Productive Procrastination #1

This is San Bernardino, my hometown.

In my attempt to starting posting more regularly, here's a compilation of links and videos from the internet I've been drawn to this past week. Productively procrastinate at your leisure, friends! :)

Links To Articles That Have Caught My Eye This Week

• "I want to feel whole. I want to be my own rock, my own anchor, my own soulmate."
• "There are people in San Bernardino who work tirelessly to resurrect the city for the next generations."
• "On Friday night you stole the life of an exceptional being, the love of my life, the mother of my son, but you won't have my hatred."
• 5 things to get you on the road to success

Videos That Have Touched My Soul In Some Way

• An Immigrant Story that many people of color can understand
• Us the Duo can make harmony angel babies with their voices
• Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself" complemented with dancing from Keone and Mari Madrid? Yes please.
• Also yes Justin Bieber, "Life Is [Definitely] Worth Living" thanks to this beautiful dance music video.

Count Your Blessings

PC: Julian Khaymovich

Another Thanksgiving has passed and a new holiday season is beginning. This Fall quarter has been one of my most stressful academic quarters, but in the midst of everything, I'm very happy and blessed to have the capability and the capacity to handle all these things that life has thrown at me.

It seems only fitting that I use this Thanksgiving break to reflect on things that are occurring in my life now, and the things that have been done in the past to get me where I am today.

I feel like I try so hard to not let my past get to me, but sometimes it slips through the cracks and decides to nestle up in the corners of my present mind, waiting for me to pet it, embrace it, be conscious of it. Sometimes I do, and it leaves me feeling scared of what is going to happen in the future, let alone my present. I think that fear is understandable though. I mean, next year, I will be graduating in the Spring and experiencing the wonders--and terrors--of post-grad life. And while the idea of finally leaving the education system for a while thrills me, it also haunts me at the same time. I don't want my past self to be part of something so important to me as my future.

Maybe my tendency to pay keen attention to my past sometimes is a result of failing to count my blessings. So I'm grateful that we have a day specifically made for giving thanks to the people and to the wonderful things we have in our lives today, and of course, allowing us to count our blessings.

In a nutshell, I'm blessed to have a loving family. I'm blessed with supportive friends that are down to hang out and have adventures. I'm blessed with people who still want to stay in my life, and with people that have had to leave my life, but have still left a positive mark on me regardless. I'm blessed to be going to a top ranking university in one of the most culturally rich and beautiful cities in the country.

It's these blessings that allow me to keep moving forward with life, despite the struggles and the stress.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Thanksgiving holiday breaks! Keep pushing through!