In order to judge the true character of a man, you must first understand his enemies as well his friends.
In doing so, you begin to understand why he is admired and disliked.
While first impressions are always important, they are limited.
Each and every man paints his own image that reflects out into society.
Society can choose to reject or accept his image.
This leaves the individual to decide for themselves.


 

Tradition vs. Change

Some people may argue that upholding tradition is sentimentally important.
While others may argue that change is vital.
In our lives we need a balance of tradition and change.
We need tradition in order to keep memories alive.
However, we also need change for enlightenment.
If we focus on one aspect more than the other, we would lose the value.
This is a lot like writing.
If writers were to write the same old story day after day, people would lose interest.
It's about how the writer tells the story that keeps the interest.
However, the writer must keep in mind the central themes that make up their genre.
Otherwise, they will have lost sight of what makes their story important.

 

Writers Block

I sit in front of a blank page staring in between the lines, lost without any words.
This blank page is my canvas.
My words are my paint.
Some stokes leave a mark.
While others can be washed away.
But at what cost?
The words will always leave a stain.
I can write words of happiness or pain.
But what do they show?
That I'm happy?
That I feel pain?
I can write words of freedom and envy.
But who is truly free in a world filled with war?
And why envy something over the other?
Who's to say my words are justifiable over others?
I can write words of peace and prosperity.
But how can there be peace and prosperity, when there are people who are starving?
I sit in front of a page that is filled with words, with my heart bleeding out onto a blank canvas.

The Dark World

There was once a prosperous kingdom that is much like our own. There was peace amongst the people until one day a man by the name of James sought to change that. He was a grim man, who felt animosity towards the world around him. He saw peace as a nuisance of a failing society. He saw chaos and destruction as the only solution. Some say he was a martyr, others say he was a dictator.

James was once the great king's right hand man. However, one day the kingdom was attacked and was left in ruin. He called for revenge against the intruders.  However,the great king was a caring and loving individual who saw the light in life. James was consumed with hatred and darkness. With the great king deciding to negotiate with the other side, James led a rebellion against the great king. He claimed that the great king was mistreating his citizens. When he came to power he broke all the promises he had made.

Chaos soon erupted in a once peaceful kingdom. James saw colors as a weakness to society. He ordered his men to destroy anything that had color. The once vibrant kingdom was obliterated into mere ashes. All that remained was darkness.  Yet even when there was only darkness, it was not enough for him. He proclaimed to his citizens, "There shall be no light or darkness by tomorrow." Yet even when little remained, it was still not enough.

The great king came to James and said, " You've gone too far James. You've allowed greed to consume you like a black hole. If you pursue it more your future surely won't end well."

James said to the great king, "You dare question me, your ruler? Your words are blasphemy, away with you!"

That was the last time anyone ever saw the great king. With there being no light left in the kingdom, James made himself his own worst enemy. The only thing left to conquer was life itself. When he conquered it he destroyed life thus destroying himself in the process.

The Restless Shore

Throughout the course of you're life, you can swim for miles upon miles, but it does not mean anything unless your on shore.
In other words, you can spend your life leaving your priorities behind or you can accomplish them.
It might be easier to procrastinate tomorrow but it will come with consequences.
It's better to have level footing on shore, than it is to be floating around in the water.
The reality is we will all have points in our lives were we are floating in the water, but what is important is that we swim back to shore to regain our footing.



 

The Road

The road is not always clear
But have no fear
Nor shed a tear
For the road will appear

Christmas is coming

Christmas is coming and Old Sally is humming.
She sings for all to hear.
Oh won't you come near?
Christmas is coming and Old Sally is cooking.
Christmas is coming and the decorations are lit up.
Christmas is coming and the day has ceased.
Christmas is coming and the children are dreaming.
Christmas is coming and Santa is getting ready.
Christmas is coming.
Oh yes indeed.

 

Who I am

I am the poet,
who didn't know it.
I am the thinker,
who sees life as a
puzzle
and it's up
to me
to solve it.

I am the runner,
who has no set destination.
The world is mine to
conquer.
It has no boundaries
or ends.

I am the Eagle Scout,
who started as a boy,
who didn't know how
to lead,
much less what
it meant
to lead.

In time I matured
and I became
the leader that I am today.
I am the rain that falls
from the sky
that tells
the stories of the
past, present and future.

