Matthew Sposato
Bio
Hobbyist writer and aspiring author.
Stories (12/0)
Don't Move to Boone, NC
The historic North Carolina town of Boone, founded in 1850, was named after the famous American pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone. And it's also the home of Appalachian State University or ASU. Due to the ever increasing number of students applying for the school every year. The town of Boone has become mainly a college town. With a fair number of apartment housing units and employment opportunities for students needing income to cover their education. Appalachian State is also famous for it's sports program. Such as the ASU Mountaineers college football team on ESPN. A small handful of big city conveniences that can be found within the county side. With many things that tourists can also enjoy. Including restaurants, shops, live sporting events, etc... Of course Boone also offers health care for when needed. From dentist offices to a fully staffed hospital.
By Matthew Sposato5 months ago in Wander
The Girl I Should Have Been Dating
Back when I was a teenager, there was this one girl I knew since middle school. Although at the time I didn't really think too much of it. We were acquaintances at happened to go to a few of the same classes at the time. And after awhile we had a basic type of friendship that just came about naturally. But during the high school years there were a few other girls who wanted to hang with me because they thought of me as a looker. And yet I turned them down. Because I didn't have a car to drive or something like that back then. But the main reason was because I had too much pride and didn't think I was good enough. Fairly understandable when it comes to teenagers with a sense of peer pressure. And the fact that I didn't have enough money in my pockets to take any girl out on a date didn't help. But in all my time in high school. I should have made more efforts in being more social with girls. Like attending school games or dances. But once again, having too much personal pride was an issue. Which would affect my life in the years to come.
By Matthew Sposatoabout a year ago in Confessions
6 Video Game Titles for People Who Feel Lost in Life
Playing video games for extended periods of time may not sound too productive. And for the most part it isn't. But professional psychiatrists have noticed that playing video games has been helpful in easing cases in stress, depression, and anxiety. While other's have confirmed that excessive exposure to video games may worsen symptoms of mental health problems. So anyone who has a confirmed or suspected case of mental health problems should seek the guidance of a licensed mental health professional before picking up a game controller. But there are some titles I recommend to people who feel stuck or lost in life with seemingly no real direction to go. Because some games, depending on their play design or overall story plot, may prove helpful in thinking about where you are now and where you want to go. Just remember not to spend too much time playing game in the process. But some games do have some life lessons. Whether the game developers intended it or not. If they did, it was mainly to give the storyline of the games a more realistic feel. Either way, it could prove to be helpful life advice for gamers.
By Matthew Sposatoabout a year ago in Motivation
Why Dog Owner's Should Never Bring Their Pets into a Grocery Store
When it comes to dogs, people will always think "Man's Best Friend." But as an employee in a grocery store. I've seem more than my share of dogs coming in and out. Some were service animals while others weren't. Big dogs on leashes and smaller ones in a shopping cart's toddler seat. It doesn't matter if it's a little puppy or another breed completely. Any kind of live animal in a supermarket is a big problem ready to happen. Service dogs are fairly understandable. But non-service animals, that's a different matter completely. There are a number of reasons why non-service dogs should never be taken into a grocery store.
By Matthew Sposato2 years ago in Journal
Bears on Beech Mountain, NC
The resort town of Beech Mountain is one of the top tourist destinations within the state of North Carolina. An ideal place for skiers and snowboarders coming for a winter getaway. And a summer destination for those who desire scenic mountain views. But a fun filled family vacation destination all year round. And there's no shortage of real estate for vacation rentals, seasonal and all year round residents. If you need to make a quick grocery run, a new pair of shoes, and a fresh pot of flowers for the house. Head on down to Fred's General Mercantile. Which also supports local artisans. If you desire to go out for some beer and pizza, then head down to the Brick Oven Pizzeria. With an arcade for some after dinner entertainment. And for vacationers, seasonal or full time residents who feel the need to stay fit and healthy. Buckeye Recreation Center is the place to go. Which has a tennis court, playground, and baseball field outside the building.
By Matthew Sposato2 years ago in Wander
Tips on Improving Art Skills
Are you new to art, or a long time hobbyist seeking to get better at drawing and painting? Here are some tips and tricks to help improve your artistic skills. Regardless of how much or how little talent you may have. Of course naturally you want to get better at art as quickly as possible. Might as well start warming up your drawing hand at this point. Because you're in for a lot of practice and hard work. Remember, as long as you are dedicated to building up your skills as an artist. All your hard work and practice will be rewarded over time.
By Matthew Sposato2 years ago in Education
Fitness Revolution: Introduction
This is for individuals who are new to Fitness Revolution. Whether you're a fitness newbie or someone who has gone out of shape due to lack of exercise. Either way, you want to start making some changes in your life. But you have absolutely no idea on how or where to begin. Don't worry, it's pretty common for people stuck on square one. Rome wasn't built in a day. And the journey of a thousand miles always starts with a single step. The main idea of Fitness Revolution is to do intense workout sessions on a daily basis. By cutting or fixing any bad habits that are holding you back. But this might sound a bit overwhelming for some beginners. So we're gonna start off with some basic workouts that anybody at any fitness level can do.
