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3:13 On the edge of my 26th year of life, I look back and realize that I never sought after sympathy. Even in the few times when sympathy did show its crestfallen face, I seemed to politely reject it. Moments of sympathy were for me, reserved for proper situations such as: tearful or solitary moments, comforting the grief-stricken, the gravely ill or circumstances that may seem insurmountable. I suppose moments like these are what leads any individual to a point in their life, and maybe those moments are what led me here; the grief, the sympathy, the anger, frustration and times of pure elation. Though all of it I found a small slice of peace and comfort. When I write, it is many times 3:13 in the morning. The writing usually consists of my style of expressing subtle, uplifting messages which I have collected through difficult times in my brief 25 years life; I understand there is nothing special about my being, or the love for my craft of writing but like music, literature and writing was there when no human could be found- so we became close friends. Again, my words are not to seek for sympathy, or to vent- but for someone who is having a difficult time of their own and may require an uplifting message. I always pray that the person who needs these words takes the time to sees them and feels them, instead of simply reading them, as these words are brief pieces of my soul. Money is no object when it comes to these words that are formed at 3:13. 3:13 is a lot of the time, my fourth hour of sleep and like these words, sleep is for someone else. I awake with ideas and thoughts from past times in my life; both the great times and the most unfortunate of times. It is never a struggle to think of writing these thoughts down somewhere; it is a formed habit and my laptop or phone serve as the pen and paper. The thoughts that I have upon awakening usually fall away, as the blank page presents itself on my laptop, only for the same thoughts to slowly return to my mind as soon as the first letters spill onto the page. There is a peace to this “method of madness.” The room is dark and the screen is bright; many times too bright. My eyes soon adjust to the light. Summer brings sounds of singing crickets and silence, while most people are asleep, while the winter holds the silence much better as the crickets become nonexistent. I find it hard to sleep for longer than 4 to 5 hours. Sometime the mind seems to not desire rest but, the body absolutely requires rest. Are these faculties not of a mutual symbiotic connection? At 3:13 I feel like a king. Everything is in my control; absolute control is the technique of 3:13. There are no fears or worries, only anxious thoughts that need to fly out of my mind in some way, though never through the mouth. Aside from the fingers, there is no movement, only stillness. As if there was any tension in the room, one could cut through the air like it was a loaf of bread, at 3:13. There are no outside voices to influence the thoughts, only that of my own, which lives in my head. I write down and control these thoughts consuming my mind with the accuracy of a tenured pilot landing an airplane; piece of cake. I think 3:13 and I were always meant to be close friends; even before my body’s disconnection from what we collectively know as “normal.” It seems as though it always shows up when I need it, 3:13. Everyone should find a 3:13 of their own. It is through divine intervention, how you will find your 3:13. When you look for it, it will be looking for you; what you seek, it seeking you. 3:13 and your personal being will bring to one another, peace of mind and a moment and feeling of total control and comfort, which follows your first encounter. The encounter will reoccur many times and will match your lifestyle and purpose. Your 3:13 will be for you and only you. I truly pray that you find your 3:13. #time #heart #blog #flight #poetic #recover #peace #freedom #truth #life #spirituality #respect #inspirational #love #blogger #clothing #morning #mind #body #spirit #soul #shirts #write #writer #belief

