I believe in chasing the vision not the money.

The only way to lose to is fail to try.

Traveling Light

"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears." - Cesare Pavese

[CSLA. UCSF. U Hawaii. UCSD]

Don't bury your treasure, spend your life well.

What's the wealthiest place on earth? Maybe the gold and diamond mines in South Africa? Or possibly, the oil fields in the Middle East?

Interestingly enough, the wealthiest place are the cemetries. Because what lies beneath those graves are all kinds of dreams and desires that have never been fulfilled. Relationships that were never made, best-seller books that were never written, businesses that never made millions. An endless amount of potential never fulfilled because they never choose to fulfill the given destinies God had placed in their heart.God has placed a passion in your heart, a golden treasure He placed in you, but it requires you to bring that gift forth. Don't bury your treasure, spend your life well.

Consider how God equipped the owl, a noctural animal so that it naturally operates in the darkness. If the owl decided that it wanted to stay out in the day it would hit several struggles such as finding food. In the same way, God equipped us with certain talents, abilities and skills that He wants us to use. Only when we use those talents do we enjoy life to the fullest degree.In the movie Chariots of Fire, Liddell, a gifted runner says that when he runs he "feels God's pleasure." In the same way when we are using the talents God has given us, when we are pursing our destiny, we can feel God smiling down on us.

If you enjoy teaching and helping children, if you enjoy expressing yourself through music tap into that interest and use your natural talents to bless those people around you; confident that your efforts of using your gifts is making God smile. (This passage is based on the reading "Fulfilling Your Destiny" in Joel Osteen's "Become A Better You." And if you want to do something productive, go read it because it's amazing. Yeah! )

Life is too short to live the life of somebody else.

Says Emcee L Sparks. People chase money 'cause we're all afraid to chase our dreams. Imagine what you would do if you knew you couldn't fail.

You better put on some Nikes, girl cause we about to do some running.

You won't see change if you don't make any noise.

"One hand alone does not clap. Believe me, by working together will we see change." - Professor O' Connell , Sociology 63

If you don't study history, you will be manipulated.

That's what Malcolm X said long ago. That's why we need to open our history textbooks. Ask why. And put action behind our optimism for change.

It's overwhelming to think about how similar the current war in Iraq is reflective of what happened in the Vietnam war; many innocent lives were being for simply no REAL reason at all. Many argue that Americans are fighting for democracy. But what does democracy mean, actually? In the Declaration of Independence, democracy is translated as being "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Is democracy what we're really fighting for in Iraq? If anything, the invasion and occupation of American troops is disturbing the lives of the Iraqi citizens. In reality, we're doing the opposite of what democracy stands for.

"While the Iraqis die, Americans concern themselves with more pressing matters: should we keep the phrase "under God" in the pledge of alleigiance, is it OK to try ecstasy at the rave, will the Lakers repeat as world champions, and, will we find the courage to call Jenny Craig today?" "(O'Connell)

This passage hit me so hard, I could barely continue reading. It was so relevant and so true because to me. One of the millions of Americans living in willful ignorance, concerning myself with my own problems and oblivious to real world issues. Malcolm X had it right. I refuse to be manipulated.