me". I can often times see the humor in a situation which can keep me smiling even though it's a miserable situation. I got to my car and couldn't find my keys and I was thinking how sad and pathetic I must have looked right at that moment! I got into my car and was drenched all the way through my clothes, and got all my books, and papers wet because my bag was also soaked all the way through. This is just funny to me, I was freezing and so I turned on my car started to drive away and tried turning my heater on and it was stuck on the air conditioning setting.

So on my way home I got on the freeway, which was very bad traffic, and my tires started to skid very badly, even at 30 mph, so trucks and slow cars were passing me, which normally I am a very fast driver! But I figured I didn't want to be one of those cars flipping around or overturned so I stuck to a safe speed for my tires. I got to an exit where I take streets to get home faster, because traffic on the 5 freeway was really bad, but at least I didn't risk skidding then!

This art of my story is kind of unreal to me. But in Norwalk and the areas I live in flooding is really bad. There was a big truck in front of me, and most cars get over to the middle because they don't want to spray water everywhere. Well this truck did not even slow down in the water. But then they ended up getting in the middle lane. Well I didn't think much of it at that point, but there were people waiting further up by a bus stop, and this truck got over and purposely tried to drench the people at the bus stop. One guy almost got hit, but his reaction time was fast and he jumped out of the water path. I did try and give the truck the benefit of the doubt, but he got back over after we passed those people, and then saw an opportunity and did it again! I could not believe it, but I had to laugh because no one got hit by the water thankfully. But it's funny that I was thinking that on my way to my car, and then this truck was trying to do that to people.

Moral of this story though is don't try and soak people who are on the street, because karma will get you! Have a great weekend and I hope I was able to provide you with an entertaining story for the weekend!

Serena 

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Back into the Swing of Things

Yowza!!!!!!!! Spring Break is over, and I don't know about you guys, but Monday was really difficult! I got sick over the break, and still had to work, yet still my focus was off on Monday. I realized that I did not have as much ready for this week as I thought I did and things have kind of been out of sight out of mind.


Plus, the rain today and cloudy skies make you want to go home and curl up in bed.

Today I wanted to talk about Health though, it seems a popular subject all around. In a couple of my classes we are talking about it, I have been more focused on my health after starting my new year going to the emergency room, and with the health care being debated in Congress as well, oh and two of the speakers in my class did a speech about health. It is all around us and is something I try and be more focused on. What kind of health tips do you guys follow to maintain a healthy lifestyle?

For me pop has always been a weakness, it got worse being so busy, and I am against new years resloutions because I think for something to actually work you have to be motivated to do it yourself. I didn't even stop drinking pop after the second time of having to go to the emergency room because of kidney stones. I think it just became about challenging myself. I was thinking, could I go this amount of time with out pop? I noticed that yes at first I was tired and craved it a lot, but I don't even crave it anymore. Since February I have not had any pop, or for those of you who don't know what pop is, I guess you may call it soda out here.

It's funny because you don't think of food, and such, as being an addiction, but it really can be. There are people who struggle with overeating, people who only eat junk food, people who binge and purge, but none of this is healthy for us. Part of this realization is that I always stress to you guys how life is short, but you also only have one body. And healthcare costs a lot of money. My one visit to the ER cost over $8,000 and that did not include the follow-up, which never happened because I couldn't afford it. But I was thinking the better you know and take care of your body, the less you will have to worry about visiting the dreaded ER. I mean lets face it, unless you have parts of your body missing, blood squirting, or a kid popping out: you are in the waiting room to see the doctor for a whole day. So that could be motivation for some of you to get healthy, if you are not healthy already.

But health is not just about what you put in your body, its also about how you take care of it physically and mentally. If your mental state and stress is very high, then lets face it, your body will suffer.

I am not perfect and I am not an expert, but the facts in my class today shocked me. In America, the country that acts like better then many countries, we are nowhere near the top of the list with our life expectancy, or our infant mortality. We have an obesity problem, and a health problem. I am trying to get healthier, but I know that it can be hard for all of us.

But I challenege you all this week, what can you take out of your diet this week that is bad for you? Or if you are afraid of taking it completely out of your diet, what can you cut back on? You don't have to do this alone, but it does have to be you to take those steps to a better version of you!

We'll make this hump day a day that counts! I am  a little off schedule with my blog this week, but I will get back on track. I would love to hear about your week though, and if you accept my challenge!

Happy Wednesday!

Serena

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Happy Easter

I sit here thinking about life, and where I am going, where I have come from and what I am doing in the moment. Is my life something that can inspire others? Do I take chances, do I do as I give advice in others? Do I do all that I can to make a positive life in those around me?

