Characteristics of a Friend

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Friends are the ones who will: 

Stick with you when life is hardest, find the truth before accusing, and ask questions rather than assuming. 

They don't make fun of you, they listen sincerely when you have a concern, especially if it's about them. 

They will laugh with you, cry with you, get in trouble with you, and they won't be afraid to tell you when you are doing something wrong.  

They will definitely try to still figure out why you are feeling the way you are, and doing the things you are doing. Rather than tell you that you're stupid for feeling that way.

They wouldn't turn their back on you, they wouldn't hide things from you, and they wouldn't try and make you feel hurt in any way. 

They would never stop believing in you, and they would never say anything that would work to destroy your belief in yourself. 

Even if they're  mad at you or disappointed in you, they wouldn't avoid you. They would still recognize your need for a friend, and they would still be there for you.

They wouldn't make a promise that they don't intend to keep. They wouldn't say anything that they don't really mean.

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Now Think!!! If you would treat a friend this good, why don't you treat everyone this good? Shouldn't we all be friends? We are all brothers and sisters. There is absolutely no excuse for ever treating anyone less than the very best.

Tara J. Howard


Copyright 2014

The Backwards World ---- Part One

Guys that wear girly clothes

I was working at my job on the college campus, when a big, very muscular guy walked by. I have to admit, I was rather impressed with his build. He looked very strong all around. Very built. It was impressive. There was just one problem though, and it rather killed it for me actually. The guy was dressed in girly, skinny jeans, as well as a purple, girly, v-neck t-shirt.

Yes, it rather killed it for me. I don't really like hanging around guys that try to dress the same as me. I definitely would not want to date one either. How ridiculous would that be? You could totally share clothes and everything. How sweet!!

Actually, it grosses me out. It seems like people don't really know who they are anymore. Or rather, they try too hard to be something they're not.

The world is full of people that have given up everything that they are to become something that somebody else is. You cannot be a good second place copy cat. But you can be an extraordinary first-place you. Nobody else can be like you, unless they are trying to copy you, then they will always, Always fail. For you cannot be something that you are not.

So the world goes around and around, in circles. So many people trying to copy other people, who are trying to copy other people, who don't have a clue what they are doing, or why they are doing it. Why did that guy decide to dress in girly clothes that day, when he would have looked so much better in the manly clothes that are made for him? He would have been a whole lot more comfortable as well, and I would have been a lot more comfortable being around him. I don't want a guy that would want to share clothes with me.

This trend has spread to more areas than just the clothes. I am a real girl, and I want a real man. I am plain and simply attracted to real men that know who they are and act like it. Not one that is all flitsy and giggly and weird. If you're going to be a man, then be a man. If you're going to be a beast, then be a beast. If you're going to be gay, then by gay. But if you're a guy, and you're wearing girly clothes, and acting all girly, then don't try to flirt with me, because your appearance already said more than I wanted to know about you.

Once you learn how to walk properly, and dress yourself properly, learn proper manners, and learn to be who you really should be, then you can come talk to me. The world has become a place where people keep trying to break all the limits of everything. But there are some things that just should not be messed with.

Just because girls look really attractive in those clothes, does not mean that you guys will.

And just because you guys are attracted to girls that wear those girl clothes, does not mean that we will be attracted to you guys when you wear them.

Tara J. Howard



Copyright 2014

Developing Talents. :)

The amount of time it takes to really develop a talent. There have been a lot of studies done. 

Scientists found that to really develop a talent:

The key number is: 10,000 hours.

Consider it. There are only 8,760 hours in a year.

If you work only:

5 hours a day on your talent,

5 days a week,

It will take you 7.7 years.

And that is really just to get started. That is only the very, very beginning.

Now, how badly do you really want to do that? How much do you want it?

Are you really going to give up on it so early? Are you going to decide that you are “just good enough”, and that that’s “good enough”?

Will you always settle for the lower level when there are much higher things waiting for you?

