As an individual gains more experience with life, he begins to develop an image of what he wishes to be (or things he should be): his ideal self. Part of the ideal self is made up of cultural values. Most of us share our culture’s emphasis on the worth of truthfulness, honesty, and loyalty, so we would expect our ideals selves to have these Characteristics.

This season, I found the Bachelorette, on ABC very interesting. This show got my attention because of the interpersonal relationship between the men, in the house, who are competing to win the heart of a lady, named Kaitlyn Bristowe. There are about ten guys, in a house, competing to win her for marriage. So I wanted to see how ten men would get along, in one house.

So there is a guy everyone is calling Cupcake Chris (Chris Standburg), and he is just the perfect all American guy. Has a great education and great career. Chris is a dentist in Clarksville, Tennessee and he got his doctorate from UCLA School of Dentistry. Chris is also a former model. He got the nickname, Cupcake because he came rolling into the show in a giant cupcake.

Chris was a bright and gifted student, who felt he had to maintain an A average or his mother would be heart broken. Chris is the type of guy who would sink into a depression about getting a B in math class. He had a perfect life, no behavioral problems, no health problems, no enemies, and very well liked. Chris is also tall, about 6’0”, 165 pounds, perfect hair, and great personality.

However, Kaitlyn left Chris crying on the edge of a cliff, as she turned him down, and many are just thankful he did not jump off the cliff, as heartbreak can be tough. I think this guy was crying because he lost. Failure in a success-oriented culture is hard to take. Chris is definitely a great selection, he is out going, nice, and sensitive. Many women will find this attractive, and I am sure he will meet a nice woman soon.

However, I found this show interesting because Black men are considered more emotional than White men. In public, White men are usually low key, calm, and kind of cold. They do not generally interact with people they do not know and do not express emotions to others they do not know. Whereas, Black men are labelled as more emotional because they are more expressive and vocal, but generally do not cry.

So I was looking at E40, who is a very confident and manly rapper. He is very vocal, very emotional, but would never cry over a woman, he would just find a new one. In the eyes of E40, women are beautiful and important, but if you are not their number one, just move on. In Contrast, Cupcake Chris is manly, but he is used to things going his way, and it really broke his heart that he was rejected, after investing so much into his relationship.

The big difference is Cupcake Chris is considered perfect, by society, and he was raised in a traditional home, with two parents, and never wanted for anything. Whereas, E40, hard a hard life, had to raise himself, has no formal education, and is used to rejection and life not going as planned, so he does not open his heart up in the same way that Cupcake Chris did.

E40 is used to women competing for his attention, and he is not necessarily looking to settle down and get married. Whereas, Cupcake Chris grew up with support, from both of his parents, was always told that he was the head of the class and that he would be successful. Cupcake Chris wants to model his life after his parents (the American Dream), start a career, buy a home, and get married young.

So there is nothing wrong with the two ways these men were raised. However, we must take into account the people are different. Some express emotions and are not actually very emotional. Others hold on to emotions, and when in private they express those emotions. Still, you get guys like Ryan Phillippe, who are in between Cupcake Chris, and E40.

Ryan Phillippe looks like the American dream, but is manlier. You will not catch the man crying over a woman. Ryan seems to be very focused, on what, I am not sure. He is also very diverse, and has friends who are White and Black. In contrast, Cupcake Chris grew up around mostly Whites and probably has not really interacted with many Black. E40 is also diverse, but most of his friends are Black.

Many people feel the need to gain parental approval, and live up to what their parents expect them to be. Sometimes an ideal self can be terribly demanding and unrealistic. Such an image can be reinforced by a child’s parents, who have equally heavy ideal images. A person with a demanding self-image may feel he is a failure, a disappointment, and bad human being if he falls short for it.

When being raised, if one comes from a background with fewer opportunities, you are taught to be tough because people are looking for others to take advantage of, so you cannot show any weakness. However, when one comes from a privileged background, they are generally taught how to express emotions and taught that it is okay to be nice. The point is, do what is best for you.

The message is share what you have, develop a conscious concern for your fellow man, and be cooperative with others. At the same time, we have to survive in the economic world. A young person may argue that to achieve the economic ideal of having a high paying job, accumulating wealth, striving to get ahead, he may have to abandon (or at least not pay much attention to) the love, cooperation, and sharing model, and he may have a valid point.

