Niche

Sometimes, it is hard to find your place in this world. You may know what you don't like. You may not be able to narrow down what you do like. You may be indifferent about some things, and completely neutral about others. Ask yourself, "what would you do for free?" "Is someone else doing that?" "Is there a way for you to do it better?" Sometimes, it's not about doing something different. Sometimes, it's about doing it better. Think about how many burger spots and pizza joints there are in your neighborhood. Pizza isn't just pizza. Papa John's is different from Domino's. Pizza Hut is different from Godfather's. Just like McDonald's is different from Burger King, but they all sell burgers and fries. "Identify your niche and dominate it. And when I say dominate, I just mean work harder than anyone else could possibly work at it."- Nate Parker

Wonder

I was a very inquisitive child. I always wanted to know why something existed. I thought things should have a reason for existence and that there should always be a reason why. I believed in facts, not fiction. Ah, the wisdom of youth. Life has a way of teaching hard lessons. Everything can't be explained and sometimes the "why" comes later. Truthfully, if you live long enough sometimes there is never an explanation. Sometimes, we are left to wonder, and accept things we just don't understand. The universe is a wonder. The human body, and how it functions are a wonder. The brain is a wonder. Nature is a wonder. Learn to appreciate that sometimes you won't have all the answers. Know that it's ok to not know the "why." Find peace in knowing that there are many other unexplained wonders, and there is beauty in simply not knowing. 

“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” - Socrates

Zest

"If things don't come easy, there is no premium on effort. There should be joy in the chase, zest in the pursuit."-Branch Rickey
 

I can admit that when things become challenging one of the first things to go is my joy. I get stressed. I worry. I'm easily irritated, and I snap easily. I'm learning that I need to turn my stress into zest. I can do something productive with that energy. I can work out. I can write. I can pray. I can clean. I can remind myself that this too will pass. I can ask myself what am I supposed to learn in this situation? What's the lesson? Refocus. Get a new perspective...No matter what you are facing remember...turn your stress into zest. 

Yield

America has a history that is deep-rooted in agriculture. From the English settlers to Colonial America and throughout much of our existence, agriculture was the primary livelihood for most of the American population. America is still a major producer of corn, beef, and dairy. In agricultural societies, there were two important times of year: seedtime and harvest. Harvest is a time of reaping what has been sown. The yield of a harvest is a specific measurement of what has been produced. As we near this harvest season, we should reflect on our yield. What have the seeds we've sown produced this year? What does our harvest look like? What is our yield? 

X Factor

I've never been a fan of math, especially algebraic expressions. I always felt that letters and numbers should be completely separate. However, my Algebra teacher did not feel the same, and my grades suffered because of it. I eventually grasped the concept. The x-factor was a variable for a number that was unknown. Our lives have a number of x-factors or unknown variables. We are not in control, and x-factors are constant reminders of that fact. Life happens, and we have to adapt or find solutions to problems that arise. Nothing is set in stone. Circumstances change. Few things are constant. When you are faced with an x-factor, you must solve for x. You must seek the unknown. In an equation, whatever you do on one side, you must do on the other. 

(For example, X-2=4 add 2 to both side and x=6)

Create balance. What are the resonating truths in your life? vs. What are the variables or unknown? What is fact vs. fiction? What do you know to be true? Think on these things, and then solve for x. What's your x-factor?                        

Quiet

Every now and again, we need to retreat to ourselves. We need to take the time to get away from it all. We need to listen to our thoughts. We need to hear ourselves think. We need to revel in silence. We need to just be quiet. 

“Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak.” -Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati

Original

People love carbon copies. They love trends and all things popular. Everyone wants to be like everyone else. Keeping up with the Joneses and the Kardashians can be expensive and exhausting. Be original. Be an individual. Be authentically you. Embrace who you were created to be. Be a trendsetter. Be a leader, not a follower. Be you. Go against the norm. Cut your hair. Take that risk. Be your complicated, simple self. It's ok!