I know this may be heavy and some may think "what has caused her to think so deep while on spring break?" but maybe it's because of the fact that I am not all tied up in classes, and obligations like work that I can think clearly for a moment.

Not everyone is religious, and not everyone celebrates Easter. I consider myself a person of faith and frown on religion because it often times disguises itself as a  way to hate, discriminate or worse towards people. I have friends who are agnostic, atheist, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and many more. What I love about that diversification is what they teach me in every day life. I reflect because I know my beliefs and I respect other people's beliefs as well. On the eve of this Easter Sunday I want to encourage you all to see people for who they are, and what they contribute in your life, rather than what their views in religion, politics, and so many other things. We can learn from everyone if we have an open and willing mind.

I hope you all have had a good break if you were on one as well. I know that I can at times be really deep and thought provoking. I hope you think about life though, and people in your life. Sometimes I think too often we forget that actions we make affect others. I was watching a movie that I have seen before, and it upset me because I think it happens too often where people do not think about others. I know I am not perfect but do I do things to hurt others? Do I put my wants and desires above all so that in the end it may hurt someone I care about? I don't think I do, but I want to be sure. I have known too many times how life is short, and I want to know that when people think of me they don;t have a bad opinion of the life I have led and how I have treated people. It's the same with the word love, I am sometimes afraid to tell someone that I love them because many times those I have loved have left and I am broken and hurting inside. But a life without love is not a life worth living. This Easter I think of all those I love, the ones who know I love them, the ones I am afraid to admit that I love, and the ones who have left me brokenhearted from  loving them.

I just want to encourage you all with this  totally off the wall blog post to show people that you love them. You may not find the words to say it, but actions speak louder than words anyway. Let your actions show love this Easter. I have found that I have felt the most love in the simple and small things, love is not always a grand gesture, sometimes it is simple but to one person it can seem like the whole world.  


Serena

Monday, April 2, 2012

SPRING BREAK!

I hope you all have a great time on spring break. Today was my first official day of break because of getting ready for an HTCC conference, and work. I don't get to enjoy but 3 days off from work, but I plan on enjoying those 3 separate days immensely while I can!

I wish it was a bit warmer so I could take some time to enjoy the beach too, but maybe it will heat up towards the end of our break! Today I have been doing nothing but being lazy and enjoying every second of it! I will be productive later, right now I am catching up on shows, eating and laying on the couch vegging out.......it will make my workout worth it later because I am sure I will feel guilty about it!

I was trying to think about what I would blog about today, but I think part of my brain has just been overwhelmed with everything going on so I couldn't think, so I am literally just typing what is going on in my head as we speak.I have no idea how this will turn out because of being spontaneous like that!. But here goes nothing!


Sometimes I think its rough being a girl. I was thinking about that just today, about how sometimes I wish my emotions didn't get in the way sometimes, and how it would be great to not read into things, like we so often do. But most of all how it would be great to not get our feelings hurt, hold a grudge, or get a grudge held against us from a mere misunderstanding. Girls we can be the worst to each other, and we shouldn't be, we should be helping each other out. Guys they just seem to have their fights and go on with life, and they will still be friends after it. But not us girls, oh no, we have to hold on to it till we don't even know why we were upset in the first place. I know I always say this, but life is too short. I have my feelings hurt sure, and I do try and be the bigger person so many times, but sometimes there is only so much you can do before you just have to walk away and say "I can't worry about that situation, because it is bringing me down." At some point you just have to let go of the things that are not healthy. I have been trying to find those friendships and things in life that are healthy for me. Surround myself in positive so I will be positive. I have feelings though and I can be the first to admit that I am easily bruised. Its a lot easier to say you aren't going to care, then to actually not care. But sometimes I think we are so quick to end a friendship, a relationship,  a family member, whatever the case, because we think its easier to cut them off then deal with how someone made us feel, or even more what we have to deal with inside of us as well. This semester I have fought for things that were not worth fighting for, but then there were instances where someone has stuck around and worked things out with me, because they didn't want to give up on us our what we had. When so many choose to walk away, I am grateful for the ones in my life who choose to work through issues and think I am valuable enough to want to keep around.


I wanted to leave you with this final thought, if you have people in your life that fight to remain in your life, maybe you should look at keeping them around. I hope that you surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you everyday, and maybe we all need to make sure we surround ourselves with those kinds of people, rather than the ones who would turn their backs at a sign of trouble.


Do something beautiful today and remember moments in life are few but can last if you embrace them and embrace the life that has been given to you.


Happy Spring Break!


Serena