We gotta make a change… (7Pi7D)

Change a word used many times, yet to little affect

“We gotta make a change…
It’s time for us as a people to start makin’ some changes.
Let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live
and let’s change the way we treat each other.
You see the old way wasn’t working so it’s on us to do
what we gotta do, to survive.”

Its like reading one of Obamas speeches isn’t it?Yes a black man wrote this, yes he was an American but those aren’t Obamas words, those are the words of the late Tupac Shakur.He wrote those words and demanded change more then 14 years ago.So the main questions are has anything changed thus far, if not can Obama change things in his 4, possible 8 years of presidency?

Yes we all agree we need change, but to do that we need to agree what we want to change and then how we want to do it!But no one alone can make huge changes, we must all contribute to it no matter how hard it gets.But in this cushioned world we live in, when we are used to the good life are we prepared to give up some of the commodities to help the greater good.Surely Herbert Spencer coined, and Darwin later borrowed the phrase, its the survival of the fittest and not the survival of the one who gives up the most so the rest can enjoy!So only after we overcome our selfish side we can start making some changes.

We must decide first on what we think is right and what we think is wrong in this world, or in our lives.But doing that means coming together which will be hard if not impossible.It sure will take longer then we would like it, and even if at first things will look like they changed its probably just a temporary patch.

But some things look as though they will never change, such as the wars in the middle east, it has been going on for far too long and it seems no one can do anything about it no matter how hard they/we try.

Conclusion:

Time and only time will show if things have changed for the better!Until then we have the only thing left, the thing that never ran from Pandora’s box, Obamas second favourite word, we have HOPE.

So lets hope things change…

author: Lili:) http://sprungl.wordpress.com

Hey TV past- change my reality will you?…(7Pi7D)

You know when someone guest blogs, they always start off with the major in-your-face ad about themselves and then explain that they are guest blogging for so and so, and hopefully you like it?

Yeah. Well this is no different.

Sorry.

Current mood: Miffed.

I almost left my job to get a TV gig. That’s how close I was to losing any sense of reality. I did the pilot and a few promos and then the promises came, but the call did not.

Well, actually, I got the “don’t call me, I’ll call you” from the network.

And then months later, I noticed some yup faced 23 year old replaced me.

(Thanks, TV world, I should have never told you I’m almost pushing the 30 year old mark)

A certain form of defeat always comes when you put yourself out there, attend multiple casting calls and auditions and get a false hope that the person that you once were- the little child star– still has the ability to kick ass in the industry.

A certain form of cynicism builds up when people in the industry are in reality, a better actress than you are, only because you bought their overly enthusiastic reaction to your audition hook line and sinker, only to realize they’ve been trained to give you enthusiasm, regardless if they like you or not.

But most importantly, the biggest form of annoyance at the world, to where you ALMOST get to the point of pulling out a sledge hammer and bludgeoning materialistic things around you happens when you head back to your actual 9-5 bill paying job after an audition, in the rain, with your hair almost to the point of reliving Medusa’s life, and you think you scored a front row parking to the building, only to realize:

The new hire who is pushing 75 years old parked his black corvette in two parking spots, closest to the door.

When you lose a part in an audition and head back to the job you really don’t like, and someone takes up TWO.PARKING.SPOTS.CLOSEST.TO.THE.ENTRANCE, it makes you just…

… snap.

I was *this* close to keying his stupid car as I walked the mile back in the rain to the entrance of my work.

Another day in Dallas. Thanks for listening. You’re cheaper than my shrink.

Hi, I am Dallas Diaries and I blog at Because it’s the Dallas etiquette.

Eyes Wide Shut…. (7Pi7D)

Perhaps it’s narcissistic.  You probably don’t give a damn about the inner dialogues of my mind.  But, no matter how many times I sat down to write about the momentous change we all were privileged to witness last week, I was unsatisfied.  I deleted it five times over.  I gave up, shut my lap top, drank buckets of coffee, and drummed my fingers on the table.  Was it spectacular?  Yes.  Did a tsunami of hope come over me when I watched Obama swear into office?  Of course.  Can I tell you anything that a million other writers haven’t already said a thousand times over, with more eloquence than  I could ever hope for?  Nope.

So, here is my story about change.  My change.

I grew up in a five bedroom house in oil rich south Texas. No, I don’t have an accent.

