ThinkSoul25
Blogging
The Future of TS25 : New Writers, Rants, and More Content
Whew, Friday is almost here. It’s been such a long week of dealing with advisors, transcripts, and basically making sure everything is set for my last semester of college. In the midst of all my school work, hitting the gym, and obsessing over where to buy a custom-made Wonder Woman costume (haha, it’s a long story,) I decided it was time to switch things up here on TS25 (ThinkSoul25).
For the past two years I’ve received a lot of love from other bloggers, readers, and random folks throughout the Web from various parts of the globe. It’s been such a great experience networking with people and sharing my thoughts on so many different topics. I’ve been doing everything by myself and I’ve enjoyed it, but now it’s time to switch things up a bit. So what does that mean? New writers and more content.
I’m bringing on some fresh voices to the site to make this less of a personal blog, but more so a beautiful collection of culture, rants, and nomadic madness. I’ve got a few writers with great perspectives on topics they are passionate about (which means some of the occasional opinionated rants.) Some areas of the site such as the film, television, and fashion section haven’t been my expertise/focus, so it will be nice to actually see content in those sections that isn’t just based on my thoughts/ideas.
I could go on and on about what you guys should expect, but I’d rather have you be surprised and see the new content for yourself in the weeks to come. Oh, and I’m still open to more contributors. There no pay, but still great exposure and a way to build your resume. I’ve freelanced for the past few years and even write for a national magazine, but I wouldn’t have gotten any of that experience if it wasn’t for me having this blog. So if you’re looking for experience, consider contributing to TS25.
Email me at askthinkme25@hotmail.com to find out about contributing.
Thanks so much for reading and being supporters. You guys rock!
Cheers!
-Jasmine
ThinkSoul25: The Book
Good morning everyone!
Before I start my day, I wanted to remind my new and old readers of two things: I wrote a book and I’m currently writing a second, better, and original book with fresh new content. That’s right, I’m in the process of working on an original in depth collection of witty material. All the hilarious truth life experiences and hundreds of dates I’ve gone on are all being detailed in my new book. It’s juicy!
Not only is the book filled with dating stories and random musings, it also is even more in depth glimpses at some of the defining moments in my life. It’s the material that I’d love to blog about, but some of the stories are well over 1500 words. So stay on the look out for the new book, it’s filled with material that nobody else has ever seen or heard me talk about (except for my parents and brother.) But seriously, it’s a lot of funny stories and my sassy opinions that I think you guys will love.
While I’m working on that (around 100 pages done so far) I wanted to remind you guys that I do have a book out there. ThinkSoul25: Thoughts of the Urban Nomad is a book that’s available on Amazon and was published with Createspace.com. A lot of the material is from my early days of blogging, but it’s still a good read and people have told me they enjoyed it.
So, if you have 8bucks to spare and want to dive into my early days of writing, then feel free to pick up a copy. If not, I so understand. However, this new book is completely original. I’ve been fighting myself not to put the stories onto my blog, they are hilarious! I think I’m going to actually attempt to get this one picked up by a publisher, but if that doesn’t work, then I’ll self publish and promote the hell out of it. Promoting is always a daunting task, but this next book will be worth it.
Any who, just wanted to put that information out there. You won’t be hurting my feelings if you don’t buy it, its not that big of a deal. But it would be nice to know my writing is in the hands of some wonderful readers and fellow bloggers out there, so check it out!!!
Many thanks,
Jazz
Romantic Escapism
The other day someone asked me if I was afraid of romantic commitment and I paused. The idea of fear being produced by thoughts of commitment is something that sounds foreign to me. I’ve never been shy of relationships and commitment, it’s quite the opposite. Usually something happens in the midst of the relationship and we break up.
I will admit sometimes I do find myself escaping a relationship when I feel it’s not going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean I’m afraid of commitment. The topic of escaping the harsh realities of romance is something I’ve always found intriguing. Is it possible to mentally block out the frustration and have a fairy tale depiction of romance? Is there a such thing as a “great” relationship? I don’t think it’s possible to ever completly forget the ups and downs of a relationship. Escaping romance is a difficult task, especially when the memories are so alive in your heart and mind.
