Watch the following video before continuing reading this blog post. :-)
joy will come when you pass on the love you have received.
"If you hoard love, it melts away. If you lock love, it breaks free. If you grab on to love, you end up holding an illusion. When you let love flower in its own way, it stays to support you. When you pass on love, it multiplies beyond measure."
What inspires you?
(Gayle Rolf LaBrosse, Teacher, Mother, CA)
"Young people who are focused, motivated, and goal oriented. Those who keep God as the center of their life. Basically my children and their friends:)"
(Hayley Orrantia, Actress, Singer/Song Writer)
"I am inspired by many things, but one thing in specific that inspires my songwriting is watching YouTube videos of talented unknown artists and their original songs. It motivates me to keep writing. When it comes to acting, I watch a TON of sitcoms and I have always aspired to be like Kat Dennings, Melissa McCarthy, etc. Now it's just a dream come true to be casted for an ABC sitcom."
(Theresa Slaughter Santos, *best Attendance gal in town* and Mother, CA)
"Kindness, smiles, happy endings, kisses from my grandaughter."
(Taylor Katz, College Student in Indiana)
"I'm inspired most by fine arts. Music, dance, visual arts, writing.. People's ability to convey so much emotion, or such deep messages, with a pen and paper, or through movement, or through sound - it amazes me and makes me want to do the same. When I read a beautiful piece of poetry, I'm inspired to write some as well - and to heed its message. And, as a music major, of course that is the most important thing to me. It's amazing to me that a few dots and lines on a piece of paper can say so much, and speak so deeply to people all over the world - and the fact that it can last for so long! Like, music written thousands of years ago still exists, and is performed, regularly... there's so much history in it and wow you don't want an essay on this stuff. But yeah. Music, and fine arts in general, are SO inspiring to me. It shows what people have the ability to do, and can make such an impact on what others do and how they feel..."
(Nancy Tran, Theatre Major, CA)
"What inspires me the most are humans. Human interactions, why people do and feel certain things. I love reading and listening to stories and see people's behaviors towards certain things. And this certainly helps inspire me to act because viewing human behavior shows how protective or vulnerable people can be in real life situations and putting that truth in my acting."
(Nicole Dana, High School student)
"Many things, people mostly (my friends and family,) but sometimes you come to find that strangers inspire you more than the ones close to you! Even if it's just a young kid holding the door open for an older lady, it is amazing what you can see sometimes just out of the goodness of peoples hearts!"
(Chelsea Kimberling, College Student)
"People inspire me. Everyone has such a different story, and all of them are interesting to me. I like it when someone goes through their life with a good attitude. Not a fan of the grumpy cat."
(To Hayley Orrantia) You've been so blessed these past few years, from being on X-Favor, to getting your very own Pilot for a new sitcom on ABC...how have you taken it all in? How important is it to follow your dreams and make them happen?
"I find that every time something incredible happens to me, like X Factor and the pilot, it takes a long time for it to sink it. Until I'm on stage or on set, it's too unreal for me. But I have dreamed about this happening to me since I was young. I believe that one big reason why these incredible opportunities have come my way is because I refuse to think that I was created to do anything else."
In the years you have been teaching, what is one moment, where you stopped and thought to yourself, "This is why I am a teacher" ?
(Kristin McDaniel, World History teacher, CA)
"I think I actually get that moment at least once a year as I see a student's face realize something or I can see that understanding wash over their face. But, the first time was was my second year teaching (1st year teaching what I wanted to). My schedule was changed half way through the year and they switched my classes even though some were the same subject. I had several of my former students come back and request to switch back into my class. They told me that they had learned from me and that I made history fun for them when no one had before. That's when I said and this is why I am doing this. If I get through to one student it is all worth it!"
(Eileen Viggiano, Government Teacher, Mother, CA)
"It happened my first year teaching high school. I had a student who was incredibly shy and withdrawn, he rarely spoke but he was always first one in the door. I would say good morning everyday, he didn't respond. After about a month he would answer me. By the end of the school year, we would have conversations. On the last day of school, he thanked me for talking to him. I found it odd so I asked why he needed to thank me. He responded, you are the only person who ever talks to me. I was shocked, he said before my class, he could count the on one hand how many people spoke to him at school. He was a great kid, made me want to be a better person and teacher."