When he was governor, I once saw W standing on the steps of my church.  I like listening to him talk.  2004 found me living, courtesy of my father’s pocketbook, in a small college town in east Texas.  A staunch conservative, a shiny black W sticker glistened on the bumper of my Ford mustang.   I voted for Bush.

I still cringe a little when I say the word.  Liberal.  I still feel a little out of place in my own opinions, kind of like wearing a prom dress in a bowling alley.  It just doesn’t fit.

But, my eyes were ripped open in 2005 when I married an immigrant, lost my health insurance, and began work as a domestic violence advocate in a shelter for women and children.

Where to begin?

I poured every dime into just keeping my husband living in this country, legally.  I worked two jobs to pay for fees and forms and legal advice.  I parked my car up against a tree to keep it from being repossessed.  I defaulted on my student loans.  I dropped out of college.  I gave away my cat. I pawned my beloved diamond charm bracelet.  I moved to Canada.

The US government lost our paperwork.  We had to start over.  No refund.  No apology.  Start over.

Dropping out of school, I lost my health coverage.  Due to medical conditions, I could not afford more insurance.  There is still a stack of red envelopes on my kitchen table, bills from emergency rooms and hospitals.

Years later, my first real job out of college in a shelter surrounded by women who cannot afford housing, health coverage, clothes for their children, psych meds.  Fathers deported, leaving behind five US citizens under ten years old to live very meagerly off of social services and charity.

I have seen first hand the magnitude of the hurdles facing people just to live in this country.  I  have seen people shackled together in an immigration office.  I once saw a starving women, in the United States of America,  shit in her pants at the table because her body didn’t know how to react to a full stomach.  I have seen children covered in dirt, and sores, and lice – living in cars.

Liberal?   Really, you?

Yes.

I lived it.   I witnessed it  I became a victim to my own blind choice.  I changed.

Change is in the air, and as most citizens of this country and other countries watching worldwide, I am standing with open arms ready to embrace it.

My Name is Katherine, and you can read me on Katherine Unabridged.

A Road Littered…… (7Pi7D)

Change;
(Noun), “Change is a-coming!”
(Verb), “Change the subject, please.”
Simultaneously effortless and impossible.

The path to transformation is littered with debris,
including a million lists of tasks to be done,
a few epics containing dreams to be realized,
and a lengthy playbill of the people I’ve disappointed.

A lonely trail,
one in which I seek only my own company
because I am too afraid
to see myself in the eyes of my loved ones.

An unlit road,
where I go through the motions of the day
as if under a cloud,
and I feel I really should have just spent the day in bed.

It comes like a hot flame,
shining a light on the scars within,
guiding me towards the Only One who will hold my hand,
burning to bits the debris of a former life.

Making it so
I can breathe
again.

Change is not easy,
and if I achieve it,
I’ve waged a most meaningful battle.
I can’t change the world, but I can change myself.

This was a Nomadic production from Digital Niqabi.

And we have a winner!!…(7Pi7D)

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!

As part of the 7Pi7D project, I had announced that I will give away a little something something to the 500th commenter and the blogger on whose post the comment appeared.

Well we have our 2 winners, and I will reveal their identities on Sunday! I will contact the winners before then and let you know how we go about the prizes. Thanks very much to whoever has participated so far, and I hope it will not stop you guys from commenting on some really good posts (don’t you think?)!

Look out for a review of this week on Sunday, the names of the winners, how I go forward on this blog in February, and some new development on the status of this blog!

Look forward to the remaining posts!

A tribute to some special people…. (7Pi7D)

I know these special people, I’ve known them for some time now. When we get together, there are side splitting stories, with hearty laughs and truck loads of happy memories. We laugh and we cry – but we’re okay in the end.

I know these special people who’ve done a lot or me and if they had half  the chance I’m sure they’ll do a lot more. Whether they realise it or not they helped me overcome my demons, reassure me when i’m down, help me after something goes wrong.

I know these special people – who over the years have helped me discover myself, help me mould myself, they look past my faults, concentrating on all the good things. They are awesome & understanding, hilarious & comforting, lovable & adorable people who’ve changed me for the better.

I really don’t know what I’d do without them. And i don’t know for how long we’ll be together but i know that i’ll remember them forever.

I am Ms Outcast, and I am THE original Organised Chaos.

AOK… (7Pi7D)

In a mad way I volunteered to write this post even though I wasn’t really sure what to write about. Somehow I hoped inspiration would hit me. I thought about changes that I’ve been through over the last few years, having left university and got a full time job. Then again I decided that was kinda boring (if you think differently you can comment and I’ll get in touch!)