I may not miss any of my exes, but sometimes it’s hard to 
block out the good and bad of my previous relationships. The worst feeling in the world is when a relationship ends and you still have this lingering desire to be with that person. I’ve only ever felt that way slightly about one ex. When things fell apart and our relationship ended, I couldn’t help but create a fairytale picture in my head. I wanted to escape the pain that romance brought forth. I replaced the rejection and lack of communication with beautiful images of the times we spent together. Yet romantic escapism is only a temporary fix.
A person can be your sun and your moon. A person can complete every aspect of your life and you love them with all your heart, but when it’s over, it’s over. Things may come to an end, but you’ll often have this thought that you will never get over them. The opposite of escaping the harsh reality and the break up, is falling into a pattern of “romantic escapism.” The term actually comes from a period in the arts movement when the romantic artists, writers, and musicians would depict romance in very dramatic, erotic, and dream like matter.
A video that embodies that concept is a song by Above & Beyond called “Sun and Moon.” The song and video tell the story of a man who is reminiscing about the love of his life. The couple broke up and feels as though he can never get over her. The man (who looks like Barack Obama a little) begins dancing in a bar and getting lost within the music. In every dance move he finds this unrelenting freedom to express his emotions and come to terms with his previous romance. The video has these elements of romance and escapism, which make for a great song. I’m not a huge fan of trance type songs, but this song is one that caught my attention.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about romance and relationships. I’m not afraid of commitment but I also am guilty of romantic escapism, in the sense that I sometimes escape romance and I also paint a glorious picture of what a relationship should be. Sometimes it’s nice to sit back and daydream about a great relationship in which you connect with someone spiritually, emotionally, and physically. A relationship where that person just totally “gets you,” but that isn’t always the case. Nobody could ever really complete every single part of you, but that isn’t such a bad thing.
©Jasmine McGee
ThinkSoul25
Found Shit
The title of this post alone is probably conjuring up some curiosity. You are maybe wondering what in the world “Found Shit” means and why am I writing about it. Well, I didn’t actually find a piece of “shit” and this post isn’t about how crappy something is. There is a story here, so lets begin.
A little under a year ago, I was sitting in Denver one day minding my own business. You’d think I was probably contemplating ways to get out of Colorado and back home to the East coast, but in actuality I was working on homework.I usually tend to multitask while working on homework and end up getting distracted by a blog or something my mom emails me.She is always sending me helpful information in regards to career and networking, but on this very chill day in Denver; my mom sent me the most random website I’d seen in a long time. FoundShit.com
When I first saw the link she sent me, I was apprehensive to click on it. I didn’t know why my mom was sending
me a website called Found Shit. I’ve heard of a lot of random and bizarre things in my life, but a site with that title ensues a lot of off assumptions. Yet, I trust my mom. She wouldn’t just send something without a meaning behind it,so I clicked on the link. As soon as the site loaded, I realized I had found my new favorite website. My mom had struck website gold.
The first thing I saw was this picture to the right. The post was titled “Peanut Butter Factory.” I almost died from laughter. The concept is abstract, sick, and some may say weird, but it works! It’s one of the coolest photographs I’ve seen in a very long time and I think the person who crafted it is a genius. A peanut sitting on a toilet and taking a dump of peanut butter, genius!
Found Shit is a website filled with “funny, bizarre, amazing pictures and videos.” It’s a haven of hilarious and artistic antics. Basically it’s a site filled with people just finding cool and bizarre shit. It’s a masterpiece! Some people may not have the type of humor to comprehend the randomness of Found Shit, but I totally get it! I’m always taking pictures of the most random occurrences in daily life and it’s nice to see a site where people appreciate them.
I love taking pictures of funny signs, it’s a hobby of mine. I’ve got a good collection of signs from all the road trips I’ve taken and I need to collect more. I may not have a lot of bizarre pictures, but Found Shit has already done the hard work. There are so many random things on Found Shit and you have to see for yourself…so check it out!
©Jasmine McGee
ThinkSoul25
The Writer…
I told myself I was going to hit the bed early and attempt to rise at an appropriate time, yet I find myself laying here torn between the pen and the keyboard. I’ve had this lingering desire all day to write down my thoughts and analyze these intricate revelations. I could have easily grabbed my lovely journal, but I’d rather write down my thoughts in a blog format.
When I write I feel absolute. It doesn’t matter if I’m writing a proposal, an article on some rapper I could care less about, a editorial on my blog, or an academic essay; I enjoy the the writing process. Ever since I was young I always had this intrinsic passion for the art of words. I may have had issues when it came to determining the grammatical structure of a sentence, but I would ignore the serious grammar issues and let the words possess me.