When life seems to push you around a bit, what do you turn to? Why?
(Hayley Orrantia)
"As an artist, I take a lot of criticism. It can be overwhelming at times coming from well known respected people in the industry and even people I know from my hometown. Whenever I find myself getting down about it, I read my fan letters that have been sent to me from people across the world and I remember how lucky I am to have support. Every artist in this business had hate at some point, but it took one person to support then to keep them going."
(Dustin Porras, College Student)
"When life pushes me around, I usually turn to parents first. If I ever am confused or disheveled by something, I make a phone call to either my mother or my father, or both. Combined, they offer me a wealth of knowledge. My father is very street-smart, and operates with the “I’ve made every mistake there is so here‘s how to avoid making them” attitude, while my mother has a great deal of empathy and cushioning words of comfort. Sometimes I’ll need just one, and sometimes I’ll need to hear both sides to come to a consensus on my own. Both of them are adults and have lived through far greater adversity that I have, so I value their opinion whenever I don’t know what to do.
If their words don’t help me feel better, I always accuse myself of not listening carefully enough. But here’s the thing I’ve learned: in some instances, you’re not supposed to feel better or happier. Feeling lost or confused is a good thing, in that it builds character, makes you resilient, and allows you to value critical thinking over impulsive emotion."
What is one thing you believe could better the world?
(Lauren Miner, College Student, Soon-to-be-mommy)
- "Love is a word that is over-used, but rarely felt. I'm not talking about just romantic love, oh no, I'm talking about the whole spectrum of this wonderful emotion. Love for your family, your friends, and even for strangers. Love thy neighbor is an important commandment not just because it promotes happiness around you, but because you are sharing positivity with others. If everyone would just "spread the love" life would be a little bit easier to cope with. Countless people kill themselves because they feel a lack of love in their life. Have you ever actually thought about that? The fact that feeling unloved could cause such pain and suffering and sorrow that you no longer wish to live? On days like Valentine's Day, we forget that love isn't just a romantic emotion. Sure, that is the most recognizable form of it...but it really isn't the most important. Love makes us feel important, light on our feet, and new again. So the world needs to stop spreading the hate, and start spreading the love."
(Theresa Santos)
"I feel there could be more compassion and acceptance in this world. We all won't have the same stand on issues, believe in the same God, or view the world the same way - but it doesn't make one or the other right or wrong - but we all bleed the same color. Sometimes you just have to look past all that and see what is in people's hearts and know that there is good in this world."
(Nancy Tran)
"We, as humans, can better ourselves by taking the time to do things for us and not for other people. Because it is only once you help yourself is when you can begin to help others and your surroundings. People close of so many parts of themselves to protect the only thing they have, them. But this fear of being open restricts them to be able to find themselves. If you can learn to be open to others and accept pain and love, you then are bettering yourself and your surroundings by allowing people to see that they should not be afraid of who they are. It's a chain reaction."
If there was one thing you could change about the world or our generation, what would it be?
(Lacey Miranda, College Student)
"The only thing I would change about our generation is how dependent we have all become on the Internet, electronics, TV, etc. It has drawn us away from deeper connections to life and people, and has created easy, skin-deep interactions without any effort. "
(Chelsea Kimberling)
"okay - I have been thinking a lot about the fall (garden of eden) and after the forbidden fruit mankind became aware of themselves - like aware of nakedness, feeling self conscious. I have been thinking about how incredibly insecure I am, and how it is because I am so aware of myself - like who I am, and if that is good enough. Basically what I am saying is, if I could change one thing, it would be the way we all feel about ourselves, the way we judge and worry. I wish we didn't need the love and approval of others.. but we are creatures with need for relationships."
Life can be entirely misleading, overbearing, and frustrating at moments, but despite all of that mayhem, what is your one motivation to keep going?
(Eileen Viggiano)
"I remind myself that this is my one shot at happiness there is no do over. I have to let all the mayhem go and find humor and joy daily. I just lost my dad in December and my mom passed 9 years ago, both of them taught me that life was short. Be happy, if your not, change your life. I love my family, my husband and my career, this is the life I worked my booty off to have. I don't want to waste one minute on getting caught up in the details."