By Matthew Sposato2 years ago in Motivation
Vocal Plan - Fitness Revolution
I've come up with a new idea for Vocal. I decided to try my hand at writing a series of posts titled Fitness Revolution. I couldn't help but notice a sizable number of people who've let themselves go during the COVID-19 pandemic. And this is a basic outline for what I intend for my readers. To give them a reason to drop the donuts and lift dumbbells instead. The idea is to motivate people to be healthier and stronger when the pandemic ends. Not to mention an overall lack of self discipline from the general public. A countless number of people have grown too comfortable on the couch or PC. Just because a lot of people tend to stay home to remain healthy. Doesn't mean they should ignore their overall health and fitness needs. Any readers for Fitness Revolution are in for a rude wakeup call. Because the content of the posts are gonna be blunt and straight to the point. And is meant mainly for anyone who's serious on making on some changes to their lifestyles. From losing weight to building some serious muscle. Getting in shape for a weekend at the beach is merely the tip of the iceberg.
By Matthew Sposato3 years ago in Longevity
Improving Art Skills Quickly
Everybody has their own reasons to take up art. From learning a new hobby to a whole skillset for a career. For example, you see a classic bowl of fruit painting for sale on eBay for $500 dollars. And then your inspired to make a painting of a kitten in a rose garden. Why? Because you have a healthy touch of artistic talent and want to make some extra cash from it. You draft out a 6 or 9 square grid on your canvas. And start working on the basic shape of the kitten. But you end up stopping because the resulting kitten sketch doesn't look right to you. So you erase and redraw again and again. Then end up scribbling all over the canvas with your pencil out of stress. It can be discouraging if your piece isn't matching up with your desired results. Especially if your just starting out as an artist. Cause most artists often spend years honing their skills and talents. And they usually spend hours and hours of practice every single day. Then you end up giving up because you don't want to spend years and years just to create one eye pleasing painting. But here's the good news, you don't have to. It's possible to build up your art skills within weeks or months. So take a moment to step back and rethink your own approach on art. A good start is to work on the basic drawing skills. There is a way to make the process easier and less stressful. You'll be learning some tips and tricks to help refine your skills and techniques. And that'll involve making good use of tools and resources. It might sound like cheating. But it will help you when your doing both practicing and working on a whole art project. Whether you're attending art school or becoming a self taught artist. Either way, expect to do a healthy amount of hard work. So make yourself comfortable. This post might be a bit long.
By Matthew Sposato3 years ago in Journal
My Own Plans on Vocal
I have my own reasons for signing up on Vocal. When I was creating my profile early on. The only thing find I found harder to write than a story draft was my bio. It was mainly to give a brief description on what type of posts I intend to create. So I figure I would create a post about my plans on Vocal. It might be awhile before I can write a proper bio for my profile. Until then, I'll use this post to better describe my primary interests and goals on Vocal.
By Matthew Sposato3 years ago in Motivation
Photography in 2021
I first took up photography as a hobby in order to make a little extra money. I was less than successful, even after a few years. For a couple of good reasons. I wasn't exactly on top with popular demand. And everyone I reached to on social media only looked and gave comments. Even after setting up my own photography site. One that offers prints, mugs, bookmarks, etc... I still make little to no money. And I haven't taken any new photos worth uploading in a long while. I even thought of offering to do photography services in my spare time briefly. But I decided to stay home when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. 2020 wasn't exactly a good year for anybody. But with 2021 just around the corner. I've decided to do things a little differently for the upcoming New Year. I'm seriously considering on taking up a pro photography course online. I really hate to brag, but I'm fairly skilled as an amateur photographer. But I figure my best bet on getting an actual photography job or set myself up as a freelance photographer is to get a professional certification. I know for a fact that tuition for an online photography school isn't gonna be cheap. Then again, the camera I have my eye on is also rather expensive. And I'm considering a laptop tablet to use for business purposes. I'm expecting it to be bit of a gamble. But it's a gamble I look forward to taking. Maybe I'll get to be a self-employed photographer with well paying clients. Or at least a side-hustle that'll cover the expenses for a long overdue vacation.
By Matthew Sposato3 years ago in Photography
Winter Photography
It was early January 2017 when I took this photo. Along with at least several others. The temperature outside was around 10 to 20 degrees below 0. But the surrounding areas looked like an actual winter wonderland. The sky was fairly clear. And all the white snow and ice glittered in the sunlight. Despite the rather bitter cold. The scenery was beautiful. Only a foolish photographer, hobbyist or professional, would let a chance like this slip by. And it was all close to home for me. But there was one slight problem in my case. My car didn't exactly have snow tires. So a friend of mine took some time out of his day to give me a ride on my short but sweet expedition. So I grabbed my camera. Dressed myself as warmly as I could before setting out on the short drive.
By Matthew Sposato3 years ago in Photography