Achieving your DREAMS is not MAGIC-it's a result of HARD WORK and DETERMINATION

Normalish Scary/Crazy

Alright so as a quick set the scene view of what I am currently up to.... I am in black dancers tights/leggings with bright red short shorts over top, a long sleeve black under armor top with a white cut off over top. To make it all complete I have new white leg warmers on. I look like I rolled over and woke up in the 80's (only completely covered in Raider colors)! Part of the outfit explanation was I was out with friends watching movies and hanging out until about 1:00 in the morning at Tia's house, and when I got home I crashed and burned in my Raider Pride attire. The other half of the explanation is that I've been doing dance stuff (stretching and working out) at home this morning. I also just got done cutting a watermelon picked by my very own professional watermelon picker (which has nothing to do with my outfit-he he ha ha). It is amazing sweet and delicious of course b/c it was grown and picked with love. My mood is slightly down in the dumps b/c I have just received a letter with the score I received on my last Kirkwood Sociology test which was, to my standards, far less than desirable. Still, Over all: it is a glorious day after a fun and entertaining night. The world continues to revolve around the sun, I'm still here to smile at/with you, I have a nice steaming cup of lemon-honey tea to wake me up and some homemade raspberry and lemon bars, and I love watermelon. Also, I am now actually starting to study for my Kirkwood test, as I failed to do last time, so that History may not negatively repeat itself.

This leads me to what I actually intended to blog about today....

Yesterday afternoon I decided to watch one of my favorite movies, it being my favorite movie for many unknown possibilities known to man, The Patriot. It is a very gory, incredibly gross, murderous movie full of violence and frequent cursing. Yet it is mostly true, as it is based off of a true story, and it is a factual part of our countries history.
(History= noun:
1. the branch of knowledge dealing with past events.
2. a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account;
OR MY PERSONAL FAVORITE
6. acts, ideas, or events that will or can shape the course of the future; immediate but significant happenings)
Well now, if you did not already know History is one of my favorite subjects in school. It just makes sense unlike math that I'll never use or English that has always been difficult for me (I have minor dyslexia and can not spell worth a poo). History comes easily.
So back to "The Patriot". The movie shows how sticking to your beliefs and doing what you believe is right pays of in the end. The main characters in the movie are the rebellious Patriots that are rebelling against their homeland of England. They believe that independence is right and they are standing up against the crown for unjust/unfair treatments towards them (Americans). As we all know, we are the independent America we are today in a large part because of this Revolution, led by the patriots, in our history. This is a huge part of why we are the young land of the free and home of the brave known as America. This revolution started the mold of the future (which is now the present). We should act wisely with what we have and never surrender it!

History is unchangeable. It is the present we change and the future which follows. What you did 10 minutes ago is now past and cannot be unchanged, but I'm sure it affects the present in one way or another. It may have even led to what you're doing right now. And what you are doing now, that too will pass. And the future will be affected. The future is what is to be shaped/changed-history is just an act, idea, or event that helps shape it. This is why I firmly believe in the importance of teaching us, my generation, the future of America about our history. Without knowledge of the past, it is doomed to repeat itself. Now is the time to move forward. History is a guide in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are. In my Honors World History 11 class there is a sign that hangs to the left of my seat. I read it almost every day and am working on memorizing it. It says: "I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging the future but by the past." Our ignorance of history is what causes us to slander our times. My father has always taught me that it's ok to make mistakes, but a fool makes the same mistake twice. For you never know unless you try. ~To prevent myself from being a fool I find myself analyzing so much of my past, of the worlds history, and the history of my family. (Not to say that I'm dwelling in my past, merely observing and learning from it). I feel that it is wise to emphasis this idea as a youth. The world depends on our actions today. Tomorrow is another day and yesterday will never come back, yet tomorrow is just an extension of today (Combination of 3 quotes, the first being my FST teacher Mr. G's, the second ((after the "and")) being one of my father's many, and the third ((after the "yet")) I've lived by for as long as I can remember.).

A Good friend once told me, "you should live 75% for today and 25% for tomorrow". When he first said this, originally I was annoyed by his comment. To be completely frank I held my tongue to prevent myself from telling him to "shut the blank up" (My sincerest apologies for the rudeness of that thought-and fyi the blank is probably not as bad as you may be thinking.) Anyways, I didn't actually say anything to him, I just put it in my head and stored it for later-the future (which is "now", the present-funny how that works). If you think about this quote it is actually quite profound. It is even now quite meaningful to me. Furthermore, it interest me. It seems both pessimistic and optimistic at the same time. (I believe that is perhaps one reason why it initially annoyed me). It is quite the perplexing statement, if you really allow yourself to reflect on it. That is part of what makes it so clever. Really! It makes sense live that majority of your life in today. You cannot even know for sure if tomorrow will come. That is why you must make the best of today by doing as much as you can, for as long as you can, to effect the most people that you can. The rest is in God's hands, because the earth will continue to revolve around the sun whether you take action or not. So, why not take action and make the world a better place? Success starts with you!

Today is what affects tomorrow so if you do not do well today, tomorrow will not have a good foundation. Everything in life must have a good foundation as it is necessary. If you do not heed example/history and listen and mind the words of the past you are foolish. If you build your house on sand you will not have a good foundation, hence when the rain falls, the floods come, and the winds blow to beat against your house, it will fall. Those of us that use the knowledge we have been graciously given will be able to with stand these hardships like a rock-by simply being wise. (Paraphrased example from Matthew 7:24-27). Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance (Proverbs 1:5). This is how 75% of how you live should be in today, because it is the building blocks, the foundation of the 25% to follow.