(Sophia LaBrosse, College Student in Missouri)
- "God and my future, I have too many amazing dreams and goals to achieve to let a bad day or obstacles stand in my way. Being here in Missouri has been such a test. It has definitely had its ups and downs - but I cant help but thank God, and keep moving forward. Nothing, nothing that is worth it will be easy and I find myself constantly reminding myself of that. The way I think about things that stress me out, or just add to my plate are that they are making me stronger, better and wiser. My motivation is God and what He has planned - and my family, the one I have now, and the one I hope to create in the future."
If there is one thing you could say to teenagers all around the world, what would it be, and why?
(Kristin McDaniel)
"As cliche as this sounds, "knowledge is power." It's the idea to know what you believe and why, to be informed so you can make the best decisions for our future. As much as I support education, it is not all about that. It's having a knowledge of the things around you, learning from mistakes, and using what you know to better the future."
(Dustin Porras)
"If I had to say one thing to teenagers everywhere it would be this:
Never believe for a second that you know all there is to know. In high school, I had a very grandiose opinion of most things in life, which I later found out was mostly bullshit. If I could, I would tell every teenager to remain humble, and accept change and growth as good things. Let life beat you up a little, especially when you’re young. I think if you graduate high school with a very humbled ego, a willingness to change, and a thirst for better answers, you’re ready for anything life will throw at you.
Don’t ever assume anything is true at first glance - even if someone much wiser than you told you it. By the same token, don’t ever assume that what you say is true all the time - constantly evaluate your personal convictions. Ask yourself questions about yourself as if you were another person."
(Theresa Santos)"PLEASE teenagers.... do NOT give into peer pressure unless it's the GOOD kind Be yourself and do what you know is right. It's totally NOT cool, to be known as the "bully", the "drugie", the "cheater", or the "easy" one. Ten years from now those who pressured you won't be around. But your reputation will. Make it a good one, even though you may get hassled or laughed at by these so-called friends. The people you treat with respect will have yours. Remember this quote because it's one of my favorites:"
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou~
If you could say a few words to the entire world, what those be - why?
(Meghan Shore, High School Student)
"Be your own person, and make the life you dream of."
(Brandon Marquez)
"God is here now and forever, love as He loves you, and care for others the way He cares for you. I think God is really what this world need right now."
How important is it to stay true to yourself? why?
(Taylor Katz)
"I think it's important because, without being yourself and following your dreams, what is the point of it all? Nobody knows what the future is going to bring, so why not make the present the best that it can be? And I don't believe that the present can be all that great if you spend it trying to please others and be somebody else..."
(Sophia LaBrosse)
- "It's important because just you alone, has an amazing personality that not one other person has. I can't imagine being someone other than myself - even though I have qualities I don't necessarily adore. It's important to be yourself because that's who people love and fall in love with. In any circumstance, job, or relationship - it's just better to let people accept the real you. Be exactly who you want to be."
(Kristin McDaniel)
"As long as you can and do admit if you make mistakes, I think being true to yourself as an individual is extremely important. It is who you are. If you constantly change, go back and forth, or don't follow your own values and beliefs, no one will really know who you are or what you stand for. Being true to yourself makes you a stronger, more confident person."
(Lacey Miranda)
"It's extremely important for me to stay true to myself. If you become what others want you to be or do what they want you to do, you'll never truly be happy or satisfied with your life or yourself. It's important for me to stay true to myself because I don't want to become the things I've hated."
If you had absolute no limits, what is one aspiration you would accomplish? not only to better your life, but better your loved ones.
(Dominique Ramirez, Store Manager)
"I would have liked to have further my education. However I've made great strides toward my aspirations now. At the age of 37 have figured out my passion, and my purpose. I'm to be an inspiration to others, be it through fitness, managing a team, or living my life to its fullest... I've given my children a sense of stability, given them direction, given them unconditional love..I believe they are the best gifts a parent can give. Of course I will never put limits on myself, I will always strive for better.. "
How far are you willing to go to obtain your dreams?
