What If...

Those are always great words to begin a journey...what if? Somehow, somewhere in my life, it has become a what if...from what if I did this, or what if that turned out differently. You begin to rethink all that you have done. Could you have done more? Less? Yet somehow your choice always remains the same...your choice. But during this past week, I have come to reflect on a few things:
1. Life is too short to take for granted.
Yes it's true everyone says that, but having two different people that their lives were cut short puts things in a new perspective. You start thinking about what you want to accomplish in your life, from the mediocore to the more "bucket list" goals. There is always the excuse; "I never have time" or the great "I don't have money" to use, but doesn't that come with regret?

2. Criticism is just another way to boost your self-confidence.
Of course there are people out there who would love to condemn you for your work, or how you can do something differently. Yet, people are so quick with negativity that they don't see the undertone of it all, that you can use that to make yourself more efficient at what you are doing. So yes, that line in the middle of a picture may be "distracting" doesn't mean you should stop what you love doing. It just means next time, make sure you don't have distractions to what you want the world to see. Lesson learned and move on. There are critics everywhere, ranging from your friends to professionals who see it as constructive criticism, learn how to deal with it in stride. Ask questions, gain advice and use it to your advantage.

3. Have a support group.
Who doesn't love support groups? When you are down and out, someone is there to lift you up. Don't ever take that for granted. Sometimes it is tough love, other times it's a hand in your time or mourning. Some people react to grief differently, so make sure you are there for them. Other times, happiness is always best when shared with friends! The best times is when you can laugh and have your closest friends around you to share that experience...even if it means you were on the recieving end of the joke...at least there is a memory involved with it to share later down the road. "Remember that one time..." always brings a laugh or a tear, but it's a memory to share with people who were there. Nothing is worse than having a memory and not being able to share it with anyone who would find it as amusing because they weren't there.

Okay, so this is my teachings that I learned during the past month or should I say, the past two weeks. Hopefully this helps anyone else who stumbles across this page!
Btw...I will posting some of my work on here in the near future so stay tuned!