Smiles

Smiles are one of my favorite things in the world. Sound crazy? Maybe so but when someone smiles it is like an influence of happiness to my heart. Sound cheesy, perhaps but its true. I am convinced if someone did a study they would find that it is truly contagious! Oh but wait there is a study... this is what it saids

"In short, scientists have learned that one of humanity’s simplest expressions is beautifully complex."

A smile begins in our sensory corridors. The earcollects a whispered word. The eyes spot an old friend on the station platform. The hand feels the pressure of another hand. This emotional data funnels to the brain, exciting the left anterior temporal region in particular, then smolders to the surface of the face, where two muscles, standing at attention, are roused into action: The zygomatic major, which resides in the cheek, tugs the lips upward, and the orbicularis oculi, which encircles the eye socket, squeezes the outside corners into the shape of a crow’s foot. The entire event is short — typically lasting from two-thirds of a second to four seconds — and those who witness it often respond by mirroring the action, and smiling back.

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/the-psychological-study-of-smiling.html

Incase you would like to read it is there, it doesn't quite say what I am purposing but I know if they give it a little more time they would find my results. 

Smiling really does make a difference, either you are the person that smiles back and feels good about the person who just smiled at you. It makes you think humanity isn't so bad after all. Or you are that person who thinks that the person smiling at you is a weirdo and make an awkward face as you try to ignore them! Either way a smile makes some sort of impact on you. Maybe I am just a dreamer and would hope that everyone felt the way I did, or perhaps I would hope that humanity is good! Either way I am a "hardcore" smiler. 

Blytheville...Your face sucks?!?!

I never knew this place existed, as matter a fact I would have never cared. However, I stumbled upon this little town because of a classmate who suggested we car pool to do our Hurst review for the NCLEX exam in January. I thought why not spend a whooping $350 bucks for this review and perhaps on my way I would discover a cool little town.

Well upon driving into Arkansas a little bird flew right into our windshield. I literally held my face with both hands and could not believe what had just happened. The noise was unreal, if that was a little bird, I can’t imagine the sound of a deer. I mean Liz was driving at 75 mph on the freeway, this wasn’t a slight tap, and this was full on death for the birdie. I really thought hard could that little guy be alive or did the impact immediately take his little life. There was a slight imprint of the bird on the window. But we had to continue through our journey.

So once we arrived in Blytheville, we went for some coffee at the local McDonald at the gas station. We arrived at this community college, where our instructor was so energetic and out of control. She made it all better, however we had this obnoxious girl in the class, who said the most inappropriate things and ridiculous things. For example, “ I don found it.” I mean I get that we are in south but I am sure that she was taught proper English. She thought she was extremely funny but really just annoying.

On our way out Liz and I got to our hotel, where I was told I needed to put a credit card down to pay for our hotel. As I tried to explain to the front desk lady that I had already paid for the hotel online, she went ahead and charged the credit card on file again $40 less than what my online bill had said. When I looked at the last 4 digits it was not my credit card. So I told her several times this was not my credit card and she said oh well I already charged it. I got the CC number to check and see if it was my sisters. After calling hotwire, they informed me that that was their CC number and I should have never been given that number and to not use it. I clearly laughed as I couldn’t believe it I had the full CC number and the expiration date; the front desk lady was an idiot and not a happy one at that.

For dinner we went to the best-rated restaurant El Puerto, where I got to use my Spanish at $1.35 taco and 3.50 margarita who could pass up this little hidden gem. This town is strange it has an old dirty smell to it, however the downtown area that we saw had this worn down look, as though some significant history could have been here. But other than that there is no charm here.

Take a word of advice, do not step foot into Blytheville, Arkansas, the smell, the look, the vibe, is of an old raggedy doll. If this is what the rest of Arkansas is like I am a little worried to visit any other part of it. However if you have a little friend like Liz with you, you can take any town my storm! 

Another one that does not bite the dust!

It has been another long run since I wrote on my blog, but now again I have been inspired to write! I just finished my first year of my MSN nursing program one more to go. Its been a quick ride through and I am  very happy to have made this decision. Along this journey of mine I have met some incredible people along the way. Some people who are nothing like me but I find that I can learn so much through them. As I invested time and a lot of money in this particular journey, which is rare for me, since naturally I have a nomadic lifestyle. And come on who really thought I would end up in Memphis, out of all places? So what I am saying is during this new adventure I have found something that I really enjoy and if I may say so I am good at, its dealing with mental health, its not just people with bipolar issues, but depression, anxiety. I am good at listening and mostly I am intrigued by what causes humans to get into this state of being. So in my studies and observation if we can't help the mental aspect of humans how we possibly fix the physical?

I met a particular person in nursing school, at first I didn't pay much attention to this person, but I saw him quite frequently because he was always helping people. I am not much for receiving help unless I ask for it. People used always talk about him, how nice, great, and helpful he was. We randomly spoke here and there but nothing too intense. One day I finally sat down to speak to this person who everyone had only great things to say about. I was quite intrigued to find out how "all together" he had it. What I found more intriguing was how he had this desire to help people without really asking for much in return, he truly wanted people to do well in school and did not mind devoting his time. I never utilized him as a resource because I was pretty good at that particular subject. As I got to know him better I realized that he wasn't just trying to get through school, but this guy was really intelligent. He really wanted to know all aspects of medicine, he wanted to practice become proficient in what he was doing. Most of the time I can say that some people have advantages over others because of gender role. For example men get paid more then women, they move up quicker, or because you are a minority you have a better chance of receiving a scholarship, etc...

However in this case it is true men are more favored in nursing because there is not many of them but for once I did not care about this because he really paved the way for himself, even if he wasn't a man the things he has done and accomplished would make anyone want to hire him. Volunteering, helping others, working on research papers and being published, shadowing nurse practitioners, he wanted to embrace everything he could about this particular field and he did it.

I am inspired by this individual, because I found many lazy people who do not motivate you in any way, better yet they do nothing but bring others down!

I really enjoy meeting new people for this particular reason! Just when you think that there isn't a good soul out there, or someone you can look up to, I randomly meet someone who inspires and motivates me to do better. I typically write about an amazing person I have met each year and I have been slacking the past couple years! Memphis has showed me a lot and while living here I have met many great folks, this is just one good example!