Life is Like A Journey On A Train

Life is like a journey on a train…
with its stations…
with changes of routes…
and with accidents !

By: Mark Anthony – http://www.evidenceofeternity.com/blog/life-is-like-a-journey-on-a-train/

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We board this train when we are born and our parents are the ones who get our ticket.
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We believe they will always travel on this train with us.
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However, at some station our parents will get off the train, leaving us alone on this journey.
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As time goes by, other passengers will board the train, many of whom will be significant – our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of our life.
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Many will get off during the journey and leave a permanent vacuum in our lives.
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Many will go so unnoticed that we won’t even know when they vacated their seats and got off the train !
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This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, good-byes, and farewells.
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A good journey is helping, loving, having a good relationship with all co passengers…
and making sure that we give our best to make their journey comfortable.
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The mystery of this fabulous journey is :
We do not know at which station we ourselves are going to get off.
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So, we must live in the best way – adjust, forget, forgive and offer the best of what we have.
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It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to leave our seat… we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.”
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Thank you for being one of the important passengers on my train… don’t know when my station will come… don’t want 2 miss saying: “Thank you”

Word’s From Andy Rooney – I’ve Learned

I absolutely love Andy Rooney’s sayings. He teaches people a lot about life and so many other things.

Take two minutes to read these sayings and be sure to read all the way to the bottom:

Written by Andy Rooney, a man who had the gift of saying so much with so few words. Rooney used to be on 60 Minutes t.v. show.

I’ve learned ….
That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I’ve learned ….
That when you’re in love, it shows.

I’ve learned ….
That just one person saying to me, ‘You’ve made my day!’ makes my day.

I’ve learned ….
That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I’ve learned ….
That being kind is more important than being right.

I’ve learned ….
That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I’ve learned ….
That I can always pray for someone when I don’t have the strength to help him in any other way.

I’ve learned ….
That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I’ve learned ….
That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I’ve learned ….
That simple walks with my father around the block on summer
nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I’ve learned ….
That life is like a roll of toilet paper.
The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I’ve learned ….
That we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for.

I’ve learned ….
That money doesn’t buy class.

I’ve learned ….
That it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I’ve learned …
That under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I’ve learned ….
That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I’ve learned ….
That when you plan to get even with someone,
you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I’ve learned ….
That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I’ve learned ….
That the easiest way for me to grow as a person
is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I’ve learned ….
That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I’ve learned ….
That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I’ve learned …
That life is tough, but I’m tougher.

I’ve learned ….
That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I’ve learned ….
That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I’ve learned ….
That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her
one more time before she passed away.

I’ve learned ….
That one should keep his words both soft and tender,
because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I’ve learned ….
That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I’ve learned ….
That when your newly born grandchild holds your little
finger in his little fist, you’re hooked for life.

I’ve learned ….
That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain,
but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.

I’ve learned ….
That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

The Purpose of Blogging – Why do we do it?

In the past few blog posts with the subject of communication and along the lines of what is relative to that, the way we feel, how we get our words and points across to the world and how we do it to reach out to others, and to share with the world our points of view, opinions, suggestions, to raise awareness on issues, to advertise, promote, social issues, recipes, tips, organizational ideas, simplifying life and so much more. We all have our own perspective and our own purpose when blogging and writing about our life. The question is why do we do it? Why do we spend time with writing? Why do we post our blog entries?

To answer those questions is quite simple. We all have a voice and existence in this world and there is just so many stories, journeys, experiences, moments, memories, being helpful, useful and beneficial information about life, travel, food, the holidays, situations, issues to address to the world and things that happen to us to share, to give our insight, and so much more. We spend time writing is because it gives us a boost, and the most important thing is how we feel, and how we want to communicate to the world. Blogging is a therapeutic yet rewarding feeling. It is like writing in our diary, but a virtual diary that we want to post public. We post blog entries to contribute something, an idea and something to share with the world.

Now with this being a virtual diary, there comes responsibility and thinking before we press the post button. There are private issues and things that should not be published of real private matters in ones home, in ones personal life. back in the day and maybe until now people have a personal and private diary, and I am sure you do not want certain people to open it up and unlock your diary of real personal things that you do not want people to see, its almost like the same thing with public blogging. You do not want to post private matters for the world to see, so always be mindful and think before you post something so personal.

Never keep your blogging private. It defeats the whole purpose of writing and expressing to the world. If you want to keep some of your writings private, make a diary, and keep it for yourself in hiding, but hiding a blog is pointless. Somehow no matter how private a blog is, somehow it can always be seen in a way.