I am the sunlight that aluminates
the morning sky
I am the warmth that radiates
the world

I am who I make my self to be
and that's enough for me.

Life is like a breeze

A son said to his father: "Dad, I don't know who or what I'm going to be. I don't know where I'll go. All I know is where I've been."

Father says to his son: "Life is like a breeze you just have to hop on it . In time you'll learn where to hop off and where to keep going. You'll travel for miles upon miles until one day you will of reached your final destination. You'll  say to yourself my where has time gone? And the answer to that question will be dependent upon how you lived your life."

New York City

Why is it that often times we fail to see the little parts of life?
Is it because we're not looking for them?
Or is it because there so subtle that is hard to see them?
For the past several years, I've traveled to New York City and until yesterday, I had never noticed the little things that make New York.
What struck me the most yesterday was the sounds of New York City.
Whether it is the screeching of the subway or the whistle of cars passing by, New York City has it all.
In a way the sounds of New York City were like listening to an untold story.
Each story was unique and is always changing.
Those who live in the city can never hear the untold story because they are always surrounded by it.
The next time you're in the city look and listen for the untold stories and you might be surprised by what you find.

 

The Blame Game

Blame is always a game.
No one ever comes out on top.
Yet it's never the same.

Blame is never tame.
Yet it never seems to stop.
Blame is always a game.

Those who blame others are never named.
Yet those who are blame are left to mop
up others shame.
Yet it's never the same.

Those who blame others never find fame.
All they find is loss when seeking the top.
Yet it's never the same.

Those who blame others never find shame.
They stand atop a hilltop towering above all, commanding them to drop.
Blame is always a game.
Yet it never stops.
 

Words of Wisdom: Fence

Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up.

 

Robert Frost

 

Before you tackle an idea, belief, or object you must understand its foundation. Everything in this world has a greater purpose. If you built a wall on your property would you want someone to take that wall down?It took time and dedication to build that wall. If you destroy that wall, then, what was the point of that person taking the time to build the wall in the first place?

 

Words of Wisdom: Education

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

 

Benjamin Franklin

 

There is a difference between telling someone how to do something, as opposed to actually teaching them how to do it. In life you learn through doing. If you sit around you do not accomplish anything. You are in control of you're future and you're present, it's up to you to embrace it.There is no right or wrong path to go down. This is your life, you're one moment to make an impact forever.  

 

Mr.Devlen

I remember walking in my sophomore year into my high schools television production.
I did not know what to expect from the program, much less the teacher.
Mr. Devlen always had a sense of humor that always lightened my mood.
He soon became much more than a teacher, he was a mentor.
I remember our very first project, an auto biography.
The day he assigned the project, I ran home and started writing a script forum.
Never before was I so eager to start a project.
That weekend I began shooting footage for my project.
On Monday morning, I uploaded my footage to the computer and started to compile it.
Within a week or so I was done with my project and was eager to start the next project.
Most of the students were still in the process of working on their projects, so I had wait for them to be finished before we could start the next project.
Later that week, Mr. Devlen told us that he wanted us to come the following week to start to learn how to run Flyer News.
He had told us to come in at 6:30 in the morning or at 6:45 at the latest to help prepare for the broadcast.
I came in at 6 that morning eager to start learning; the only problem was no one was there yet.
When the floor manger arrived she showed me how to operate the studio cameras.
For the next 3 to 4 months I mastered how to use the studio cameras.
I wanted to try something new but I was to shy too ask.
I eventually subtlety hinted to Mr. Devlen that I wanted to try something new.
He brought me into the control room and had some of the upperclassmen teach me how to operate the different positions.
Till the end of the year I learned how to technical direct, run the teleprompter, run audio and run the video technician station.
At the end of the year I decided that I would become a technical director (a person responsible for changing shots during the show).
From junior year till the present I have remained in this position.
In my junior year Mr. Devlen made the most significant impact on me.
I came up with this idea for a segment were I analyze famous quotes.
When I told Mr. Devlen about the idea, he was enthusiastic about it and encouraged me to make one.
From that day on I began producing my own segment "Words of Wisdom".
It was during my junior year that Mr. Devlen realized my passion for writing.
He taught me to embrace my writing.
I'd bring in pieces that I wrote and he would give me some feedback.
He soon began calling me a "Word Smith."
Now in my senior year he is leaving.
TV won't be the same without him.
He built a program from the ground up and his legacy will surely never be forgotten.
Ultimately, if you had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Devlen, he taught us to embrace who we are as an individual.
The reality is TV production may not be for everyone but that does not matter because Mr. Devlen will help you find a place in this world, even if it's across the world, he will stick with you till the very end.


