Shanda - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I am a quiet shy person when I first meet someone, but if I can become comfortable, I open up. I am usually more reserved, though. I do not like letting people know how I feel inside if I am hurt, but if I'm happy, it just pours out of me. I love andappreciate all my friends and loved ones immensely. They do a lot for me and don't ask for anything in return, so I am very blessed to have them. I also have a Seeing Eye dog named LeAnne, a yellow lab. She has given me self confidence because I go walking more that I have her and people like my dog so they talk to me because of her. I also love and appreciate her a whole lot. I enjoy doing Karate, Aiedo, Tai Chi, and kickboxing. They give me more focus, discipline, and confidence. I owe my not being as much in my shell to all those things. I can get up in front of class and help teach. I am a blue leader belt, almost brown and also in the instructor program, learning how to teach others. I am very blessed to have the school I have. The system is Aiki Te Ryu, which means "Harmony through Justice". My sensei's sensei told him to develop it because he is a master in a few different martial arts so he took what worked from each one and put them together using his higher ranking students to make sure the techniques really would be useful. It is a practical system, without lots of flashiness that wouldn't help anyone fight their way out of a paper bag. I believe life is about growing into a better person and giving back to the world in whatever way one can. Even if someone is very good, that person can always be better and keep growing. We should not only take care of each other, but also the animals should be treated fairly and humanely, and the environment should be taken care of and improved. We should respect each others views, but not think we can't express ourselves or our opinions because of fear of offending each other. I believe we should agree to disagree except when it comes to ethical issues involving humanity, animals, or the environment. I don't think fighting solves problems, but peaceful discussions where all sides are presented and all work together to create a solution that works for everyone. I believe everyone has some talent or niche in life and if they just do soulsearching, they can discover it and use their fullest potentials to create happiness in life. That is probably most important on an individual basis. On a world basis the most important goals are creating peace and justice for humanity and improving the environment for all living beings.

My Interests

I play guitar, not very well, I don't think. I play lots of SOAD. I like singing, though no one gets to hear me. Sometimes good, sometimes not, depending on what I had to eat or drink. I would love to learn how to play the Armenian Duduk, piano, violin, and drums. I also want to learn ballroom and belly dancing. I have taught myself some Armenian and Greek. I would like to learn more, but am lacking in resources. I read a lot, I like to know how people think and what lies at the core of people's beliefs. I believe in putting knowledge to practical use, even if it takes a while to figure out how. I enjoy practicing my katas at home and taking my dog for walks. I love being around trees and nature whenever I get a chance. I love swimming and would love to live near a lake, in the woods.

I'd like to meet:

Serj Tankian; He's my favorite musician Also, different types of people, kind and considerate people, people who care about improving life on this planet for everyone, people who are honest and trustworthy, people who love life and having a good time.

Music:

Obviously Serj Tankian; Fair to Midland; SOAD, Buckethead & Friends, Scars On Broadway, Ani Maldjian, Armenian Music, other lots of different kinds I can open up to.

Movies:

I like "Shawshank Redemption" I'm gonna buy "Screamers" 'cause it looks very gook; it's a documentary. I don't watch movies often, but I like funny movies' "Half Baked and Chich and Chong make me lauch.

Television:

I like to watch The History Channel; Travel Channel; Biography Channel; Discovery channel; Animal Planet; The Food Network; and sometimes the music channels; etc...

Books:

My FAVORITE book is called "Perfume" by Patrick Suskind. I just read a book called "Gift of Power" by Archy Fire Lame Deer about a Lakota medicine man's life and spirituality. He has a great sense of humor and that book made me laugh a lot. I love reading about cultures, spirituality and religion, mythology and philosophy. I think I should be able to incorporate my knowledge into my life, though.

Heroes:

My sensae Franz is my hero 'cause he is so passionate about what he does and cares about his students and the community and doing whatever he can to improve it. Serj Tankian is also because he loves music and is an activist for peace and justice in the world. Axisofjustice.org was founded by him and Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine.