Holiday spirit

Just another Friday in Maryland, on the train going home. It’s not everyday when you get to see kindness coming from others, especially with what is going on currently in America. This feeling of kindness and support coming from others is amazing.

I was coming home from work on the train and it was connecting with a bus to take us to the last stop. The bus was full with seats and many people were tired; however, willing patient when offering other’s with their seats, assisting those who were in wheelchairs, and even passing out gifts to those in the bus.

Although not needed, people still felt the need to give. Giving. That’s something that this holiday can positively bring to this world. The act of giving. I was able to give my kindness by sharing my seat with a man who was surely tired from work, carrying all his bags with him. It wasn’t much but I knew he felt a bit of happiness when he said his thank-yous.

Sometimes, a simple act of kindness is the most wonderful gift of all. I hope everyone has a wonderful day and a happy holidays!

Pokemon Yellow

Oh, the nostalgia. The 8-bit goodness. I have been playing this game on and off for the last 1-2 months and I have finished the game! (Well, I didn’t really complete the Pokedex because its impossible on the Emulator.) This game is very unique because it allows you to catch the 3 Starter Pokemon; Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle, the 3 legendary birds; Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, and even MewTwo!

This last part was always the easiest, after beating the elite 4 of course. MewTwo. You throw the Master Ball, he gets caught, winner winner chicken dinner. As a kid, I remembered this game taking a lot longer to beat. Obviously, at that time, my intelligence was moderate – so understanding weakness, building a strategic team, and saving up in-game currency was the least of my worries. I just wanted to win and make my whole starter team strong to beat the elite four. Fast forward to now, I can understand why it was a pain to play. Fortunately, my emulator is on my phone. Back then, the Gameboy Color was the reason for this pain. Light was non-existent, the slightest shake might pop the batteries out so you would have to restart from your previous save point (I.E, speed bumps in the car. Thanks Mom), and the fact that you had to carry a consistent set of AA batteries to keeping the game(s) going.


In the end, the Pikachu following you around was always the best. Made me always want a pet (not to train and fight), in which i got a dog! Not a mouse like Pikachu, but equally lovable (:

Stick to your true intentions

It’s sad to say that most people like to create negativity in their environment. I’m not talking about a couple of jokes from friends – I’m talking about bullying. Bullying can be a very broad term, often looked at as “being weak”, but it’s goes much further than just a word. 

You hear stories on the news that kids are commuting suicide because of classmates saying that they don’t like how the kid looked or how he spoke. The worst part, many parents decide to push the behavior aside. I’m not telling those people how to raise their kids, but if they are becoming such a nuisance and causing trouble, that should hopefully trigger your “parenting instinct” and help you take action. Many issues can be often avoided; unfortunately, It’s just that many people decide they have far better things to do in their life. Those being bullied, stay in there and keep your head up. You aren’t alone, and someone out their cares for you and loves you. 

Beside that, almost all of us are victims because we bully ourselves. We see other people with the $1000 jacket, or the yeezys, or Gucci flipflops – and we HAVE to buy them. Why? You want to look like you have a lot of money? Honestly, that is okay because those are your intentions – but please don’t regret your decisions. Pay your rent first, keep a roof over your head, put food on the table, etc. If your intentions are to get people to think you have money – than so be it, but do not act like a victim when you were given the opportunity to invest your money to a craft, to a charity, to your personal health, your future business, your art, etc. Let’s prevent this bullying to ourselves!

I can’t lie, at first, I wanted all of the clothes and shoes that celebrities wore. It was until I had to pay bills, when I first got a job at age 15, that took me to realize that it is a chore to want those things. I would have to work 40 hours a week, 8 hours a day, for at least 3-4 months, after paying my bills and taxes, to afford just one of those items if making $9 an hour). I also realized that if I did purchase said item, I would be back to $0. Broke. Done. Just because I tricked myself to thinking that if people saw what I wore, they would like me better. I’m blessed to have family members tell me that it would be the most idiotic decision to ever make. So I took their advice.

But don’t you buy car parts? What makes that any different? The thing is, I can afford them now. I can make these purchases, afford a home, own a car, and put food on the table. Aside from that, this is my art. I have always loved the ideas of how cars are just a sold canvas that needs a bit of modification to bring out it’s true colors. And if it can support the way my car can drive (because it is a daily car) than I will make the investment. 

In the end, that is my true intention. I want to build this car as if I am painting the modern Mona Lisa. This is my Mona.

Stick to your true intentions, for the betterment of yourself and others, and you’ll generate a life of happiness for yourself and possibly for those in your environment.