 

Passenger 487

               No one wants to hear the full story.  All they want to do point fingers and hold someone accountable. I was never given that opportunity, because society saw me as psychotic. Society only knows what the government tells them. The government manipulated my words and used them against me. No one will accept the truth but I swear to you I had no involvement whatsoever.

            I remember the afternoon of December 3 vividly. The night air was crisp and the ground was covered with a thin layer of snow. I was headed down to Delaware for a business trip.  When I bordered the train that morning I had trouble finding my seat. I took out my ticket to see what seat number I was sitting in: 487. I found my seat and began to sit down but as I sat the chair broke underneath me. I asked one of the attendants whether it be possible to change seats.
            “I’m sorry sir, but all seats are full. You’re going to have to remain in that seat.” she said

            “That’s okay mam, just thought I’d ask. The train ride is only a few hours anyway.”

             As the train pulled away I watched as the day slowly faded away.  As time passed I grew  tired and slowly fell into a deep sleep.

            When I woke up, the whole world was a blur. As I stumbled to my feet a spike of pain shot up my back. Once I could see clearly again, I realized that I was outside.  A few yards away from me was the train left in ruin. Shrapnel from the train was lying everywhere. Most of which was barely recognizable. I slowly stumbled over to the train to see if anyone was there.  The doorway of the train was crushed inward so I had to find another way in. I made my way through the back and checked to see if anyone was inside. There were no bodies or any sign of life I was the sole survivor. As I exited the train I tripped and fell, as I got up I noticed my hands were stained with blood.  I looked in front of me and there was a trail of blood. I followed the trail until I came to something written in blood in the snow. At first I couldn’t make out what it said, and then horrified I realized that it said: 487. That was the last I remembered before I blacked out.

The Lucky 7

We live in a world were money controls everything. To some men, the accumulation of personal wealth is their sole philosophy. They live and breathe for money as if it were a dire passion. Money transforms good men into capitalistic scrooges. Is it society’s fault that we have created such men? Or is it the individuals fault? The question then becomes, to what extent will these men go with their wealth? Will they spend it all on themselves and nothing on the welfare of others? Or will they share their wealth, so that others may find happiness in this world?

Dear Diary,

I grew up amidst the age of rock and roll, drugs, sex and rebellion surrounded me. As much as I didn’t believe in their philosophies, I had to conform to them in order to “fit in.”   For the most part I did pretty well in school. I wasn’t a straight A student but I tried my hardest. Money was never an issue for me. During high school I got involved with the wrong crowd. After graduating high school I joined the army.  I hoped to get rid of the bad habits, which I had acquired from high school. The army made me into a stronger man and a more decisive thinker.  After serving four tours of active duty, I retired from the army. I then resided in Los Angeles where I would spend the rest of my life. 

After retiring from the army I began to drink. At first I only drank occasionally but I soon became a heavy drinker. I felt that because I served in the army, I was entitled to do whatever I wanted. I felt owed for my service.  Greed consumed me like a black hole, and before I knew it a majority of my money was gone. It was when I started getting in debt that I began to drink even more heavily. I remember blaming the government.  It’s the government’s fault that I am in debt! They owe me for the sacrifices I made! But blaming the government never got me anywhere. This caused a downward spiral that ultimately caused me to become homeless.  I spent months in rehab. During rehab there was an old man, John, who was recovering just like me.  John was unable to stop drinking. I went through a period of withdrawals and I managed to stay sober for two months. While in rehab, they did different tests on my body and told me I had to see a specialist. My appointment was scheduled for May 3, 1975.

…

As much as I regret it, I was once consumed with spending my money. I spent money feverishly until my circumstances began to change. Through these circumstances I began to see life in a different light. Maybe it was because my life was beginning to rapidly change and I had fewer moments to spare. Or perhaps, God had become a major part of my life and because of that I became more generous.  But regardless of the exact circumstances, what I can tell you is that on May 4, 1975 my life changed forever. I became a new man, with a new mission to change the world for the better.

