Unplugged

If you're reading this, I'm in Belize!  And I'm spending my time with two of my closest girlfriends adventuring, exploring, and NOT with my electronics.  Save for the brief update, I'm spending much less time than normal on my technologies!

I KNOW!  I'm unplugged!  ME!  But I told you, this is the year of less talk and more DO.  So I'm putting my words into action and I'm taking the trips and spending the time with people I love. 

In an effort to keep this short and sweet - and focus on my relaxation - I'll leave you with this - UNPLUG!

While I'm not big on weeks or months without electronics - I do condone simplifying and unplugging whenever possible.  Maybe you don't need Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr...the list goes on.  Pick one or two.  And ditch the rest!  If you're out with friends, put your phone DOWN.  Be in the moment, soak in the feeling and engage in what's happening.

Technology is amazing - but real life is 1 billion times better.  Real life creates feelings, memories, and if you pay attention - they'll give you more than any Facebook post ever could.

Cheers Sequins!

#SpakleOn

Millennials

There seems to be a trend of late in which the world wants to blame Millennials for everything.  We are lazy, emotional, expect too much - the list goes on.  Here's the thing world - Millennials are also innovative, aware, and efficient.  Fine, we will take credit for the Kardashians - and I apologize for that - but to blame us for the world's problems is a bit dramatic.

Technically a millennial is anyone born from the 80's to the early 2000's.  Can we agree that's a really broad spectrum of ages?  That's a group that started with Nokia face plates and then a group who doesn't know what life was like before iPhones.  So many things changed within that 20+ year time period, that this millennial name cannot possibly define all of us born during the specified time.  Personally - I don't relate to being a millennial.  I think of anyone early-mid 20s to being in that millennial age group and I'm more of an old and cranky millennial.  Like I'm into a healthy lifestyle but I don't want to talk about my feelings.  

Regardless - for all intensive purposes - I'm labeled a millennial.  And that's fine, it keeps me young.  And I even relate to a lot of the characteristics that define this generation.  I'm for being mindful of the environment, I'm about speaking up and being woke when it comes to political and social issues, and I'm into a work life balance that is mindful of who I am as a human being.  And I'm also offended when those old people blame us for the decline in chain restaurant success, call us lazy because there aren't any jobs, and who consider us freeloaders because many of us live at home.  

Let's get one thing straight - this generation is a compilation of the politics, fiscal state, and beliefs of the generation before it.  That's kind of how it all works.  One generation votes a certain way, sets the fiscal state, and creates pop culture trends that don't take full effect until much later.  So the fact that we are still struggling to find jobs, buy homes, and are defined by technology - is a direct result of the choices of the generation before us (Generation X).  We show up as adults in the world that we had no real hand in creating - and we are using the tools we have to survive and thrive.  And a big part of millennial culture is that we realize the things we do now are going to directly affect the next generation.  We are mindful hat we need to take care of the environment.  We fight for the rights that we will probably never fully receive in our lifetime because we want future us to have those rights.  We don't eat at Buffalo Wild Wings because small business are more important to us than corporate America.  

Fine - I'll give you technology and social media.  We are thoroughly addicted to our toys and we have trouble putting them down.  I'm old school and agree with Generation X - we should put down our phones and laptops and talk to each other.  But I also love that we are a generation of pushing the limits of what technology can achieve.  We connect people in ways they've never been able to communicate before.  We save lives through medical advances that would never happen without the tech nerds out there.  And we created a food delivery service so that you never have to choose between Netflix and pizza (angels among us ya'll).

What else?  We are too sensitive, especially in the workplace.  This is harder to refute because honestly - I don't think the workplace is for feelings.  But I also appreciate that the workplace is learning that people are human beings and life happens 9-5.  For me this is less about being in tune with the emotions of your employees and more understanding that jobs demand a lot and people give a lot to the companies that employ us.  I find it very fair that an organization should have respect for that - within reason.  If I need to go to the doctor on a Thursday at 2PM, I'm going to do that.  If I need to work from home one day because I've got someone working on my kitchen, that should be okay.  It's less about feelings and more about treating employees as adults.  And in turn, if your employee cannot act like an adult, they don't deserve to be working at your company.  