Really? What are you going to gain by giving up? Nothing. Giving up gives you nothing.

Lance Armstrong said, “Pain is Temporary. Quitting lasts forever.”

Find what you love, consider it carefully, and then plunge in with full force. And hang onto it with every bit of strength you have inside of you.

Don’t ever let Anyone tear you from your dreams. For You are Better than that.

Tara J. Howard



Copyright 2014

Pain in a Dream

This is one of my very favorite poems. The frustration and dilemma in it is very real for many people. It becomes a difficult decision that they have to make. What they decide..... determines their life.

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Pain in a Dream

Everyday, a dream. Everyday, a pain.

Everyday, a wish. Everyday, just this.

All are connected in this part of life.

You can't have the dream now, without the strife.

For what you achieve, the work that you do.

The place that you go, the pain is there too.

It's just one more thing, one more hurt, and now what?

Is this now the time when you just give up?

The hurt could just kill you. And you understand,

One more swift blow and that could be the end.

Do you give up your dream to escape all the pain?

In doing that though you would lose all you've gained.

You fight in the day, and you cry out at night.

But God hasn't forgotten you. You're there in His sight.

He loves you, He helps you, He knows how you struggle.

When you're beaten down, He pulls you out of the rubble.

Don't give up on your dream. The pain might come too.

Just cry in the night, then stand up and be you.

Don't let go of your dream, for it's all you've got.

Don't let the pain kill you, live the fight that you've fought.

Pain is the fire inside of your soul.

And the purpose behind it maybe someday you'll know.

Tara J. Howard


Copyright 2014

Where She's Lost

Now I feel lost, and you sound like you’re found.

Didn’t it used to be the other way around?

But maybe still with help from you,

Someday I can be found again too.

Hopefully though we can still stick together,

And help make this burden just a little less heavier.

I don’t want to sever this, or tear us apart.

Because deep inside me, you’re still in my heart.

I felt it impossible. I felt that today.

So why did it all still happen this way?

I couldn’t have stopped it, even though I had tried.

But I still felt something inside of me die. 

Tara J. Howard



Copyright 2014 

Believe in Yourself

When nobody else will help you, Help yourself.

When nobody else will love you, Love yourself.

When nobody else will check up on you, Check up on Yourself.

When nobody else will be with you, Be With Yourself. 

When nobody else will believe in you,

Believe in Yourself.

That's all it takes. And eventually everyone will see the truth, and will see the goodness in you. And you will have so much more than you even had before.  

And in the hardest days of your trials, when you feel so alone, and maybe worthless. Do Not Forget! There is one person who is always there for you, who will never leave you, who will carry you when everyone else has deserted you. A Loving God who cares about all His children. He will always be there for you.

To Help You.

To Love You.

To Check Up on You.

To Be With You.

And To Believe in You. 

Tara J. Howard



Copyright 2014

TaeKwonDo Nationals-The Result

TaeKwonDo Nationals was held at the Dallas Convention Center. I competed on July 3rd in Poomse, and on July 4th in Sparring. I did not place in either event, but it is okay.

This was my very first time going to Nationals. It was intense, and, in a way, frightening. On the day I did Poomse, they had about eighteen rings going at once. Each of those rings was 8 meters by 8 meters big. On the day of sparring, they only had ten rings going at once. They had hundreds of matches going that day. My first match was scheduled to be match number 145. 

I did not place at that competition, but I still did really well. I learned a lot, and I discovered certain things inside myself that I have been working towards for a very long time now. It was refreshing, and it was highly exhilarating. 

Whether or not I won, at least I had the guts to try. It was a great experience, and I am ready to try again next year. I've got to get some more big competition experiences under my belt, and then I will be ready to go at it again.

And I will go at it just as many times as I have to in order to win. Because that is what it takes.
Here's the video!! In case you are interested in watching it. I am the one in blue.

Tara J. Howard