Northwest Swim/Dive ~Senior Night~

    So today I got to go to a few of my friends swim/dive team Senior night. Triston, Lane, and Matt, plus all of the NorthWest team. Had a little trouble getting out of my drive way due to being boxed in, yet luckily I made it in time. They started with the Diving first this time which was a little different, but from my perspective Triston did really well. Then the swimming started Northwest was great. I was also able to test out and play with my new camera lens, and I can honestly say that it helped me take some great pictures. In the middle of the swimming events they celebrated all the seniors, which I think is a good tradition, they deserved to be celebrated. 

    After I was invited to go with them to eat (FYI this thing lasted from 4:30pm-9:00pm, so I knew they had to be exhausted), so we all went to Chick Fil A.   It was honestly enjoyable how inviting they all were, it was nice to get out of the house and be around people ha. I am very thankful for the friends I have, and how they always try to let me be apart of their lives. GO BRUINS !!!!

Triston Smith

Lane Bramblett

Matt Pipkin

Scapegoat

    Sometimes something bad happens, and we blame that situation for the cause of an even greater problem approaching. We spend all our time trying not to obsess over it, while at the same time hurting because of it. We think if we can fix this, find this, or even end this that everything will be ok. Sometimes things work out in our favor, and the minor problem gets resolved, and for a brief moment were ecstatic.

    But then reality comes crashing down on us. We're still left with the larger problem, fixing the smaller one we learn had no real effect, it was just a way we tried to cope. Something to take our minds off the thing we desperately want to avoid. Nothing more than a scapegoat we created. Now we're back to where we started, but hope has been diminished greatly, because for awhile we believed that if we could do a minor task, it would somehow fix the impossible. 

     We hold on tightly to what we have won, as we brace ourselves for what we are about to lose. 

Negative emotions

    I think we all have moments where we want to give in to our negative emotions, jealousy, envy, greed, hate. Usually it's when we are hurting, when we are most vulnerable, when were being attacked. We want to retaliate, and lash out. We know what's right but we simply wanna choose the easy way, revenge, have the last word.

    Alas if we fast forward and see what plays out if we choose to do so, what do we end up with? Usually we have a brief satisfaction, but ultimately we end up with regret (at least if there is even the smallest flicker of light in your heart).

    It's easy to give in, but it's also addictive and gets easier each time. People think that if they choose it once they can return to their picture perfect facade. But like any addiction one time is all it takes. And i'd wager getting addicted to these emotions can destroy you in so many worse ways.  

Like a switch

    Do you ever get so worked up sometimes, but have something that can come waltzing by and instantly calm you, or help you tone down almost like someone turns off a switch? Maybe it is a memory, and it flashes in front of your eyes when your worked up, and maybe you want to prevent something similar from happening. It could also be a person, where when they say something or appear, you lose all your resolve. Just their presence influences you (in a good way).

    I think we all have something, or someone like that. Depending on how strong the influence is, determines just how things turn out. Yet I think it's a good thing to have, something that helps keep you grounded. Just something that pulls you back, and makes you ask "is this really what you wanna do"? I know personally I have someone like that however, I doubt they know it lol (and that's ok too).