 

I was out for a morning stroll when I ran into a homeless man who was asking for money. I did the best I could to try and avoid him but he called me over.

“Sir, would you mind sparing some change?”

I looked at him with disgust. Who was he too ask me for money?

  I said to him, “Go get a job.”

 As I walked away he said softly “I figured you’d say that. You’ll never change.”

I turned back.  

“Who are you to judge me?”

            He said, “You need to wake up and smell the roses. There is goodness in you. You just haven’t allowed yourself to see it.”

             As I began to walk away I realized that the homeless man I was talking to was John from the clinic. I turned around to go back and speak with him, but he had disappeared. I walked away I began wondering, what did he mean that there was goodness in me? It has always been about me and only me.

            It was May 3, 1975 and I had been called in for a doctor’s appointment.  I remember thinking that there could not be anything wrong with me. I’ll admit that I had a few beers here and there but nothing that could amount to anything.  As the doctor came in his face was blank and emotionless, yet I could sense there was something wrong. His face was wrinkled from age. Every now and then, he would glance down at my file and begin to speak but seemed unable to find the words.

I finally asked the doctor, “Just tell me what’s wrong with me Doctor.”

“Um well you see, you have…”

“Just tell me what’s wrong with me Doc.”

Sweat began pouring from his forehead. He avoided eye contact with me and slowly began to say, “You have…” when a nurse came in and said that they required his assistance in another room. He leaped at this opportunity and was out of the room. A few minutes later a different doctor came in.

“My name is Doctor Westport, and I presume that you are anxious to find out why you were called in today.” 

I nodded.

“You have liver cancer and have six months to live.” 

I sat there in utter disbelief. How could this happen to me? What did I do to deserve this?  The doctor informed me that because of my excessive drinking, I had destroyed my liver.

“It’s not my fault! It’s the government’s fault that I drank! I served to protect my country and what did they give me? Not enough money to live on once I left!”

I left the office in disbelief.  For the next few hours I walked around the city aimlessly. I kept telling myself that this was just a horrible dream and that I’d wake up any moment. However, the day prolonged I still was unable to come to my senses. The last I remember is that I walked into a bar and ordered a drink.

            I woke up the next day hung-over.  The night was a distant memory. I stumbled over to the kitchen and started making breakfast. I turned on the TV to watch the news. As I was fixing cereal for myself, they began announcing last night’s Powerball numbers Like many other times, I had went out the last Sunday and bought a ticket. I had never won anything more than twenty dollars.  According to the news station the winner has not come forward to collect the 5 million dollar jackpot.  On the bottom of the screen they displayed the winning numbers. I casually took a cursory glance at the screen and then returned to eating my breakfast. I took a second glance and all of a sudden I realized that the numbers on the screen seemed oddly familiar. They were the same numbers that I always used for the lottery!

 I began frantically searching through my apartment for my ticket. Clothes were left scattered all over the floor. In the kitchen sink there were piles of dirty plates waiting to be cleaned. They gave off a peculiar scent, like rotten cheese. Beer bottles were scattered everywhere. Many of them had been thrown against the wall, leaving broken glass everywhere. I stumbled over to my desk where there was a heap of papers that were cluttered randomly. I looked through them and found the ticket. I glanced back at the TV to make sure I was not just seeing things and sure enough I had won the lottery!  

Dear Diary,

 I only had six months to live. Six months to make up for all the lost time. Six months to change as a person. Was it enough? Or was I too late? What was it that brought upon this sudden change of heart? Was it because my life on this earth had shortened? Or was it because I genuinely wanted to make a difference in this world?

The next day I went searching for the John. When I first met John I saw him as a failure. I didn’t think that he had anything intelligent to say. When I saw him that day on the street, it didn’t make sense what he had told me. I realized that there are people who are in worse situations than I am in. I felt as if it was my duty to help improve their lives now. I wanted to thank John for helping me to realize that I can change as a person and that I can make a difference in this world.        

 I asked around at the community center but no one seemed to know him. I looked in the surrounding areas of LA but had no luck. Since I couldn’t find him, I decided to start volunteering at the soup kitchen down the street where I last saw him. My hope was that maybe I would somehow run into him but I never saw him again. I wanted to honor John. So I donated some of my money to rebuild the community center and named it after John. I then created a foundation in his name, which sought out to help wounded veterans get training for new jobs.

