Playtime: Can your inner child come out & play with my inner child?

I don't know about you, but I for one have spent a colossal amount time stressing out, worrying, planning, and taking myself way too seriously almost to the point of pushing myself to the edge of the perpetual revolving door of what seemed like the endless abyss. This person you could be as an adult if you lightened up, let go of your seriousness, overcome your fears and accepted flexibility and change in your life. We get so wrapped up in our daily mundane routines, that we soon lose touch of our inner child in us who didn't care what others thought or if what you were doing was okay we might even forget her/him altogether yet it still resides in you, dwelling in your subconscious.

I know what you are asking yourself. Who is this inner child? My simple reply to such an intriguing question is, the "inner child" is the little child you were who desired to be nurtured, cared for and loved. This child still resides deep within you as an adult who is in every sense of the word a free spirit, pixie or elf you have tamed and controlled, yet who resides within you. In most cases, she/he represents the emotional and sensitive you, whom you have channeled, controlled and maybe even silenced. Could also, be the creative, imaginative and artistic you who has been molded, structured and organized who desperately needs to set free every once in awhile  This side represents the fun loving, happy, frivolous, joyful, humorous you when you were young and unsophisticated; that person you have replaced with a sophisticated, mature, serious, task-oriented demeanor.

Yet for some she/he signifies the wounded you, pained, neglected, frustrated, abused and ignored you whom you have masked, hidden from view and more than likely have even denied the existence of. This child is always just lingering below the surface, causing you to be anxious, worried and fearful of mistreatment.This person within you who needs healing, support and reinforcement through a variety of mechanism for coping activities through this you can be given new life, health and a chance for personal growth. 

How does the "inner child" come into being?  The "inner child" comes into being by one denying your  true feelings, from holding back our childlike responses, while we provide adult like responses to stress,  insecurity in the midst of chaos, confusion or the vacuum of repressed feelings, a lack of encouragement to broaden our scope of vision about the "potentials" in life,  the stress of staying vigilantly in the ``here and now'' so that we stay in control and the "walls didn't come tumbling down" around us,  maybe continuing even now to follow our compulsive role(s) rather than choosing to change and be free from the restraints this compulsion creates for us, silencing our "inner child'' and guarding ourselves, retreating behind "masked" barriers.

What are the signs of activity of the "inner child"? We know our "inner child" is active when we lose ourselves in frolic and fun, cry at a sentimental movie, over-indulge our own children,  enjoy playing with children's toys, love visiting Walt Disney World or other theme parks designed for children, seek out adult toys to play with, cry or grieve as adults for the losses we experienced in our past, still seek to please the senior members of our families of origin and our extended families, get sentimental looking at old photo albums, home movies or scrapbooks about our childhood. experience the same intensity of feeling we had as children as we role play or act out experiences from our past. 

I’m sure many of you have stories similar – growing up and taking part of the enjoyment of play. Somewhere down the line we forgot the importance of play.  We felt allowing ourselves to act freely wasn't “cool”.  Or simply we thought to ourselves, “I’m too old for that.”

Stop taking yourself too seriously.  Don’t be paranoid about what others may be thinking about you.  You will be wasting energy on the wrong things.  Be honest with yourself and just be you.  It’s all about being authentic and happy.

When the "inner child" climbed inside you it probably was hoping to hear I love you, I care about you and I accept you just the way you are, I am so proud of you and all that you are, I am so happy you are my child, you are so beautiful a attractive and  you are so bright and talented, you  are so artistic and creative, you are such a good worker, I am sorry I hurt you, I am sorry I neglected you, I am sorry I forgot you, I am sorry I ignored you, I am sorry I took you for granted, I am sorry I made you grow up so fast, I am sorry I had to rely on you so much. You can trust me to take care of you, you can trust me to be there for you, you can trust me to protect you from any hurt or pain, I will get help for myself and for the family.

Lost’s Challenge:Be courageous and make time to play. Play as if you were a kid again.  I know we all have our favorite games we used to play growing up. Or take your dog to the park and just run crazy. Allow people to think you are weird. Take your kids to the park and act just as goofy. When one suppresses emotions, there are obvious the negative consequences of suppressing the "inner child. When as adults we choose to suppress the memory, needs and desires of the "inner child" we run the risk of never learning how to feel normally, never learning how to play and have fun, never learning how to relax and manage stress, never learning how to appreciate life. We would rather work at living, taking ourselves too seriously, feeling guilty over not being good enough, driving ourselves to work harder to be good enough, you risk of becoming workaholics, even not enjoying our family life with our children, being suspicious of people who enjoy life, have fun and know how to play, social isolation, afraid to get involved with other people for fear we will be found out to be inadequate, not normal or a misfit. 

