Fight or Flight

Fight or flight is a relatively simple statement, which we have all heard at some point. But which side do you stand on: fight or flight? I am sure some situations may vary but what about when it comes to achieving something great. The fear walking down a road of uncertainty but that may lead to something great. What then? Do I battle through and hope for the best or flee for my life but always wonder what could have been. The fear of traveling down that road can be as exhausting as the the constant wonder.

Within the past month I have come across multiple opportunities and multiple paths that could lead to some form of success and happiness but I am still unsure. So when those opportunities actually fully come to form, do I venture down a new path that could be exactly what I want but I will not know without dropping nearly everything first and accepting it; or I could take the latter and flee from the opportunity and run from the unknown.

People often fear what they do not know. So, I guess until those opportunities truly come into play, I just need to expand my horizon a bit.  That leads me to rule #28: expand your horizons. I struggled with coming up with this rule because I wanted to give a fight or flight rule but I guess I will just save that for when I actually make my decision. Open your mind and broaden your outlook on life. I am not saying go out and see the world, I mean that would be awesome and if you wanted to take me I am really okay with that, but knowledge is power and it is important to learn. Not just to learn but to truly grasp and understand material. Like I said, people often fear what they do not know, so why not try to rid that fear by learning as much as possible and preparing ourselves for as many opportunities.

                  Expand Your Horizon

So starting today, venture outward. Not just physically, but also mentally. Try to expand that horizon and I will be doing the same.

For post #28, this is Travis Montgomery signing out!

Hiatus Over/ One Lovely Blog Award Nomination

So I have not had a post in nearly a month. It has been quite a month and I am excited to start sharing again. I have missed writing and seeing all the comments and feedback from my posts. I have also missed my daily rules. I know you guys have as well. 

So where to begin. I actually have the perfect place. I signed into WordPress because I missed writing so much and I was going to continue my blogging adventure. After I signed in, I had notifications from people who had either liked my posts or had left comments (which I promise I will get to). One particular message stood out though. It was from Leanne who had left a comment in my about section. Her comment was about how she had nominated for the One Lovely Blog Award. What a way to come back. I could not be more thankful that someone truly appreciated my writing that much.

Photo credit: Kristina B / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND

That brings me to my first rule of many in the year 2015: do not stop doing what you enjoy. So rule #27 is highly important in continuing to find happiness. Yes, I realize I just attempted to pick up where I left off. Let’s embrace it and move past it. Find something you love and run with it. I felt that me getting wrapped up into blogging was essentially taking up too much time but in reality, I loved reading about other peoples lives and sharing my own. I am much better at writing out my life then speaking it. But find your own niche. Do something healthy and meaningful that brings about change not only in your life but inspires others to continue their own journey.

I can tell you guys right now, just typing this first post of the new year has shown me how much I missed it. I hope all of you had a wonderful New Year and I cannot wait to catch up on the month that has passed.

For post #27, this is Travis Montgomery signing out!

Just Work It Out

So as expected, my assumptions were correct in that my ex is already in a relationship with someone else. That must have been a busy week…or longer. My heart sank, I was angry, I felt sick. But I was not mad at her. I was mad at myself because I felt it was my fault for her falling out of love. It still hurts but I think knowing she has moved on will also help me move on. I was laying in bed, depressed, and feeling a bit lost. That is when I figured it was time to be productive and make my life better.

I have not been working out at the gym as much as I should. I used to be in the gym every day but after my brother left for the military, I lost my workout partner along with my motivation. So this heartbreak is now my motivation. I do not want someone to fall out of love again because it hurts. It cuts deep but instead of dwelling on it, I am going to make a positive change in my life. It is time to get fit. I am a bit of a tight wad when it comes to spending money, so I went to GNC and bought workout supplements. Spending that money will also motivate me to continue to workout.

There is also the benefit of working out any unwanted stress and anxiety. If I can focus all of that energy into the gym, I will not only feel more relieved but I will also have a higher self esteem. Knowing that I look fit will improve my confidence and help keep me distracted from today and the past couple weeks.

Photo credit: jerryonlife / Foter / CC BY

So rule #26, work it out! Get fit. Let all that stress out in the gym and start improving that confidence. Not only will you be happier with yourself but you will also be on your way to a happy and healthy lifestyle. It is a matter of just telling yourself you can do it. I know that can be hard to do. Set a goal, whether it would be weight loss or muscle gain. We can all do it and we are all in the same boat together.