Oh yes - we are lazy and really bad with our money.  First - we did not invent debt.  The state of the economy from the crash of the 2000's is where I think debt really took off.  So chill, because we weren't old enough to cause that.  We have debt because education hasn't been a reasonable cost since the 70's.  Tuition costs more than a home.  But without that education, we don't get the good jobs.  But by the time we get the good job, we are thousands and thousands in debt.  And there we have the cycle.  We aren't lazy.  We have more costs, less opportunity, and have to work twice as hard to get a decent job that barely covers the bills we have because education and healthcare were not made a priority.  Nobody is saying we work harder than Gen X.  Nobody is claiming life is harder.  But we are saying - it's an uphill battle from the time we show up to undergrad until we are able to break even at 65.  We aren't lazy - we're out here doing the best we can with what we are given.  The fact that we complain about these things is not because we believe none of them should be our problem.  We complain because we want a better future for our kids, because we know the work that goes into barely surviving in 2017.

Stop blaming millennials for the worlds problems.  Stop calling us lazy, too sensitive - blah blah blah.  Consider that you were us once.  You were dealing with what the generation before you put out into the universe and while our struggles may be different - it all boils down to one thing: we are all doing the best we can with the cards we are dealt.   

Peace Man.

The key to any relationship - romantic, friendly, even the relationship with yourself - is forgiveness.  In order to gain peace of mind and live a truly happy life - you have to learn to forgive and be at peace with whatever that means.

The ultimate goal in life should be to obtain peace.  Peace within your relationships internally and with those around you.  To feel a sense of comfort, safety, and trust in the world and those around you.  And that means learning to forgive people and situations even if they don't have the outcome you hope for.   

As the biggest control freak out there - I relate to needing things to fit into certain categories and reach certain conclusions.  But that's not realistic.  It's impossible to have definitive conclusions and closure to every situation or relationships.  Being able to recognize that, accept it and neutralize your emotions with that - are the best skills you could ever have.

I had a friend I'd known for 20+ years.  Since we were the tiniest of children.  As we continued o grow up the relationship began to stress me out more and more.  But I never actually took the time to understand why or communicate that to her.  When I finally understood why I felt the way I did and spoke up - she wholeheartedly disagreed.  She felt very differently and it ended our relationship.  It took me a really long time to accept that there's no right and wrong in that situation.  And neither of us was going to understand the other or make a change.  At the end of the day, there's no resolve.  

Today - I am able to understand we grew into two different people.  the relationship became something that wasn't working.  I now understand I can't plead my case or change the way she feels. I accept that I can't change her feelings.  And I feel at peace with the fact that it is what it is.  The only thing I can do is focus on what is best and healthiest for me.  What brings me the most peace.

A lot of learning to be at peace, to embrace the calm and neutral space inside you is learning to get to know YOU.  It's understanding your feelings, being confident in who you are, and learning how you best fit into the world around you.  

Digging deeper - confidence in yourself, who you are and where you exist in your space are truly the most critical characteristics you can have.  Taking the time to be truly in tune with what makes you who you are, the good and the bad, gives you such an advantage in life.  Know your triggers, know where you thrive, and be able to love you for all of those things.

Feelings are my least favorite things in the world.  I've existed for 31 years with the tactic of ignoring emotions and it's all coming back to hit me smack in the face.  The ability to have feelings, understand feelings, and communicate those feelings - I'm certain that makes you some kind of super hero.  But seriously, having the awareness to know when you feel good, when you need a minute, and how to reset yourself to neutral is the ultimate level of zen.  Harness that ninja skill and use it to save the world.  

Learning where you fit - this means combining your confidence and awareness and choosing people and environments that help you maintain those qualities at a high level.  It's realizing if you're triggered by loud and opinionated vibes - you maybe don't become my friend.  It's knowing the type of situations and people who make you feel the most alive.  They challenge you in a way that makes you feel growth but not so much that you feel bad about who you are.  

Peace of mind is internal.  It's working on all of these components to set yourself up for success.  And then it's using those tools to help you understand how someone else feels, accept the situation for what it is, and find peace in it even if you don't find a solution to the situation.  

Find peace and find that next level of living your best life as your best self.  And then you #SparkleOn

The Business of Events

I've been in the business of events for awhile now.  And a lot of people think that all I do is pick out flowers and choose linens.  While I do those things - I also have a strategy behind every decision and detail at each event.  More recently my job entails big brands and more marketing than traditional hospitality events.  But the basics behind event planning remain the same.

Events are the face of your company.  They are how people directly engage with your brand and become familiar with your products.  Events are a big part of business, and treating them as any less, is a big mistake for your brand. 