Towards the end of my life I wondered, what would have happened if I had not won the lottery? Or not gotten sick? Would I have changed or would I have remained the same? I realized that life is about the time you have on this earth and how you choose to live it. It comes down to the opportunities that we are given. We can either choose to make a difference or we can ignore the opportunities completely. John made me realize that I did have goodness in me, and that it was just a matter of time until I would be able to see that.

Words of Wisdom: Imagination

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!
-Dr. Seuss

 

Do not simply limit were your imagination can take you.

You have an entire life that lies ahead of you, that is filled with twists and turns.

Do not allow these challenges to prevent you from exploring the world.

These challenges have a greater purpose.

They serve as a stepping stone to build upon not only our future but also our imagination.

By overcoming challenges we begin to understand life more clearly.

Therefore the more clearly we see life the more we are be able to imagine the infinity possibilities.    

 

My Bus Buddy

This past summer I worked at a summer camp as a camp counselor.
By the end of the summer I hoped to achieve two things.
First I wanted to make an impact on a child's life no matter how small.
Second I wanted to have a kid come up to me and tell me that they had a fun summer.
It all began on the first day of summer camp.
I was sitting alone on the bus heading to summer camp, when a young boy sat next to me on the bus.
He looked very nervous as he sat down with me.
This was his first day coming to camp and he wasn't sure if he'd like it.
I asked him about what he likes to do.
Instead of telling me what he liked to do, he told me this dream he had.
In the dream flying bacon was taking over the world.
It was quite the elaborate story given his age; it reminded me a lot of Star Wars.
I asked him if he liked Star Wars.
His eyes dilated and then he began to talk all about star wars.
He told me about how he liked the game "Angry Birds Star Wars".
He went on to describe all the levels that he had beaten.
Before we knew it we were at camp and it was time to part ways.
As he got off he looked back at me and waved and from that moment on, I knew that this kid would be a big part of my summer.

The afternoon rolled by and it came time to head home.
When I got on the bus I saw the boy who I had sat with earlier.
He said to me "Matt sit with me."
I asked him if he had a good day at camp.
He told me in a playful voice "I had a fun day at camp without YOU!"
I said to him "Oh really is that so? Fun without me I don't think that can happen."
"I had infinity billion, infinity billion, infinity billion times more fun than YOU!"
"Oh yeah well I had zillion trillion billion more fun than you!"
We kept going back and forth for quite some time, until I finally said "Man you beat me I can't think of a bigger number."
He got very excited almost to the point of pure joy.
"I beat you!" he said
"Yeah well you knew a bigger number than I did."

The first week of camp had past and every morning and every afternoon my bus buddy would sit next to me.
We would talk all about "Angry Bird Star Wars" and other games he liked to play.
In the second week of camp, my bus buddy earned his very first star.
A star is an award given to campers who are having fun or doing a good job at camp.
I said to him "Whoa you have a star?! I wish I could've gotten a star."
He said "You can't you're an adult. Adults don't get stars."
"Just because I'm an adult doesn't mean I still can't get a star."
He told me to close my eyes.
When I opened my eyes he had placed his star in my hands.
I asked him excitedly if the star was for me to keep.
When he said yes I said enthusiastically "I got a star! YEAH!" but it was short lived.
He told me to close my eyes.
He then took the star back and laughed like an evil scientist and said "This star is mine now!"
I frowned at the loss of my star, which made him only laugh harder.

Throughout the summer we had various dress up days.
One in particular, I decided to dress up as a hippie.
I put on a wig and a tie dye shirt and set out for camp.
When my bus buddy entered the bus he was taken aback by my appearance.
He asked me what happened to my hair.
I told him "Well you see I made this magic shampoo last night that makes my hair grow longer."
"No way."
"Yes way."
"I don't believe you."
"You want to see the bottle?"
This attracted the attention of everyone around me.
I shuffled through my bag and pulled out an imaginary magic shampoo bottle.
One of the kids said "See I told you it was just a wig there is nothing in his hands."
However my bus buddy didn't seem to hear what the kid had said and said "I see the bottle."
"Yeah, it's really heavy bottle."
"May I hold it?"
"Sure just don't spill it."
Sure enough when he grabs the imaginary bottle and he gestures as if he where opening the top.
He then empties out all the magic shampoo on the ground and says to me "Now your hair is long forever!"
"NOOO! How could you do this to me I don't want long hair forever!"
"Too bad!"