I didn’t want to sit around and study the defining qualities of conjunctions, prepositions, adverbs, and such. I just wanted to write. I was the kid in the classroom that got excited when a teacher would assign the class a written assignment longer than 2 pages. Any subject you can name, I’d write a paper on it in a heartbeat. I will write about anything, as long as I’m able to construct a well written piece and have it reach an audience. Even if that audience is a professor, at least someone will be reading it and will provide adequate feedback. Most of the papers I’ve written in school have received an A or A+ grade. There have been only at the most 8 papers throughout my entire academic history I have received a lower grade on. I could sit here and actually tell you the context of each of those papers, but that would be frivolous.
My point is, I’m a writer. I wouldn’t even be Jasmine McGee if I didn’t write. I couldn’t imagine being Jasmine “the dancer” or Jasmine “the scientist.” I may have a fascination with other subjects and fields of exploration in life, but writing is my preferred element of exploration. Writing gives me the ability to explore a range of topics. From the abstract theories to the basic essentials of life; I write about anything my mind intercepts and perceives of great importance.
The past few days the topic of writing has been weighing heavy on my mind. As I’m reaching the final year of college, I’m beginning to realize that I don’t have a dream job as a writer. I used to have this passion to be the next best pop culture writer of our Nation, but as glamorous as it sounds, it’s vague. It would be somewhat difficult to ascertain a job as just a “pop culture writer.” I’d need to narrow it down to a specific category within pop culture and that is something I can’t won’t do. I don’t want to just write about hip-hop all day or pinpoint the downfalls and benefits of dating/relationships; that isn’t a dream job.I’ve written for free and have paid my dues to the point where my resume is quite impressive, but I’m exhausted. I don’t have a dream of getting a job at a hotshot magazine or being on staff at a newspaper.
My dream job, well…I don’t necessarily have a specific title in mind. I do however, want to continue my pursuit of happiness in the writing process. I want the words I write to make a difference on some level,
which is why I’m beginning to fall in love with proposal writing. The Technical writing class I’ve taken this semester and the Business writing class I took last semester, have tapped into the true power of my writing. I have this wonderful ability to write about important social issues, government projects, and other topics that benefit society.
An excellent writer shouldn’t be confined to one topic. I may have an expertise in expressing my opinions on the arts, but I’m also skilled in writing about science, health, social issues, world causes, and topics surrounding government. As a writer you have this amazing ability to research an array of topics and wear many hats, but you have to pick one that will at least feed the beast and pay the bills. When I say “feed the beast,” I’m referring to that untamed frustration writers experience when they are estranged from the pen, keyboard, or perhaps both.
As I daydream about my future goals as a writer, only a few things come to mind. I will always write my opinions down in my journal and my blog. That is an aspect of my voice as a writer that can’t be taken away from me. My blog and my journal are the creative outlets in which I explore the thoughts in my noggin. Once I graduate and hopefully go to graduate school at George Mason University, I will utilize my writing skills for the greater good of society. After spending time with my dad (he guided me on a proposal for class), a Senior Proposal Writer, I’ve began to see how cool it is to work for a technological company and the government. My dad took his degree in Comparative Literature from Princeton and used it to write award winning proposals that help the government and humanity; very cool!
I don’t know where I will end up as a writer, but I do know that I would like to potentially work for the federal government and use my writing skills to make a difference. I may not change the world, but if I worked for an agency in the federal government that improved/sustained society, then I’d feel like I’m doing my part as a writer. The journey of a writer is one that requires willingness and commitment. As I writer I’m not afraid to make mistakes. I’ve written about a wide range of subjects, but every word I’ve ever typed has pushed me closer towards finding my niche. In the same way I write articles, my life is a collection of words being organized into sentences and paragraphs. The only difference is, my life isn’t always grammatically correct…
Candid thoughts from ThinkSoul25.
©Jasmine McGee
ThinkSoul25
A Ghastly Humid Day in the DMV
I didn’t get a chance to blog yesterday and I just got home from a ghastly humid day outside. It’s burning up 
outside! The Weather Channel named D.C. one of the hottest cities, which includes the DMV area. I live out here in Montgomery County Maryland, but the humidity is still on the rise. Today was so hot! The DMV is basically my hometown and I’m used to the hot summer, but today has been unbearable.