You can tell your "inner child" that it is OK to have the freedom to make choices for itself, be "selfish" and do the things you want to do, take the time to do the things you want to do, associate only with the people you want to associate with, accept some people and to reject others, give and accept love from others. allow someone else to care for you, enjoy the fruits of your labor with no guilt feelings, take time to play and have fun each day, not to be so serious, intense and inflexible about life, not always "serve" others, accept others "serving" you, be in charge of your life and not let others dictate to you, be honest with others about your thoughts and feelings, take risks and to suffer the positive or negative consequences of such risks.* Make mistakes, laugh at them and carry on. Let your imagination and creativity be set free and to soar with the eagles. cry, hurt and to be in pain as long as you share your feelings; do not repress or suppress them, be a problem solver and come up with solutions with which everyone may not agree. feel happiness, joy, excitement, pleasure and excitement about living. Feel down, blue, sad, anxious, upset and worried, as long as you share your feelings, be your "inner child" and to let it grow up, accept love, share feelings and enjoy pleasure and play. 

Oh! Love this version of Gotye tune!!! Rawrrrrrrr!!!

I am woman, dammit  Hear me roar,see me soar. Don't try to even the score and let the feelings hit the floor. I am woman,hear me roar! Oh, yeah meow! Ermmmm..pardon me! Lets try that again, shall we? Rawrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Yeah, I know the songs dark, maybe even slightly depressing,but fuk it! The remix is pretty kewl if you ask me. Oh, hell why are you going to lay down and let a situation or someone fuk up your vibe or mood. Don't fret over something you have no control over, and concentrate on the million and one things that you can do and change. I say this with with love and with the best of intentions, stop complaining and start putting up a fight for what you want and stop being a pansy assed about it, Vary!!!! Fuk me, I am still happy as fuk even if I am having a slightly shitty day, sue me!!!! Don't hate me cuz, I just don't give a fuk!!!It is always good:-) Muah,you love it!!! Mawahhhhhhhhh;-) So, kick your shoes off and come dance with me!!!!!

Imperfectly Perfect: Learning to love from a new perspective

Having not known each other personally prior to marrying, my parents have been married for over 42 years and seemly have an inseparable bound and share a love that has carried over a lifetime, extended past borders and three continents, even having help support and raise a family of five. And despite all the odds, have made seemingly impossible circumstances a success. Arrange marriages have been customary in many cultures and is still a practice that is prevalent even today in countries throughout Asia and maybe even the world. Having stumbled across an amazingly wonderful old candid interview with Lena Horne, she said, “I learned to love him over the 24 years we were together.” This is the maybe the first real time I have ever heard someone say that they were able to learn to love someone. To me it is somewhat of a foreign concept and being that I am an admitted die-hard optimist and a hopeful romantic and when it came to love, I have always allowed my heart to roam free; leading me astray sometimes unknowingly leaving my sensibility behind. And well as history serves as a reminder, it hasn't always served me well. Now as I am encroaching on the summit of turning 40, I find myself wondering, can you learn to love someone? Is it cheating yourself or ‘settling’ to be with someone who may be good for you in many ways but doesn’t pull on your heartstrings?

Growing up, I remember the first time I stumble across the romance genre. My parents sent me to stay at the house of a close family friend, a lovely couple with two young sons. The room which they prepared for me was towards the back of the house in one of the spare bedrooms where she had several stacks of novels many of which were what one would consider romance novels. I found myself filling the hours before bedtime engrossed in the torrid erotic tales of love affairs and scandalous rendezvous. I know what you maybe be thinking, ‘”romance novels, really?’”. Hey, I am not ashamed to say it but there have been some fairly stimulating storylines that fuel the overly active imagination of a very impressionable teenage. And I still from time to time enjoy reading romance novels because they are filled with passion and exhilarating moments that sent the heart racing with anticipation. 