It was a long day and but with a positive ending. I hope that I can start improving my mood to start being happier every day. I have my moments of happiness but sometimes that overall darkness seems to ruin our day. Stay positive and get fit. Even if you are not as happy, at least you will look good!

For post #26, this is Travis Montgomery signing out!

Dream Into Reality

Everyone goes to bed at night in hopes to dream of fantasies or longing loves. Then there are always the nightmares that we wake up from and as soon as you close your eyes, you fall right back into the same place. Quite often our dreams seem so random that there is no trace behind such happenings. If our dreams seem so random, then how can we have reoccurring dreams that stay with us day in and day out. Is it some sort of sign? I am not one to believe in our dreams being signs to follow a path but after the past few nights, I am not so sure.

This is how I imagine myself sleeping                                Photo credit: kaibara87 / Foter / CC BY

My dream that I have been having over and over is kind of crazy but I think it is because I have become so hooked on blogging. I start out in London every time. And I travel to the same tourist attractions London has to offer and then hope on a train for what feels like a matter of minutes. The train always makes the same stop in Paris. I have never been good at geography but I feel like that train ride would take a bit longer. I continue my way through Paris stopping at small cafes and seeing the wonders of Paris.

The whole time I am travelling throughout these two great cities, I am constantly blogging about my travels. Not only do I have an absurd amount of followers constantly reading about my journey but I am also being paid to blog about this. My career is to blog and travel. In my dream, I have a companion named Alana. She is also a blogger and YouTuber that travels with me and we write about our shared experiences together.

Now this would be an exciting profession; to write, travel, and have someone who you can share such experiences with. I got to thinking about this “dream girl” of mine. Not in a weird obsessive way. Although, in my dreams, she is pretty attractive. I just got thinking of the name. The origin of the name Alana is Old German and Hawaiian that means awakening. I do not think my destiny may lay in writing and travelling the world but I do not see any harm in dreaming big.

Photo credit: Janesdead / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

So rule #25: dream big. If you have a crazy dream, there is no harm in following it. Your dreams may take you on an unexpected journey that truly brings about the greatest happiness. Share your dreams and others might help you get there. And by no means, never be ashamed of your dreams because if you want it bad enough, it may become your reality.

For post #25, this is Travis Montgomery signing out!

New Sunday Series: Sunday Funday #1

Sundays are meant for relaxation, football, naps, and really whatever else you may find fun to do. Also, since I am still in school, I have ton of homework due every Sunday. Grad school is really killing me at the moment. So this is why I am starting a series on Sundays that will be shorter posts of something random that I hear that I thought was crazy or funny, or it could even be a quote with an inspiring picture. Basically, Sunday Funday on my page is going to be a hodgepodge of anything going on. Oh, and there will also be no rules/steps like in my other posts. I know, I am sorry.

Photo credit: Jayel Aheram / Foter / CC BY

So to kick off Sunday Funday, since I live in Virginia, I have been born and raised a Redskins fan. I know you guys feel bad but I promise it is alright. I am getting used to the feeling of loss. McCoy did look good last week so we can only hope for the best. (He just threw an interception as I typed that).

On the bright side, I am going to start binge watching Vikings (television show on the History channel). If you haven’t checked it out, it is a must see. The third season is starting in February, so you still have time to catch up!

Good luck to your favorite football team and definitely give Vikings a try. I promise the next Sunday post will be a little longer and a bit more organized. I have some really fun ideas for it. The game has just started so I am starting to get distracted.

For post #25, this is Travis Montgomery signing out!

The Power of A Laugh!

We have all been in moods where we do not feel like interacting with others but would rather have a veil or a blanket draped over us that warns people to stay away. How do you unveil someone or even yourself when you are in such a mood? It may seem like the easiest thing to do when clouded by misery is to go to bed, call it a day, and try again tomorrow. Very guilty of that one. But there is one thing in my personal opinion that will continue to remove my veil. The single, solitary thing that no matter the mood that will forever make me feel better is laughter.

