soulmates

To some of you this week's blog may be a little boring! I want to talk about my soul mate. I believe that a person can have more than one soul mate. I also believe that soul mate can be in the form of an animal. Yup, this week's blog is about my cat, Fury!

She is the BEST cat I have ever met. She is the most adorable cat! She doesn't ever scratch or bite me like most cats I have met do. She lets me hold her whenever I want and lets me do what I want to her. She kind of reminds me of my dog Kiya that passed away, maybe that's one of the reasons why I love her so much! Sometimes I carry her around and dance with her in my arms and she just lays there with her head lying over my arm and her just staring at me waiting for me to lay her back down.

Some cats like to sleep a lot and some cats like to play excessively. Fury is the perfect mix of both. She is super adorable, just her sleeping she makes me say awe everytime! Fury is the most cuddly cat i've probably ever owned. This may be why she is my soul mate. Every night when she is ready for bed she will make her way over to me and start cuddling and will lay down on my lap. Then when I am ready for bed she always gives me Good Night cuddles. She sleeps with me in my bed every night. In the mornings she lays as close to my face as possible and wakes me up with good morning cuddles. I'm gonna have to say that all of the cuddles are probably the main reason she is my soul mate.

I'm not really a cat person. I have always had dogs growing up, but never had too much of an interest in owning a cat. After the experience I had owning my last cat, I didn't think I would ever own a cat again. However this cat was my favorite cat in the litter from the time she was born. She was a round, longer haired, ball of fur. I just fell in love with her and decided to move her into my home. I was very hesitant, If she would've chewed or scratched anything in my home I would have returned her to my sister's house without hesitation, but she didn't. She just made me fall in love with her.

I can't ever imagine giving her away! She is my soul mate! My cat mate! My fur mate! She will forever have a place in my heart and she isn't even one year old! God has definetly blessed me with this one of a kind cat!

Why Am I Here?

Why am I here? What was I put on this earth to do? There has to be more to life than school, work, and paying bills! Many people find themselves asking themselves these questions. They are confused and are looking for direction. They want to do something more! Something bigger! I am one of these people!

We really have to just let go and let god. Let go of the fact that you aren't where you want to be in life and let god guide you in the direction you need to go. God knows what our roles in this life are meant to be. We must trust God and listen to him when he talks to us. God knows what is in our heart.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do; everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6

There is so much I want to do! I want to see the world, while helping other people. When people hear my name, I want them to think, "wow, that girl she is amazing, so considerate and caring!" I want people to look up to me and think highly of me! I want to do as much for other people as I possibly can! I want to inspire and lead others daily. Getting to that point is the real challenge.

Some people are privileged to already have parents or a family member who inspire them. Someone they can follow in the footsteps of and someone who is there guiding them every step of the way. Not everyone can be that fortunate. I have people who have inspired me to be a better person, however they aren't able to guide me in the way I want to inspire others. There are so many ways to help others, it is so hard to pinpoint exactly what you want to do and exactly how you can make that happen. Each community offers different ways to help, however I'm one of those people who want to help more than just my community.

I know what I want to do within my community. I want to mentor underprivileged children and teenagers. I want to tutor them and help them through high school and college and show them that they can do it. They can make it and they can have a better life. I want to see others that think they don't have much to be happy for and don't smile very often; I want to see those people smiling! I know all to well how it feels to not have much to be happy about. Growing up I felt like I was an underprivileged child. My mom did her best as a single mother to support us but it was difficult growing up and sharing a room with all four of my sisters. We were never spoiled and we only received things we needed. My mom tried her best to be the best mother that she possibly could be. However I was always told statistically that the odds would always be against me. I am a first generation college student. No one in my family had ever went to college before myself in 2010. I had no one guiding me at this time and I know how difficult it can be with no guidance. My struggle had set me back a few years and I want to help others in making better decisions and helping them in high school and then assist in transitioning to college life.

However I also want to go outside of my community and make a difference in the lives of others. To me this is the hard part. I don't know how to help; Where to go from here. I plan to on going on a mission trip or a trip to help women and children in third world countries. However I have yet found the opportunity that fits me best and during the right time of my life. I'm trusting that when the time is right God will place the right opportunity right in front of my eyes.