I suppose we all have been influenced by many factors in our lives such as the big screen box office hits, novels, and even songs. Love a common theme is found in all in all aspects of popular culture. I have always felt that the only reason to marry someone was because you loved each other entirely and wanted to spend your lives together. Over the years I've learned that people marry for many reasons and some of those marriages are long term and “successful” even though there is little in the way of passion. 

Throughout our lifetimes, we seem to be falling in and out of love more times than we care to admit or even realize. Though sometimes through no fault of your own, we have found it difficult to let go of the fears and apprehension long enough to allow someone one close enough to let your guard down and trust someone. Maybe you've been hurt in the past and find it hard to completely trust someone. Or you may have never been in a relationship before and have no idea how to care and love someone. 

Lost’s Challenge: I have found it difficult to let go of my idealistic views on love and its correlation with chemistry and the need for compatibility in order for love to prosper and grow.My bittersweet experiences with love has taught me some lessons that sustainable loving relationships require far more than chemistry and passion, it requires patience and willingness to work towards a common goal despite rough patches and learning to recognise opportunites to find love. It's a challenge to learn to think outside the proverbial box. Could it be enough for someone to love and want to be with you more, than you want and love them? I have found some essential steps that will hopefully guide me as I attempt to view love in its natural form not from the rose tinted hourglass and to adapt to viewing it from a new perspective on trusting your partner and essentially learn to love.

• Forget the fear. Fear is arguably one of the most common reasons for not being able to accept peoples love or let them in. Don't let previous experience ruin what you have going learn from them don't forget them but don't let them stop you from enjoying yourself and finding future love. 

• Appreciate yourself. When dating someone with low self esteem it's quite obvious and in most cases its a turn off. However because of your low self esteem you often struggle to accept the fact people care about you because you don't care/ love yourself. 

• Give love a try. Be positive don't always think negative, not everyone has negative intentions, remember it nice to be loved it and it's nice to be cared for and looked after especially when some genuinely wants to do it. Let down some of your defenses, this may be difficult to begin with at first but it can be master with practice. 

• Share your feelings. Sharing your feelings is a great way of bonding with someone and a great way of building trust. When you share your fears and hopes with someone you care about your relationship often grows stronger and healthier as more of an understanding is built. 

• Remember at the end of the day by not letting your guard down every once and awhile and accepting people gestures and kind efforts toward you ultimately miss out. It's understandable that previous bad experience have made you think twice about peoples true motives but every it no bad and everyone deserves a chance.

Human Tug of War? Ah, they grow up so quickly!

Nate and his fellow classmates, ChamPavatah and Ricky, '"She is mine! No,she mine!'" Hehe...so, cute:)

Nate n the Jackfruit!

Love Across Oceans: Hopelessly Smitten or Borderline Masochist

When many of us think of long distance relationships, a few questions more than likely will pop up  such as are you a masochist? Why do you like pain? Why are you doing this to yourself? Are you insane? How could anyone pick a Friday night of skyping with someone who lives some several oceans and 9000 some-odd miles away over Friday night dinner and movie with friends? These are things you and most people probably can't wrap their minds around. Even I often find myself struggling to tackle and even fathom why anyone in the world would choose to be in a long-distance relationship. Between juggling schedules to challenges in communication, anyone who's ever been in a long-distance relationship can certainly tell you how hard it can be to make a long-distance relationship work.  

I really don't think anyone intends to end up in a long-distance relationship, but sometimes it just happens. You fall in love with him in town, and then he moves out of town or gets transferred. Or you meet him at a chat room or on another social forum and instantly connect, and suddenly you realize something that totally sux. The reality is you are living on opposite sides of the planet worlds away.Or maybe you hooked up with a scrumptious man while vacationing, but who can afford to fly to Cambodia every couple of months? And are you prepared to spend some 31 hours on a plane to spend time with your significant other?

There's no crystal ball that can predict how long a relationship of any kind will last, but your current feelings may offer some clues about what the future holds for you and your significant other. For some couples distance is a deal-breaker that brings the relationship to a close; however, for others absence really does make the heart grow fonder. It is an understandably difficult commitment to honor if you and your sweetheart decide to keep the relationship going while you are apart. Difficult but not impossible.

To consider the future of your relationship, it might be helpful to take a few steps back and evaluate your own feelings. Do you still care deeply for your significant other, or have your feelings waned after six months apart? Is your relationship still fulfilling, or would you be happier on your own? Depending on how you feel, it may provide clues to a future direction.