One morning my bus buddy and I were having a chat about foreign languages, when he said to me "I know Spanish."
"Well just because you know a few words of another language doesn't mean you know it."
"Yeah it does."
"Whatever."
"I know Chinese too!" and from that moment on he was convinced that he was proficient in both languages.

Later in the summer I got to be his camp counselor.
The moment he saw me he ran over to me and gave me a hug.
He grabbed me by the hand and dragged me around introducing me to all of his friends.
The entire session he stood by my side.
He imitated anything I did.
If I would be leading a camp song, he would be singing it louder.
It always seemed like it was a competition with him on who had the most camp spirit.
By far though, it was the best week of summer camp I've ever had.

Earlier in the summer the staff had received superlatives.
I ended up receiving "The Big Kid".
I did not understand why at first, I received it but by the end of the summer my bus buddy helped me realize why.
My bus buddy taught me the importance of being a kid at heart.
It allows you to see and imagine life differently.
It's a place where you do not have to be perfect in order to succeed and all that really matters is whether or not you're having fun.      


 
  

The Journey to the Seven Seas

"Hello there Captain Jack."
"What can I do for you young man?"
"I'd like to go on a voyage with you across the seven seas."
"And why would you want to do that?"
"Well you see Captain my father was a fisherman like you. He went on a voyage a few years ago and never came back. It's not that I want to find him. I just want to understand what he did and I thought the best way to do that was to experience it myself."
The following day they went on the voyage and after that day the boy was never heard from ever again.

The Seeing Blind Man

Ever since I was a child, I have been blind. Many people ask me whether or not I see anything. Before I can usually start explaining to them what it is that I see, I am interrupted. They will say to me you do not see anything do you? I will tell them about how I see mountain ranges as vast as the eye can see. Each and every morning I will see the sun setting and rising. They then ask me if I can not see, then how could I possible know what the world looks like? I tell them that I don't know what the world looks like, but that does not mean I can not imagine what the world could be like.

What America Means to Me

In the world that we live in there is a hidden beauty that lies beneath the surface.
It's a beauty that is so simple yet, time and time again we fail to see it.
Is it because we are blind?
Or is it because we don't understand the very essence of its underlying beauty?
The question then becomes, if we do in fact find the beauty of this world, do we just see the beauty or do we see the beauty for what it really is?

Nikita the Queen of Bees

She is the queen of bees.
She rules over the household as if it where her kingdom.
When she wants your attention you MUST give her attention, otherwise you will be hearing about it later.
When she wants to be fed you have to feed her then and there, not an hour from then because of course she is the queen of bees.

Finding Happiness

I believe that there are several key factors onto finding happiness in this world.
First and foremost, a person should not only think optimistically but also live optimistically.
This means that you must have the ability to try something new.
By trying something new we make new discoveries, not only about ourselves but also about the world around us.
It is through these new discoveries that we make, that we must have the ability to place faith in.
If we fail to place faith in even the littlest of things, it will prevent us from recognizing our full potential
It is through recognizing our full potential that we will find happiness.
We must also surround ourselves with the right people.
These people will have similar interests and goals as you.
They will support you in your decisions and guide you along your pathway to success.
Ultimately though it all comes down to your mindset.
If you think positively you'll live positively and if you live positively you will find happiness in the road to come.

 

Fall

Fall is the season of change and diversity.
It's a season that's filled with a vibrant beauty that is like no other.
Whether it be the translucent aromas of thanksgiving morning or the howls of the fall wind that call upon the creatures of the night.
Fall has it all. 

Life's Marathon

Life isn't about winning the 100 meter sprint.
It's about running the marathon.
You don't always have to be the person who finishes first.
Nor do you have to be the person that finishes last.
If you are truly running life's marathon, then you will know that you will never stop running in your life.
Eventually though, you will get to a point where you will have reached the finish line.
When you do you will have become a much stronger person than you where before and you will fly amongst the stars higher than you ever had before.