I may not know exactly why I am here or even what my purpose is but I do know i'm here to affect the lives of others and be a positive role model to all others who find themselves looking up to me. To make a difference in the lives of other people who are often overlooked. I look forward to the journey God has sent me on and I look forward in making people smile everyday and making a difference in their lives.

I am currently taking baby steps in the process and am proud to say that I have joined Big Brothers and Big Sisters and I will soon be a Big Sister to an individual whom I look forward to positively changing the life of! So thankful that God brought this opportunity to me and I can't wait to get started!

BE YOURSELF - WHOEVER THAT MAY BE

It is funny how you can be in a relationship for three and a half years and feel like the other person only knows half of you. For me, a young nineteen year old when I hopped into my first relationship, it was very hard to show my true self because I wanted him to like me. Ultimately it negatively affected the relationship because I felt like I had to hide a side of me that he had never seen. The side that sings all the time and annoyingly loudly (like so annoying, I annoy myself, annoying...). The side that dances across the room to any kind of music. And the side that bursts into song whenever someone says the lyrics to a particular song in a sentence (friends you know what i'm talking about). Those parts of you, you should never hide! It is the characteristics of yourself that makes you, you, and it makes you a happier person. 

A lot of my unhappiness in life had been contributed to hiding. All because I cared what others would think if they heard my high pitched, off key, and tone deaf singing voice (I may be exaggerating a bit). Or what people would think if they saw my crazy dance moves for the first time. However I sit here asking myself, why do I care what they think? If they don't like me for my voice or for my dancing or my random spurts of singing because they said some lyric to a song and that song popped into my head and I burst into song, or part of that song, then they are the ones who are missing out. If someone doesn't like you for you, then they really don't belong in your life. Their loss! 

There were so many times in the relationship that I rode in the car for hours wanting to sing and dance to the music on the radio but never did because I had never shown that side of me before. I was afraid; But afraid of what? That is what I should have been asking myself. I was just so stuck in the way things were. The more and more time that went by it was harder to unleash that side of me which of course ended up contributing to my own unhappiness. However when I rode in the car with just myself things were completely different. Those were some of the best times. I didn't have anyone in the car with me. I could sing as loud as I wanted and I didn't have a care in the world. At stop lights I definetly got some crazy looks and stares from people in the cars next to mine because they were jealous of the ultimate jam sesh I was having inside the car (i'm pretty sure they wanted to join in).... 

"Care about what other people think and you will be their prisoner." -Lao Tzu

You should simply be yourself all the time! Don't change yourself to impress someone else. If God has plans for that person to be in your life then it will simply happen and they will like you for who you are inside. 

Kind of upsetting that it took me until age 23 to find this out and to truly be happy!!! God had plenty of lessons and obstacles that I needed to first face. Now the past is the past. God has great plans for my future. It's time to look forward and with God guiding me the possibilities are never ending! The future is shining brighter than ever and I have a feeling my journey is going to be an incredible one!

Game Changers - January Edition

Going to Church

Changing this one aspect in my life, has changed my life!!! I have attended church every Sunday since I have returned from Europe. I really love going, it is seriously the highlight of my week! I go by myself and don't even mind. My relationship with the Lord has grown abundantly and I am so happy to say it is still growing everyday! I am applying to volunteer at Family Valley Church and to be apart of V-Crew! It would be an amazing opportunity to be apart of something so big, that does so much for other people! Writing this made me excited, I can't wait to hear next Sunday's message now!

Happiness

For the first time in a long time I am completely happy with how my life is. It doesn't feel like anything is missing! It feels complete. I have everything I need and want and couldn't ask for anything more. I have noticed that there is a smile on my face 99% of the time! There is nothing more beautiful that a person can wear than a smile! For this I am so grateful to God! I most certainly have came a long way! I feel like finding TRUE happiness in life is a VERY important step! You need to completely be happy with you and yourself. When this happens you find yourself to be a much more happier individual all around. Relationships with friends and even God will come more naturally, without even having to try. What is meant to be will be! So wear a smile, be happy, and praise the Lord!