So “change”. A few years ago a British comedian called Danny Wallace started a project – following his previous project “Join Me” – he instructs his legions of followers (dubbed the Karma Army), without warning made people happier by performing random acts of kindness every Friday.

Now, the building I work in has lots of little businesses in it. So we have our office and next door is a completely different one. Our office is on the ground floor near the canteen. This is a prefect place for me as I can hold doors open for people and things like that.

(Another story) Back in November my Grandma passed away – on the blog that me and my best friend co-author, my best friend Kewey wrote this post (AOK is short for act of kindness):

The AOK bit comes into this because, for example, my friend is obviously grieving the loss of her Grandma at the moment and a simple action of kindness could put just a speck of colour back into her day. Give her a smile when you see her, open a door, say thank you if she does something for you. Just think, this girl is like me. She has a heart and she needs warmth today!

I have tried it… it’s good. I work part time in a village pub. I have done the job for 5 years after starting for a bit of extra money while at school. I never had the guts to quit after i graduated from uni so still doing that as well as the profession. I dont like the job at all and will be leaving soon (hopefully) but it’s not hard to give a little time to the old man that tells the same story every week, stamped in my head because i’ve heard it so much. He’s gone home happy because he’s shared his story.

Taking my sister to work bugs me (especially if she is stressing about being late) but I know that she has got to work in the warmth and comfort of the car, we have had out “to work” chat and she has got there safe for a days work. The same goes for taking my Grandma to the hairdressers. I dont get a thank you for doing it and sometimes she is rude yet I would never leave her to go by herself and the odd time I might suprise her and take her for a cuppa tea – She is so grateful for that and that makes me feel so happy inside.

I dont do any of these for brownie points… I am too old to be a brownie! No, seriously, I do it because people need to have some happiness in their day. I need happiness in my day and by making someone smile I can smile too!

*I know that on here it is quite obvious who my friend is but she could be anyone near you, all over the world, Girl, Boy, young or old.

Kewey wrote this from the heart and I didn’t want to change it.

So how can you change someone’s day?

How can you put a little sunshine in someone else’s day?

I’m not sure and I don’t have an instruction sheet but head out today or tomorrow and do you AOK task and change someones day.

Does this fit with change? I think it does!

If you do this and make a difference please comment here or visit me at my blog and leave me a comment . I will also post if I get any ones too.

So go and do your AOK and change someones day! hehe

My name is HanniePants, and I rock at Journal of a Rock Angel and The Adventures of Kewey and Smithey

TOMORROWS ECLIPSE… (7Pi7D)

With no conclusive note, I shall discuss :CHANGE

We face transtitions everyday, new beginnings and experience the end of many practices. Such is the nature of living, the plants grow, animals graze, human’s bring themselves one step closer to understanding the confusions which surround them.

I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where everything stands stationary for periods of time. An alien planet where no one changes at a rapid state, the growth is slow but not stunted. The changes are subtle but sure. Alarm is a foreign emotion as one is aware of the fluctuations surrounding them are about to come.

Would this planet be ill-experienced when accidents and calamities occur? Would their existance be marred by the sudden disruption in the calm? I highly doubt it, they would adapt and simply accept this Change as another part of life. The grand plan of living would become accustomed to it and just continue existing.

The point I’m making is that unlike the aliens in my imaginary planet, we are familiar with regular occurances of changes. Our lives are modified so that we can re-arrange things just for the mere possibility of Change- yet we are still unfamiliar and almost alien to Change. Why I ask myself, drawing an answer seems to be virtually impossible. I suppose the reality of the matter lies in the way we are programmed to be.

We often pray and appeal for Change. Maybe change in our lifestyle, amount in our wallets, stature, company- for the better. We can’t face the downside of change because of our weakness and inability to familiarise ourselves in a transformation from good to worse. Some are quick to recover than others, they bounce back just as rapidly as the change influenced their life and adjust to this new life. Others are not so fortunate, they wallow in this grievance and cannot find themselves becoming familiar with the change. The emotional impact of the difference made in their life impinges on the functioning of day-to-day activities, severely scarred by the disturbance of Change they become socially withdrawn and reserved.

Overcoming the drastic effects of Change are unique for every individual, it brings out the true inner nature in all of us. We see who can cope with such an interferance and who is just a wreck in the eye of Change. In this shift and movement of life’s flux, one thing is certain in the unstability of Change: it is irrevocably inevitable.