Facing History

History chooses to remember her glory and her triumph; her power and her wealth.
Yet there are stories of her past we choose to forget.
Is it our fault?
Who wouldn't want to bask in the glory and strength of our great nation?
Why remember our downfalls and hardships, when we can remember what made us strong in the first place?
Is this because we take too much pride in what we've accomplished?
Or is it simply because we're only human?
Yet history repeats itself.
Sometimes we get lucky and dodge the bullet but eventually the bullet will come back at us.
The only question that will remain is will we choose to make the same mistakes as we did before?
Or will we to choose to face our history and ensure that future generations won't make the same mistake as we did?

A man who share his sliver, shares too little.
A man who shares his platinum, shares too much.
Whereas a man who shares his gold, shares just enough.  

The Green Glass Door

I awoke amidst a world that was unfamiliar to me.
I looked around and saw nothing but a green glass door.
At first I was hesitant to approach the door.
Who knew what was behind that door?
However, my curiosity overtook me and I slowly began to walk towards the door.
As I got closer my anxiety only began to increase.
When I got to the door I began hearing a knocking sound.
I looked around me to try and figure out where the knocking was coming from but there was nothing around me except the door.
I pressed my ear up against the door only to hear the knocking sounds getting louder.
I reached for the door knob but before I could open the door it swung open.
To my surprise there was nothing there.
I called out "Is there anybody there?!" only to hear my voice echo back to me.
Despite opening the door the knocking kept getting louder.
I turned around and started to walk in the other direction only to find that where ever I walked the door would appear in front of me.
I asked myself whether or not I should walk through the door.
At first I thought that I could avoid the door by running away but still the door followed me.
I finally decided that I'd walk through the door.
As I walked through the door the whole world around me began to change.
Vibrant colors filled the world around me.
Trees began growing and roads began forming.
In front of me a dirt road began forming and before I could see the end of the road I stepped back through the door.
All of sudden the world that was created vanished into thin air and all I could see is was  an open doorway.
I stepped back through the door way and the world appeared again.
From that moment on my life changed forever.
I realized that all of my life I've always waited outside the doorway.
I never took the initiative to take that extra step into what was happening now.
I would just let life happen and not take control of my life.
I began taking my first steps down the long road that was my future.
The closer I got towards my future the more of my life I began to understand.
They might have been small steps at first but in time they became bigger and better steps towards the life I wished to live.




 

The Average Joe's

If we go into life expecting more than what we already have we'll end up coming out with less.
This can apply to almost anything.
It could be something as simple as a reward or a prize.
Personally, I've had experiences were I felt I was entitled to an award for the work that I've done.
This didn't always mean that my work was always the best it could be.
I could've always improved my work but instead I chose to just get the job done.
In time my perspective began to change.
I slowly began to realize that I wasn't approaching life correctly.
I was always expecting to get something for the work I've done.
When I came up short I would be disappointed.
I began noticing that those who weren't expecting a prize or a reward were getting them.
At first I didn't understand why this was but then one day it hit me.
These people aren't trying to always come out on top.
There just an average Joe who works hard.
They do their job because it's their passion not because of the money.
These are the people that tend to blend within the crowd.
Not everyone see's the amount of work that they do.
Someday soon I hope to be more like the average Joe.
I'll focus more on the quality of the work and less on the prize.
I'll set manageable goals and dreams.
It may not happen over night but as long as I aspire to be the very best that I can be, that's all that will really matter.
 

The Life Of A Dog That No One Understands

Every morning I wake up to the same old house.

The dark green walls are as about mundane as the dog food my master's give me.

I try telling them that I don't like the food but they never seem to understand me.

All they do is smile and say to me in a childish voice "Does Maxwell want some doggie food?"

It always bothers me when they talk to me in that childish voice.

They don't have to ask me if I want the food.

Clearly it's the morning and I'm hungry end of story. 

Another thing that bothers me is that after breakfast they leave the house.

What am I supposed to do?
There is only so much a dog can do in the house alone.
I often start the day by patrolling the house.

I make sure that there are no intruders in my house and just to be safe I mark different parts of the house to establish a perimeter.
Although when my master's come home they always yell at me.
I can never understand why though, I'm just looking after the house for them while there gone.

 

After I've established that the house has no intruders I go and sit on the couch.

I stare at the ceiling to pass some time; it gets pretty boring fast so I usually fall asleep.   

By the time I wake up it usually midafternoon.

 

Yet again I patrol the house checking every inch.
I make sure that my markings are still established and I mark again for good measures.