Doing things by myself 

I've always thought that I needed someone to do things with. Like to go to the store with, go to the gym with, go to the movies with, or even go out to eat with. However January showed me this was very untrue. It was the first time that I noticed that I actually enjoy doing any of the above alone. I actually prefer it most times! I've learned to accept my own joy and I've learned that my company (and my cats of course...) is all that I need. This all surfaces from happiness. I have never felt this much happiness in my heart and soul until very recently. Until this happens it will be difficult to simply enjoy your own company.

 

Studying at Starbucks 

I recently started a new habit. I always have a bunch of studying to do and a bunch of homework, I find myself very easily distracted while studying at home. When this happens, I head to Starbucks! This is a plus for me, because I really enjoy coffee (usually I really NEED the caffeine!). Something new I learned while at Starbucks was that refills are only 50¢. I head here because most times it's pretty quiet and it limits my distractions. I have easily spent 6 hours sitting at a starbucks table studying! I always get so much accomplished there. Probably one of my favorite hangout spots!

CNN 

In the past month I have grown to love CNN. I love keeping up with what is going on in the world around me and following the presidential candidates. I love to watch the debates and to learn all about the candidates. Most of all I find following the candidates is VERY important, if I am going to vote, I really want to know who I am voting for and what they stand for! You can really learn a lot from watching!!! CNN really gives me a sense of excitement! (I swear I am spiritual somewhere in my 60's). My obsession has increased to actually turning on CNN instead of music while doing my homework or writing my blog. The thrill of watching actually makes it hard to turn off every night! I may be becoming addicted!

Western Michigan University 

For the first time I am enjoying my experience at a post-secondary school. While attending Lake Michigan College, I didn't actually enjoy attending my classes, I was just taking them because I needed them to graduate. My outlook on school and my class has completely changed! I like to wake up and go to lecture, I look forward to acing my daily quizzes, and I look forward in growing my knowledge! KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! I still plan on becoming more involved with student organizations and meeting new people. It is my first semester at WMU and I am having the best experience already! 

Change

I have changed so much in such a short time. It is really amazing and I am grateful that this has happened to me. I feel like I put on a pair of glasses and I see the world completely differently! Fortunately people never stop changing, so throughout my life I will get to wear many different pairs of glasses! I am still working on a few things at this very moment. This includes better time-management with school and work, parking further away and walking at stores (this used to really bother me), becoming involved in the community and making a difference in the lives of others, and other small minor pet peeves that usually bother me (like my sisters obnoxiously loud chewing). One other thing that I have been working on is accepting criticism. I have never been good at this! I tend to get defensive and feel like people are attacking me when they criticize! So help me out! Feel free to leave a comment with your honest opinion of this post. Also feel free to look for any grammatical errors and leave a comment so I can correct them!!!

Thanks to everyone who reads my posts, I hope you will continue to read and I hope you all enjoy them. May God bless you and you all have a good week!!!

The Beginning

First I want to welcome you to my first ever blog. I am pretty new at this, but plan on sticking with it. I'm pretty committed. I plan on posting in this blog once a week for the whole year of 2016.

It really didn't take very long to come up with a name for my blog. I really want to open up on here and show a side of me that many of you probably don't know. For me that would be what goes on inside my heart and inside of my mind. When thinking of a name I kept that in mind, so I thought, hmmm, how about Inside the Mind of Sam. To me this seemed so common. I'm definitely not a very common individual. I decided to go with Heart Of The Mind. This blog will be about everything that goes on inside my mind and in my life. However so much goes inside of my mind that I don't even think this blog will have enough space nor me enough time to express it all. 

My mind and my heart have been in many battles, fighting together and at times fighting against each other. This blog will detail you many of those battles. However this blog won't just be about me, it will be about so much more; it's about life and it's about bettering yourself. It will at times have no order, such as life does at many points in life. It will be pretty random and involve events that I have been through, my everyday life now, self-improvement advice, fitness and the mind, possibly some of my favorite recipes, and so much more. I am a very diverse individual and I have no limits. My brain wonders so much that this blog will be on a very large spectrum.

I hope you all enjoy immensely!