Dance the centuries my love, for we have lived many times, sung our songs in other climes, and seen a thousand mornings break, my love. Hold my hand as we go out again. Fading out, I hold you near, keep me in your arms. Tread a merry measure now or step to somber strains, for we my walk the gentle hills, and an ancient promise we fulfill. In the sunlight and falling rain, we came to be again. Forever you are mine, I will hold you in my heart. Though fate may send us apart, love me one more time.

I see your eyes in the starlight, I hear your laugh everywhere, but if you never call my name, I suppose that is your affair. Oh, distance man beyond the clouds; rest your cheek by mine. Dance to me through the falling rain, and be my love in time. Be my love this time. Blend your life with mine, come to me through the depths of space, and be my love in time.

Lay down beside me, love. Kiss me once again. That we may dream of golden days, and see the Heavens ablaze, until we wake in who knows when? My love. Bless the bed we sleep upon wherever it may be. Bless the day our hands joined and you and I are we! My love, with sunrise dawning, oh I must give thee warning, and attack there may befall this day, as night gives way to morning.

I would not, you must believe me, prevent this and relieve thee, but thy clan and mine, to battle assign and so pray not to bereave me. We must make a new start should chance be so affording. And beyond the sea, thou shalt wait for me, for I cannot love no other. So here is a purse of gold, love to in thy cloak enfold, love, and thou spend it then, full far from the glen. However, now thou must be bold, love.

And when this strife is ended, you should not be offended, when I come to thee, may lover to be, and then shalt our lives be blended. Matthias, I feel your touch in the sunlight, I know your voice on the air, and though you never speak to me, I suppose that is your affair. Place your hands in mine, dance to me through misty years, and be my love in time. Be my love this time.

I close my eyes in the evening, I never held you near, and as I sleep, you come to me, and whisper in my ear. Oh, ancient love behind my days, I will blend my life with thine. Reborn with you in another World, I will be your love next time. There will be love next time. You never put your trust in any person. You put your trust in yourself first. This is a devotional time. What is before me shall restore me.

Heartbeat pounding, hope resounding, as I await the chime. Oh, I have missed you, never kissed you, since the day we first spoke. Here I stand before God with my life and all I be! And in his eyes, I recognize, that he has honest love for me. Ahead is love that allows joy is winging our hearts. Life is revealing and beauty is found in every page. The ascension is the complete fulfillment of our transfiguration. Our Lord returned to His original glory, the very throne of God. His ascension forward He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Gently sings the Summer. Winds blow me, streams flow me, still my breath and lay night over me.

Nothing is to be done in education without steady and regular instruction.

Commas and other pieces of punctuation guide the reader through your sentence structures in the same way that signs guide drivers on the highway. Imagine what effect misplaced or incorrect road signs would have. Yet students often randomly place commas in their sentences, or completely for get to use them, making it hard to distinguish what the writer is trying to say. Try not to use a comma unless you know there is a need for it.

Any word group having a subject and a verb clause is a sentence. As we have seen, the clause may be independent (able to stand alone) or dependent (unable to stand alone). If two independent clauses are written together without proper punctuation between them, the result is called a run-on sentence. Here are some examples.

Classical music is soothing I listen to it in the evenings.

I love the sound of her voice therefore, Aaliayh is one of my favorite.

Run-on sentences can be corrected in one of four ways:

1. Make the two independent clauses into two sentences.

Classical music is soothing. I listen to it in the evenings.

I love the sound of a soft voice. Therefore, Aaliyah is one of my favorites.

2. Connect the two independent clauses with a semicolon.

 

Classical music is soothing; I listen to it in the evenings.

I love the sound of her voice; therefore, Aaliyah is one of my favorites.

When a connecting word such as:

also, consequently, finally, furthermore, however, likewise, moreover, nevertheless, otherwise, then, therefore, thus

Is used to join two independent clauses, the semicolon comes before the connecting words, and a comma usually comes after it.

BMWs are convenient; however, they are expensive.

BMWs are nice cars; therefore, I want one.

We traveled to London; then we  took the BMW to Paris.

Cosumnes River College recently built a large new library; thus students have more quiet study areas.

NOTE- The use of the comma after the connecting word depends on how long the connecting word is. If it is only a short word, like then or thus, no comma is needed.

3. Connect the two independent clauses with a comma and one of the following seven words (the first letters of which create the word fanboys): for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

 

Aaliayh’s music is soothing, so I listen to it in the evenings.