Despite how hard it is be far away from someone you care about, distance can be a blessing in disguise. Proximity can lead us to take people for granted, whereas being apart allows us to know someone in a truly different way. The extra effort you both make to keep in touch, whether through phone calls, email, or snail-mail, can foster a special intimacy. In the end, you may learn more about each other's personalities, values, ideas, and dreams than folks who spend time together every day. Face-to-face relationships can grow stale and filled with superficial conversations and few, if any, meaningful heart-to-hearts.

Have you considered talking with your partner about how you're feeling? Maybe s/he is wondering about the same things. If both of you want to be together, then you can begin to strategize about ways to make this happen. Will you need to wait until you graduate? Can one of you transfer schools? Or change jobs? Also leave the possibility open that you may continue in this long-distance arrangement for a while, and that would be okay, too.

Before running away from your long-distance relationship, take time to think about your feelings and ways to make the most out of being apart. There are many "right" ways to be involved in a loving relationship, and only time will tell if yours will last.

Lost's Reflection: Why you may ask would I even dream of endure such torture? One simple answer says it all. I find it harder to live with regret than risking it all for the sake of something that proves to be far greater than I had ever imagined. I willing to risk it all in the name of love for the simply devine notion of you and me is what motivates me and keeps me from running away, because I have found my place and its by your side. It is so much harder than any task that i have ever had to endure, but the simple fact I want to do what ever it takes to ensure that this delectable notion sees its way to our reality. To give it a fighting chance, to see where the path takes us. 

I know love is a risk, a gamble! What if....it doesn't workout? But...mmmm what if it does??

                                                                                           -Lost n Her Element

My Thought of the Day!

Music Nostalgia: Lost In The Rhythm Of The Night

I just like this song it reminds me of those carefree days when I didn't much care for rule, always lived outside the norm, was intrigued by the complexity of  those enigma effortlessly commanded onlookers to take notice and ruled the  dance floor with such fluidity. It was uncanny how the lights and music almost mesmerized them almost drowning out the world around them, because I myself discovered this intoxicating freedom like no other there out on the dance floor in the midst of chaos that ensued amongst the crowd of the masses.  I have always been more of a social butterfly, but under those flashing lights with the thumping sounds of the bass and electrifying beat that reverberated across and through the sweaty masses attempting to move to the beat, I was immersed in ecstasy, feeling the vibes through every inch of my being, coursing through my veins. I  have always danced the beat of my own drum, never having been able to conform to the rhythm of the masses for the music it sings to me, it is and it becomes an integral part of who I am.

                                                                                                            -Lost n the Rhythm 

Treasures from the sea: Yummy Crab Cakes

Ginger and Coriander-tinged Crab Cakes served with honey mustard sauce

Whip up delicious ginger and coriander-tinged crab cakes when you're pressed for time. Many crab cakes are heavy in calories, sodium, and saturated fat which is so tasty, but oh so  not healthy. Plus they're often junked up with caloric and sodium-laden fillers and then deep-fried which is a tasty technique, but the caramelizing powers of deep-frying overwhelm the delicate, sweet crab. Often there’s too much sauce, too. Here’s how we put this seasonal treat within nutritional reach. We lightly season sweet, premium crab and use just enough mayonnaise, low-sodium panko, a Japanese breadcrumbs, and egg to bind it all together. We don't add any salt to the mixture, to keep sodium in check. The cakes are cooked in a slick of oil instead of deep-fried. We love a good rémoulade but overhaul the condiment to add a flavor punch without as much sodium. Our version of crab cakes is ideal for the season: a ¬vibrant and light dish that pairs perfectly with a crisp salad and glass of wine.

INGREDIENTS

For the crab cakes

• 2cm/1in piece fresh root ginger, peeled
• 2 red chillies, seeds removed
• 250g/9oz white crabmeat
• 1 tbsp roughly chopped fresh coriander
• 2 spring onions, finely sliced
• 2 free-range eggs
• 7-8 tbsp breadcrumbs
• plain flour, for dusting
• 25ml/1fl oz olive oil

PREPARATION

1. Place the ginger and chilli into a mini food processor and pulse until finely chopped.

2. In a bowl combine the chilli and ginger with the white crabmeat, coriander and spring onions. Crack in one egg and mix well, then stir in 4 tablespoons of the breadcrumbs.