When planning events, there's a basic outline for ensuring success.

Have a Goal

The first thing I want to know when I'm tasked with an event is what's the goal.  Is it financial?  Is it a feeling?  Are we tracking impressions?  There needs to be a clear goal that leads each and every decision moving forward.  Everyone involved needs to understand that goal and be able to tie every event detail back to that overarching goal.  Without a goal, you're having an event for the sake of having an event - in which case, just throw a bunch of money in the trash and call it even.

Know Your Brand

What does your brand stand for?  What are the colors, feelings, sounds, vibes - what represents that brand?  Every décor choice, entertainment decision, menu plan - all of that works together to create a representation of your brand. The things people see, hear, taste, and feel will all remind them of your brand.  If you've got a fun brand, make the event fun.  If your brand thrives on more serious engagement - don't bring in a comedian.  Stick with your brand messaging and get innovative in how you showcase what that means.

Invest in the Details

The details are what matter.  Don't phone in the color choices, the food, the music.  Every single detail comes together to create the total package.  When you get sloppy, neglect something small - someone will notice.  And that reflects back onto the brand.  Be obsessively detailed.  Annoyingly so.  There are enough uncontrollable pieces that go wrong at every event.  If you are obsessive over what you can control, you're better equipped to handle the things you can't control.

Be Budget Conscious

Budget is everything.  Be diligent about sticking to your budget.  And be knowledgeable about what a realistic budget is for what you want to achieve.  It's unrealistic to expect to wow the attendees on a peanuts budget.  But even with a limitless budget - focus on spending wisely.  Even if your bottom line goal isn't financial, its just plain stupid to spend when you don't need to.

Recap

For every single event you need to do a post event recap.  I don't care if it's lunch for five executives or a ball for 5,000.  Recap what you did, what worked, what didn't.  Get feedback from everyone.  Talk to guests, staff, vendors, everyone.  Be diligent in getting this done.  Do not wait.  How can you possibly improve if you don't have explicit details about what you've done in the past? 

Events are anything but simply picking out décor and tasting menus.  Events are an opportunity to create a feeling to your consumers.  Make sure you're understanding the importance of events and the potential they have for consumer loyalty. 

The Feels

The other day - my girlfriends were asking me how I feel about a guy I'm talking to (IDK what the cool kids call it these days.) And I couldn't answer the question.

I don't do feelings.  I don't remember the last time I cried.  I generally don't speak to how I feel.  But lately, I've gotten to the point where I don't even know what I'm feeling.  I've learned to ignore, shut down, and avoid feelings so much that I can't accurately gauge how I feel about a lot of things.

And that's not healthy.

A lot of people tell me I'm tough.  Strong.  But not understanding my own feelings, not allowing myself to feel all the feels - that's not strong, that's stupid.

It served as a little wake up call for me.  A big wake up call actually.  I've dealt with a lot emotionally over the past year and I've done a lot of avoiding emotions about it all.  And I've utilized distractions.  I've done everything possible to kind of give up on the situation - pretend its not there. I've let a lot of people tell me a lot about how I supposedly feel. But now I'm at a place where I'm genuinely worried about my inability to connect with how I feel.

So I'm taking action.  I don't want to continue on a path of neutral. 

Now considering I'm clearly not the best person to guide me in the feelings department - I'm asking for help.  I've made an appointment with a therapist so that I can talk to a neutral party - which heavily appeals to my sense of reason.  But I also think that its going to force me into some uncomfortable moments - and that's what I need to figure this whole thing out.

On top of seeing a therapist - I've started journaling.  I bought one of those prompt journals on Amazon with all the stars on the review and I'm actually using it to help me write down my thoughts at the end of the day. 

Sure - these are probably obvious solutions and two really basic steps to working through the feels.  But its a really big step for me.  Writing all of this out loud for the three of you who read this - it's a lot for me.  Admitting that I'm in a little bit of a scary place - is really hard for me.  Vulnerable is a bad word in my world.  It's a weakness.  But in an effort to grow, to stick to being the best version of me, and getting the most out of this awesome life I was given - I've got to be brave.  And in doing so, I hope that maybe someone out there will read this, and they'll feel brave enough to ask for help too.

