imjustdrew

Yeah it’s Halloween, I’ve had some candy and fun but yet I’m in my feelings. 

We all do what we want to do ultimately, including treating others a certain way. I touched on this on my latest vlog.

In short, if a person repeatedly neglects your feelings, you’re not necessarily sensitive. It may be time to pull up your adult pants, put on your shoes and keep it moving. 

Yeah you didn’t get invited to that Halloween party, or you don’t have huge Thanksgiving or Christmas plans. No worries, it’s all good! Those folks that do this don’t and shouldn’t matter. Find folks that always consider your feelings and make you feel like you belong. 

You do have feelings, they do matter and they get hurt. Make sure others know this. 

#imjustdrew

All Hallows Eve (Halloween) is around the corner, one of my favorite holidays. All sorts of ghosts, ghouls and demons around this time of year. 

Unfortunately, some of them are year round and haunt and limit us. 

If one is to overcome obstacles and excel long term at anything, they must take a long look at their past and face past demons head on. You can’t let evil from yesteryear hold you down. Seek help from friends, family, clergy or even professional help. Don’t feel ashamed or proud to let others know when you are weak and downtrodden. 

I have exorcised pretty much every demon from my past and live with greater purpose. However, some like zombies, try to occasionally resurface. I channel my inner strength and deal with them using all weapons in my arsenal. No longer will I be a victim. 

Remove these demons so that others can see the work the angels have accomplished with you! 

#imjustdrew

This is a wonderful season and time of year to get up and reunite with friends. I have written about several on laniera74.blogspot.com. You don’t have to even enjoy Fall to realize all of the opportunities to make friends and reconnect with old ones. 

Here are a few: 

Weddings

High school/college homecomings and reunions

The local fair

Thanksgiving and Halloween. Hard not to bond over food and candy!

The various October sports (every type of football, the World Series, basketball beginning, end of NASCAR)

Bonfires and other Fall parties

Hunting season (deer and dove)

Therefore, get out there and explore! Fall is a great season to see folks before the hustle and bustle of the December holidays. 

#imjustdrew

This post makes me think of Diana Ross’s classic “Missing You.” The Grim Reaper stays busy as I said on my Sunday FB Live vlog. Lots of deaths this year involving folks near and dear to my heart, including two this past Sunday. 

Now being that many of the ones that passed impacted so many lives and lots of folks are hurting, some of you are probably wondering “why are these folks missed so much and what did they do?”.  It’s actually an innocent one, and one I believe I can answer. 

Well, it starts with treating others well, and acting the way you want to be treated. Always lend a kind, helping hand, make others laugh, and try to get along with others. Making the world a better place helps out also. 

Attitude means a lot, and if you have a good, positive one, more people are naturally drawn to you. I wrote before on laniera74.blogspot.com about living your life well.  Therefore, we shouldn’t need constant wake up calls.  Live your life to the fullest and impact others along the way. 

The best way to move forward is to continue and honor their legacy and life. Make them feel alive, opposed to constantly mourning them. Think of how they would handle certain situations and act appropriately. Their lives mattered and so does yours!

So be that shining star to be gazed at, alive and dead!

#imjustdrew

I struggled with a title for this one. That and all of the post-fatique from my reunion weekend. 

Basically I got a different blast from the past directly connected to my #imjustdrew movement.  Of course I got the usual stuff when I’m in Blacksburg too long: about my photographic memory, why I’m not married with kids, etc, etc, I experienced something a little different. 
I crossed paths with someone who was a few years ahead of me in school (and is still a lovely person). Back in my time, it wasn’t that freshmen didn’t talk to seniors, it was more of an unwritten agreement. Add to the fact I was already still in my shy phase and there were some gorgeous, older women at my school. There were many I wouldn’t talk to then, but have no problem with now. I saw one of these ladies and at first, the old memories returned (heck we were near the high school) but as I spoke with the person, she was cool and welcoming. 

I have learned over the years that simply trying to speak to folks rarely hurts. That’s why I don’t meet many strangers and I continue to flourish. Bad and good memories will arish during a reunion time, but it’s best to realize who you are now and that time has changed. 

Therefore, nothing to see here, keep it moving, and move forward to greatness in socializing 

#imjustdrew

This is high school and college reunion season. It is very exciting for some, unnerving for others. There are people that many often don’t wanna see nor associate with. You left a lot of unfinished business that you don’t care to talk out. 

Fact it, many people don’t change much in 10, 20 or 30 years. But there are those that grow up mentally and emotionally and realize they mistreated a lot of people and were into themselves. Now they feel guilty and want to rectify that. 

My charge is most everyone deserves a second chance,  we are all human, and are not getting younger. Therefore, allow yourself and others to free themselves and give them a chance and reconnect. Now if you find that many have not left old mindsets and are honestly still trying to fill voids from decades ago, it may be time to let go. 

Now while my high school years weren’t the greatest, I still made some awesome connections and lifelong friends. We may not agree on everything but we can find common ground and simply have fun for a night or two. You should allow yourself that chance and not let choice people ruin that for you. School is over and often it starts with you being the bigger person. 