When you look around in today’s society it seems as though hate is glorified and encouraged. Different from love, hate is a learned trait. One could argue that it is derived from the dysfunction where children may be raised, as they are exposed to a higher rate of hateful and violent images from an early age; it becomes a natural extension of the child. Focusing on children, whom are the adults of the future, a three-year National Television Study reported by the AAP, found that children’s shows had the most violence of all television programming. Statistics read that some cartoons average twenty acts of violence in one hour, and that by the age of 18 children will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence on television (Adams, 2017). The perceived rewards and social acceptance along with the desensitization of people as a whole, shown through influential media outlets such as the television and social media seem immediate. Many millions of people witness unfortunate actions of violence and disrespect preformed through these outlets, granting a sort of acceptance of this kind of behavior. Monkey see, monkey do. So the negativity and hate continues to spread through the veins of many as if it was blood that we need to survive. Exposed blood will eventually clot over time. Love, on the other hand takes effort and time. Although a study of the effects of images and acts of compassion and love was not as easily found, this writer does personally know that a concerted amount of effort is required to not only give, but receive love as well. Patience is similarly required through this process of the transaction of love, although often times no reward is yielded. Indeed, love must “come from the heart,” as many say, with no expectation of a reciprocation of that same love. The sort of love in which I speak, is not a love of material things, which cannot love a human in return. This class of adoration is a love many of us search for every year, not knowing that a lot of us may never feel or find that authentic love because of our ways in which we choose to live. Through poor learning rituals and habits that we create for ourselves, love is many times masked and confused with something else such as money, material possessions, lust or infatuation, for example. We must be aware to recognize that love stands alone in the forest and is as easy to recognize as it is to confuse. For instance, one may think they are in love, but when that love is put to the test, they fail. Love requires a firm stance in the face of any and all adversary situations. A real love is as rare as a fine wine that grows richer with taste through the time spent on earth; bottled up and released at the right time to be shared between the right people. Many individuals though, cannot, or absolutely will not do this as a result of many of us being molded to believe that an instant gratification is the proper way. It very well may not be. In fact, I believe it is not. Hate is easier to express and yields a feeling of instant gratification, which is subconsciously reinforced as a result. In the end it means nothing to, or for the receiver. A behavior that is reinforced is likely to reoccur. A more complex emotion such as love, which I believe is not as frequently reinforced, is more difficult to express and spiritually takes a lot out of an individual. They say love is the answer. Many say Love is the way. Many people say the idea of God itself, is love. In the end, I seem to always find myself asking the same question that the pop group known as The Black Eye Peas asked the world in 2003. Where is the love? Adams, N. (2017, June 13). How Watching Violence on TV Affects Children. Retrieved 1 2, 2018, from Livestrong: https://www.livestrong.com/article/221006-how-tv-violence-affects-kids/ #love #clothing #blogger #blog #mind #body #soul #tshirts #kids #inspirational #motivation #heart #family #lover #friendship #writing #journey #DMV #spirituality

Stop spending time with the wrong people Stop running from your problems Stop lying to yourself Stop putting your own needs on the back burner Stop trying to be someone you’re not Stop trying to hold onto the past Stop being scared to make a mistake Stop berating yourself for old mistakes Stop trying to buy happiness Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness Stop being idle Stop thinking you’re not ready Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work Stop trying to compete against everyone else Stop being jealous of others Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself Stop holding grudges Stop letting others bring you down to their level Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments Stop trying to make things perfect Stop following the path of least resistance Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t Stop blaming others for your troubles Stop trying to be everything to everyone Stop worrying so much Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen Stop being ungrateful START LIVING YOUR LIFE #poetic #poem #poetry #recover #freedom #peace #spirituality #inspirational #mind #body #soul #clothing

I keep going. I know how it is. I know how it feels. Losing everything. Everything you have known as normal. Like water on your swollen palm. The few drops that remained. They slipped away. Try catching water. In the desert. Dying of thirst. These final drops. They will keep you. For how long? Who knows, really. It’s just me out here. I found an island of palm trees and fresh water. I awoke to find myself still in the desert. Hours past. I encountered voyagers. They were friendly. We set up camp and made a fire. It gets cold out here. Sharing their stories, foods and drinks with me; Refreshing. When I awoke, the travelers were all gone. Another mirage? All that was left was a bottle of rum and container of water. I must keep on. I can go on no more. The sun in my face. Serving as my enemy. It’s kisses sting my neck. I look around. It’s just me here. The rum was my friend. The water is my life partner. We make sweet love until I can feel no more. With the rum I can feel no more. When I awake, the water blesses my organs; Refreshing. There is no more rum. There is still water. I feel again. Feelings. My old friend. I look around. It’s just me here. My eyes aimed at the sky. I’m humbled. They told me you would help. They told me you would be here. It was never just me there. #poetic #poetry #poem #writing #art #mind #body #soul