It is also wise to put 25% of what you do into future thought. If you do not think ahead, the present 75% has no meaning, purpose, or for site.

However, while his logic is, well, perfectly logical....I can't help but still feel that same initial frustration. When he first said it I was angry b/c I wanted him so much to put more thought into the future. The future is so important to me I often loose the moment. What he said, and my being able to for once in my life hold my tongue and think, led me to realize something. I need to slow down or I may have a reckless future. I have over planned so much that when something fails I feel the need to redesign my life. After consideration, his advice to me may be one of the healthiest things he has ever done for me. Now, as my nature to debate, I think that to argue with him would have been completely wrong with out allowing myself to reflect in this way.

Instead I believe that 75% for the present is exactly right if and only if you spend that time in the present to research and learn from the past-otherwise that 25% will still be wasted (or at very least not used to the full potential).
I'd like to thank my good friend Brandt Brenneman for telling me this quote and for allowing me to use his quote in this blog. -I'm seriously sorry if I have written anything offensive, if I have let me know and I'll edit it! I'd also like to point out that I found what I was looking for in Matthew-not Proverbs-he he, but you got me to skim read almost all of Proverbs =P
Alright so here is an amusing, at least for me, side note. I just got home from church and I am wearing my new, blue, super pretty bonnet that dad bought me. Our youth mission trip this year was to David Appalachian Kentucky, and the people there do many crafts. One of which was to make bonnets. So dad bought me one as part of a way to help the people raise money. I just realize that I have been wearing it for over the last hour and I super love it! Plus, it's an example of how I learned what to where from history-lol-jk. Anyhow, I hope that explains the pictures up top. :-D
History is the only laboratory we have in which to test the consequences of thought. You get what you give. What you put into things is what you get out of them (Jennifer Lopez), and Achieving your dreams isn't magic---It is a result of hard work and determination. Dreams are extremely important. You can't do it unless you imagine it (George Lucas). Don't keep your dreams in your imagination. Go after them and make them happen. (use 100% all of the present and the future-imagine it, dream it, plan it, do it). It is important that people stand up for what the believe in (Steve Nash). The Things that are important to you may not be important to everyone else---and that's okay. Actions Express priorities (Mahatma Gandhi).-this one makes me think most of one of my good friend -so for that I say: It's great to have priorities and express them, but go about your actions with kindness and consideration for others. It never hurts to be kind and treat others as you wish to be treated. You maintain better/healthier friendships that way. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor (1 Corinthians 10:24-26). And DON'T FORGET THE GOLDEN RULE! Do unto others as you would have done unto you. That is not to say that your actions were completely wrong or unjustifiable....as far as the major action and the big picture. It is simply in relation to understanding of friends and following actions for that you should reflect upon-on the lips of him who has understanding,wisdom is found (Proverbs 10:13-if you look up this verse be sure to read the entire chapter 10 as it is one of my favorites and I encourage you everyone to keep reading-FYI Bridgette your favorite verse is in there too, as I'm sure you already know). Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins (Proverbs 10:12).

Also know, Peer pressure loses its power when you know what you believe and what you stand for. But don't be so stubborn that you stop listen. Keep your ears and heart open and don't let your stubborn values close you down. (I work on this myself). To be united is a great thing when done with just purpose, but to respect for the right to be different maybe even greater. If you stand up, and speak out, you may be hurt...but the difference you make may last and make history! We are the future, so let us make history (Mary F. Schmidt)! Be the change you wish to see in the world (another Mahatma Gandhi-FYI read a Gandhi book at some point in your life I sincerely doubt you'll be disappointed). Now go do the right thing (Dr. Laura Slushzinger (I biffed her last name-sorry)).
I can't do it all, but I can do A LOT! And All those things 'I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me'. (I live by those two quotes combined as they pertains to me more than almost all the others. It is my belief in those words that keeps me going on the hard days!)
You demand respect and you'll get it. First of all, you give respect (Mary J. Blige). Remember, the roughest roads often lead to the top. Love Always and Forever. God Bless.
Mary Schmidt
P.S. Another strange fact about me is that while my personality may be spontaneously crazy and semi-disorganized, I despise disorganization. I like my books, folders, research, important information, etc. to be organized. I almost always organize by color codeation (unless of course chronological or alphabetically makes more sense in a specific situation) This is why I'm going to try to organize my blog thoughts by color-for at very least my personal benefit. I will attempt to us the color Blue=for my setting the scene and personal status such as feelings or temporary emotions. Straight from my heart Green= The actual point of my blog separate from my fluff and usual rambling (no guarantees that it won't contain rambling =P lol) Purple= backed up hard facts such as those from the dictionary or creditable books or stories both on and offline. Red= Important, warning, emphasised, serious or emergency Information. and PINk= randomness that has nothing to do with anything at all, but is merely present as a side affect of my, well, random and craziness. I try not to let it be pointless-I have a feeling it will usually consist of little get to know me facts. Really this entire P.S. should be in Pink, but I used the colors to hopefully be slightly less confusing, I have know idea if it has worked :-D. ****Unimportant random fact=I'm listening to a song called "Daddy Never was the Cadillac Kind" off of a cd that was at the dance studio. Nobody wanted it so they let me have it.... It's a song by some group called the Confederate Railroad. I don't know I have never heard of them-just was in a mood for something new.

REMEMBER! SUCCESS STARTS WITH YOU!

Your Life, Your Voice, Your Choice....

In the words of my XC coach, Coach Nordhiem "Have a good one!"