This Side Up

Life seems fragile right now.
We should all treat each other with care while we ring in 2010.
This year's been rough.

Wish You Would Step Out From That Ledge, My Friend

Self worth. It's a hard concept to fully grasp. A lot of people are more than lacking in the self worth department these days. I found myself saying almost just that to someone today, and I'm right, but it takes one to know one. When you have low self esteem you hear all those comments that others let slip by without a thought. You recognize tones in their voices and the rosy blush of their abashed cheeks. Everyone feels self conscious now and again, but some people are stuck in it. Some people have been hurt, humiliated, lied to, lead on, trapped, tortured, abused, or they are just all alone.

 But no one is really alone. We're all just a bunch of moving cells. They have to work together inside of us for us to function, let that be a metaphor for life. Be there for each other, because it's sometimes those that feel unworthy that just need to be shown their worth for them to blossom. 

Life in High Contrast

For the first time I'm actually working at my fullest. Perhaps not at my fullest potential, but I believe that can be difficult to find on your own. But I am trying my best. People usually can't find their true potential until either someone challenges them and fills them with a sense of competition and drive, or simply when someone shows that person they are worth more, has access to more, can grasp more. I don't know why it is often so hard for people to get that feeling on their own. Maybe because we can't live without personal comparisons. Everyday everyone makes thousands of absentminded self comparisons. We see another person on the street that walks taller, straighter, and with more pride than us and we compare. Flipping through magazines we compare our bodies, our accomplishments, our salary, our environment, our upbringing. Standing on the top of a mountain, we compare our infinite size difference.
Is life only perspective, proximity, comparisons?

I hope not. That is a depressing thought that makes so many just sleep through life.
Life is what you make it - removed from any and all comparisons to other people and their lives, because no one could ever make all the same mistakes as you.

Doing the Impossible

Nothing in life is free, at least not the things worth having. Free is thoughtless, cheap is easy, hard is strengthening, but it is the things you believe are impossible that are the real gems in life. When a person believes something is unreachable, that instantly makes whatever that is treasure. Purity, perfection, they are both impossible. That is why when you are in a moment that feels like pure bliss it is human nature to have the intense urgency to hold onto that feeling. We never know when life is going to let us have that happiness again, if ever. But it's really not up to life. It is up to us. We have to make bliss for ourselves everyday. Surround yourself with love, adoration (going both ways of course), excitement, mystery, pleasure, wonderment, adventure... everything that you feel drawn to.

Determination is what keeps people from having once in a life time feelings only once in their life.

Pieces of Peace

The layout of your life has to be one that you are happy with. The people you surround yourself with, to the flavors you ingest should make you feel peaceful.

For some people peace is chaos, ruckus, and pretty much living life in an insane, tumultuous way. But for others they find bliss in the calm harmony of organization and order. Which ever you happen to be, there are at least a hundred other people out there who also share your philosophy.

Negative Space

I learned about music in junior high (from a brilliant man that I deeply respect and miss, but that's another story). I was taught that there is beauty in the breaks. In the subtle pauses in a measure that build suspense and seduction. I found that in writing. The genius way the author would leave just enough to the readers' imagination for the story to be thought provoking. I believe there has to be negative space in a piece of art to help give everything else greater value and perspective. So why shouldn't that trend transfer over to our personal lives?

People grow out of those breaks they take from their comfort zone. It doesn't matter if they chose to do something different or if their life took an uncontrollable turn, those broken moments teach us the most. Out of the ugliest dirty grows the tallest trees. It is a trend in nature, there can only be so much bad before something beautiful finds it's way out of those holes in space.   

Love Knows No Laws

Congratulations to my beautiful sister and my amazing friend for making that public promise and acknowledgment to only be with one another. They have loved, lived, cared, and learned from eachother for the past eight years, they know this is exactly what they want forever.
Finding another person who accepts you and still enjoys and respects you is the secret that ever guy and girl out there are looking for. It's not impossible if you expand your horizons, there are millions of people out there if you take the time to meet them.