Netflix; I watch it with the subtitles turned on. As if I cannot hear the voices in the movie. Maybe it is just an appreciation of reading. It never crossed my mind though, the true importance of subtitles, but that particular day it did; for me a new, and different, perspective was solidified. The scene for the movie that I was viewing was set in the outdoors, and the birds could be heard chirping. As the birds continued their on-screen melody, at the bottom of the screen the subtitles stated, [birds chirping]. It hit me the other day; within myself I grasped a brief moment of awareness from the inside of a cohort, looking outward, although I would remain on the outside of that cohort. The moment of focused realization stuck with me for some time that day. I remember walking outside to enter my car. One the way I heard the loud sounds of birds enjoying themselves on the branches of a nearby tree; [Birds Chirping]. I thought deeply to myself, someone needs this; that continuous string of words put together at the bottom of the screen. For me it was a choice I needed not make but, for another person it was the only choice to make so they may enjoy and understand the motion picture that they were viewing. That someone has never heard how it sounds when birds sing. They can only imagine. They can only dream of sounds. That day I remember much time spent in thought, imagining myself, a life without the ability to hear; a forgotten many are the deaf. No ability to hear how it sounds to see the phrase, [birds chirping], come to life; neither on screen or in front of their ears. Maybe it’s like a life without the ability to see, or lacking the ability to talk or walk; capacities that the majority of us take for granted. What would life be like without these abilities? As I reviewed the notes on my phone, I ran across the link to an article expressing a list of “the greatest” quotes throughout history. One of those quotes brought me back to the [Birds Chirping]. Confucius, a well-known philosophical mind of the Chinese culture, once quoted: “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” This statement made my thoughts race a few steps further as I returned home to once again hear the [Birds Chirping] in the back yard. What if one cannot hear, then they must truly forget. For a person who is visually impaired, how will they remember if they have never seen? Well, we can all “do”, so we can at least understand. I realize now, with a deeper understanding, what it would be like to not have these assumed abilities at my disposal every day. Hear, see and do. More verbs that we naturally take for granted every day. You’re blessed to be able to hear and see, but most importantly to do, helping you understand the message from your perspective. Someone cannot see these words that I have written, so they cannot read it and remember how the message physically looked. Someone cannot hear another person reading this out loud, so how will they remember? The “normal” perspective must be substituted through one’s own experience. But we can all figure out a way to do it; whatever “it” may be. This morning when you woke up, did you recognize your ability to see? Or did you just look in the mirror, to admire your beautiful face. You would have missed your interview if not for your ability to hear your alarm clock buzzing in the background. Through the ability to hear, the clock helped you remember. You did get up to “do” what needed to be done that day, so you must understand. Maybe that’s all one can ask for. Maybe the “doing” part of anything is an unconscious recognition and appreciation of our given abilities, albeit mentally taken for granted. We know what abilities we were innately given, and what we are capable of, so we just “do” it. Wherever you stand, do not take for granted the moment and ability to pause and hear the [birds chirping]. It is only a dream to many and one day could only be a memory to you. #flight #poem #poetic #respect #peace #spirituality #inspirational #mind #truth #blogger #writing

My Flight Leaves Love is an airplane, It could be, Just like a leaf, It comes and leaves, Like autumn leaves, Returning just so you can see, The scheduled times like changing leaves, Catch your flight before it leaves. Plenty of planes up in the sky, Vanish quickly like burning leaves. Contemplate before you leave, To catch your flight before it leaves. Was that your flight? Above that tree, With changing colors on the leaves, Catch the leaves, As they fall and die, As your flight takes off, Before you leave, You notice late, That flight was not for me. Photo:[http://gratefultreesandbees.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/maple-leaf-love.jpg #love #poem #poetry #poetic #writing #writer #clothing #autumn #fall #winter #plane #planes #flight #find #passion #acceptance #btdllc

Love the Journey There is a beginning, middle and end to every experience that will be had in this life. Starting on the road to any final destination, whether realistically or figuratively, one must make a decision to begin a dedicated and strict movement toward that end result; whatever that result is for you. Naturally, there are many times along the way when we may get distracted, discouraged and solely focus on the end goal, because we want it so badly, but there is so much more to it than to simply focus on an end point. My favorite analogy is painting a picture; a collection of small strokes of a paint brush, put together to finally compose “the big picture.” Through the process, we finally see the whole painting- the end result. When you first make that auspicious decision to truly follow your heart and passion, to become the person you feel you were always meant to be and follow the path that one needs to embark upon, many things begin to happen. Many barriers begin to present themselves; it is proven by many of the greats throughout history. Those around you may call you out of your name, slander you and tell you that you’re crazy, and so on. Maybe you are crazy! Embrace it! That’s what it takes; an “off the wall” and focused sort of way of being that many shy away from because it is far from the norm. There will be much noise thrown at you, both negative and positive; Move through all of it. Keep your head held high through the noise. But keep your nose down and remain humble in your pursuits. Just always remember who you are, in your soul. You may begin to feel different than ever before; unqualified, like you are ‘faking it,’ like a fraud. You may lose people in your life that you always thought would be there. This is all part of the process of creation of the authentic self; part of the creation of building your road- one brick at a time. It may also be comparable to a simple lesson of physics; for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When you begin to feel good about who you are becoming and feel that you are on the correct path, resistance is inevitable, but your destruction is futile. You must learn to overcome the resistance and doubt not only around you, but most of all, within yourself. I do not know how that final point feels yet, but I see it in my head every day. I know that in the end, it will not be all about the goal or end point; although I hear that it will taste so very sweet. That point will end up being the easiest part. What you will remember is the journey that you walked. The path you stalked. The road that you paved every day, on the same path you walked- daily. The people around you who chose to go with you will remember the laughs, pain, blood, sweat and tears in which you shared. It is all about the journey and less about the end point. That is what matters; the journey. Fall in love with it. Embrace your failures. Focus on your dreams. Keep your head held high and keep marching. Enjoy the journey. Photo:[https://image.slidesharecdn.com/ccourageenterpriseuxfinalpdf-150518055811-lva1-app6891-150521154140-lva1-app6892/95/the-enterprise-ux-journey-lessons-from-the-voyage-the-opportunity-ahead-catherine-courage-at-enterprise-ux-2015-6-638.jpg?cb=1432223412 #journey #recover #respect #survive #mind #body #soul #worth #difference #art