Never stop blogging, never stop writing and most importantly never lose your purpose and perspective on why you started blogging in the first place. Never give up what you enjoy doing, never ever let anybody tell you to stop doing what you are good at. Well, nobody is perfect, however that should not define anything. You are in control of your own destiny, your own goals you want to attain from blogging and writing to the world. Remember you do not have to be a perfect blogger, its how you feel and what you want to accomplish. The beauty of blogging is something that is indescribable and the future of journal writing which is now.

So, what is your purpose? Why do you do it?

Communication Style – What is your Type?

As we go through life from the moment we are born, communication is and will always be a vital asset in our day-to-day lives. We need communication when we speak to our family members, boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, partners, groups, friends, colleagues, our bosses, fellow students, teachers, traveling, in social media, sending e-mails and so many different types of communication.

I attended a seminar “Inspire For Tomorrow” at my Armenian Community center and it was about communication, and I learned so much in a couple of hours. It put things into a new perspective, it gave me new light, new ways to deliver our speech, our stories, and so much more. There are several ways you can communicate, but here are 4 styles of communication, that I have observed in my life and my thoughts on it all:

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– The Driver — Someone who is direct, to the point, detail oriented, who speaks their mind, who produces results, attaining goals, gets into competitive situations, taking charge and being in control, wasting no time to beat around the bush.

– The Relater — Someone who cares about a situation, who can connect with others by thinking of the other person first, who’s relationships and friendships mean the world to a person, someone who is relaxed, and feel cared for, becoming silent, introspective and withdrawn, being helpful, coinciding with others, comforting others.

– Analyst — One who always seeks data, second guesses people, making decisions after analyzing a situation, testing people, giving people to focus on interpersonal and communication skills, those who despise making mistakes, double-checking everything, not being able to trust situations and people until doing further research on a person.

– Expresser — Someone who recognizes emotions, who expresses feelings, and what that person wants to say, the over sharing person who keeps on talking, and beats around the bush, making a small story into a big one, gets excited, giving feedback, boring people because of overusing communication, explaining ideas to the core then saying things out of turn which then makes it into an argument and problems can arise of sharing too much information.

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All those 4 styles have good and the bad, but we must find a way to be consistent when we communicate with others, using the right tone, words, following up with someone privately about something that you feel is gone wrong, not announcing it in a public, group setting, taking up issues with the person directly, instead of involving others in the mix. People will appreciate it when someone brings the other person to the side and discuss with them a problem, situation or something going on, then finding a solution to the problem, solving whatever issue, and finding the right words, tone to express those feelings.

We must always think about how we are going to present ourselves, no matter where you are, whether it is about self-regard, being assertive, emotional self-awareness, self-actualization, independence. It could be a beautiful thing, but it is in the way we utilize it all.

Communication is a never-ending learning process, and nobody is perfect and makes mistakes, however to always learn from them and progressing to do better, to improve in relationships, friendships, is something that is imperative. If you believe you have made a mistake, do not worry, focus on the future and make it better, improve the way you speak to others, always ask for advice, always have a mentor, someone whom you can talk to a person whom you can trust if you are unsure of how to deal with a situation if you are unsure yourself. It is always good to ask, then to stay silent.

Always be confident, express your ideas to others, be in communication, always tell a person how you feel about something without offending them. There is always a way to go around it. How do you normally handle situations that are presented to you? What have you learned from it all?

Why is communicating and expressing yourself so important? Everyone has a voice, everyone has something to contribute to the world, that is why everyday in technology, and things of the world are being invented, new innovations, new concepts, context, perspectives, theories, discoveries are being made across the world, because many people communicate, and want to get out what they feel is right for the benefit of the world and its people. Each one of us can make a difference in this world, and communication is one of them and we begin just doing that. Without that everyone would not have a voice and this world cannot continue to move forward. That is exactly why Communication is key and so important in our daily life.

So no matter how we express ourselves, the most important thing is the way we do it and a way where it will not hurt others, and where we can find common ground with everything in our lives.

How do you communicate? What is important to you to get across to others? Best wishes to you in your journey. We can all do something positive, say great things and to avoid messy situations, by just changing our tone and the way we communicate.

Never Apologize for The Way You Feel

A lot of the times in life we go through many feelings, emotions, and sometimes we tend to apologize for what we are feeling and telling people our emotions. You have every right to feel what you are feeling, You never have to explain yourself to anybody. Never be ashamed of your feelings. I know they say that you have to express your feelings everytime and tell people exactly how you feel, however sometimes you cannot control feelings, you cannot explain the way you feel due to a certain situation. I know no matter what you have to tell someone how you feel, and not keep anything inside of you, but some circumstances say otherwise. It depends on the person and whom you can confide into easily.

If you keep on living your life on other peoples terms and the way they want you to feel, the way they want you to live your life always telling you what to do, forcing, commanding you to do something is not somebody you want to associate with. Find the path and the people who can relate to you, do what you feel is right for you. Sometimes you need to get out from the norm, and do what is best for you. If you keep on living your life to please others, to always try and impress others, to always keep proving yourself and working hard for other peoples approval, you are not going to get anywhere in life and all you are going to do is just live for other people.