3. Divide the crab cake mixture into 6 equal portions and mould into patties. Place on a tray and chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes before cooking.

4. Preheat the oven to 180C/365F/Gas 4.

5. Beat the remaining egg in a small bowl with one tablespoon of water to make an eggwash. Place some plain flour and the remaining breadcrumbs in separate shallow dishes.

6. Dredge a crab cake in the flour, then dip into the egg and coat in the breadcrumbs. Shake gently to remove any excess breadcrumbs. Repeat with the remaining crab cakes.

7. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the crab cakes for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until crisp and golden-brown all over. Transfer the crab cakes to a baking tray and bake for 5-10 minutes, or until piping hot all the way through.

8. Serve the crab cakes with sweet chilli jam and a mixed leaf salad, lightly dressed with olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Spicy Crab Cakes served with Glazed Buttered Baby Asparagus Spears

Sauces:

Crab cakes can be served with tartar sauce or for a change try one of the sauce below.

Zippy SauceIngredients:
¼ c. catsup
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp. horseradish
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. red pepper flakes

Whisk together all of the ingredients.

Mustard SauceIngredients:
½ cup sour cream
½ cup brown mustard
1/8 cup yellow mustard
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup plain yogurt

Put all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix well.

My Reason:My Little Tiny Tornado!!!

2012-Nate @ 7 yrs old

2011- Nate @ 6 yrs

2010- Nate @ 5 yrs

2009-Nate goofing around with Lok Ta 4 yrs old

2008-Nate and his Ma Yeay 3 yrs old

2007-Nate @ 2 yrs yrs old

2006-Nate's 1st Bday

2005-Nate and his Lok Ta-9 months

2005-Nate@ 6 months

2005-Nate @ 3 months

2005-Nate @ 1 days old

2005-Meet the Birthday Boy!! Newborn Nate

Hoobastank, Reason 

My Saving Grace

Be my saving grace, for this silence echoes deafening killing me inside

I beg you rescue me, don’t run from me, and give me a sign

Tell me it’s just my mind playing tricks on me

Losing my mind, losing control of my mind’s eye, my sanity

So bittersweet, this love captivates me, encapsulates me

Taste so enticing, taste so bittersweet, consumes me whole 

Lingers on, lingers long after you've gone 

Be my saving grace, for this silence echoes deafening killing me inside 

I beg you rescue me, don’t run from me, and give me a sign 

Tell me it’s just my mind playing tricks on me 

Pure and innocent promises reverberating from your lips 

Slowly mystifies me, smoothes me, and intrigues me 

I can barely take hold of my senses, I'm defenseless 
I'm falling apart, I'm crashing down hard 

Be my saving grace, for this silence echoes deafening killing me inside 

I beg you rescue me, don’t run from me, and give me a sign 

Tell me it’s just my mind playing tricks on me 

How can we bare to continue, how can this love be sustain? 

You turn and run away, leaving me standing alone 

With my heart in my hands, crying for you 

Be my saving grace, for this silence echoes deafening killing me inside 

I beg you rescue me, don’t run from me, and give me a sign 

Tell me it’s just my mind playing tricks on me 

Thoughts of you so sweet, seeping through intoxicating me 

Rejuvenating me, lifting me higher, high above beyond what I can see. 
I desperately want to believe in everything I hold true.

-Lost n Vicious Reality

ATB feat. Sean Ryan - Killing Me Inside 

My Thought of the Day

Comfort Food: Asian Style:)

Beef Pho

While the beef version of pho is most popular, my mom makes the best chicken pho I have ever tasted bar none. It is pretty Puh-tastic!!! Like many others in the region, I too can trace some ancestral roots back to china via Vietnam. And in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in a handful of restaurants are specializing in the delicate noodle soup. Some of them use free-range “ga chay” or “gia di bo” (literally, “jogging chicken” or “walking chicken”), yielding bowls full of meat that has a flavor and texture reminiscent of traditionally raised chickens in Vietnam. If you want to create great chicken pho yourself, take a gander at the this recipe and maybe try your hand at making some good ole pho remedy in lieu of chicken soup as comfort food. It is healthy and tasty!There are a variety of vegetables and herbs used to prepare and garnish the pho including:  fresh mint, cilantro, basil, bean sprouts, limes, sliced chili peppers are just some of my favorite accompaniments. Set a plate at the table and your guests can pick and choose what they like.