Asking for help isn't shameful.  We've got the whole world backwards when it comes to mental and emotional health.  What's shameful is not getting help from the experts.  What's shameful should be settling for a life of neutrality, of less than our best.  Don't ever feel shame for recognizing you're in a time of need.  And don't wait until it's really bad. Reach out, get help, and get back to awesome.  

Squad Goals.

I'm 31.  And for some reason I think that makes me old and wise.  Like 95 and lived it all old and wise.  Because of that - I like to share my knowledge with ya'll as if its the law of physics. 

Today, we will learn about #SquadGoals.  For those of you not as hip as me - the squad is the friendship group you keep.  I'm actually not sure if the kids are still saying squad, but they should. 

At 21 - the squad goals revolve around being seen with the coolest people, knowing the right people who can get you free table service and really just being seen at the right places.  It's a lot of work to maintain that lifestyle and the squad is ever changing due to drama and the hierarchy.  One wrong move and you're demoted to a less awesome squad and really what else is there to live for?

At 31 - the squad goals revolve around being with the most positive real people, knowing they've got your back, and being with people you can sit on your couch getting wine wasted with and feel at ease. 

I'm a really big fan of squad goals at 31.  I'm already an anxious person - I don't need to be worrying about where I stand in the squad, if I've been seen enough on a weekend, and who I need to suck up to in order to stay relevant.  Now let's not get it twisted - in my day I was really good at the free table service, doing the celebrity pro athlete casual "I hang with so and so" thing (vomit), and always the last one to leave the party - but today - I am not that person - and I love that.

My squad now is what makes me a better person.  They're teaching me its ok to be vulnerable.  They call me on my bullshit.  They support me fiercely.  These are the people that are my family.  And they're worth more than a night at the club at the best table any day of the week.  I think the even cooler thing is a lot of these people knew me at my 20s hot mess (but still sparkly) phase and they still think I rock. 

At 31 - I want stability.  I crave loyalty.  I thrive on positivity. And the people I consider my squad embody these things.  They're the realest of the real and I couldn't want anything more. 

My squad consists of the people I sit on the couch with drinking wine and pinteresting with.  They're the people who know I need Taco Bell sometimes and as disgusting as that is - they're in the passenger seat ordering tacos for everyone.  They're the friends who know I am 100% down for brunch but don't ask me to go somewhere at 10PM because I'm already in my onesie snuggling my puppy.  And they are the best humans that can tell when I'm not ok and force themselves on me because they care that much. 

Squad Goals at 31 are my cheerleaders, my judge and jury, my perfectly imperfect people I could never live without.  Maybe we aren't the coolest (lies), the most on the scene (Is the dog park a scene?), or hanging out with celebrities (right, like they can even compare) every night - but we are real and doing our best in this world to just figure it all out.  And when you've got a good gang to do that with - that's true #SquadGoals.

Open to More.

I grew up in California.  I spent 26 years living in California.  Californians are generally brought up a bit more liberal.  We are existing in a pretty diverse community surrounded by so many religious, political, and lifestyle beliefs that it becomes second nature.  I'm more comfortable around diverse groups of people than I am in a room of people that share my lifestyle.

I've always considered myself an extremely open minded person.  I generally believe in treating everyone as you wish to be treated.  But living in the South has taught me a whole new way to open my mind and really think about the different beliefs of people around me. 

Texas is generally a conservative state.  There is still a lot of racism, restrictions on women's reproductive rights, and a lot of Trump supporters.  And a lot of these people are really vocal about those beliefs.  They preach Christianity but also shout from the rooftops really ignorant beliefs.  And something I've learned - is that you can't talk reason to someone who truly believes in what they've been bred to believe.

I'm not into dividing people politically.  I actually think people who commit their lives to one party are misguided.  It's more important to me to look at the bigger picture and how policy fits into the lives of Americans rather than blindly following red vs. blue.  But the more I speak to the die hard reds out here, the more open minded I've become.

I used to clump any Trump supporter in a group of idiots.  Because how could anyone possibly vote for such a truly horrible human being.  But then I've met people whom I truly respect and enjoy that have also made the mistake of voting for Trump.  And it's given me pause.  It's forced me to understand why they felt the need to support such a person.  And while I still don't agree with that support - I cannot possibly just lump those in the Trump voter category as idiots.  Now if they're still actively touting this man as a great human being, my respect does dwindle but I digress.