I awoke on January 1st of the year 2012 with a great anticipation to start the day, as I always do. My mind clicked on, as it always does, as I let out a great sigh of relief. Yes, thankful for another day; another day to make progress in life toward whatever goal(s) I had to accomplish that day. Letting out a great stretch to release the curled up muscles in my body, I anticipated a normal reaction. I naturally turned over to swing my legs off of the bed and effortlessly make my way to the bathroom. That particular morning was different though. That morning was the first morning I was introduced to a new way of being; a new way of moving. Things would be immensely different from any other day I had ever experienced. It was on that day, that life changed. I had no control; my right hand, cold and motionless. My right leg, ankle and toes, held no feeling. My head stung with an indescribable pain as I attempted to walk to the bathroom. With each step that I took, I struggled, swinging my right leg to emulate a normal walking motion. This was new. But sometimes new is not a pleasant experience. This was the first time I can vividly remember, when I was introduced to my new found body, which looked exactly the same as it did that day before. There was nothing visually different. It was 2 days before the end of winter break, for us college students, and I had been working with a neurologist to figure out what was going on inside of my body all of that prior fall semester. Visiting my parents for the break, I remember hearing my mother’s voice over the sound of my phone ringing when I exited the bathroom. She expressed to me that the neurologist was calling. We were anticipating this call for a few days, hoping he had answers to cure the peculiar symptoms I had been experiencing for a length of time. My mother and father anxiously gathered around the phone as I answered it on speaker phone, for all of us to hear what he had to say. The following conversation was among the most life changing information I had ever heard. The neurologist explained how after reviewing my MRI, he came to a strong conclusion that I had contracted a chronic disease known as multiple sclerosis (MS for short), medical jargon for “many scars.” Many scars had accumulated and developed on my brain and down the base of my spine. After a brief explanation of the illness, he went on to explain that there was no way to tell how any person with the illness contracted it, and that there was no, known, cure to eliminate this illness. The illness attacks every patient differently. I was to visit him upon returning to school and speak on my options as far as treatment for the disease. My ears fell deaf as my whole reality had come to a halt. My mind refused to believe what I heard coming from the other side of that phone. “No cure.” I remember hearing those words ringing through my head for the entire day. After all, I was still mobile- as mobile as one can be for a person with MS. Happy New Year, huh? The following days before returning to campus were filled with conversations as to whether or not I should even return to school and continue my studies. Would I take some time off and figure out how my new found body works? No. For me, there was no other choice but to ignore it and return to my life as I knew it. I could still walk (severe limp) and drive (became part of my personal therapy). Plus, college was too liberating and filled with great experiences and learning opportunities. No! Nothing was going to stop me from returning to school. I was turning 20 years old the next month. It was my junior year. It was the prime of life for someone my age. This was the time when a young person is supposed to enjoy life to the fullest and work hard toward their goals, dreams and aspirations. Not worry about health problems. I never thought it would reach that point. Regardless, I decided to give it my best shot. I never thought that I would lose my ability to run, write, walk with a normal gait, or move my toes. I “look normal,” but have not felt normal for years. The phrase, “You never know what you have until it is gone.” That sentence was proven to me that year, in 2012, and every year after that. For whatever reason(s), my body decided to give up on me. I was left with no choice but to learn to work with it and fight through every day to make it my best day. I share this small portion of my battle with MS to help the person reading to remember that life is precious. Through this encounter with MS I have battled with strong bouts of swinging depression, substance abuse and finding myself again. And although I still have a ways to go, in terms of education, accruing the proper funds to possibly eliminate the disease form my body and just living life as a whole, there is always a silver lining. There is always a way to make a difference. There is always a bright side if you wake up every day to work through that day. Although it will prove difficult and at times may seem pointless and impossible, you are still here for a greater reason than you know. No matter what happens in your life, as long as you have an opportunity for another day, you have as choice to create, build and grow; no matter how small. This is simply a reminder to keep your head up! Someone is always watching. Keep being the difference. #health #spirituality #holiday #inspirational #respect #recover #blogger #religion #freedom #survive #family #journalism #btdllc #believe #woke #story #journey #virginia #clothing

