Crap Happens- I will never give up

Dear Readers,

Nothing big has happened in the last week and a half. No life-changing events or tragedies. In fact, everything is going my way. I love college, the people that are here with me, my teachers and classes, and yet I am still just in a slump today. In fact this week in general for whatever reason I have just been a little down. Who knows why? I sure don't know. The only thing I know is that I am down, but I will never give up.

There have been too many times where I gave up for inconsequential reasons--that I decided to be scared instead of brave. I have left too many battles un-fought and too many challenges left by the wayside. I know that this is just another opportunity to grow and I will recognize it as such. I have the chance to choose right now--the chance to change the future for myself.

I will choose Joy over sadness. I will choose Bravery over fear. I will choose to make the hard decisions instead of doing what is easy. Whatever karma may ensue for these statements I will endure it. I will not give up those things that I deserve in my life because of a gloomy beautiful day.

Nothing can get in the way of my happiness except myself and I want you to know that I will not let myself give in!!!

The world is amazing. There is always something that I can do to learn or grow and I don't want to let it pass me by.

I acknowledge my flaws and shortcomings because I know that they are a part of who I am, but I will not be ruled by them. I will accept responsibility for my actions and I will face the consequences for them--be they good or bad.

I will be the captain of my soul and darn it I WILL BE HAPPY. Today I just sort of want to cry myself to sleep for no reason, but I won't do it. I will not. I will study, I will lift those around me, and I will serve until the sadness is all gone from my heart.

I don't want you to either. Don't let negative feelings control your life. Don't you dare be less than you are. I want you to smile for no reason other than knowing that you are special. I want all of you to remember that you are important and that you matter.

Don't you ever doubt that. You deserve better than to do that. Every one of us has challenges and setbacks every day. We will all fall down sometimes, but don't let that define your life.

Be amazing.
Be wonderful.
Be someone's miracle.
Be the difference.
Be an example of what you want the world to be.
Be optimistic.
Have joy,
and have a good day.

-Doug

President's Day Resolutions

Dear Readers,

I know that it is only February, but I want to make some resolutions for President's Day! I want to renew the things I pledged myself to do on New Years! There isn't any reason for me to give up on those goals, and I want to make them something that sticks-- something that I really am willing to fight for!

I'm sitting here studying in the library and I just feel so happy. I know that I am in a good place in my life and I want to make it even better. The snow is melting and I am seeing the first glimpses of spring around the corner. The earth is waking up for the new season and it is such an invigorating thing to witness!

Don't give up on your dreams. Don't let your hope go. Fight for the good things in your life and keep moving forward! There are so many wonderful things to do in life! Don't waste a minute. I believe in you out there and I want you to believe in yourself! How can we just give up when there are so many amazing things in the world around us! I can't even think of how amazing everything in the world is!

Today is a beautiful day, and you are a beautiful person. Never forget that. I know I won't.

Let's usher in the week doing our best and building a better tomorrow-- today!

Les Mis again, working out, snow, and the BERG!

Hey there readers!

It has been a little while, but school does take its toll on you! I have been meeting people and making friends, working my butt off studying, working out, and in general just loving my college life! 

To start off I have been going to the gym for the last month or so! I am so happy with the changes that I am seeing in my energy, in my body, and in my stress levels here at school! I have been making an effort and although it is really hard sometimes I know that the benefits are super amazing! 

There was snow again today, and that made me super excited! I finished my workout and was walking home when it just started coming down! Nature loves me! 

I joined a really awesome group called student support here on campus a couple of weeks ago and now I am getting to the point where I am really involved! Helping people have a better day is so much fun and I love it! There is no cost to be positive and it has some amazing side-effects! There isn't anything better than to see those I love and care for happy and well! 

**LES MIS SPOILERS**

As I mentioned in the title I saw Les Mis again today! I have seen it three times now, and I focused on yet another amazing point that I hadn't thought of! Each character has a sort of sad story, but in reality they all have amazing stories of hope and love! Let us take a look at this! 

-Javert- Yes, he ends up killing himself, but he understands that there is mercy and love in the world. He really has the saddest of all the stories in the movie, since he really doesn't understand love until the end. 

-Jean Valjean- Has an amazing journey in which he learns how to have Christ-like love for those around himself thanks to an inspired priest. He may be followed by a crazy cop, but he shows love and compassion to all he finds. And he is the best father-in-law ever! His story ends being greeted by someone that he served and loved! 

-Fontine- A sad woman who falls on the hardest of hard luck, but the whole time she wants nothing more than the safety of her daughter. She holds on in the lowest of the low situations to save that person that she loves most and through the kindness and love shown by Jean Valjean she can rest easy knowing that her daughter is safe. She dies knowing that her purpose in life has been fulfilled. 

-Cosette- One of the happiest stories. She may have a hard start due to her mother's death, but Jean Valjean makes sure that her life is a happy one. 

-Marius- His friends may have died, but his father-in-law really made a difference. He ends up with a great girl in the end, and he stands up for what he believes in. 

-The Boys of the Barricade- They stood up for what they believed in and died knowing that they made a point and started something. They died as men with honor. 

-Eponine- Yeah, everyone is probably thinking that this is the real saddest story of all, but it really isn't. She has a hard life because of the scummy family that she has, but she is a true friend. She has the unrequited love card, and don't think I didn't weep for her, but she gets to do some very noble things for her friends and for the man that she loves. Not to mention that he holds her and loves her as she passes away. 

In the end this movie actually teaches us to look forward with hope. Les Miserables may mean the miserable ones, but it really sends a message of hope. If we really fill our lives with purpose then it doesn't matter what the ending may be. We will perpetually have the life we live each day-- and the chance to make it something worth living for!

Don't wait until tomorrow. Don't wait to do that nice thing for someone. Don't wait to tell someone that thing they do is great. Don't wait to tell someone that you love them. 

Tomorrow always comes, but we never know if we will be there to tell people tomorrow. 

I hope that you all have an amazing week and I invite you to take courage in the fact that I love you, believe in you, support you, and expect great things from you! 

I love you all! 

-Doug Knuth