Veggies and herbs used in Pho

Where to find ingredients

• 2-3 lb. chickens: If your go-to markets don’t carry small chickens (mine don’t), you can find them at Asian markets
• Star anise: If your market has a Mexican foods section, you can usually find a packet of whole star anises in a bag for about $0.99. Note: You can also get cloves and cinnamon sticks in the same section… usually for a fraction of the price of spices sold in the standard baking aisle… in the same market
• Fish sauce: Try an Asian market. Look for an orange bottle with flying fish on it. It’s the best.
• Rock sugar: Also at an Asian market. A whole box with a pound of sugar is usually in the $1.00-range.

Chicken Pho

Chicken Pho Recipe 

(Makes 8 servings)

Ingredients for Broth
6 quarts water

• 2 2-3 lb. whole chickens
• 2 medium yellow onions
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 4-inch piece of ginger
• 5 star anise (40 robust points total)
• 3-inch cinnamon stick
• 1 ½ tablespoon kosher salt
• ¼ cup fish sauce
• 1-inch chunk rock sugar (about 1 oz.)

Ingredients for Bowls 

• 1 ½ lb. fresh small flat rice noodle
• 1 yellow onion
• 3 scallions
• Chicken pieces (from whole chicken used to make broth)

Ingredients for Garnish 

• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 3 sprigs Thai basil
• Handful cilantro leaves
• 2-3 limes



Nate enjoying some Beef Pho! Yummy!

• 2-3 Serrano chilies

Preparation ( Time: 2 hrs 30 min)

1. Preparation for Broth: In a large stock pot, heat up water. Rinse whole chickens clean and add to pot. Quarter onions, pierce them with the cloves (to prevent cloves from floating around in the broth) and add to pot. With a knife, slice the ginger about every quarter-inch to expose more surface area to the water. But don’t slice all the way through, so it’s still in one piece when added to the pot. Add the star anise, cinnamon stick, salt, fish sauce and rock sugar.
2. Bring pot to a boil, then bring heat down to a simmer for 45 minutes. As needed, skim off the top of the broth.
3. After 45 minutes, remove the two whole chickens and let cool for about 20 minutes. Using bare hands, pull of the chicken meat and place meat into bowl. Cover bowl. Return chicken bones to pot.
4. Preparation for Bowls: Peel and cut an onion into paper-thin slices. Then submerge into bowl of water and set aside.
5. About 2 hours into the cooking time, strain the broth to remove all the solids, and return broth to pot.
6. Begin assembling pho bowls. Cook fresh small flat rice noodles according to package directions (usually by submerging in boiling water for 10 seconds). Chop scallion into thin slices. In each bowl, you need the following:
   1. 3 oz. fresh small flat rice noodles
   2. 1 tablespoon chopped scallions
   3. 3 oz. chicken meat
7. Assemble garnish plate: Pull off cilantro leaves from stem. Quarter limes. Add to garnish plate, along with bean sprouts and Serrano chilies and Thai basil leaves.
8. Immediately before serving, ladle hot chicken broth over soup bowls- enough to cover the rice noodles. Serve immediately.

My Thought of the Day

Love Rush: Adrenalin junkies ultimate drug of choice!

In love as it is in life, the outcome isn't something you can foretell. More often than not unrequited love plays out like a tragic tale of two lovers than the unrealistic fairy tales which we so fondly remember as a child. Because    the reality is this screenplay is more of an impromptu skit that doesn't leave room for happy endings. Sadly enough there is no script for the leading characters to follow.  But without such sorrow what would we sing about.

There are countless country ballads that recant the torrid affairs of the heart and how love was lost or never returned. I know I am not alone in finding comfort in music and some songs actually feel like they are singing to me. That is the power of music and song, it reaches into ones soul and tugs on your heartstrings. It may even travel to places no one dared to venture.

Regardless of the impact, the human condition is vastly perplex and more complicated than  some may like to  portray it to be. Take heart,  love is eternal and forever, even if it never returned, for true love requires no reciprocation. It is given selflessly and without expectations. So, don't hesitate to love fully and openly for as long as you love with all of your heart, you are always true to yourself there is absolutely no shame in doing so, because the alternative is not to feel at all. Regret is harder to live with. 