It's interesting to be forced to look at someone who's beliefs you actively disagree with in a new light.  No, I don't suddenly feel that a bunch of old white men have any business directing what I can do with my body - but I do feel more compassion for the people that truly believe these things.  They've grown up in a really different world than I have.  They feel their religion dictates what they believe.  Or they're sheltered by their circumstances.  The point is - people are a whole compilation of their background, religion, lifestyle, the people they spend the most time with - and they're not simply X, Y, and Z opinions.

Taking the time to find my patience, ask the questions, and be more accepting - that's what the South is teaching me.  Slowly, but surely, I'm getting there.  I'm starting to realize how lucky I was to grow up in a state that gave me the world of diversity it did.  I truly never thought in 2017 there were people out there in major cities promoting hate and antiquated views - but there are.  And they're not a rarity.  That's why continuing to talk - respectfully - is critical to the cycle of life today.  And its equally as critical that even when you vehemently disagree with someone else, that you treat them with respect. 

...Unless they're actively hurting other people, then the gloves are off and I'm coming for you - because you have every right to believe what you believe, but the second it hurts another, you're out of bounds and deserve to be shown a better way.

#ShineOn

Locally Sourced

As I get older, and more or less wiser (mostly less) - I'm finding it more important to me to spend my money traveling.  Shoes and handbags are great - but the rush I get from being able to explore new places is irreplaceable.  And the more I travel, the more I learn the best way to spend my time and money on these trips.  

I'll preface this with: my type of travel is the kind of adventure that allows me to immerse myself in the local culture.  I believe that wherever I go, I'm a guest.  And as such, its my responsibility to do as the locals do.  Not only does that afford me the most authentic experience, it makes me a better visitor to that world.  I highly advise when you travel, you adopt the same viewpoint so that we can do our best to both respect and preserve the customs and traditions of the world around us.

Going local is easy.  It requires a bit more research and planning, but it's worth it for the end result.  And don't just think local for out of country travel.  These strategies apply to places right in your own backyard.  In fact - I highly recommend going local in your own country so that you can be a better local for the rest of the world who comes to see you!

Stay local

Check out local places to stay.  Choose a local inn, BnB, or utilize Air BnB.  Not only does this help the local economy but it affords you a great starting point for going local.  The people running these places are either locals or ex pats and can give you tips and tricks as far as where to eat, explore, how to travel, where is safe, where you should avoid, and so much more.  Hotels are of course easier to book, provide more of our usual comforts, and of course are the go to - but they're not setting you up for local success.  Stay local and build a relationship with the people at that property.  When you do that - you're starting the trip off 10 steps ahead of the folks that choose big chain hotels.  

Travel local

Check out local transportation.  Again, a great place to find out what's affordable and safe is by asking the locals at the property you're staying with.  For example, the subway in NYC (which is so confusing to me) is the best way to travel cheaply and effectively.  When I go to Belize next month, the easiest way to travel between islands are the water ferries.  Don't just rely on cabs and car services.  When you can walk, take public transportation or ride share, DO IT.  Listen to conversations, notice where people go, talk to people and find out what true locals do.

Eat Local

Eating is the best part of traveling.  Don't you dare visit a chain restaurant.  Ever.  Not once.  Continue the pattern of talking to locals and find out where they eat.  Go there.  Whatever that city/country is famous for making, find the best spot for it and eat there.  Food is the heart of a culture.  It's where families and friend share the most important moments of their lives.  It's almost a ritual thing.  Do your best research here and truly make it an experience.  

Experience Local

Go to the local bar.  Attend a local show.  Head out to a local ball game.  Hike the local trail.  Don't spend your time at amusement parks or movie theaters.  Don't go somewhere for the Instagram photo.  Go somewhere for the history, the culture - find out what the locals do.  Certainly don't miss Machu Pichu or the Statue of Liberty but maybe don't hit up Six Flags or stand in line for 4 hours for a donut.  Have a picnic at Washington Park in Denver.  Eat at Le Sel in Nashville. Stay with ex pats in a hut in Belize.  

Traveling local means immersing yourself into the culture of whatever city/country you're visiting.  Be open to whatever that means.  Try the food, hike the mountain, have beers with the locals.  Go in with the mindset to learn, explore, and be a guest.  Think of traveling local as being a student of the world.  And being a representative of wherever you come from.  That means being respectful, open minded, and above all - leaving the space better than when you arrived.

Happy travels my local Sequins!  

You Better Work.