Sometimes you need to put your foot down and say, okay enough is enough. People talk so much about you and your life, gossip, spread rumors, put words in your mouth and what you should do with your life, however sometimes people need to look at themselves in the mirror first before they point fingers, criticize and belittle you. Some people have nothing better to do, than talk smack about other people, when they need to sort out their life and what they need to do. Remember nobody full knows you and about your personal life and what you are going through, and you never have to explain yourself to nobody.

Ignore people who talk so much bogus about you, and ignore people and block them out of your life. Life is too short. Be happy, be you, live your life on your own terms and your own comfort, and do not worry about anything else. People are always going to judge and point fingers. Don’t let it affect you and your life, well-being and who you are. True, compassionate and understanding people will be there for you every step of the way without explaining yourself. Remember others opinions of you, do no matter. Its how you make an opinion of yourself that matters. As long as you feel good about yourself and bring yourself up with good thoughts, confidence, the way you are is what matters the most.

People will always do and say mean things, but never let that take control of yourself.

I have realized a lot of things in the last little while, that you cannot expect people to understand you, your feelings and be on the same page as you, not everybody will be your friend and agree with you. I recommend that people should never stop being themselves, be who you are, feel what you want to feel. In the end we are all human beings in this world, we do make mistakes, we do wrong in social issues, we tend to sometimes associate with people whom we always have to try to fit in, do things to stay in the loop, however you never need to try to fit in, try so hard, and try to stand out, because there will be people who will appreciate you for you and there will be people who will love and cherish you and the memories shared and will share in the present and the future.

Wishing you the best with everything and remember never apologize for the way you feel. Always be thankful and just go on with life. There is only so much you can do and life will never give you more than you can handle.

Ways that We Can End The Cycle of Bullying

Since I was a child up until High School, I was emotionally and mentally bullied and I know what it is like to be hurt so badly, being put down, always making fun of me because I was different then everyone else and it was the most toughest times of my life. I didn’t have friends, I didn’t have what others had when they were with each other in groups when I felt left out and being an outcast 99.9% of the time. They were moments that I will never forget, no matter if I have moved on or not. It sticks with you, however I have learned to live past it and began doing positive things in life, to move forward and to stop dwelling on the past. I have been taking a lot of new approaches to this matter and I am going to begin my own social group where people come together from all walks of life and make new friends, interact with others and just figure things out, hear other peoples perspectives on social issues.

There is always a solution and some form of ways to end this terrible cycle going on. Bullying is a very serious problem and it does need to be rectified as soon as possible. It is enough of torment, disgusting behavior that needs to be addressed quickly before it escalates even further.

Now here are ways that we can all come forward to end bullying:

– Creating small, intimate, or large social groups amongst you’re community for those who want to make friends and gather together to create a lovely group of individuals who can relate to one another, creating activities, discussing issues, doing fun, interactive, communication, group work.

– In this modern day society the importance of making it a mandatory course/subject that must be taken and taught in schools and institutions, also the workforce on the prevention of bullying, cyber bullying, social media safety, communications course which should teach students/workers what not to do, what not to say to their fellow peers/colleagues.

– Teachers, Parents, Guardians, School Guidance Staff, School Principals, and as well as outside of school grounds must always be involved in securing our schools, Implementing tougher penalties, more 0 Tolerance in Schools and also the workforce of any type of bullying that should not be allowed, suspension and expulsion.

– tell a person you trust about your feelings, what you are going through and never keep it inside you. Always tell someone you can confide into. Do not wait long to tell someone. In fact tell someone right away.

– Advocate and be proactive in this issue, write to your local papers, attend meetings, start a blog, use social media as a powerful tool to send messages, hashtags globally and come up with your own ways to prevent bullying

– Read up on inspirational quotes, save them on your computer, print them out and scatter positive, happy quotes where you can see them easily, and begin the journey to a happy road ahead.

– Always surround yourself with positivity, good people, do happy things for yourself, and stay away from negativity.

We are on the right road and path to make bullying history, and to look forward to a positive, happy and bright tomorrow. So start today, you can make a difference in someone’s life. No matter how old they are. Bullying has no age as it happens to kids, teens, young adults, youth, adults, and the elderly. Lets end this cycle now.

— If you have more ways to prevent bullying, write them below in the comments section. Thank you.

I Have Found My Mentor, My Guardian Angel

Since joining the social media world and more particularly Facebook, I have come across incredible, awesome and lovely people. Some whom I have met face to face, and some I have yet to meet. We are always in constant communication which is so lovely. It is great to encounter and chat with people, to make friends and to be in a total new interface of communication taking it to the next level. Once you meet a friend you met through a social media outlet face to face, its such a great experience that knowing you kept talking to that person with your fingers doing the typing, and now seeing them is a total different ball game. It is awesome how the world gets smaller.