(Brandon Marquez, Theatre Major)
"As far as I possibly can. I know my own strengths and capabilities, when I feel like I have done all I can - I still try to do more than I thought I could before."
(Emily Suzanne Smith, High School student)
"As far as my dream needs me to go if it's something really important to me - I want to make sure I really give it a try."
If there was one great act of kindness, you could do for a stranger, what would it be?
(Sophia LaBrosse)
- "Hmmm, I don't know. The way I think about it is that any act of kindness would make me feel happy that I did that for someone; I would not expect anything in return. Overall though, I would want it to relieve them of something, of a burden, of a stress, of a negative emotion. I think everyone deserves to be happy, so just making someone truly happy would be a great act of kindness I would want to do."
(Lauren Miner)
- "I don't want my life to be measured by one great act of kindness. Instead, everyday, I go out of my way to do something nice for a stranger. In rush hour traffic, I will let people get in my lane. I open the door for people. I will help someone carry things. I will smile at passerby's. I will offer to pay for a stranger's meal if their card gets declined...even if that means I may not get to have the meal I wanted. Simple things like this mean the world to a person. It shows that there are still people in the world that care. I try to think of where everyone is coming from. Maybe they just got out of a relationship. Maybe their car was towed, or they got in a fight with their kids. Maybe they just lost a loved one. You never know what someone is going through on any given day. I think it is very important to live every day with the idea that you can make a difference in someone's life."
What is your definition of happiness?
(Theresa Santos)
"Happiness to ME is that feeling of contentment in your heart and soul that everything is OK. Possessions won't bring you true happiness. It's feelings... and those moments in life that make you laugh and smile, and want to hold on to forever is where you will find your true happiness."
(Cecilia Amador, Sales Associate, Mother, CA)
"Happiness is a state of mind, it isn't defined by the things or people that can make us happy but rather the decision to not let anything or anyone bring us down. I believe we can do that by focusing on what we do have, rather than on what we don't. I believe Having a thankful heart (especially towards God) always helps us focus on the good thoughts that make us "feel" happy overall. "
(Dahlia Davis, College Student, CA)
"Being able to accept, and be accepted for who you really are."
(Dustin Porras) *I had to quote him verbatim because his response was just, ....go ahead and read*
"If you’re looking for a concrete, non-personal definition:
Obviously, on a molecular level, happiness is simply the release of serotonin and other hormones in the brain. But what is harder to pinpoint is an exact definition of the word happiness as it applies to how we get happy. From person to person, happiness is derived from many things: some people are happy by maintaining good ties between friends, while others find happiness through avoiding other people. Some people are happy by being law-abiding citizens, while others are happy with anarchy. Some people are happy by being philanthropists, while some people gain happiness through killing or destroying others. Since happiness has such a fickle definition from person to person, there’s no way to pin down concrete characteristics of happiness, other than: Happiness is when your body generates a positive molecular response to whatever stimuli is being projected onto you.
If you're looking for a more personal definition, here it is:
To me, happiness is feeling pleasure by accomplishing things that I assign great significance to, AND by watching others that I love accomplish things that they assign great significance to. If I want to get an A on a school exam, and I get the A, I experience happiness. If someone I care for gets an A, I will also feel empathetic happiness, because I assigned significance to receiving a good letter grade. However, my happiness can also be selfish and/or not entirely altruistic. A more curtailed version of this would be: Happiness is when I want something to happen and it happens.
Here’s a brief list of what makes me happy:
Making my parents proud of me, constantly being busy or moving forward (I.e. in school or in careers), learning (reading or through first-hand experiences), by keeping good rapport with those that I love and associate with, by eating delicious food, by entertaining myself (movies and music), and by sleeping enough to replenish my serotonin levels so that I CAN feel happiness."
Here’s a brief list of what makes me happy:
Making my parents proud of me, constantly being busy or moving forward (I.e. in school or in careers), learning (reading or through first-hand experiences), by keeping good rapport with those that I love and associate with, by eating delicious food, by entertaining myself (movies and music), and by sleeping enough to replenish my serotonin levels so that I CAN feel happiness."
Thank you to everyone taking the time to answer these questions and read this entire blog entree-- you are all such incredible individuals.