People are surprised to hear that I'm a people pleaser.  When it comes to my friends and family, I crave approval.  I go above and beyond to maintain the relationship.  When my loyalty, love, or commitment to the partnership is questioned - I dwell on that.  It gives me anxiety and I want to fix it. And while I am proud of the fact that I will give my all to my people, I've started to realize how draining that can be - especially when the other people in the relationship don't do the same.

Friendships are work.  They're relationships that require time, energy, and emotions.  I'm of the opinion that believes in quality over quantity and thus I take the work of friendships seriously.  While I absolutely positively suck at phone calls - I send cards and texts and I book the trips to see you.  I do my very best to make sure my people know that they are important to me.  And I truly value those who do the same.

Not everyone expresses their effort in the same way.  Some people love phone calls.  Others send gifts.  The important part is being able to recognize when your squad is showing you they love you and value your friendship.  It's the effort.

As we get older - the level of effort is more evident.  Your circle of friends gets a lot smaller.  And you're able to weed out the ones who aren't putting in the work. 

And that's where I am today.  I'm noticing the friends who never visit me - even though I've made countless trips to see them.  I'm noticing the friends who make excuses instead of effort.  And I'm deciding to match that level of commitment to the friendship.

It's not about who spends more, who visits more, who calls more - it's about doing what you can to show how much you care.  If you've got a friend who claims to never have money and yet they find time to fly out to see their boyfriend often - they're showing you what matters more.  If you've got the friend who never has time to see you but is always out partying, they're showing you where their time commitment lies. 

If you pay attention, people will show you where you fit into their world.  I find it unnecessary to have to ask friends to come see you.  I think its silly to have to point out that a friend doesn't spend time with you.  People make time and put effort into what they value most. 

Hopefully you're a deep thinker and realize that life can get in the way and sometimes people aren't showing you that you're not important - they're just dealing with life.  They may be getting married, having kids, feeling depressed, moving to a new city - whatever it may be - it's not always a sign that you are not important.  But if you've been friends for 10 years and your friends haven't made time to visit you, sure, that can hurt.  That can be a sign to step back and save some of your effort for you and other friends. 

I think the hardest part of realizing that not all friends put the same effort forth does not mean they don't love you.  I always thought fine they don't visit me - I don't need to put effort in either.  But that's just not always the case.  Because maybe I'm not showing them I love them the way that they value.  It all goes back to being self aware.  Being self aware allows you to have more awareness of the people that are important to you.

Let's regroup, because that was a lot of messaging and probably a bit of mixed information when you break it down.  Bottom line - raise our level of awareness.  Decide where to put your effort in based on where you're getting energy from your humans.  And most of all - communicate with each other.  Show your loved ones what they mean to you and why they're your people.  At the end of the day, energy is limited - utilize your moments on Earth wisely. 

Faith is a Funny Thing

I didn't grow up practicing religion.  I don't actively believe in any formal spiritual entity.  I don't attend church.  A Priest will not officiate my wedding.  But my faith and my spirituality are very important to me.

Hear me out.  While I don't believe in organized religion, the thingsI do believe in - are a big part of my life.  I believe in guardian angels, and positive energy, and in the power of being a good person.  I believe some things cannot be explained logically.  But do I believe that there's one higher power dictating my actions and my after life?  I don't. 

 I love researching the history of various religions and understanding why people choose to practice in each faith that they do.  But religion should be what you make it.  It shouldn't be blind following.  The more people commit to a religion without questioning any single piece of that religion, the more dangerous that religion becomes.  There is truly no one religion that does it all right. 

I realize that this is probably getting me into some dangerous territory.  And potentially losing me some friends - but it's really important to me to be able to say while I don't believe what you believe, I respect what you believe with the caveat that it must not be a religion that does harm unto others.  Any religion that asks for unrelenting following, asks you to shun another - is not encouraging learning and acceptance - is not a religion of value.

Faith is a funny thing.  It's often unexplainable.  And yet it's extremely life changing for a lot of people.  The more we live in a world of chaos, violence, and hate - the more I think about the role that religion plays in those things.  And the more I encourage everyone to explore what their faith means to them and to ensure that devotion is based in acceptance and love. 

Religion has the power to heal but it also has the power to start wars.  Make sure that your religion is making you a better person working for a better world because it doesn't matter if you're living for a higher power if you're destroying life on Earth.  At the end of it all - if you did bad to serve the ultimate good - do you really think that being is going to reward you? And if She does - is that really a God you want to commit to?