However, there is this one person whom I have been friends with for about 3-4 years now, and we communicate on a weekly basis and, the reason why I call that person my mentor and guardian angel is because that person is one, which I am so glad to have met also. My guardian angel told me to never let anybody get to you, never let others belittle you and bring you down. That person has told me to always be happy in life, keep smiling, enjoy, laugh and live life to the fullest extent. Life is too short to be sad and dwell on the past.

At one point I had to open up to someone about what I am feeling and all those miserable feelings of that past that kept on haunting me with all that bullying toward me and everything going on when I was growing up. It was not a pleasant thing to go through with my peers at school emotionally and mentally bullying me to the point where I was not able to defend myself, with not being able to stand up for myself and back myself up in situations that I could not control. I just did not have the answers. Then those answers came to me and my mentor really came to me at the right place and at the right time. Everything was so timely. I just couldn’t believe it, but it did happen and its something I am ever so grateful for.

This person said to me, to never worry about what others think of me, as long as what you think of yourself which is the most important thing. That person said the more you worry and care about what others think, that is time wasted, when you could be focusing on positive, optimistic things and look forward to a beautiful life that is meant to be lived on your own terms, not anybody elses.

My mentor and guardian angel put my head back up and told me to be strong, to keep my head up, smile and not care about what people think of me. That person helped me in so many ways that I do not know and how to begin to even thank that person for everything that person said and did for me. I truly believe that each and every one of us has a mentor and guardian angel. We just have to look deeper and that person will come to our lives as a blessing, becomes like family and someone whom we can share everything with.

My guardian angel sent me so many quotes about life, about positivity, and giving me lectures and life lessons. This person has been through so much and now my mentor said to me, “I enjoy making people smile, to have a good time, to bring joy and happiness to kids, to youth, to young adults, and everyone”. That person said to me “Smiles are priceless to me” it does not come with a price tag. – I truly believe in that and its something that I find so warming, so pure and genuine.

Now, the reason why I am not naming my Guardian Angel, My Mentor and even the gender of this person is that I like my Guardian Angel to remain anonymous. My Mentor will forever be part of my life and its one of the greatest feelings in the world to know that someone genuinely cares for you with no strings attached. It feels amazing.

It is incredible on how the internet and social media can serve a great purpose in life. It helps people find other people in relative to their situation, it helps people find their way in life and listening, reading, observing and doing great things. Not everything in social media is bad. It is all in the way you utilize it. Some skeptics always have something bad to say about social media and the people you meet, but it is really not a bad thing at all. Who knows who you encounter. There are still some great people out there for each and every one of us to discover. Sometimes it can be hard to find, but sometimes everything can fall into place and we can find that person just in time as I did. I am ever so grateful for social media and the internet Because I found my mentor and Guardian Angel.

A New Beginning to a New Perspective on Life

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about life, where I stand and the time of whom I spend it with and among doing things for myself and the betterment of me and my future. Life is tough sometimes and we have to find ourselves and look forward to new beginnings and a whole new perspective on life to close a chapter and begin a new one. I have spent a lot of time in the last few weeks just analyzing everything going on. You how they say everything happens for a reason. I truly believe in that.

I am very excited and enthusiastic about what my future holds from now. As I had stated a few blog posts ago on how I am getting back into the Armenian community, how I am joining in on events, getting to know people, making new friends, new beginnings. in the last couple of weeks or more, I have been going to a local Coffee shop and I met some really nice Armenian people who go there and every time I go, they are so welcoming, they say hello, and automatically I join them. It feels so great to be there with them and enjoy my couple of hours with them. We laugh, talk, and do our daily ramblings about our lives. It feels incredible.

I have been so bullied in my life when I was growing up in school from when I was in Kindergarten, almost everyone looked at me differently, which to this day I cannot understand the reasons why and with that result, you find it more difficult to trust people, you second guess, and still think everyone is against you. It is extremely difficult sometimes to find closure from unfortunate events that occurred in life, however you think to yourself, how much longer can you do this for? How much more of this can I absolutely take?

Sometimes you have to let go of those unfortunate feelings you have and move forward in life. The only way to find closure, to get a new perspective on life is to move on and to wake up to smell the roses. Take some time for yourself and think things through and just go with the flow. Sometimes you feel like you always need people around you, but you need to spend time alone by yourself to fully think things through.

As long as you have very few friends and your family to count on, the foundation and beam of support from loved ones and those whom you can absolutely trust, confide in is all you really need. When you feel that you no longer second guess things and finally find peace and harmony, everything else will fall into place. Not only socially, but for success, a career choice and so much more. I realize that life is too short, and its really important to always think forward and leave the past where it is. I am learning to never let the past define me of who I am today.