I didn’t even bother attempting to straighten my hair; five minutes being outside sweats out my hair style and my hair curls up. I love the summer weather, but it sucks when their is a hot breeze that punches you in the face. It’s so gross! I don’t usually complain about it being hot, but today was terrible. To make matters worse my mom’s van doesn’t have A.C. and the wind blowing in the car is just humid and makes you feel all sticky.
At a certain point I got so irritated I got smart with my mom, bad move. She definitely put me in my place and told me she wasn’t my problem and don’t I even dare let her become my problem. The heat had gotten to me, I couldn’t believe I got so smart with her. I apologized and then she filled up the van with gas. She came back to the van and gave me a Gatorade. She said “That should solve your problem. Calm down.” I was acting like such a little kid. It was so hot!
Now I’m back inside the nicely air conditioned house and I’m laying on my bed. I have to go workout out but luckily the treadmill is downstairs. I don’t plan on running/walking outside in this humid heat wave. I love being outdoors and a nice sunny day, but my favorite seasons are Autumn and Spring. I love a nice stroll on a September day and I enjoy a run outdoors with Spring breeze gently kissing my face. The atmosphere of 
Autumn weather is the perfect time to go on nice evening dates, cuddle on the couch, and have the inspiration to write a book or create an acrylic masterpiece.
I’m looking forward to colder days and Autumn breeze, but for now I’m making the best of the humidity, seeing dudes walking around in wife-beaters, and the gigantic bumble bees that scare the life out of me. For now I will sit back, drink fresh water out of my huge water bottle, and sit back and relax to the sounds of Telepopmusik’s “Breathe.” This song and video makes me wish I was at a nice pool right now. But since this humidity is so crazy, I’d rather be at nice indoor pool relaxing and just breathing…
©Jasmine McGee
ThinkSoul25
Creative Saturday Coffee
Today has been quite the productive day. I woke up this morning to a buzzing Blackberry filled with Twitter messages and emails. I usually leave my phone on during the night. The last time I cut it off I missed a phone call from a friend who was really depressed and needed someone to talk to. Luckily they didn’t do anything drastic and later that morning I called them. I don’t like to miss phone calls (unless I’m avoiding you,) so I keep my phone on all the time.
After getting up this morning and knocking out some school work, I began thinking of some new blog posts and ideas for paintings. Everyday I attempt to pump out some creativity, but some days I need a little inspiration. So a few hours ago I decided to get out the house and run some errands with my mom. I put on some skinny jeans, a tailored blouse, a beret, and my usual big black glasses. I met my mom in the car and she glanced at me with curiosity. I stared at her and said “I look like I just stepped out of a theatre class.” She began laughing and started the car. All she said was, “Let’s go Ms. Theatre.”
When she said “Ms. Theatre” I immediately began to reminiscence about my days on stage acting and performing. I miss taking theatre classes and performing theatrical skits and monologues, but it just proves that artistic people have a collection of interests. I may not be acting and performing right now, but writing and painting are the dominate arts in my life lately. I will always be interested in film, making beats, acting, and dancing; but this passion for writing and art fuel my existence.
I love being creative and I love spending my Saturday evenings creating. I do enjoy going out to clubs and movies, but lately I been in this chill creative space. A few nights ago I finished the painting to the left and now I’m in the mood to paint something else. Possibly with a quite of bit of detail, not sure yet. One thing I do know for sure, is that cup of coffee I made is delish! I always feel so inspired when drinking a good coffee with caramel creamer, whip cream, caramel syrup, and the Wonder-woman mug alone makes an inspirational statement.
A great cup off coffee can send you into the wee hours of the morning. You get lost in a creative drift and when you finally crash; you know that you’ve accomplished something innovative and abstract. I’m pretty wired on coffee right now, so I’m not exactly sure what creativity will arise this evening. I might do a painting of two people kissing or perhaps an abstract piece with the usage of text and vibrant colors.
I have so many ideas swirling around my head right now. Let me get off of here, finish this amazing cup off joe, and blast some house music. I’ll probably blog some more later this evening, so for now enjoy the tons of music and videos on my blog. I love using my blog to express my emotions and sharing the things I’m into with my readers. Thank you guys for all the support and I’m glad you appreciate my creative voice.
©Jasmine McGee
ThinkSoul25
