Art Exhibition

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of going to a student

art exhibit. I was invited by my talented beau (pictured below)

that had art in the show. I saw some great pieces and met the artist of

the piece entitled "Bypass 6" I'm standing next to in the photo above which was inspired

by her grandmother who went through several heart bypass surgeries. Anyway, take a

look at some of the great work below.

Giving "Compliments"

                   
Ever receive a "compliment" and the only response you can utter is "uhh..I don't know how to take that"? Well as simple as giving a compliment may seem, so many people are clueless on how to properly give one. Some people unknowingly make people uncomfortable and other times, people say some beyond rude stuff. So here's a few tips for proper flattery. 

Things you want to avoid:

1.) "You're [blank] for a..."

Ex: you're pretty for a skinny girl

This is one of the most popular back-handed ways to compliment someone. This form of a compliment just makes whatever comes after the a some type of flaw. Just avoid using this common compliment structure. 

2) "..I'm so jealous of you.." 

Ex: "You're so pretty,  I hate you." 

Just stop, it's weird and makes people uncomfortable. Most people are weary of jealous folks. They usually turn out to be back stabbers. If you're going to be a back stabber at least be discrete about it. 

3) "you're so (blank) I wish I was (blank). I'm (insert negative adjective)"

Ex: "Your hair texture is so nice, I wish mine was like that. Mine is awful."

A huge no-no! Don't do this by any means, you make others feel guilty and you definitely shouldn't put yourself down especially to make someone else feel better. 

Ok now here are some Do's on giving compliments, 

1) Be positive

2) Be sincere 

3) Expect nothing back

Everyone loves a good compliment. Give them freely and watch all the positivity you exert come back to you. :)

Simple Things: Small Gestures

Sometimes we forget it's the little things you do on a daily basis that can change your life as well as someone else's, so here's a little reminder. Remember that just like you, everyone is going through trials and tought times. Try to be kind whenever possible. You could give a compliment, say hi to a stranger, or even hold the door for someone behind you. Small positive gestures can really brighten up your day as well as someone else's. Simple steps help you grow positively and don't require much of your time. Btw I hope you guys like the shorter post (haha).

Poison Ivy: Jealousy

At some point in life, everyone deals with jealousy. Whether you're the victim or you find yourself putting someone down, it effects everyone. Jealousy is unhealthy, it can eat at your self confidence and your relationships with other people. It's important to recognize jealousy in whatever form it comes in and by recognizing it, I don't mean go looking for it. By being able to recognize it you can find it and eliminate it from poisoning you.

Victim: If you have people in your life you are close to that seem eager to point out negative things about you, the reason might be jealousy. However, there is a huge difference between being eagerly negative and giving constructive criticism. Negativity is meant for your harm while constructive criticism is meant to make you grow. If you really don't think the person comes from a well intentioned place, then you might want to distance yourself from them. It's hard for people to accept jeoulousy from loved ones but jealousy comes in all forms. Jealousy comes from different people in close positions in your life including best-friends, cousins, sisters and so on. Don't dismiss the possibility of someone being jealous because of the title they hold in your life. 

Perpetrator: Recognizing jealousy in yourself is probably harder than being a victim because naturally people hate to admit they feel inadequate. Here are a few tips that might help you be aware of being a jealous individual and stop poisoning other people's lives and more importantly, your own. Feeling the need to constantly criticize someone you compare yourself to, is a sign of jealousy. Looking at someone and seeing good attributes and being inspired by someone is different from having negative feelings about them. Jealous people get joy from being hurtful to others. Aim to be inspired and appreciate good qualities in people and yourself. Put your energy into making yourself better. 

Jealousy is a poison in anyone's life. I've dealt with it on very unhealthy levels and so have people I know. You can't have healthy relationships with people if jealousy is involved and it will keep you from growing. Removing negativity is important so you can be able to grow through life.