Okapi!

I saw this picture of the Okapi and just had to share it. They are such cool looking animals. So cute :) Here are some fun facts:

Okapi live in the Ituri forest of central Africa

Many people think the okapi is related to the zebra because of its white stripes, but the okapi is actually related to the giraffe.

Although the okapi was long hunted by natives, western scientists did not know of their existence until 1901.

The stripes on their hindquarters and legs resemble the serrated patterns of some trees and plants, helping the animal blend into its environment

Here we go!

Okay, so I started studying for my group fitness instructor test. Whoo! Its gonna be A LOT of work but i'm so determined. My test date is May 2nd, 2009, so I have just over 2 months to get this information engraved in my brain. I'm so excited! This is the first step in following one of my dreams :) Wish me luck!

Dreams

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
~Henry David Thoreau

It seems as though from the moment we learn how to walk and talk, we are dreaming big dreams for ourselves. As a child, we not only believed deep in our little hearts that we would and could do whatever we wanted but everyone around us believed it too. They constantly told us that we could do whatever we set our minds to do.

Take a moment…..Close your eyes. Think back to those stress free days of childhood. What did you dream for yourself, for your life? Did you believe with every piece of your little heart that you would be the best firefighter in the world? Or the most famous movie star? What about the most beautiful supermodel to ever grace the covers of all the top fashion magazines in the world? Maybe you wanted to be an architect? Or for some maybe a superhero, who would rescue the world from all the bad, evil people of the world?

As a kid, we truly believed that we could do any of these things. So, what happened? What happens as we get older? Why do all our dreams seem to fade away? Is it fear? Or do we lose faith in ourselves because others lose faith in us? I ponder these questions often because I work with children every day. They speak with so much excitement and you can just see the gleam in their eyes as they speak their dreams to you. It’s amazing to hear and watch. It has truly inspired me.

You see, as a kid I had so many dreams for myself. I wanted to be just about anything you could possibly think of. I just knew whatever it was I could do it. The one thing that stuck out the most was my dream to be a dancer and to perform on Broadway. I have taken dance classes since the age of 3. The moment I stepped on a dance floor and a stage, I was in love. But as I started to think about my life after high school, I thought it would be smarter and less scary to just go the safe route and go to a 4-year college and major in something that could get me a “real” job. Wow, do I regret that. Not that college is a bad thing but I wish I would have just followed my heart and maybe went to a dance school or maybe went to New York. People feel like when they reach a certain age, they are too old to start something they have always wanted to do. For example, I have always wanted to play the violin but I got stuck playing the flute for 6 years and never got around to learning the violin. For years, I have been thinking I’m too old to pick it up now but I’ve realized I can’t do that to myself. I have to make myself happy and if that means ignoring the advice of some of the people I love the most then so be it. So, I’m here now and I’m tired of being fearful. I am not only determined to follow every dream I have ever dreamt but I want to share it with the world. So, I’m going to start with my first passion. Dance. I’m starting to train to dance again and I am currently studying to be a group fitness instructor so I can share my passion and inspire others to follow their dreams, no matter their age. You can never be too old to do what’s in your heart and make your dreams come to life.

Love, Happy Valentine's Day

“Do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases”
-Songs of Solomon 2:7
Since Valentine’s Day is oh so near, I thought I’d pull out one of my favorite quotes about love. To me, there is no word or feeling sweeter. I am very much what you would call a hopeless romantic. Is there any better feeling than those butterflies awakening and fluttering around in your stomach? Or looking someone in the eyes and trying to say everything that has been running around in your mind to express exactly how you feel towards them but in the end they just end up leaving you speechless. It’s so beautiful to watch two people falling in love, especially when they don’t see it coming but the whole rest of the world does. It’s sweet. Often times because we have these feelings that rush in so fast, we get blinded and try to move so fast that we don’t stop and think. We force things to happen when it may not be the right time, just because we want it so bad. That’s when all the confusion and hurt comes along and a love that could have been great has been damaged. Remember love is a gift. Love has to be something that you take your time with. Cherish every moment and not rush into it. If it is meant, it will happen in its own time. Wait until it’s ready and it will be stronger than ever.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here is a poem from one of my favorite poets:

Love

There is this thing; a thing called love,
It sleeps all the while we dance around it,
We often laugh and play and cry and lay,
Half broken hearted and happy through the day,
Then we're often confused and know not what to say;

“Will I find this love or some painful dismay?”

But be patient and kind in your approach to dance with love,
And let it rest along with your wishes,
Until the comforts and joys of your lover are pleased,
Then do you wake this thing; this thing called love,
In the name of that heavenly being above,
Where all your prayers were heard and kept,
While that sweet thing of love slept…

By: Maestro David Allen Parker Jr.

Happiness is a Journey, not a destination

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So, work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, Sing as if no one can hear you and Dance like no one's watching."

From the moment I heard this quote, I fell in love. I don't quite remember how I happened to come by it but it was at a time in my life when I needed to hear it. It single handly changed the way I lived my life. I was always playing it safe, always tried to take what I thought was the easier route but everytime I ended up unhappy. Instead of following my true passions, I did what I thought was smarter and what others told me I SHOULD be doing. Should is a word i'm not very fond of. I figured if I went to college, got a job that paid great money and found a great boyfriend, I would be happy. Not so much. I learned that pretty quickly. It was never the life I wanted but I was more into pleasing others, that I never thought about myself. Now, I don't let others determine how I live my life. I refuse to settle. I work doing what I love to do, even though I'm not making a ton of money but I'm happy. I try to go full force in whatever I set my mind to do. There are no boundaries. I live for today and in the moment. I'm what you call a total free spirit and I love it. I have a passion for helping the youth of today, movies, art and dance. So, these are some things I will be talking about in my blog. I love to motivate and inspire people through my passions. Enjoy.