Photo credit: xlordashx / Foter / CC BY

The power behind a laugh is haunting. Even if you are such a mood when you could care less and do not even want to laugh. Admit it, it feels good. If you are ever having a down day or night…or week, surround yourself with laughter. That’s right you guys, another rule is coming. Rule #24, laugh it off. Laugh because you still know you can. If you want to be alone, enjoy the solitude but watch a funny movie or read a funny book. Laughter can do wonders for someone, even when hidden in the confines of their own world.

If you have been stuck in a darker place for awhile, learn to laugh again. I know sometimes it doesn’t seem like it possible and everything is mundane but that first true laugh is authentic and it is contagious. Something so simple as a laugh, becoming so overwhelmingly helpful. Some people’s laugh even makes you laugh harder. We all know that one person with kind of a weird laugh. And if you are that person reading this, your laugh will cause cramps and the happiest tears around the world. So please, do not stop laughing.

Since you guys asked; yes, I had a day to were I just seemed down and out. I wish I could blame it on the rain. But I watched a funny movie, then ran into a couple friends. Just between the laughing at the movie and laughing with a couple of my friends seemed to have stripped me of my dark veil.

Photo credit: HDC Photography / Foter / CC BY-NC

So this Saturday night: laugh with your friends (or at them), laugh at a movie, or laugh because it brings you to smile. We do not have enough days in our lives to spend down and to blame on the rain. So learn to laugh at the rain because by the end, you might be dancing in it. 

For post #23, this is Travis Montgomery signing out!

Letters You Will Never Send

After Friday Night Fright, I figured I would come up with a way of coping with the potential of her moving on. Once I woke up, I turned on my music as I usually do and got ready for the day. A song gave me a bit of an idea. If you have kept up with my posts, I mentioned an artist known as Sam Hunt. He has a song called Goodbye. It is really quite good. Go listen to it now, just kidding. You should keep reading. This song is about a breakup and what they experienced and him saying ‘goodbye’.

In part of the song he talked about writing love letters. A few lines later, he said he is burning those memories. It sparked an idea to help me get over my ex. And judging by some of my posts, that is going really well. I hope you picked up on the sarcasm a bit, but the idea I came up with is write a letter to the ex that you are trying to get over. Never send it. Burn or bury it. Or keep it hidden away in a shoe box in the shadows of your closet.

Rule #23: Write a letter that you will never send. The letter containing every feeling you have felt from the time you first set eyes on the person that you came to love so dearly, all the way to the feelings you felt when you sat there all alone because she had left. Say everything you have ever wanted to say. Leave no detail unturned and put every emotion into every word. Write as if it is the last letter you will ever write.

This can be an emotional process but can be relieving in that sense. Getting everything off your chest and disposing of the letter will help you gradually get over that person. Allowing yourself to put such emotion into something and say everything you have ever wanted to say, then knowing that you can get rid of it is a good sign that you can move on. It always takes that one desperate act or takes that one piece of you to truly know it is gone. But when you have finished and you feel like it has worked some, that is when it will not only be fair to you but to others to start moving on with your life.

Life does not stop just because you have. Try not to dwell too long but if you do, you will always know they were worth while. I know she was for me.

For post, #22, this is Travis Montgomery signing out!

Friday Night Fright

I wish I could say this post is going to be about watching scary movies on a Friday night. Although, that does sound fun. I have vented enough about my previous relationship but I did have a thought today that scared me. Something that I have not thought about since our break up. Will she find someone better than me? That then led to more terrifying questions, like: Has she found someone better than me? Is she happier with him? Am I a terrible person? Okay, that last one may have been a bit much. And yes, I may have had my Taylor Swift lets be the crazy ex moment. But it is something legitimate that I need to come to terms with. She may or already has moved on from me.

How do I come to terms with such a notion? How do I force myself to be happy for her when I am really not? I mean, I guess I am happy that she is happy. But you guys know what I am driving at here. The thought of someone you love being with someone else burns. It is nauseating to think about. I know it will eventually fade and I will feel much better but it is scary to think that her Friday is date night with someone else.

Photo credit: Funky64 (www.lucarossato.com) / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND

All of this hit me while I was at work. I have tried to stay as positive through all this as much as possible and I figured, come up with a rule. My first rule that I came up with in my head was to take a shot for every time I thought of her, but that would not end well. But in the many funny and ridiculous rules I created in my head, I came up with one exceptional rule. Rule #22: be the bigger person.

