*(^&*^@*&@^# ! I left my cell phone...

I read an article on CNN about the human race's dependency of smart phones, tablets, technology, etc. and could only hang my head in shame because I am a super dependent iPhone and iPad junkie. There's not one thing that I don't use my phone for. It is a multi-purpose tool that has become a requirement for me to complete my day.

In his article, John D. Sutter discusses the pros and cons of mobile technology and mentions that while mobile technology allows us to be "superhuman", it also takes away from the interpersonal relationships we once had.

I absentmindedly check my phone every morning that I wake just because I subconsciously feel like I've missed out on things that may have occurred while I was sleeping. I start with my US Weekly application to ensure that there weren't any new marriages or divorces since I last checked and that Hollywood is still up and running. From there, I check Twitter to see what the topic of the day is and what it was when I dozed off. I close Twitter and move to Facebook to check if my niece in Finland has sent me a message and to view everyone's photos as well as read the 'angry-way too much information' statuses. As I am coming to the close of my morning routine, I check my emails and delete all the SPAM as well as my text messages from friends who continued to have a conversation without me as I slept, or the night owls who simply can't sleep without some assistance from Benadryl or NyQuil. I even decide to send out a few messages disregarding the fact that it is 6:30 in the morning and expect to see responses shortly after. I check Instagram and look at everyone's pictures, make a few comments, and after all of this, I am ready to start my day.

 I have had instances where I left my apartment and had to turn back around after realizing that I left my phone. My phone is my notebook, my main source of communication, my access to social media, my access to email, my camera, my journal - MY LIFE. It's so crazy because I can remember when I didn't even own a cell phone, as well as when I got my first cell phone that only allowed me to make calls and play Tetris. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A DATA PLAN.

But now.... I can connect my phone via bluetooth to my car, play Pandora, watch movies on Netflix, Facetime when I have Wi-Fi, and video chat on SKYPE even when I don't! I consult Google as though it were my personal consultant. Let's not even talk about my texting capabilities!! I can group chat, and I can have over 10 conversations all at the same time! (I AM WOMAN WITH SMART PHONE, HEAR ME ROAR!!!) Wouldn't you agree with Mr. Sutter that our smartphones do make us superhuman?? I would.

But then... what happens when we do start to disconnect from face to face communication and choose to keep everyone at a specific distance through the mobile world? What happens when we can argue non - stop through text all day but become silent when we are within proximity of our significant others? What happens when we cut telephone calls short because it becomes awkward when we have nothing else to say? Are we really superhuman then?

 Read the CNN article here:
How smartphones make us superhuman - CNN.COM

When life's got you down...think happy

As I performed my daily ritual browsing Oprah Winfrey's website, an article about achieving 30 days of happiness caught my attention. I looked further into the subject which revealed that Oprah is challenging her audience to keep a happiness journal which focuses on recording the happiest moment of the day. I thought about this and was inspired to rise to the challenge and focus on the things that make me smile and make me feel happy throughout the day.

I love to write - especially about my feelings and have noticed throughout the years that I write mostly about the bad days and the moments of unhappiness, anger, pessimism, and worry. If one were to read my journal, they would probably assume that I lived the worst life ever and was a depressed individual walking the earth. Don't get me wrong - writing about those not so great moments helped me feel better because I got the chance to vent my feelings without having to deal with criticism or to be patronized. I just find it ironic that I don't take the time to jot down the happy moments!

I too will join Oprah and the rest of her fans and begin to write about the happy moments and focus on the ones that make me smile, rather than resonate on the uneventful, unhappy moments that find a way to smother my happiness.

With that being said - I 'forward' the challenge to you and dare you to think about the happy moments as well as record them to see what a difference it can make in your life when you force yourself to think about the positive rather than the opposite. 

All about purpose and passion

So much has occurred since my last post in 2009! Since then, I have graduated from the University of Hartford, not once - but twice! Once with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and most recently with a Master's Degree in Communications. I am driven and motivated to pursue a career in corporate communications and won't stop until I achieve my purpose. :) Since we are on the subject of purpose...... I recently came across a "life class" on Oprah's website, hosted by T.D. Jakes on living every moment with purpose and was challenged to discover my own purpose and focus on my dreams. I've always had a desire to write, to speak to others, and to demonstrate my creativity as well as improve myself as an individual emotionally and spiritually. I was motivated to set goals, become more active in my pursuit of a career and not a job, and to believe in my self. I want to make my dreams a reality and use myself as a tool to motivate other young professionals as myself to pursue their dreams and fulfill their highest potential and calling. I desire wholeheartedly to live a better life than the one I am living right now and will not be satisfied until I have achieved this goal. So, I decided to start creating goals for myself and working toward meeting them. I'm on a mission to improve my writing as well as ME (Kimberly). So, I decided to go back to the things I enjoyed - the things I found solace in such as writing and reading. Life can become so overwhelming and one can be inundated with so many regular tasks, forgetting to do the things they enjoy. I work towards personal improvement because I believe that I am here for a purpose and that I am destined for greatness. I appreciate websites that provide useful content to motivate individuals to do something. This broadcast in particular, motivated me to awaken the passion and zeal I had when I was an undergraduate to be a great writer and to love my profession in Communications. Some day I hope to travel the world. Some day I hope to be a director in the corporate office of an innovative and exciting Communications Department, communicating internationally and being acknowledged as a talented young black women who defied the odds and followed her dreams to success. I hope to do all of this with the same hunger and desire I have now and take baby steps looking forward to the growth and maturity. Dare I ask - What is your purpose? What do you have a passion for? Have you set goals?