I am absolutely positive and happy about the new findings in life and I look forward to the many plans and goals I have made to achieve them, to strive for success, to get out there and make myself known, to do many things that I have put on hold. I am confident and optimistic about everything. I cannot wait to share it with you all and update on my success and hard work that has taken me to climb that ladder once and again.

Everyone can contribute something wonderful and worthwhile in life. Sometimes circumstances and things come up last minute that it may take longer, but however long it may take, do it. There is no time limit. Its what you feel and how you feel is the importance of everything. Have you recently taken a new perspective on life? Did you start your new beginning? How is it going? Best wishes to you and may you find your calling. What is your story?

Feeling Left Out – Worst Feeling Ever

In life one of the worst feeling is about feeling left out and its terrible having to find out friends make plans without you and do not even tell you about it until having to find out after. It is such a terrible feeling to go through and no one should have to go through it.

Sometimes these things happen to open up our eyes about certain people who do not appreciate you for who you are, and these are the things to know where you stand and what to do in future. So, Don’t worry about others who do not appreciate you. The person who comes to your life and does not leave you to the curb and leaves you out to dry is someone to keep in your life.

Have you been through a situation where friends, cousins, or anyone go out without your knowledge, then having to find out about it through pictures, a slip up in a conversation on another gathering, finding out from other sources. It is the crummiest feeling ever and nobody should be subject to those terrible feelings.

A real friend will tell you that they will be hanging out or something and will always involve you, will always ask you if you are available. True friends will never leave you high and dry, they will not keep anything from you, they will not lie to you, they will not use you.

True friends help each other, love each other unconditionally, who enjoys each others presence, who make memories together, who go through thick and thin together, who spend time together, who advise, involve each other in everything and anything in our lives.

I know it is a terrible feeling, but look at it this way, you know where you stand, you know who not to involve in things in your life when you make plans, and you definitely know who not to trust anymore. Choose your circle carefully and do what you feel is right for you. Feeling alone is terrible, but being with the wrong people will make you feel more alone. Keep that in mind. Best wishes to you!

Have We Become An Over-sharing Society on Social Media?

Since social media has come into today’s society for several years now, with an easy and instant way to communicate to the world about our every move, and everything that goes on in our lives. The question is, have we become an over-sharing society? Is it necessary to post every single thing that we do on a daily basis? Do we think a few times before clicking on the submit, send, post buttons? Things, that we do on a daily basis that are so common in this world, and things that we on social media platforms do not need to know about. Too much information is being transmitted through the world in an instant and some that should not even be. Once you post something, even for a few seconds and delete it, It is on the internet forever, and it very hard to delete it, because the internet has cached files and once you go on any search engine, it is very easy to see what you post. I have seen a lot of things on social media and it has become a very concerning thing.

I know we are free to post what we want, but some things should be kept private and even very personal matters in one’s life should not be shared to the world, especially when it comes to family life. I know although it is good to post to educate others on situations and everything and if you are going to post something, generalize on a topic, issue or subject, do not make it personal about you and your loved ones.

Here are examples of common things that we do that should not be shared for the billions of people around the world to see:

*****— I just went to the washroom — I just took a shower — I am now going out for a walk — I did laundry — I just cleaned the house — I did some gardening outside — I just changed the oil on my car — I took my car for a car wash — I am going out to eat with friends – *****

Those are the things I am talking about. Not just writing things online, but also photos and videos that are necessary. Nothing is kept private anymore unfortunately, but things should. I know you want to document everything in your life, you want to do everything to look back to those memories and enjoy it, but there comes times where you need to leave all technology behind and just focus on the moment and the memories to make, so you can replay them in your mind. Sometimes with technology we miss things happening in our lives with screens constantly in our faces.

There is more to life, than to post every aspect of it for the world to see on social media. Yes I am guilty of posting and doing things like that myself, but I know my limit and I am always within it. Always take responsibility, be responsible, and be smart.

Yes, there are great and positive ways to use social media and it is all in the way you use it. Always ask, do research and think before you post. Is it thoughtful, helpful, inspiring, nice and kind? Always THINK – BEFORE – YOU – POST –
Enjoy your social media journey, but limit yourself, and do good things with it.

Travel Reviews – Be your Own Judge

When we are planning or have planned a trip whether its an airline, resort, hotel, city, and the whole travel experience, were all intrigued, interested and wonder what the experience will be like, so if not most of us or all of us tend to venture out to the internet to find information on star ratings, hotel ratings, it amenities and more, however as much as we read people’s reviews, the ratings and all that, it is important to be your own judge to rate your travel experience yourself. You cannot go with what everybody else says. you need to form your own opinion.

