I really enjoyed reading Gandhi's Top 10 Fundamentals for Changing the World because I think that Gandhi is such an influential human being. I'm also big on quotes, so I enjoyed reading all the quotes. Out of the 10 fundamentals there are two that I need to work on. The first one is number 3:  Forgive an let it go. Growing up I had an individual break my trust in a way that it is close to impossible to for give them. I know that you need to forgive people for the things that they do to you because you can not be caught up in the negative energy associated with the lack of forgiveness. Generally I am a person who doesn't hold grudges, and forgives everyone easily, but it's different when someone does something that permanently harms you in a way that it affects the rest of your life. Number 5: Take care of this moment is another one that I need to work on because I tend to be the person that focuses too much on future instead of focusing on the present. I have realized that this has not helped me because I create unnecessary stress. I can spend countless hours worrying about the future, but I will only be wasting my time because I can not predict or know the uncertainties life has in store for me.

Two of the fundamentals that I show in my everyday life are number 1: Change yourself and number 8:See the good in people and help them. I have just recently practiced number one. It was not until this year when I noticed the importance of the benefits that arise from changing. I use to worry or be scared of changing, but I realized that letting go of the old you and embracing a new you is a beautiful thing. This year I have gone through so much personal growth I could not have imagined prior to coming to Loyola. I still have a lot of improvement, but I am getting there. I like how in the blog it said that you can not change the world unless you change yourself first, and once you do that you will change the world. I loved that because it is true if you change for the better, and you find a new passion you will be able to channel that positive energy into good use. Naturally, I have always been a person that sees the good in others. I think that most individuals have good intentions, even those that do not appear to at first glance. There is always a second side to an individual. I have always been compassionate and emphatic towards others, which allows me to get along with people well and to help them. With that said, these fundamentals are key to developing as a leader.

First of all, I loved the little cartoon of the two robots: Be an Optimist Prime, Not a Negatron. I am generally an optimistic person, but reading the creeds I did not find myself arguing with a lot of the things, which is ironic. I think that this is because I would like to think of myself as an optimist, but I do realize that it is impossible to always be looking on the bright side. I think that there are times were it is okay to be upset and acknowledge that there is not a positive thing about certain situations.There was two things that I read that I do apply to my life: "to wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile" and to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own." I love to be kind to everyone because you never know when a simple hello or smile will impact their day. My thoughts on the quote about looking at the sunny side were that if you learn form your mistakes and learn to let go of the negativity and focus on the knowledge that you have gained then you will reach a new level of self worth and happiness.

Sadly, I have not done my e-portfolio...I know I am an procrastinator, but I will have it done. Everything seems to be accumulating that I feel like I do not have time for everything. For the summer I am hopefully going to pick up two jobs, and during the month of August I will have RA training. Hopefully if all works out I will be a LUCES scholar next year, but I am also going to be the social justice chair for LASO. My main source of motivation is my family and my friends. They are the ones that inspire me to keep on going when things are rough. Lately my main source of motivations is Frida Kahlo. I have been obsessing over her. Her story and life is so inspirational. I like to think of her as being my motivation to make it through the bad times because she went through so much in her life, yet she accomplished so much. What I do to motivate others is to get to know them, and provide them with words of encouragement.

These two songs are some of my favorite happy songs:

“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, and I'm just as strange as you.” 

 ― Frida Kahlo 

 “I drank to drown my sorrows, but the damned things learned how to swim.”
― Frida Kahlo