<a href="/keyword/lauren-zeinstra/" >lauren zeinstra</a> Writing/Rhetoric How you moved beyond the obvious in your thinking There she was, squatted behind a dumpster in a dark alley that reeked of piss and was dripping with disdain. Her frail frame barely covered by the rags she wore as clothes. Shaking, she lifted the syringe to her arm and injected its contents into her body. She looked up, crying, and I could see so much shame in her eyes. At that moment a young, clearly unkempt man stepped out from behind her, forced her up against the wall and said, &quot;you owe me your life, you whore&quot;. Growing up in Boulder, Colorado has its advantages: you can walk everywhere, find anything in organic, and hippies are quite amusing. On the other hand, coming from the sheltered life most of us lead here in Boulder, we are protected from the harsh reality of the world and may not ever realize what some people go through every day. Which is why witnessing this came as quite a shock to me. Up until that time I had always thought that drugs, prostitution, and extreme poverty were only something to make movies out of, not an actual way of life. And even so, movies about prostitution and drugs make the life-style seem somewhat glamorous, and make heroes out of drug dealers. My way of thinking, prior to this event, was rather uninvestigated and skewed. I never really thought beyond my own life, my own problems, and my own successes. Not to say that I was conceited, just rather naive. However, after seeing this girl being pushed around and forced into situations that were seemingly out of her control I began to move beyond the obvious. I began to see things for what they really are. I realized that life is <a href="/keyword/lauren-zeinstra/" >lauren zeinstra</a> Writing/Rhetoric How you moved beyond the obvious in your thinking precious, trust needs to be gained over time, and everything you have can be taken just as easily as it was given. In seeing a glimpse of what this girl goes through every day I have a new appreciation for my own life, and have since created my own life mission statement: Live Laugh Love. Stop waiting for the perfect moment, take every moment and make it perfect. I chose these three words because I feel that every day should be taken at its full capacity. Live every day to the fullest extent, do everything you can and have no regrets! Laugh at yourself, even when you fall flat on your face in front of your entire graduating class. Then we have Love, which I find to be the most valued of the three. Love not only those around you but also, yourself. Accept your flaws, for they make you who you are. Stop waiting for the perfect moment, take every moment and make it perfect!