Love like you live, without fear!

                                                           
                                                                                                       
                                                        -Lost n Her Element                                                                 

Who doesn't love surprises?

Who doesn't love surprises from time to time? I think we all do! They make your day and make you smile! Thank you!!

An E-epidemic: The Modern Attention Whore Explained

An attention whore is described as an insecure person that is so emotionally unstable and needy, that they have to constantly be coddled and be the center of attention in any given situation.

Attention whores are generally excessively dramatic and overtly seek out attention. They are enamored with the constant need to be the center of attention. This person (either man or woman), due to their deep-seeded need for validation from others, will often try aggressively to takeover any social setting. Though they tend to start as a bit entertaining to observe they tend to lose their entertainment value and become a nuisance quickly maybe even a pain in the ass. Generally, they have to qualms with crossing lines or stepping on toes to get to what they want, ie. meaning it could very well be your boyfriend or girlfriend. They lack good judgment and are fueled by the intoxicating rush and gratification that comes from attaining said attention.

Hahaha! Too hilarious!!!

Their inclination to obsess over their own extroversion dramatic theatrical talents, perplexing verbal skills and desperate desire to woo people often makes an attention whore quite loud, pushy and annoying. You just want to either get them to shut their trap and maybe even just take a chill pill, or have this overwhelming desire to to hit them with a blunt object repeatedly. We all know one or two and maybe have had to directly with one in the real, but now a new breed of attention whores has hit the cyber airwaves and threatens to become a E-epidemic.

Unfortunately, most of the impulses we may have when dealing with an attention whore will most likely not yield favorable results. I have thought of some idea to help productively deal with an attention whore.

Now before we delve into this process let’s start by understanding what is it about this person’s attitude bothering me because they are loud and aggressive, or because they’re deflecting attention off of me? The human condition is a tricky on, you know, a lot of the times those who have the biggest issues with attention whores are in fact quite motivated by envy of an attention whore’s outgoing and social persona .

Okay, now that we have clarified our motivation, I would like to point out that the best strategy that I have found is just simply ignore the attention whore’s erratic whimsical bouts for attention. Because, let’s face it the alternative response would be to give or appear to give your full interest to an attention whore. This only feeds their exacerbated sense of entitlement and makes them even more obnoxious.

If you are gonna be one, you might as well do it with pride!!!

But, I am going to be a little naughty and not so nice with this next suggestion, but occasionally I have been known to partake in some slightly unsavory activities.Sue me...I do sometimes enjoy toying with said attention whores is to verbally indicate their tendency to take over a conversation and to tease them about it. For example, I’ll say something like: “Wow! You sure have this uncanny obsession with talking about your favorite subject, YOU! You've been blabbing nonstop for over 40 minutes! Is there anything that you failed to mention?

Okay, I know “baiting” isn't a very nice tactic, but it does amuse me to no end from time to time. And I am admittedly a tad dark and twisted when it comes to certain topics. This kind of confident and clever humor is more effective than becoming aggressive, and a lot more effective than simply shutting up. They usually end up offended and storm off in a huff. 

But in all fairness, even attention whores have feelings. So, in the end, I think the most diplomatic and empathetic thing to do with a attention whore is to let them live out their lives. Because, behind all that drama and theatrics is more than likely a traumatized little child inside of each and every attention whore. And sometimes it gets tiring to deal with the never-ending psychological battle with an attention whore, trying to outsmart them, dominate them, ruin their reputation or steal their attention. And god forbids you don’t want to appear like you are just as insecure or an attention whore yourself. Yikes!

Lost’s EndNote: I believe that it is perfectly natural for one to seek a reasonable amount of gratification from compliments and possible attention that may come your way. Now whether it be intentional or not, the excessive need for external affirmation is unhealthy and not a desirable trait, but rather proves to be high maintenance. So, with that in mind, keep yourself in constant check and remember an excess of any good thing isn't always a good thing!

                                                                                - Lost n Vicious Reality

Disclaimer: I couldn't decide which version I liked more so I posted a few:) Enjoy!

                                                

Artist: Deadmau5
Song Entitled: Attention Whore
Version: Frostyboy Remix

Artist: Suicide Commando 
Song Entitled: Attention Whore
Version:  Funker Vogt Remix