Evolution

Possibly one of the most controversial discoveries of mankind, evolution is the gradual growth or development of something from a simplistic form to a more complex one. Many may argue or question this to be true because it's hard to believe that humans evolved from anything else than an all powerful creator due to the complexity of our species. To fully grasp the concept of evolution you must assume that the earth is older than a few thousand years old. Evolution takes time in terms of natural selection so it would be nearly impossible for humans to evolve from much of anything in such a short amount of time. The first organisms we're believed to be very simple, only eating to survive and reproducing to avoid extinction. Eventually the weaker species migrated to avoid being eaten and this cycle repeated over and over again. This process can be applied to many things. Cell phones (with the influence of human control) evolved from simple mobile telephones to touch screen smartphones that are even more capable than some desktop computers.  In this sense, the phone companies that couldn't keep up with the constantly changing technology were presented with the same choice as the early organisms. They either had to find a way to flourish how they currently were or settle with being obsolete. We now see that there are more smartphones than ever before, which somewhat proves the idea of evolution to be true. When thinking of evolution, one should not only think of where in life something exists, but how it got there and what influenced it on its journey to its destination.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Solace

Life isn't always full of happy days and positivity. Sometimes you may need to offset sad moments and negativity by finding solace. Some may call it an escape or finding peace, but solace is the idea or feeling of comfort during hard times. Solace is a way to keep your emotions and mental state in check while your journey of life takes an unexpected turn. An example would be if you get a bad grade on a test and you watch your favorite television show to take your mind off of the failure you endured. By doing this, it is possible to reset your mood and thoughts so that you can either move on or attempt to try again with your shortcomings. Finding solace isn't just limited to watching t.v. Solace can range from artistic expressions, conversing with friends, traveling, trying new foods, reading inspirational books, etc. The trick is to find out what keeps you "sane" during chaotic moments so you can effectively function. What may work for someone you know may not necessarily work for you. Be in mind that the concept is to avoid being overwhelmed by the lows of life, not to ignore them. If what you find solace in is affecting your progression or ability to alleviate negative situations then you may need to find another way to do so. Finding peace in various activities and moments can be difficult, but if you are true to yourself and do whats best for you, it can make things a little more easier to handle.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Art Showcase (Oct 24, 2013)

by Wolfepaw (Peggi Wolfe)

by Wolfepaw (Peggi Wolfe)

by Wolfepaw (Peggi Wolfe)

by Wolfepaw (Peggi Wolfe)

by Wolfepaw (Peggi Wolfe)

by Wolfepaw (Peggi Wolfe)

by Wolfepaw (Peggi Wolfe)

Loyalty

Loyalty is a strong support for a person, society, organization, or cause. Being loyal tends to mean that you aren't just supportive, but that you are also willing to make sure that what you are supporting is a success or continues to flourish. Loyalty is another thing that you may come across in life that could possibly peak your intrest. Having someone that is loyal to you or what you believe in can give you a good boost in confidence and can make what you are trying to accomplish that much easier. True loyalty is consistent and unquestioned. Whether you are experiencing wonderful days or your darkest hours, whoever is truly loyal will remain so. Loyalty is closely related to respect in terms of supporting someone or something based on how it is presented and what its about. But, just like respect, because you are loyal to someone doesn't necessarily mean they will be loyal to you. When the moment comes where you have to make a choice on whether or not to show your support, take the bigger picture into consideration. What would come from your support, how would it affect other people, and would you stand by your decision no matter the conditions? If you are without any doubt of showing loyalty then you should show support. Always remember, loyalty is through thick and thin.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Racism in sports?

Recently there has been a discrepancy over whether or not certain sports team's names are offensive and/or racist to the Native American demographic. Teams like the Cleveland "Indians", Kansas City "Chiefs", Atlanta "Braves" derive from Native American culture and have defined these athletic organizations for years. Particularly out of all of them, the Washington "Redskins" have generated an outcry from various Native American tribes in a negative manner. They claim that the term is very derogatory and demeans their heritage and culture that they have held dear for generations in the past. The Washington Redskins Owner is said to be aware that his team may be offensive but intrestingly has a defense to the name chosen. Washington Redskins Owner says that the name has a place in many fan's hearts and is almost historical in terms of tradition over the past football seasons. So far there is no word that there will be a name change even though President Obama has spoken on the issue this week. A poll in the Washington

Post reveals that a majority of the population doesn't find it offensive or just doesn't care. This is a very intresting situation because it can tell us alot about us as people if a specific group comes forth and says that a well known organization is displaying what seems to blatant racism and pretty much arguing that its ok.  We'll cover more of this story as it unfolds.

-Kelly McGhee

Modesty

Last week we covered confidence, but there is something that should be addressed if you would like to avoid being completely arogant in the way you carry yourself. Modesty is a good thing to keep the estimations of your abilities moderate and down to earth. People that are modest are humble and almost never overestimate themselves. The cause of this could be because of a low self-esteem or due to the "realistic" nature of someones prediction of what they're capable of. Modesty is a good practice for those that have tasks that are very meticulous and require precision. An arogant person may miss particular details because they don't believe they matter where as someone that is modest is completely aware of them and shows it in their actions. To be modest is to feel honored that you even have a chance to make something a success rather than feeling like you deserve it just because its you attempting it over someone else. We all want to be the best or at least feel like we are at some point but it is very much possible for that to over shadow what you are actually capable of. In other words, let your actions do the talking. Not your ego.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Respect

The admiration of someones abilities, character, and beliefs is called respect. We all want it and tend to give it to people we see fit. Its all about who you are and what you do when attempting to gain respect. The idea of giving to recieve is only valid when dealing with a respectful person. Its kind of hard to be a genuine person without showing the utmost respect to someone who is giving you the same. So be mindful that you can be the best person you can be to someone and at the end of the day it still won't be enough. Don't let this get you down, but rather admire someone that has the kind of personallity your looking for that will give back when recieving. It can be hard to be respected but the trick is being the kind of person that has a specific way of conducting themselves and standing by it. Leaders are at the top of the list of respected people because they have the ability to convince people that they can get them to where they want to go by how they operate. Its a tough task and in the beginning you may not recieve the respect you want but if you remain true to your morals and who you are, you'll slowly but surely notice yourself getting the respect you deserve.

"Live Life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee

Giving

Giving is an action that is widely practiced by us as humans. We give emotion, attention, gifts, advice, etc. There are many reasons why one would choose to share with another but for the most part it is too convey a positive message or vibe to someone else. Gifts are intresting because they have a way of invoking strong emotion when recieved. The idea that someone took their thoughts, time, and energy to reach out to you in such a way can feel great at times. The cool thing about giving is that it can feel just as good being the giver versus the receiver. An example could be if you are having dinner with someone to celebrate your new job promotion. You both get your bill for the meal and you have the bright idea to pay for the two meals. Considering you now are making more money due to your promotion it would be nice to spend a little of it with the person who is sharing your success at the dinner you attended. Be in mind, giving ranges from physical to emotional and spiritual gifts. Just because you dont have an abundance of worldly materials doesnt mean that you cant give in another form and that it won't be appreciated. Always remember, its the thought and emotion behind gifts that make them more special (not the pricetag). So when you find yourself stressing over what you can give someone, dont think of the gift itself, but how do you want them to feel when you give it to them. The rest will fall into place.

"Live life, responsibly"

-Kelly McGhee