Look around. No really look deeply around. So many smiling faces are hiding years of pain, neglect and hurt. If we all can stop just for a few moments to lend a helping hand. Sometimes all it takes is a kind gesture or listening ear. Other times, it takes a team of people to intervene. Imagine being raised to love verses compete, to help verses ignore or to tell the truth when it's not convenient for yourself. Imagine someone turning to you instead of a substance. WOW, so many people would be FREE. Imagine if all we truly needed in this life was love. Can we stop imagining? #respect #peace #body #soul #social #blogger #recover #freedom #woke #love

Earth -5 oceans. -7.6 Billion people. -7 continents. [Depending on where you were raised] Asia-- 3,674,000,000 people Africa-- 778,000,000 people Europe-- 342,000,000 people North America-- 483,000,000 people South America-- 342,000,000 people Australia and Oceania-- 31,000,000 people Antarctica-- 0 people 195 countries..... Then, Your country, Your region, Your city, Your neighborhood, Your Family... .. and then you. Many times we may choose to look at the world with a perspective that is absolute; naturally, the most comfortable interpretation.. During the holiday season it can prove supportive to look at the world from a perspective that may be unlike yours. As we look at the world, it simultaneously reflects, and looks back at us. The holiday season is a tradition that respects that collective interpretation from the earth's many societies, back to you. This is a time of year that composes many moments of care and compassion. Comprehending these numbers, as well as understanding the significance of our earth's various celebrations, may help one put into perspective how important we all are to one another; whether on an individual or group basis. It is widely known that near the end of the year, many areas around the world tend to celebrate, not only the culmination of another year, but also commemorate their religious and spiritual beliefs.. At Be The Difference we choose to celebrate the similarities in each culture, religion and people;; as opposed to the differences. This is the time of year to also celebrate humanity, and our collective desire to recognize our brothers and sisters world wide, as the year 2017 comes to a glorious end! Recognize and appreciate the similarities that you see when you look at your neighbor, who may look, sound, smell, taste or feel nothing like you. Although we are all different, we can grow and learn together, through our similarities.. This is the paradox of being the difference and making a positive difference in life; making that difference in your immediate world, so it may resonate into the world. BE THE DIFFERENCE -Cite- *[http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/continents/Extremes.shtml] #peace #blogger #truth #construction #success #holiday #love #muslim #christian #buddhist #religion #spirituality #respect #acceptance #difference #similar #same #socks #luxury #worth #brother #sister #mother #father #newyork #newjersey #DMV

In terms of poker, it would seem as though life is the greatest dealer. From our first breath we are given a small deck of cards that change by the day. How we play these metaphorical deck of cards, is what brings us to be introduced to the next day. Regardless of the cards that life deals a person, the best option is to play them as best as we can. The choices that are made create many challenges, as well as opportunity. The "Survivor" sock was inspired by people who have found a way to keep pushing- signifying a reminder to yourself of what you have overcome in your own personal life path. No matter what deck of cards life has handed you- or someone close to you- the choice was to survive and fight toward another day. Believe that you are truly a survivor of many circumstances in your life and remind yourself of that every time you wake up. It is because of your choices, your will, your ambition and faith, that you are still here on this beautiful day. We here at BeTheDifferenceLLC believe people are amazing and should be recognized for their personal achievements through life's many unexpected hurdles. Though many people have their own personal narratives regarding their own story in life, we understand that you are not here by chance, bur rather through sheer persistence to feel the essence of life. Say it loud and proud! I AM A SURVIVOR, I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED! #peace #freedom #blogger #journey #truth #soul #socks #inspirational #family #btdllc #story #jersey #religion #body #awareness #survive #history #mind #motivation #believe #journalism #brand #life #media

It all started off with wanting to expand the brand. Everyone can use a nice pair of socks, so we started off with logo socks. Since then, we have exploded into many fun, playful and some serious themed socks. So here is the scoop: Inspiration for your feet. No 2 socks are the same in color. Each are carefully crafted for comfort. Reinforced support at the heel and toe. Each side is marked left or right for precision and made from organic ink. If you choose to shop with us, know that when a pattern is gone, it's gone forever. Start your own BTDLLC sock collection today. www.bethedifferencellc.com/accessories #blogger #freedom #journey #shopping #inspirational #socks #story #jersey