This doesn’t always work, but it’s worth trying. Also your conscience is clear and you will sleep easier. 

#imjustdrew

It is typically a reward to be at a good social gathering. Cookouts, tailgates, weddings and reunions all fall in this category. 

There really is no rhime nor reason on how to get invited or even know about certain events and gatherings. Just be as sociable and cool as you can, agree to disagree with folks and find common ground. Eventually the rest takes care of itself. 

Now how do you keep them inviting you back. Well I’m gonna share some knowledge from how I was semi banned from gatherings a few years ago. That’s right, I’m still friends with the person but I haven’t been invited back over. 

1. Don’t embarrass yourself or others. 

It’s OK to be fun and joke. But don’t allow yourself to get too obnoxious, drunk, or plain ignorant. If you have a beef with someone, settle it outside of the party. 

2. Bring something. 

Even if it’s just a bag of ice, don’t show empty handed unless the host insists. At the very least, bring some cash and chip in for some pizza. 

3. Be as friendly as possible and shy away from certain topics. 

There’s always a hot topic that the media loves to drive into the ground. If it’s religious, racial and/or political based, leave it at home, along with the drama. 

4. Actively partake in some activity. 

Dance, play corn hole, help in the kitchen. Don’t confine yourself to the wall nor the chair. Be active and stay social. 

5. Don’t ignore anyone, be polite. 

Yes there they may be someone there you don’t really care for. But just be cordial and keep it moving. 

6. Thank the host before you leave and afterwards, even if you don’t intend on returning. 

I don’t have the crystal ball, but this has helped me plenty over the years. Also, you will often meet folks that also hosts parties (spinoffs) and be in their circle. Friends are always assets! 

#imjustdrew

Ok I’m wrapping up my back to school series of blogs with another topic/class that gets a lot of controversy and scars children for life: gym class. 

Physical education was not my forte growing up since I wasn’t very athletic. I didn’t get picked first for any teams, often last. And it seemed like not many of the kids wanted to play even HORSE with me in gym. 

P.E. teachers have started realizing the internal damage that can be caused by gym class. Now granted gym and team sports are important for building character and showing children how to work together. However, if the nonathletic kids are singled out too harshly, they can feel discouraged and not want to participate in anything athletic. This has led to students taking alternate courses such as JROTC later, or youth teams giving everyone trophies and not keeping score during games. The purpose is thus defeated. 

I believe the teacher needs to strike a balance and make sure the non athletic kids feel included and part of the teams also. There are creative ways to accomplish this. 

This is a subject that has been featured on sitcoms such as The Wonder Years, Freaks and Geeks and The Goldbergs. It can be touchy indeed. 

Therefore, here’s a small solution. To my more athletic students, don’t use gym class as a way for you and your jock friends to show off. Make the other kids feel welcome also. It should be competitive but also fun. And it’s no fun being on the sidelines or being picked last. You wouldn’t want it to happen to you, believe me.

#imjustdrew

OK now that Fall is around the corner and school rolls on, let’s not forget about the other battle our children face: bullying. 

It still goes on, and with the advent of technology, makes it easier to bully someone more frequently. 

Most that read this know my story of bullying as a child. This makes me even happier now and more passionate about the anti-bullying laws in effect and the various movements.  I survived the senseless torment and now future generations can as well. 

I will always stick up for the underdog, the person that’s different or unpopular. For those are the biggest targets for bullies. It enrages me to no end when I see it. I do realize now it’s both a sense of insecurity and confusion on the bully’s part. Nonetheless, it must end. 

Parents, teachers, students and folks alike, please stay aware of those that are being bullying, even when they won’t say anything. It can be easy to turn a blind eye to so don’t sleep on them. I had someone from school that read my story with tears and had no idea I had been bullied and wanted to know whom and how long. 

It’s easy to get caught up in our own daily lives. I believe in joking and having fun, but no one deserves to be humiliated on a daily basis. Let our children look forward to school again and be able to learn. Everyone deserves a fun, safe, learning environment. 

#imjustdrew

I continue with my back to school series of my #imjustdrew movement. Without question, I was influenced the most as a young, shy teen by playing and watching high school football. It shaped me into the person I am today and helped me in so many aspects of my life, especially socially. 

I love going to high school games more than just to watch the good athletes, student sections, smell the delicious concession stand food and of course that freshly cut grass. It is watching those young men participate in something bigger than themselves and also mold themselves into men. 

The entire sport has taken a blow due to less tackling in practice, increased natural exposure and of course long term CTE. However, coached and played properly, I don’t know of a better sport. It’s something special about this time of year. Teenagers become hometown and school heroes, underdogs gain confidence, and the spirit is sky high. 

High school football, and simply the entire sport, helped me to see teamwork in action, as well as unity, fairplay, determination and hard work. I was already competitive and the longer I played, the better I became. 

I’m just so glad Blacksburg High School and my coaches gave me the opportunity to play and grow. I still carry many lessons from those days into my daily adult life. 

So if you need an activity to involve your child into, don’t turn away football just yet. It could be more beneficial than you can imagine. 

#imjustdrew