As I have stated before, that yes doing research is a must to further prepare yourself for your trips, however do not go to review sites to research as it can be misleading. Go to real travel websites to find out information, Go to airline websites, and Federal Governmental Travel websites to find the correct information on Visa’s, Travel Documents, Travel Advisories, what countries to avoid, what the country laws are. So important to always go right to the source for information, not by what others share, then you will be problem free. People go above and beyond sometimes of what they write online on these travel advisor sites.

Enjoy your travel, be safe and have fun. 🙂 Bon Voyage!

Travel Gives Meaning to My Life – Exploring The World

for 21 and half years now, traveling has been a big part of my life with having the opportunity to visit many places around the world from most of the Caribbean, To few countries in Europe to visiting my homeland Armenia, visiting many US Destinations, Across Canada and more. I have had the opportunity to fly on many different types of Airlines, Going to different types of airports, traveled on cruise ships, went on road trips and just basically to live life to the fullest extent, to enjoy life and to make most of it exploring and being in the action. I love keeping travel brochures, aviation brochures, and collecting plane models.

That is why I have so much travel knowledge, efficient ways to travel, giving people advice, hassle free tips, and so much more. My friends and family always ask me for travel advice no matter where the destination and form of travel it is. You can as well. I am just an e-mail message and comment away. Traveling is a big passion of mine as you are observing now. It has been for 2 decades and counting. I love going to the airport and getting on a plane. I love experiencing the take off of the plane and the landing. I love the acceleration of the plane so much, and I always get window seat, so I can look outside, even if I am flying over clouds. Its beautiful. Whenever I am at Pearson Airport in Toronto YYZ, It always gives me energy, even if its just being around there, dropping people off, picking people up and of course going into the airport and taking a flight out. It excites me all the time. I love terminal 3.

If you can travel, do it. It changes your life, your perspective and outlook on things. Traveling makes you more independent, aware, explorative, gives you knowledge, and so much more. When you are a well-traveled person, there will always be something to talk about, talking about the world, being more familiar with geography, learning new cities and towns, whether its a moment you experienced, the type of people you met, the part of the world that is different from home, the way people live life and much more.

I cannot wait to travel more in the future. It is one of the best things to do in life. Never be scared of traveling. I never am. No matter what I hear on the news. What do you enjoy about travel? What is traveling to you? Would love to hear from you. Safe and Happy travels!

Things that Traveling Does To You

In life one of the best things to do is to travel, see the world and to get out of our local geographical location to explore and see other walks of life. It is a beautiful and great feeling to hop on a plane, get into a car, get on a cruise ship and so much more to discover. for 21 years I am glad, fortunate and thankful that I got to experience and hopefully will experience more of traveling in future. Here are things that traveling does to you:
1. You become more aware of the world

2. You get much better at Geography

3. You get to see how people live, and handle day to day life.

4. you will come across different types of people, personalities, and they’re actions.

5. you will see different types of Money currency

6. You become more educated, learn about the country, town.

7. You learn how to travel, and experience an adventure

8. You gain a new perspective on life, when you see the world you appreciate things more as some countries in the world are in poverty and do not have enough to eat, a bed to sleep on, not a roof over their heads and much more, which then opens up peoples eyes to quit complaining about not having everything, because we do have everything. Some people around the world do not even have clean drinking water. (I know it doesn’t take materialism to make people happy in those impoverished 3rd world countries, because I do see that a lot of those people are happy with whatever they have when I traveled to see these villages) However as a kid it opened up my eyes, and that is why I am more caring, appreciative, fortunate, and thankful for what I have and materialism does not interest me one bit.

9. You learn about other cultures, heritage, beliefs, history, and more.

10. You learn how to be more confident, aware, and learn new things all the time when traveling

11. You get to hear different languages, see different gestures.

12. You will get to listen to different types of cultural music, and music that symbolizes that country, city, town

13. you will be more aware and develop skills for traveling, sharing your travel experience, what you saw, what you did, who you met. etc…

14. as you travel more, you get more excited to explore, even if its a tropical destination where you lay down at the beach, and take in the sun, sand, the salt ocean, sea water, and relaxing at a resort

15. When you go on cruise ships, you explore more than one country in one vacation, city, town, and several and few hours of touring, and enjoying the city, village, town and you will then say, Hey I have been there.

16. You will know a difference between a getaway and vacation. A getaway is somewhere to explore, and be adventurous, going to museums, churches, world landmarks, backpacking, and all the trips that involve intense touring, hustle, bustle, and a vacation is somewhere, where you relax all week at a resort, where you need some much needed rest and get refreshed.

17. lastly, traveling requires research before you leave. to make sure that you have the right documents, visas, passports that have no expired and that will teach you responsibility of handling your own documents, and making sure that you have everything up to date and you are ready to take this special and beautiful journey of travel. You will learn about the local laws of the destination you travel to.

Enjoy Traveling. Not many people get lucky to do it! So if you can travel, and explore the world, do it! Some people have never even seen an airport which I have encountered people like that in my life. Traveling changes you big time and gives you a new perspective on life.

Protecting Yourself While Traveling – Tips to Keep you Safe

When Traveling and going to the Airport, it is very important to keep yourself protected and safe at all times and I have the advice, tips and ways to protect yourself and your identity, as it is easy to obtain your information from your luggage contact tags. Here are ways you can protect yourself:

1. Never ever keep your baggage tags visible with your contact information sticking out for people to see. Always tuck in your contact information such as your phone number, e-mail, home address. Purchase Bright coloured tags, but like a sleeve pocket that is not invisible. Unfortunately You will be surprised on how much crime is committed and how many identities have been stolen in the past and possibly until now. So keep your information tucked in.

2. A lot of bags now are similar in colour, sizes, and can easily be taken by mistake by another passenger, make sure you have tags that you know and are aware of what bags are yours, or buy baggage that is a different colour. We now see a lot of black, brown, navy blue, red, and dark purple bags, but get out from the ordinary and get something that you will identify quickly.

3. Make sure that you print and put your contact information inside the baggage too in case your luggage information tag falls out. Heaven forbid if your baggage gets lost or is left behind at an airport and did not make it to the plane, they can identify who’s bag it is and will contact you.

4. Always make sure you jot down the make of your baggage, the size, colour, contents, and write down the description of all your travel baggages on paper so that in case if it gets lost or left behind hopefully not, you can go to baggage claim department at the airport or you can directly contact the airline and quickly give in the information without struggling to figure it out. They will give you a number of your baggage on a white sticker paper and will put one on the baggage so that they can locate the bag in the destination that it was lost in.

5. Never ever leave your baggage and personal belongings unattended before going to the airport, at the airport, and on your return flight and arrival. When you go to the washroom, take it inside the stall with you, when you are going around the shops, always keep one hand on your bag, never ever leave your bag behind you, unless when it has wheels that you wheel it with you when you are going to the gate or where ever at the airport. – Someone can easily put something in it or steal your bag.

6. After checking in for your flight at the airport, have your carry on luggage locked until you head to the security screening, and then after going through security always lock your carry-on luggage to protect your belongings. If you have a carry on purse only, this does not apply to you, but those who just have wheeled carry on bags.

7. When boarding your plane, make sure that your carry on baggage is visible to you when you put it up on the overhead compartment of the plane and remember where you put it, so that you can keep an eye on it in case somebody else mistakenly takes it after landing to the destination.

8. Never ever accept any closed or sealed packages or bags to deliver because you never know what is inside. Then you can be fined, charged, and commit a crime unknowingly, then you can say goodbye to your traveling days. Always ask the person, and open it for yourself. Better yet, do not even bother. If that person wants that stuff delivered, let them do so by a courier company or let that person deliver it themselves. Never accept the responsibility of taking someone elses stuff unless you see it for your own eyes and make sure that it is accepted by security and customs by doing research online.

9. Never keep your carry on baggage, purses, or personal items open. Always zip up your bags. Keep wallets, travel insurance documents, tickets and passports in the depths of your bag, but keep them together so that it takes only couple of seconds to get out from your bag, but never keep your passports and tickets on top of your bags and where its easy to be taken away. especially if you have money visible. Always keep that separate.

10. If you see or feel that anything is suspicious with a passenger or see something not right, right away tell your flight attendant, airport ground employees, security or whoever. Your name and yourself will be kept confidential. The eye in the sky will also monitor as well.

11. If you do fall asleep while at the gate waiting for your flight, always have your hands and your feet on your carry on baggage at all times especially if it is just you who is traveling and nobody else is with you, so that if you do feel like its being touched or something, you will wake up.

12. If some things are of great value to you, and if you have an emotional attachment to it, do not pack them in your carry on. best to keep it at home. Best bet is, do not bring valuables with you and expensive real jewelery with you or things that cost you a lot of money. Do not buy expensive carry on baggage or handbags or even your checked baggage.

13. Never pack medication, laptops, camera’s, small electronics in your checked baggage.

That is it, have a safe and great flight, but always keep in mind these tips to keep you safe and protected. It is very important. Also in daily life when you go out, always protect yourself and take extra measures to keep you and your personal belongings safe.

How Certain Airlines Can Improve Quality Service

In this day in age, some Airlines not to name them, but in the travel industry has drastically changed their ways in terms of quality service, taking away many great things such as dining options, and so much more. Some airlines still do just offer water, soft drinks, juice, coffee and tea on short flights and of course long flights, but a lot has changed and not for the better, but for the worst. Unfortunately it is not in the hands of the Flight Attendants, and other employees of those certain Airlines, but the ones who are high up in the Airline Travel Industry who govern and come up with these ridiculous ideas which to this day, don’t know how it has been approved. In a lot of Industries, Money and greed gets in the way of many things. Some airlines used to provide stationary napkins, disposable airline food plates, cutlery, giving candies, and other things, where headsets used to be complimentary back in the day. Nowadays, its very rare. Even now in US destinations they are charging to check bags in, and Carry on Baggage are getting heavier. Well, here are tips and tricks on Airline Quality that needs to come back. Besides we pay a lot of money for our trips, and to take us to our destinations, but Here are ways to improve it all:

1. US Destinations and all flight that go to the US, or get out from US, charge $25.00 or whatever the fee to check baggage, whereas passengers are making carry on baggage a lot more heavier, so they save on money. Besides the passengers pay enough for their flights and you would think that these airlines would offer checking bags as a service, not charging extra for it as it should automatically be a given. They do not think that people can boost US Economy by buying gifts and souvenirs, but are stuck for space because majority of the people just use Carry on to travel to those destinations. So people do not know what to pack anymore because of it. Ok $25.00 may not be a lot of money, but it is for others and nobody should have to pay that amount. They were doing well all these years without that fee, why out of the blue start with it now? Greed and Lack of service is the cause. More money in the CEO and executives pockets.

2. Say you are traveling from New York to California, which is a long flight of about 5 hours or so, These airlines do not offer complimentary dining anymore, you need to dish out more dollars to eat on a plane. They come around giving these small snacks to everyone, which has about 4 or 5 pretzels in it, or whatever it is. Nobody should have to dish out more money then what they paid for their flights to eat. It should be a given and a service that should be included. No matter the duration of flight, give passengers something.

3. Say you are traveling to Boston, Massachusetts from Toronto, Canada, but have to connect to say Newark, New Jersey which is more southern than Boston, which then the plane has to fly back north, whereas a flight from Toronto to Boston is about an hour and a half, which then becomes an all day event. It should not happen. Connecting flights, especially in the US. It is okay to connect flights in Europe and go to another destination from there, but if they are flights that are 30 minutes to 5 hours in length should not connect, especially those flights that go out of their way like say you are Flying to Florida From Toronto, but have to connect flights in Chicago which is more west, and then you have to take another plane to fly to Florida from there. It really does not make any sense to me. Its a 2 and a half hour flight from Toronto, Just take people there instead of having people get off the plane, to change terminals and gates and get passengers exhausted. — I know in situations, they need to fill up the planes, and get more passengers aboard, but whatever the case, People should be relaxed and comfortable. Not hussle and bustle through hundreds of airports to get to a destination.

4. When passengers board the planes, give the passengers a complimentary headset, or a keepsake with the Airline logo, candy, chocolate with the logo, a re-usable shopping bag with the airline logo on it, or something really nice for passengers. Besides we the passengers keep these planes flying and we are the ones who boost the travel industry. Without passengers, the industry will go bye bye, and we do not want that, do we?

5. Flight attendants, Ground Crew, Airline stewards, Pilots, Co-Pilots, and other employees are trained to do their jobs from how each airline operates their services, where the CEO’s, Supervisors, Managers, and those high up tell them what to do all the time, and tell them how to operate, but some Airlines I have traveled with, they do not smile, and the quality is not there as it used to be years ago. They work so hard and they should be appreciated more, Give them bonuses, give them appreciation because Airport, Airline industry is one of the hardest jobs to do, and when airports are bigger it takes a lot out of them with the many long hours due to delays, or other reasons. They deserve a lot of respect, and maybe the Airline Crew will smile, and feel more appreciated for the work they do with paying them to make ends meet and basically the passengers pay enough for their flights, so money management and using that money wisely to further improve quality of service is a must. Greed does not get anybody anywhere in life. Just makes things a lot more complicated.

6. Baggage handlers and those responsible for getting your bag to your planes, need to be more careful with peoples bags, and to make sure that checked baggage gets to the correct planes, and not left behind at airports, and to make sure that those bags get to their owners when they arrive at another airport. I have seen the way that these baggage handlers operate and it is not good. No wonder why some baggage gets lost, damaged, and does not make it to the other destination. Need to double triple check the luggage tags and where the destinations are, So that we do not run into problems with baggage all the time, and focus on energy on important things such as getting passengers to their perspective destinations safely with all their belongings.

What other ways can Airlines improve? I would like to hear from you and your opinions on how airlines need to change rules for the better and to make flying a fun, enjoyable, comfortable, relaxing and exciting thing for all travelers.

Safe travels and hope that your airline experience is a pleasant and happy one.