Aaliyah is one of my favorite musicians, for I love the sound of a soft voice.

Each of the fanboys has its own meaning (for example, so means “as a result,” and for means “because”).

Swans are beautiful birds, and they mate for life.

Students may register for classes by phone, or they may do so in person.

I applied for a new job, but or yet I was still working at the time.

Aaliyah does not know how to use a computer, nor does she plan to learn.

However, before you put a comma before a fanboys, be sure there are two independent clauses. The first sentence that follows has two independent clauses. The second sentence is merely one independent clause with two verbs, so no commas should be used.

The snow began falling at dusk, and it continued to fall through the night.

The snow began falling at dusk and continued to fall through the night.

4. Make one of the clauses dependent by adding a dependent word (such as since, when, as, after, while, so that, as if, before, even if, even though, ever since, how, if, than, that, though, unless, until, what, whatever, when, whenever, wherever, whether, which, whichever, while, who, whom. Whose, why, or because).

Since Aaliyah’s music is soothing, I listen to it in the evenings.

Aaliyah is one of my favorites because I love the sound of piano.

Ways to Correct Run-On Sentences

They learned a new routine. They needed to practice it. (two sentences)

They learned a new routine; they needed to practice it. (semicolon)

They learned a new routine; therefore, they needed to practice it. (semicolon and transition)

They learned a new routine, so they needed to practice it. (dependent clause first)

They needed to practice because they learned a new routine. (dependent clause last)

5. Put a comma before for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (remember them as the fanboys) when they connect two independent clauses.

The neighbours recently bought a BMW 750i, and now they go everywhere together.

We wrote our paragraphs in class today, but the teacher forgot to collect them.

Monique was recently promoted, so she has moved to a better office.

If you use a comma alone between two independent clauses, the result is an error called a comma splice.

The ice cream looked delicious, it tasted good too. (comma splice)

The ice cream looked delicious, and it tasted good too. (correct)

Before using a comma, be sure words do connect two independent clauses. The following sentence is merely one independent clause with one subject and two verbs. Therefore, no comma should be used.

The ice cream looked delicious and tasted good too.

6. Use a comma to separate three or more items in a series.

 

Students in the literature class are reading short stories, poems, and plays.

On Saturday I did my laundry, washed my car, and cleaned my room.

Occasionally, writers leave out the comma before the and connecting the last two items of a series, but it is more common to use it to separate all the items equally. Some words work together and do not need commas between them even though they do make up a kind of series.

The Golden State Warrior team members wanted to wear their brand new white uniforms.

The bright white sunlight made the room glow.

To see whether a comma is needed between words in a series, ask yourself whether and could be used naturally between them. It would sound all right to say short stories and poems and play; therefore, commas are used. However, it would not sound right to say brand new and new white uniforms or bright and white sunlight; therefore, no commas are used.

If an address or date is used in a sentence, put a comma after every item, including the last. (No comma comes between the month and day in a date.)

My father was born on 10 September 1974, in Munchen, Bavaria, Germany, and grew up in New Castle, Delaware, America.

He lived in Oakland Hills, California, America, for twenty years.

When only the month and year are used in a date, no commas are needed.

He graduated in 1985 from Barbizon Modeling and Talent Agency in Wilmington, Delaware.

 

7. Put a comma after an introductory expression (it may be a word, a phrase, or a dependent clause) or before a comment or question that is tacked on at the end.

Finally, he was able to get through to his insurance company, and they offered a huge refund, and apology.

During her last performance, the actor was paid a huge sum of money.

Once I have finished my homework, I will call you.

He said he needed to ruminate, whatever that means.

The new chairs are very comfortable, are they not?

They cannot read who never saw the alphabet. They who know no tool, but the needle cannot be skillful at the pen.

Success is not perfection; success is slightly above average, and trust of self is the first secret of success. Have you ever been driven to do something for those you love, not because you felt that it was useful, or your duty to do so, or that there was anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him?

There are times when it seems as if he watches to see if we will give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine our love is for is for Him. Once we are totally surrendered to Love, it will work though us all the time.

Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. If our hopes seem to be delayed, right now, it simply means that they are being purified.

Every hope or dream, of the mind will be fulfilled if it is noble and of Love. However, one of the greatest pleasures in life is the joy of waiting for Love. Do not search, let it find you.

