New Frontier

New prospects, new worlds, new times. Things are constantly changing, but just now, I feel myself entering a new frontier. It's ironic how, in my life, often things line up with each other and are congruent-such as the fact that I'm learning about John F. Kennedy in AP U.S. History and his administration was called the new frontier, and I'll be getting a job this summer, to come after the two I have just had these past couple months. New things are abounding, and not only for a human like me, but also for the nature around me. Trees are blooming, and when you look out the window, you see not dead brown and dull gray, but vibrant pinks, light, pretty blues, rich greens, and plenty of textured colors. Ah, spring! Indeed, it is a new frontier, a time to celebrate. Also, we just went through Easter! That is a most wonderful time to celebrate, as it is a time to celebrate the time that Jesus arose from the grave, and gave us salvation for our sins. Now is the time to sing and dance, for the Lord is come, and we shall all rejoice our new freedom!

New Frontier

Happiness

Happiness; what a cheerful and bright word. It's what we humans long for, strive for, and live for. Happiness. What is happiness? It is different for everyone, and comes in so many different forms. It is a butterfly floating on a distant breeze, a lark's chitter in the tall, tall, trees, and it is the golden feeling in a smile. What does happiness do for us however? What purpose does it serve? Well, it creates a sense of finality, as though the world is finally right. It can turn a frown upside-down and evil into sunshine. Ah, but if only the world were quite so beautiful and simple. You see, happiness often competes with sadness, in the great battle of human emotions. You must balance the cheerful, wonderful side, with feelings of despair, loneliness, and longing for something else. Happiness and sadness really (unfortunately) go hand-in-hand, and therefore we must battle the tears and frowns to turn it upside down. But how? Doesn't it seem difficult to just shove aside the sadness and put on a smile? That seems fake and forced, to me. So what can we do to make the sadness go away quicker and the happiness last longer? Simply put, there is no one answer, but there is one possibility: we all have it in us to make ourselves and others around us happy;it is simply the matter of choosing whether or not to use that gift, and use it well.

Escar-Got-To-Try-It

Judging by the title, you may assume that this would be a post about eating snails, and possibly my first taste of them, but that assumption would not be accurate, as I have never tried escargot (and don't really plan on it either). No, the title simply is a pun of the phrase "got to try it" and escargot. You see, I find that whenever you try something new, you gain insight that you would never have nor obtain without trying that new activity. Yes, it may be daunting, and may not seem smart or the most intelligent thing, but oftentimes, afterwards, you'll be excited, and proud of your ability to have pressed on and gone through with it. I always say to myself, "There's no reason not to try it, and if you don't like it, you don't have to go for it again," and that definitely helps to goad and cajole me into it. But I just love the idea of new prospects; this world holds so many things, and we shouldn't get caught up in the few we already know: we should dance like nobody's watching, sing like no one's listening, love like we've never been hurt before, and live like life ends tomorrow-in other words, enjoy life to the fullest, because tomorrow could be our last. You hear this from so many theologians, and theorists, professional therapists, and extreme optimists, but it is so true, that we must take advantage of the fact and go along with the idea that you never know when you won't be here any longer, and therefore we should take all the time we can in enjoying what we have now.

A Celebration of Life

Life is so short; the next day could be our last. Funerals happen everyday around the world, and the death rate, while ever-changing, is omnipresent. However, I don't think we should be dwelling on the loss and tragedy of someone dying, but rather celebrating the life that they had lived, and the new one they will be going to. Death in the family is particularly hard, as the members that mourn were usually quite close to the deceased. It is not easy to simply be happy that a loved one is going to a better place, but is necessary, after a while, as otherwise the stress and pain becomes innumerable, and the person under it all can no longer bear the weight.
Just recently, a member of my old church, and brother of my "bible-study" group's most treasured speaker, passed on as the result of a motorcycle accident-or so I believe. It is a tragedy to hear, and he will be missed. Mourners definitely have their right to wish he were still here, but after a while, they must realize that he's moved on to a better place. And thus, there is a celebration of life. Comemmorating all his triumphs, who he was as a person, his ministry through the church, and all the good memories that family members and friends alike wish to reminisce. This is the best way to allow a person has passed on to find peace amongst his or her loved ones. So, today, for the few that read, I have one simple request: celebrate your life, always!

Writing Was A-Written on the Stone

Dictionaries, spellbooks, novels, newspapers, advertisements;words are everywhere. Many people struggle with expressing themselves:it is difficult speaking words for them, in other...ahem, words. I am one such person; words simply are at less of a disposal than most people. Sometimes, (and more often than not) people use hand gestures to attempt to communicate what they wish. But I think it's quite ironic, because, despite being shy and quiet, I love to sing, and the written word (on the stone, thank you Jack Black), are my fortes. I wonder if, maybe I were to become more outgoing and "entertaining" according to the modern standard, I might finally be able to fit in and make acquaintances better. But can't alwasy have your cake and eat it too. I guess I'll have the flowery language only in my writing and great train of thoughts and the short, simplicity of my spoken word will stay the same. If only, if only...

