Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in Journal.

On My Way (Working for Moeller)
So, like I said, I haven't had many jobs in my life cause, I'm usually pretty good at keeping them. This place however, felt the need to "get back" at my name because my brothers created a shitty look for the family in the time that they were there. The people of the company LOOKED for any reason to get rid of me BEFORE I made it through my 90 day probation. They did it 3 times, and each time it was COMPLETE BULLSHIT but, I had no power over the situations.
By Zachery Lee8 years ago in Journal
Defy the Odds
You can overcome these barriers, you can succeed. Defy the Odds. The Power Of You. Growing up I was always taught to live realistically, to lead a life that others wanted me to live. Not how I wanted to live. With each moment of your life, you are told exactly what it is you should be doing. How to write, how to read, how to walk even but, being the unique person that I am I was always one who believed things a little differently. I always believed—and still do to this day—that my life is meant to live abundantly and blissfully. Not on repeat, not how society wants me to live but how I want to live. Which in others eyes may seem absurd. In life, I was always one who would avoid things that made me uncomfortable. For instance, I was always in the thought process of, if I didn't enjoy the job, and it didn't make me happy I didn't want to be there so I would not. I would leave. Yeah yeah, you say, what's new. I am sure there are many people out there who left a job that they didn't enjoy, yet on the other end, there are also many who do not, who simply force themselves to a job they hate, just to make ends meet. Why is this so you may ask. How could one ever continue to do something they despised? Well, money doesn’t grow on trees you say, and I get that. You have to make a living somehow. Yet why should it be this way specifically? Why should you do something you hate just to make money? What is stopping you from overcoming those barriers, going back to school, starting up your own career, or leaving a job that you despise for the one you love? Really think about that. Is it merely due to the financial gain, the fear, the unknown of what may come? What is your reasoning for why you may not be doing something you love? Is it due to how society sees you and expects of you? Is it how you were raised? Regardless of your reasoning behind it, I am one who believes that way of living is not how one should ever live. And I am one of those people who have defied the odds, and gone against what is expected of me, to pursue and accomplish something I love.
By Katie LM8 years ago in Journal
I Did It! I Finally Did It!!!
When you were much younger, I am sure that you have heard many bedtime stories. Back then, they were designed to not just entertain you, but to help you to fall asleep. Nothing wrong with that. Believe it or not, these stories were not just stories. They were lessons designed to help you. Some of these tales—like the fables—had a moral for you to think about and learn.
By Maurice Bernier8 years ago in Journal
My Adventures as a Pizza Delivery Driver
Knock on wood, in the time that I have been delivering pizzas, I have not gotten a speeding ticket nor have I had a car wreck. Personally, I do not ever want to have either of them. One can never be careful enough while out and about driving. Since I have been delivering pizzas, I went from hardly driving anywhere to driving almost non-stop on the days that I work.
By Rhonda Farley8 years ago in Journal
Author Speaks 2
I have writer's block. Even blogging right now seems like a chore, but I know I need to cope somehow. It's extremely annoying and unsettling, this feeling. You know what you want to say, you're simply unable to make the words come together.
By Hellion .8 years ago in Journal
The Death of Common Courtesy
Click for AUDIO version. The other day we had a new FedEx driver make a delivery at our office in Palm Harbor. Since I happened to be by the front door, I opened it and watched him approach. He wore a scowl on his face as if he had been having a bad day. I opened the door, greeted him warmly, shook his hand and asked how his day was going. As I signed for the delivery, the driver looked at me strangely. I asked him if there was a problem. He said, no, it was just that I was the first person that day to be friendly to him and actually ask how he was doing. He said in most companies he visits he's pretty much taken for granted and treated rudely.
By Tim Bryce8 years ago in Journal
To Be a Leader. Top Story - July 2017.
To be a leader is not to put the world on your shoulders alone, but to trust enough that others will be able to carry the burden with you. To be a leader is not to bark at others and give orders, but to bend your back with them and show them the way. You will know that you are a righteous and humble leader when nobody realizes that you have been leading them.