Love never again opens the doors that have been closed. Love opens the doors, but it reminds us that there are doors which we have sealed. Let your mind have its way with you, but focus on happy feelings. Love will turn what might have been into a wonderful lesson of growth for the future.

We will not be scattered, not into the emptiness of our lives, where we see ruin and bareness. Our love is sustained only by feeling and thankfulness. Once we learn how to love, no matter where life may place us or what inner emptiness we might experience, we can be thankful that we are alive. Love is a reality of life.

The heart of salvation is love. The reason redemption is so easy to obtain is that Love cost so much. However, all of the cost and pain, of the collision, are absorbed by the heart of those who life righteously. The greatest moment in your life is once you decide that you will not focus on hardship, you will focus on all the things going right in your life.

A person, who is strong and independent, is infinitely greater, and has the power to withstand the struggles because we have been born in Heaven, and came to Earth to help humans. We must never consider our moments of life inspiration, as the standard way of life, our work is our Love.

Patience is not the same as indifference; virtue conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of Love is the source of proper truth because it means that you have true and proper inspiration.

A person who has the vision of Love is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue, one is just focused on the blessing of being alive. If anything is a mystery to you and is coming between you and love, never look for an explanation, in your mind, but look for the answer in your heart and soul.

Remember this, my Love, this is a pleasurable space, exchanging all we have in this Heavenly state. Remember this, my Love, this is ecstasy. Caressed passionately, let me touch your optimistic flow. Let us give all we have, just let yourself go.

Sometimes when you look back, you see nothing changed, but understanding through continuous reality. Back when you were there you had it down, gave it up, and looked around. Spiritual peace some with accepting your space in time, and nothing ever lost, but it is just stored in mind. You desire, then let it flow? Call out now, release and flow.

From bud to bloom we continually grow and I desire your presence. Make it so. You are accepted totally.

Fantasy or reality, both are one without inequality. Brining you up, wisdom come, I am ready to bring you back physically. I desire to know the fantasies are for me because I thought of you.

You are here with me, let go come as an innocent. Demanding can limit your blessings and makes a foot into a mile (pushes you further away from me). What is your name, need I say, you are here with our love is as bright as a Summer day.

As I search many names flood my mind, and of you I could share my time? Janice, Phyllis, Brenda, Pat Cynthina, Lucille, Sandra, Shirley, Leah, or Mary Lou, choose. Choice by mind not by Love like feeling the air with heavy glove love gave me liberty to make my choice physically, emotionally; mentally must step aside spiritual awareness make it so. All of you only one can place wakened truth is my voice.

So first things first, I call your name, as I let go of lies, I feel you near. Touching you consciously, your physical appearance completes my day. Sometimes real Love hides until you expect what you feel and take the ride. What you feel down deep is no tweak, you are not a freak.

Your understanding of your worth is deep and wide, high enough to glide. You just have to let your feelings go and connect your spirit, emotions, and physical glow. What you dream and fantasize for is right at the door open up to truth and let your blessings flow, touch your inner self from head to toe.

What you see is what you get, straight ecstasy, if you can just forget the negativity that put your progressive propending in check. Pushing into your warm firm smooth frame is ecstasy beyond ones imaginations.

I must have your gentle femininity. Thinking of you brings me almost to climax, I try to withhold the feeling, but no matter how hard I try, you creep into my thoughts. I am afraid of what I feel.

You got it going on, a playboy centerfold does not hold a candle to you. I feel you spirit, it is strong. I cannot deny what I feel, the vibes send loves appeal. However, can I get to you? It is right there and then removed.

Click it. Your lips are so hot and so is your gift. As I penetrated your luscious lips, caress roundness with my fingertips, you are warm and light, an antiquated man’s fantasy and young man’s delight.

She is so soft and tight, does everything right, blows my mind always on time.

I love your grove, the way you move. However, no matter how hard I try, I cannot get next to you. If you would like, take a chance.

Give me a glance; I think that it would be super-hot romance. Come pay with me, I aim to please. Just from touching your mind, I feel your need.

Confused on an issue, constant state of mind, glimpse your spirit through a mirror, self through intimate moments of perception. Do not!!! You are wasting time. How easy it is to follow the lead. What if you, by chance, took the lead and made a stance.

Know you are following yourself, your own best friend. Direction comes through freedom of choice. If you chose, then follow your voice! Hear the harmony feel thy tranquility what, oh, spirituality is not the trinity.