Better Days

Happiness is a goal worth achieving. Sure its nice to have nice things, and titles, and awards. But at the end of the day, do those things really make you happy, do they make you perfectly content. Sometimes I find myself saying "If i just buy this one item, I'll be satisfied," but then I come to quickly to find that I'm not satisfied. I want something better, something bigger, or something different. I'd been pondering ways to make a change in my life. To bring in something new, something that would pull me out of rut. I have come to find that happiness comes in so many ways, shapes and forms.

Someone told me once that they everything was just more fun when they were with their husband. How wonderful it must be to know that you enrich someones life like that. And then I thought, maybe if we all surround ourselves with people who make us laugh instead of cry, we might see better days. Maybe in return we could try to be that person to another.

Magnifying Glass

Just before the summer sun set behind the hills, I jumped on an old 70's vintage Schwinn and began to ride. I let the cool summer air fill my lungs as a petaled, twisting and turning around the perfect subdivision. As I winded through the road I noticed the rows of identical houses-- houses of brick and stone; houses with immaculately manicured lawns; houses with big bay windows and driveways. As I peddled fast and faster past these houses, I thought to myself "Is originality completely dead?" ...But then I looked closer. As I looked at the houses I realized that they were not identical, but that each house had something, somewhere that made it unique. There were houses with bright purple tulips and houses with daises; houses with swing sets and basketball courts. There was a house with an American flag raised high; there was a house with a life size doll house in the driveway. As I looked closer I realized that every house had a story-- and that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover--Well this is also true of people. We so often find ourselves caught up in the mainstream, following trends, becoming a victim of societal norms. But more so than trying not to fall into a stereotype, we need to learn to not stereotype others. Everyone has something remarkable to offer. Put a magnifying glass to someone and you may be surprised at what you find. To look deeper into a person and find that thing that makes them stand out is the real challenge.

I am a dreamer...and I don't want to wake up

I am a dreamer…I always have been. I don’t want typical things and I don’t want to live a typical life. I want to be extraordinary. But in the unrelenting episodes of life, I fear that I am loosing myself—a dreamer. Pessimism has swallowed my dreams whole. As unemployment rates skyrocket, my optimism for landing my dream job disintegrates. In a world where we are judged by what we do, not who we are, it becomes dreadfully troubling to be working a less that satisfactory job—or to not have a job at all. The negativity that surrounds me has clouded my vision—my vision for greatness. But I don't want to believe that I can't suceed, that my dreams are unreachable. If others have reached the same dream--why can't I. I refuse to be product of an indiviual living with their second choice.

But more vital than hard work and success is love. However indiscretions, adultery and selfishness have evaporated the feelings I used to get when I heard the word. Now I feel anger towards the way some people disgrace a sentiment so effortlessly. Some seem to treat love as a false emotion, but perhaps beneath the surface, they act the way they do because they have yet to find it. Perhaps they are envious—or perhaps they think that they are above it. If they have never experienced the feeling of love—the breath-taking, heart racing, speechless, feeling of love, they can only muddle in their ignorance. I will not let the numbness that surrounds me shadow my heart—I will love whole heartedly. I refuse to believe that heartbreak and divorce is all that comes of love. I refuse to let go of the gleam in my eyes and the rhythm of my heart when I see the man I love.

I am a dreamer…I always have been. I want it all. I want to be a writer, a dancer, a lover, and a best friend. I want to work hard so I can lay with my feet in sand staring off at the immense ocean with the man I love—and who loves me. I am a dreamer…and I don’t want to wake up.