By Jeniah Clarke8 years ago in Journal
Parenting Management
“Most children are raised by amateurs, not professionals.” - Bryce’s Law Want to know what to expect of the work force in the years ahead? Look no farther than our schools or homes. Let me preface my remarks by saying that in addition to all of my other responsibilities, I was very active in my local Little League for a number of years where I served as coach, umpire, and on the local board of directors. Further, I have been very active locally in offering Masonic scholarships to High School students. In addition, my wife has been active in the local school system for the last ten years at the elementary, middle, and high school levels (this also included PTA and SAC). Although we probably won’t win an award as the world’s best parents, we made a point of becoming an important and influential part of our children’s lives. We didn’t take any special courses in parenting, we just got involved. But we are the exceptions as opposed to the rule.
By Tim Bryce8 years ago in Journal
On My Way (Working for Duncan Disposal)
I haven't had many jobs in my life; I'm pretty diligent when it comes to working to make a name, and then keeping it stable. When things get old, and or are just tiring to a point where it's not worth it to me anymore, I move on. That's what brought me to work at Duncan Disposal. I was a garbage man, and at first, I thought, "Well, fuck it, I'll be making a lot more than I do now" (Working at Jimmy Johns at the time). But then it got to "God damn it, another 70hr work week and I got shit to show for it." Along the way, I gathered a few good stories, and I worked with more than a few interesting people. Doing routes all over the place. Some days I would be gone from 5 am, till 8 pm... Sometimes I would get off work around 12 pm. It all depended on the route I was doing, and if any other trucks needed a loader to fill in. I was a loader if you hadn't guessed. On the bright side to all of the shitty work I had to do, I got pretty built. I went from an easy 135lb, to about 150, and all that I had gained was straight muscle mass. I felt great, smoked a lot, but ultimately, I was always in a good way... right up until pay day. It was a fixed rate, so no matter how many hours you worked, you got the same paycheck week after week. At least I got to see some really cool places all over the state. I don't recall a good few of the EXACT locations of where I worked at, but I can describe the places pretty well. It's funny though cause one of the most gorgeous places I went through was Hell, Michigan. Gorgeous landscaping, lake side views, and there was this really cool little storefront that was kind of like a landmark to the city. We would stop in there every time we were out that way. Some really gross people out there too though, here's a good one for that line though.
By Zachery Lee8 years ago in Journal
On An Envelope
After the extinction of wooly mammoths but before the invention of smartphones, my third-grade class did a unit on the United States Postal Service. Thirty of us eight-year-old students practiced addressing letters to our classmates until we had learned to include all the relevant information in all of the right places. Some of us forged elaborate "stamps" in crayon in the upper right-hand corners of our envelopes. Some of us even did it all in cursive.
By N. Sutton8 years ago in Journal
Do You Understand?
They say if you're great at something NEVER do it for free. Well actually Joker said that in Dark Knight. But still, a great “mo” to stand by and force people to respect. But make sure you're really good otherwise, it won’t work.
By n/a n/a8 years ago in Journal
Can I Blog? Yes I Can!
I have to admit that I really didn't know what 'blogging' or to write blogs was all about. As much as I like to read and follow celebrity based blogs I never really put much thought into their foundation or what they represented. As far as I was concerned, they were just sites I visited to keep up on celebrity business and as much as I love reading them I never thought of blogging myself. Not long after I got my websites, I started doing author/artist interviews/spotlights and for a long time I thought that was blogging...until someone politely let me know that it wasn't. Deep inside, I was feeling like 'dang, really? That's not blogging?' but at the same time happy that the person didn't straight out laugh at me for being so naive. It wasn't until I was asked by Vocal to be a blogger for their platforms that allowed me to see the big picture in blogging. Right then and there, my mind opened and visions of different avenues, side streets and highways were in front of me; I absolutely was ready for the ride.
By Kai Storm8 years ago in Journal