I am HFM, and you can find me on Drinking Raindrops

Growing up… (7Pi7D)

When I look back at what I was like during primary school, I realise that now, five years later, I am completely different. I’m not exactly sure how it happened (but I’m sure those crazy women I call my friends had something to do with it ) but it happened and I don’t really regret it. I’ve become a better me since primary-I have a better understanding of things, I’m more outgoing, a little crazier (just a little ) and much more friendlier (or so I like to think).

But what’s gonna happen when I move to college? When I leave the safe haven I call my high school and my second (actually, third) home. Will my experiences in college change me? Will the people I hang around me influence me? It’s nuts to think they won’t, I know they will-but just how much? At the end of my two (I’m thinking very long and very difficult) years at college, will I be a completely different person than I am now? Will I regret changing? Or will I be glad I’ve changed and thank God I’ve become a better person-wait, will I even become a better person? Gasp! What if I become worse? Dear Gott in Himmel, I need to think about this some more.

Anyway, I don’t wanna change. I like being me! It’s crazy but it’s nice! I don’t wanna turn into one of those stupid women who fall over themselves to please a guy (yuck) and walk around in skirts so short that you can tell they’re not wearing anything underneath (blee!). That is SOOOOOO not me. For Pete’s sake (whoever the heck Pete is) I’m the girl who cried herself to sleep when a guy asked her if he could add her on MSN! I run into the other room when there’s a knock on the door because I’m not covered properly even though it’s only my aunty! (Which is a bit mad, but whatever!)

I’m a Muslimah.

I don’t wanna become one of those girls who are Muslims on the outside and so not on the inside. The ones who wear the hijab in front of their families and as soon as they’re out of their sight they strip down to clothes so tight they look like they’ve been sewn on.

Good grief.

I hope to God I don’t change-unless it’s to become a better person, of course. I have to refuse to let my environment and the people around me to lower me in my own eyes. I have to STICK to what I believe in.

When I was  child

I saw in black and white

Everything was obvious

Either wrong or right.

No arguments, no pros and cons

Choices were precise.

Pure and joyous clarity gave me a simple life.

So I grew and learned to face the world

Living life that way.

And now I feel so unprepared

‘Cause black and white turned gray.

My unfaltering vision failed

Focus left my eyes.

When choices were once obvious

I can’t tell wrong from right.

Because today I am a teenager

And nothing’s quite so clear.

I’m seeing through an adult’s eyes

A child’s biggest fear.

Constance Ananta Sobsey
Taken from Chicken soup for the teenage soul 2
Page 23

Love, Falak

Hi, name is Falak and I blog over at Starry Eyed Book Lovers

Motivation is Not My Style… (7Pi7D)

There are a ton of things that I would consider my style…shopping, eating at wonderful restaurants, cooking, going out…the list goes on. But motivation just doesn’t come easy to me. No matter how much I want something I typically can’t find it in me to make that change. My current lack of motivation is frustrating because I am taking a class (in my last semester of senior year) all about healthy living. It doesn’t just focus on nutrition and exercise but behavior and state of mind as well. This is particularly hard because I feel as though I have been handed many things in life and really haven’t tried for many things. For example, my body has stayed mostly in check through college (even though I have done everything from eat incredibly unhealthy and drink tons of alcohol) and every job I have gotten has been handed to me from a family member or friend. So, although these things make me happy…I have done nothing to deserve them.

As May approaches faster and faster I see change just lurking there…waiting to crush me. And I’m scared I won’t be able to handle it. I will be on my own (no financial help from my parents) and will need to find a job on my own as well. Months ago I should have been revamping my resume, reaching out for job opportunities and going on interviews but I can’t seem to motivate myself to do so. Also, in the aforementioned class, we have committed to a “Behavior Change Contract.” This is a statement we created ourselves to help improve our lives. Mine was to do cardio 3 times a week and weight training 2 times a week. Since then (8 days ago) I have done one weight training day. Pitiful!

The 7Pi7D quest is centered around change. I, unfortunately, am one of the people writing about a lack of change…mostly asking advice on how to change…or motivate myself to change. It is all mental, but I just can’t seem to grasp it. I wish I could have written a more upbeat post about the positive changes in my life…but it has all been pretty stagnant for the past year. But all advice and comments are welcome!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah Elizabeth

My name is Sarah Elizabeth, and you can read me at Jacks, Yurman, and Bobbi Brown