If she is out there seeing someone else, then that is okay. Be happy for the person because if they have the ability to move on from you, you definitely have the ability to move on from them. Even though it seems slightly impossible at the moment.But I am going to be mature and try to be happy for her not matter how bad it is going to hurt. But this rule also applies to life itself.

Photo credit: Georgie Pauwels / Foter / CC BY

Be that shadow, a remnant piece of yourself that does not act out. Be the bigger man or woman (for all my female readers) and do not let petty things ruin your day. Be mature and act like an adult, even when acting like a child is much easier. It will make you a better person and make you look more respectable. So when you are going through something rough and you have the chance to take the high road; take it and don’t stop driving. 

For post #21, this is Travis Montgomery signing out!

Do It Because It Is Random

We have all experienced ups and downs in our life and regardless as to which it is, they both stick out in our minds. Lately I have been experiencing more bad than good but sometimes that is how it goes. You have to take the bad with the good.

Although it is nice to have good things happen to you, it is also nice to hear great things happen to other people. My oldest brother lives a few states away and we talk nearly everyday. He was telling me how him and his wife were out to eat and they sat chatting next to an older couple at a Japanese restaurant. My brother went on to tell me they seemed to talk more than they ate. Which seemed ridiculous because Japanese is delicious. As their time at the restaurant began to wrap up, they realized their check never came. He asked the waiter after a brief period of time that they never received their bill.

The gentlemen asked what they were waiting for. My brother explained that the waiter never brought their bill to them. The random stranger who they seemed to get along with so much told him that he had taken up the bill. The gentlemen explained that him and his wife had such a good time sitting with them that it was their treat. Wish I could get free Japanese!

Spread it!

With the holiday’s approaching and on the quest to build an epic rule list to find absolute happiness, I have come up with another rule. Yes, I used holiday’s appropriately because no matter what holiday you celebrate or even if you think holidays are a conspiracy theory set up by the government, you can still try this rule. If you think the holidays are a conspiracy, I will personally send you a Christmas gift.

Rule #21: complete one random act of kindness before the week comes to an end. Spreading this chain can bring some much internal and external happiness. So for example, pick up someones tab or randomly give money to a charity. You would not necessarily have to use money to achieve this. Anything that involves kindness that is purely random will do. Spreading such joy to others when you do not have to is a great feeling and just shows how good people can be.

If you would like, post your random act of kindness in the comments and share what you have done.

Enjoy your random acts!

For post #20, this is Travis Montgomery signing out!

Photo credit: Justin Flood / Foter / CC BY-NC

Night Owl or Early Bird?

So over the course of my life I have been referred to both an early bird and a night owl. Not sure if that is a good thing or it just means I do not get any sleep. None the less, most people are considered one or the other. But what if you are like me who stays up way to late into the night but still enjoys the feel of the suns first rays. I am creating a third category. After I finished typing that sentence, I looked to find my third category. Lo and behold, it has already been done. Luckily not much research has been done on this portion of people so I will break it down for you.

This category is known as the hummingbird. Not the most manly bird I was shooting for, but beggars can’t be choosers. The hummingbird is apparently ready at any point in time, day or night. It is the group that does not fit in to the night owl or morning bird categories. I often feel that way considering I started this post before bed and I am now finishing it since I have woken up. I think we all have a bit of that hummingbird flare in in us. Or even the other categories for that matter.

This came to mind when I was stuck watching a show on the science channel which talked about the brain during sleep deprived states and how we function throughout the day but how we can adapt to certain situations over time. I got to thinking about how I probably will never adapt to me going to bed late and waking up early for work. So, I guess on this way too cold of a morning. I will continue to channel my inner hummingbird and hope for the best on the day.

Embrace your inner bird!

This made me respect the hummingbird a little more by naming a rule after it. Rule #20: The Hummingbird. The hummingbird referring to being ready for anything. Be ready at any point and spring into action. Take advantage of what you can at any given time, day or night. Opportunities can be displayed in any way at any time and the hummingbird motto will have you more than prepared to capitalize.

Regardless, if you are a night owl, then enjoy the night and cherish the stars. If you are a morning bird, harbor the beauty of what the morning sun has to offer. For the rest that see the stars and wake up to piercing sun through our window, take advantage of both and enjoy the show the universe is displaying before you. And no matter what category you fall into, be ready for any opportunities that may come your way.

For post #19, this is Travis Montgomery signing out!

Photo credit: Art By Doc / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA