Love.....a Criterion for Happiness?

Is love truly necessary to be happy in life?

In my opinion.....emphatically.....YES! Now that's not to say that you have to be married or anything like that. But in some way shape or form, love is a necessity in everyone's life in order to be genuinely happy. Whether that love be from a spouse, children, parents, or even closest friends. What are the reasons why some form of love is such an important thing to have in life?

Think about the loving bond you had with your mother growing up. She was there for you, cared for you when you got hurt or were sick and was there to help you go through the challenges you incurred growing up. From a father's love you feel protected, cared and provided for and taught many important life lessons to help you develop into a responsible adult. Without that love....where would you be right now? Without the love your parents have for each other....where would you be right now?

What about those who have children? Isn't the love you have for your child that motivates you to get up EVERYDAY and go to a job you probably don't enjoy to make sure you continue to provide for that child? Isn't it your love for that child that keeps you sacrificing your wants for their needs?

All humans have the capacity to love one another. It's just all to common for many to overlook their need for love in their lives because their chasing money, fame, or some other secular achievements....which are all fine in their own right. But what do they really mean if you're not able to share those successes with someone??? Despite what anyone says.....NO ONE wants to grow old ALONE. When the time comes....NO ONE wants to spend their last day or hours of life by themselves....EVERYONE wants to be cared for, surrounded by those dearest to them....LOVED!

Despite the bombardment we endure on a daily basis being told through the media that MORE is what we need to be truly happy......MORE money, MORE gadgets, MORE fun. I'm not a gambling man, but I'd be willing to bet if you were able to poll the ten wealthiest people on the Forbes list.....the general consensus wouldn't be that they're truly happy because of their money. Think about the type of worry being worth that much causes. And if you don't believe that there is any increased worry from being a millionaire.....just take a look at the continually rising cases of suicide amongst millionaires/billionaires.....research Adolf Merckle.

Everyone has the capacity for love.....it's just a matter of determining whether it's of importance to you!

Remember...."You're Worth It"

J. Earl Smith

@JSmith2523 on Twitter

knourworth@hotmail.com

www.smashwords.com/books/view/24495.

Knee News

Starting to get a little more flexibility on my knee. Probably still about 3-4 weeks out from getting full range of motion back and full stability. Getting a little antsy because I'm ready to get back to working out. I have to lose some weight before this baby is born.

Remember......"You're Worth It!"
J. Earl Smith
@JSmith2523 on Twitter
knourworth@hotmail.com
www.smashwords.com/books/view/24495

She's An EX For A Reason

I don't understand what makes some people tick. Some people's actions seriously confuse me at times. The other day my ex decided to call me to congratulate me on my wife being pregnant with our first child. While on the surface that may seem innocent, I don't think so. She's always been a very calculating person, whose never done something because she wanted to, she's always had an angle. If she was truly just trying to say congratulations to my wife and I....why not call my wife? She's the one actually having the baby. You have her number, the two of you were friends at one point. So there in lies the problem, she figured she could call me under the guise of congratulating me, only to attempt to take a stroll down memory lane and spend some time reminiscing about what could have been; despite the fact that the last time we had any communication I told her I never wanted to talk to Her again....and NOT to call me). Now if I had heard from her while I was only dating the woman who would eventually be carrying my child and have my ring on her finger for the last four years, then things might have been a different story....and that's what she was hoping for. She assumed that I was the same arrogant, pompous jerk that she knew a long time ago.

What irritates me the most is that she thinks I'm the same guy she used to date and that the same way she used to try to charm me into doing what she wanted, could still possibly work on me today. I've grown up, matured, and I'm happily married....4 years strong with a baby on the way and I don't plan on allowing anything or anyone mess that up!

Here's the kicker, she's married....has been even longer than I have and she has a child.

She doesn't think I know but I already know her and her husband are having problems in their marriage and he's walked out on her a few times. It's not a walk in the park in that household and she's seeing that the grass is greener over here. Unfortunately for her the feelings I used to have for her died a long time ago....before I even met my wife. And now that I'm building my family and am truly happy, she wants to "keep in touch" all the sudden because she heard from my, big headed, not so bright cousin (who happens to be really good friends with the EX) that I'm having a baby and wanted to share her genuine joy and excitement for me....while at the same time attempting to subliminally plant the seeds of doubt in my head that maybe we would've been very good together.

Can someone please tell me why would an ex do that? I mean I know her marriage is crap and she knows it too. Bit why attempt to cause disruption or division in a happy marriage???

I guess the saying "MISERY LOVES COMPANY" is still relevant today. At least it is with this chick...and I refuse to end up like her....separated, sleeping in different beds, trying to drag someone else's relationship into the mud with you.


Remember.....You're Worth It.

@JSmith2523 on Twitter
Knourworth@hotmail.com
www.smashwords.com/books/view/24495

Peeling Back the Presentation Layers

How can we gain insight into a prospect's hidden traits in the early stages of dating. To be honest, that's a little harder to do than one would think. The reason for that is because most people early on in a relationship still have on their "presentation layers". What are the "presentation layers"?

Well like an onion, people have many different layers to themselves. The presentation layers are those layers or walls that people put up or keep up in order to protect themselves or in order to put their best foot forward and impress their new partner. These aren't always used to deceive anyone....usually their the result of the different things they've been through emotionally in their past relationships.

The only way to really gain insight into someone's hidden traits early on, is to try to make them as comfortable as possible when in your presence so that they will start to allow some of those layers to peel back and reveal some of their true emotions and what they're TRULY like. No one shows their true self early in a relationship, everyone parades their representative initially, but over time these true feelings and traits/tendencies will come through. You may want to try allowing your true feelings to show through, put away your representative and genuinely be yourself. I know we all deny that we're not being ourselves....but it's true, because we all want to be liked and want to impress. So try letting more of your real self show through, and I'm confident you're partner will soon start to follow suit.

For more information, you can download my ebook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/24495.

Remember......"You're Worth It!"

J. Earl Smith

@JSmith2523 on Twitter

knourworth@hotmail.com

www.smashwords.com/books/view/24495

6 Week Follow up at Doctor

I had my 6 week follow up at the doctor's office today for my knee. He says that the progress is good, my knee is healing well. However, there's still a little fluid around the knee and the knee tends to be stiff if left in one place too long. So he said that that will subside over the next 4-6 weeks, and to come back in 6 weeks and we'll re-evaluate my knee.

So far so good.....it's a slow moving process, but the doctor is pleased with the healing progress thus far!

Remember......"You're Worth It!"

J. Earl Smith

www.knourworth.blogspot.com

@JSmith2523 on Twitter

knourworth@hotmail.com

The Miracle of Life

We went to the doctor again this past Tuesday, and I have to admit, I almost cried. That's kind of hard for a man of my stature to admit, but in all honesty....I'm not ashamed to admit it. For the first time during my wife's pregnancy I was able to hear my unborn child's heart beat.

Hearing that heart beat for me made everything that much more real for me. At the same time, it made me question how anyone, male or female, could ever abandon their child, a part of themselves? Who could ever actually do that? The creation of a baby is one of the most beautiful things in the world, and for anyone to NOT be touched by that is beyond me.

Being a man who grew up without his father's presence in the home, without receiving so much as a single phone call in the 26 years I've been alive, it amazes and appauls me even more than ever that someone can turn their back on their own flesh and blood! I've always vowed to be there for my child regardless of whatever possibly happens between their mother and me, but now after hearing that heartbeat, and seeing what I've helped create, how could I ever turn my back on my child? Turning my back on my child would be like not caring about myself, because that's me growing inside my wife's stomach right now. I have no doubt in my mind, that even though I didn't have even a mediocre example of what it takes to be a father in my life, that I'm always going to be there for my child.....NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THINGS MAY GET!!!

This is the newest sonogram of my unborn little one.

Remember.....You're Worth It!

J. Earl Smith

@JSmith2523 on Twitter

Florida Classic Weekend

This weekend marks a very popular weekend around the city of Orlando....It's Florida Classic Weekend. That means that the clubs and bars will be packed out this weekend. There's nothing wrong with going out and having a good time. But, (and this is to the fellas out there).....let's be respectful toward the women of Orlando and the surrounding area. This is not a pitch for guys to show respect for this particular weekend....this is just the weekend that many guys can start to change their ways toward the ladies.

It irritates and frustrates me as a young black man to see so many other young black men treating black women like they aren't one of the most beautiful creatures that God ever created! Try starting a conversation with a woman, listen to what she's saying, look into her eyes and not at her cleavage. I can say from personal experience that starting a conversation with a woman and actually listening to what she's saying is far more appealing from a females standpoint than you come up behind her and grinding on her.

Try ASKING her if she wants to dance!!!! And if she says "NO"....move on....there's no need to be ignorant or disrespectful. I've never understood why a dude would feel the need to scream on a girl, or disrespect her if she didn't want to dance with you.....that's laughable and shows how really INSECURE a lot of these "so called" players really are!!!!

So I'll end this little rant with this.....

REAL MEN don't disrespect women! Little boys do! And anyone who disagrees with what I've stated here.....I really DON'T CARE!!!! I'm voicing my opinion, and you don't have to like it!!!! I've just come to realize that we'll never stop being portrayed as ignorantly as a people until we decide to change things for ourselves....NO ONE is going to do it for us!!!!!

Try starting this weekend. Go out....enjoy yourself, treat each woman that you interact with respectfully....and see if things don't end up better!!!!

Remember......You're Worth It!

J. Earl Smith
@JSmith2523 on Twitter
knourworth@hotmail.com
www.smashwords.com/books/view/24495