I Think I Can, I Think I Can...

Of the many principles I live by, I'd have to say perseverance, endurance, and dedication are a few of my strongest. Most people don't have the stamina nor willpower to do tedious jobs such as scrubbing floors or sorting out clothing, or counting bills and such, but I actually find these things "do-able" and preferred for myself above many other things. Just today, I was thinking that endurance is the basis of an athlete: to win many competitions and races, especially the Olympics, you need to be able to endure hardships, pain (and pleasures), and the competition and pressure of being a professional athlete. But athletes are not the only people in the world who have found endurance and use it to their ability; businessmen endure tough situations and the never-ending stress of being in a corporation, firemen, the police force, and especially the army, navy, etc., are constantly enduring hardships and the stress of their own work every single day. I believe, that to survive in a world like ours, you need to have at least a certain degree of endurance, because without it, you will fizzle out while those around you simply continue to "continue burning" their bright fire of accomplishment. However, endurance isn't something that can be obtained easily. No pun intended, but you have to endure the pain of becoming stronger to gain endurance of any kind really. But endurance isn't necessarily a thing that can be measured, either, so what is the limit a person can push themselves to? Well that, my friend, is a whole other story to tell.

Two Faces:the Person We Are Now, and Later

Lately and over the entire course of my life I've been noticing that people seem to have two very different personalities. Oftentimes, it is simply their more professional side versus their more relaxed, personality-filled "home" side, but sometimes, it's a whole other side that not everyone gets to see. I'm not sure why, but I tend to see this "different side" in many people I know. Whether it's because I'm trustworthy and not quick to judge, or simply because I'm at the right place at the right time, I don't know, but I always seem to see a person's other side. It's quite blatant in certain individuals; they stick to a strict mold for people they aren't comfortable around or would rather not talk to, and then when they can be free of that mold, they turn around and are fun, cheerful, and exuberant. There isn't really a formula for figuring out exactly when someone will sort of "change" personas, but some people (and I find this rather amusing) have different tones in their voice when they speak to a colleague or unappreciated person versus a family member or close friend. I sometimes wonder, if we think we all have a personality, why do we sometimes have this different side of us? And I'm not saying everyone has it, some simply show it more vibrantly. Possibly, the professional side of us is necessary, to achieve our goals in a well-educated and sophisticated manner. But then, if we never had industrialization, where would we be then? Simply food for thought, I suppose. I've been rather frightened, myself, to see the "other side" of certain people, as usually it is their brutally honest side, where they let everything spill out-occasionally spewing out swear words and the like. But then other people, like me, open up a little bit more when around people they are comfortable with. It is a very complex world we live in, is it not?

Love Makes the World Go Round Part II

When you find that special someone, the undulated, over-cliched "love at first sight" sort of thing, many people are head over heels and quite unable to see save for the person they are in love with. As horrible as it sounds, oftentimes marriage is the "lifting of the blindfold" so to speak, whereas both people finally acknowledge the fact that they are in this for life-no turning back. Of course, you can always get a divorce, which seems all too commonplace nowadays, but that tends to be messy, and, especially with children, more complicated than need be. If only people could really think out a marriage and realize it's not just the "Get out of Jail Free" card for sex, but a bond in matrimony that should be taken much more seriously.
On another, happier note, couples do have a chance at success. From young love to a fully blossomed connection between the two, all of humanity has a chance at making it. But, here's the kicker-you actually have to work at it to make it last. Okay...so maybe they don't have a chance of success after all...But in all truth, love is not something that can be bought, it's practically something that needs to be accomplished, and therefore takes much time and effort to achieve, but just as much as any other accomplishment, it is very much worth it in the end to have tried. So, really, all a couple needs to survive in the great big "sea of fish" is to express a desire to make it work, and the ability to try to understand one another.

Love Makes the World Go Round Part I

Isn't my title a song? I believe so, but know not of the artist.
Love. It's not easily described, deciphered, nor defined. You can't put it in a jar and give it to someone, and it doesn't come in twelve at the grocery store. Love is something that, when a person truly has it, they feel whole and complete, like they finally belong somewhere, with someone. True love is an even harder thing to define. What exactly is true love? When you can no longer live with something, when that becomes your only life-support, is that true love? Or, maybe, is it when you love someone so much that they become a part of you, no longer a good friend, but one that you'll take with you for the rest of your life? Sometimes, I find it easier to determine love within a family. True love is shown in the devotion a mother or father gives their child, in the malleability of relatives and get-togethers; family sometimes has its "bends," but it will never really break (or at least hopefully not). Love has a funny feeling on the tongue of desire; when you think you're in love with someone simply because you want them to be with you so badly, you lose all conscious thought and believe they must be the one. This, I believe must be pne of the reasons so many marriages turn out sour-after a while; one person of the half might decide that what they are now in isn't what they wanted. This is why love is so complicated in couples, and can't be explained in a single paragraph, and thus the reason why my "love" writings are split up into two.