Fam[ily]

Okay, guys. Let's take a quiz. I'm going to ask you a question and you'll answer it.
Number one. My parents are. . . . .
a) strict and too overprotective
b) fun and supportive
c) nonexist or never around
Okay, pencil's down.
It was a trick question...There is no "correct" answer, is there?

Honestly, I answered 'a'. If you did also, then you probably have the type of parents that expect too much from you. Is it overwhelming? Yes, I bet it can be. The overprotective-ness really gets in the way, doesn't it? You might be irritated or angry at the things that they won't allow you to do or have (like go to a sleepover or a concert or something). There's always excuses. I, usually, find it really unfair. But then there's this excuse, I'm sure you all have heard: life IS unfair.

You may look out the window and see other kids with their friends roaming around freely in the world without a care, while you're stuck home doing chores and such. You may even get jealous at that...But your parents are probably doing this for a reason. They're possibly protecting you? Preventing you from getting kidnapped or hurt...I mean, the other kids probably have parents that don't even care, that are never around, that are absorbed in their work (or something else), that are never there....You'd think you're lucky with your strict parents...

But that's not what I get jealous of. Not those kids, no. I've seen others, with parents who are fun and nice. The supportive parents. I've seen kids who tell their parents practically everything. For gawdssake, the parents probably know all the school's gossip! The parents that say, "Hey look, there's that boy you like...Why don't you go talk to him?" Haha, that seems so unreal, because I just can't imagine doing that with my parents...

For kids, the question isn't "What kind of parents would you want to have?", but "What kind of parents do I have?"
And for parents, it's not "What type of parent do I want to be?", but "What type of parent should I be?"

There's always an upside in any of the answers you chose. The thing is, whether you "like" or your parents or not, you still love them...No matter what (Even when they seem to be the most unreasonable of all). And do you know why? It's because they're the probably the only people in the world who won't stop loving you. And that's what's most important of all.

I don't know whether or not this came from the heart,
but whatever.
-my.great.ESCAPE.

Pre-Life Lottery: Did YOU Win?

I bet you've probably heard this before...and if not, then you'll hear it now:

"In life, there are three stages. One, you get an education. Two, you get a job. Three, you retire, and enjoy the rest of your life."

For the most part, that's true. Though they skipped the family part...which I personally believe is just as important as a job...but anyways...

I'm here to talk about the mad dilemma called the salary. Yes, salary. It's the amount of money you get for working your job.

Have you ever, ever realized how totally misguided that term salary is? It's supposed to pay more money to people who work harder, right? Wrong.

Let's compare a doctor (the typical stereotype of a high-paying job...hah! There we go with stereotypes again) and a janitor. The doctor completes his ten or so years of college training, and becomes a doctor. He sits at his office, examines people, gives them prescriptions, and he earns more than $100k a year. Then take a look at the janitor. Though he may not have received as much education, he gets on his knees and scrubs toilets everyday, he stands all day mopping the floor, and nearly dies of inhaling all those toxic fumes. And how much does he get paid? Probably a little more than minimum wage.

Let's stop and review for a sec'. Who's the one whose job nearly kills them everyday? Who's the one whose job requires such physical strength to the point of severe arthritis? Turns out, that's the person who gets paid much less. Much, much less. Hmm, Dirty Jobs anyone? Without these people who do all the tough, gritty work, society and civilization would not be possible--so here's an applaud and grateful standing ovation from the clam *clapclap*.

It seems so unfair sometimes. What are the chances of being born a prince of England? What are the chances you're born homeless? Truth is, it's up to life to decide what path our lives will go down. It’s almost like a lottery. A lottery that takes place before you're born. "*picks a ticket out of a box* Baby #6,748,229,463 is going to be an maid. *picks another ticket* Baby #6,748,229,464 is going to be a millionaire businessman."

It's a sad, sad world out there. But remember this one thing: you can change your life to your heart's content, only if you're determined to steer your life in a more different, positive direction.

"You are the pilot of your own life." [Suite Life of Zack & Cody]

-the clam.