Shortly after that Toby comes home from school. 

He will give me afternoon belly rubs.

Which always feel amazing after a hard day's work.

It's tough being a dog.

My masters have it so much easier.

They just leave and do nothing while I'm stuck at home doing all the work for them.

I'd like to see them patrol the house and just see how much work it is.

I've tried explaining to them how much work I do while there gone, but all they do is yell at me for marking the house.

I'm just doing my job. 

Clearly there jealous of what I get to do so they just have to criticize my job so they'll feel better about themselves; #dog_problems
 

The Rainbow Man

The Rainbow man stands out in our society.
He sees life as if it were a never ending rainbow.
He sees the different shades of the rainbow as if they were a metaphor; Whereas society only sees the rainbow.
The Rainbow man dresses differently than everyone else.
He speaks differently, acts differently and dreams the unimaginable.
Society sees him as an outcast; a rebel.
Children come up to him and ask "Why do you look so different from everyone else?"
He says to them "Well because I'm like a rainbow. I see life in different layers. I see some red. I see some blue. I also see a mixture of the two colors; purple. At the end of the day though all I am trying to be is myself; not who society wants me to be. This will mean I'll be an outcast in society. However, as long as I remain true to myself that's all that will really ever matter." 




 

Since the beginning of mankind we've always faced conflict.
Whether it's from sickness or from war, we've always been on the brink of a disaster.
We've always been searching for answers to our problems.
We've looked far and wide, left and right.
However we often fall short of a permanent solution.
The solution to our problems comes with knowledge.
One may ask were this knowledge comes from.
I believe that all knowledge comes from within.
All knowledge that we'll ever need to know is already stored in our minds.
We just have to utilize the right tools to unlock that knowledge.
As for example, when we're trying to learn something new the concepts might not always sink in at first.
In time these concept will start making more sense.
Learning is a stepping stone for unlocking this knowledge.
More importantly though is our imagination.
Imagination is what makes us realize our potential and allows us to think outside the box.
Learning gives us the tools to unlock further knowledge.
Imagination is what makes it all possible.
Our imagination is just one big maze.
It has twists and it has turns but at the end of the day it leads us to unlocking the knowledge that comes from within.

 

Where Greatness Truly Lies

The man who is in search of greatness is looking too hard.
If he just opens his eyes he will find where the greatness truly lies.
Greatness doesn't come from the stars or the skies.
It comes from a place where it matters the most; the heart.

An Endless Summer

Time where has it gone? 

It flys by faster than we want it to. 

Time is what makes us envious for those special moments in life.

The moments were you can kick back and relax.

The moments were you watch as the sun rises and sets each morning.

The moments were you excite your taste buds with exquisite foods. 

The moments were you can truly release yourself and not ever have a worry in the world.

Limitless Boundaries

The first time that I began running long distances was in my freshman year in high school.

It was in my freshman year that I realized my passion for running. 

Since then I've always been an avid runner.

When I run I never like having one set destination.

I always run for the joy of running, never for competition. 

When I run I feel as if I am on top of the world.

Running never feels like a struggle.

Distance doesn't matter because when I am running I feel as if can run forever.

Seconds become minutes and minutes become hours and before I know it I'll have ran farther than I ever thought I could.

Today at sunset, I ran along the Marginal way which is a pathway along the coast.

Out of all of the runs that I've ever ran, this run had to be the most exhilarating.

I ran faster today than I've ever run before.

Each step was as light as a feather and as I continued to run my boundaries became limitless.

There is this sense of tranquility and oneness with the world that it creates.

Never have I felt so exhilarated when running.

Tomorrow I'm going on another run along the coast.

Who knows where my boundaries will take me.

All I do know is that it's up to me to define them. 

Someday Soon

Someday soon we will shoot for the stars.
When we get there we won't ever stop.
Someday soon we will fall in love.
It could be today, tomorrow or in the near future.
Someday soon we will become one body; one soul.
Someday soon we will accomplish our wildest dreams and all it will take is me and you.
 

My Coming of Age

With summer vacation around the corner it's hard to believe that I'm almost a senior.
High school has gone by faster than I ever would have imagined.
One moment I was a freshman lost, dazed and confused and now my high school career is nearing the end.

My freshman year was my hardest year in high school, yet it marked my transition from childhood to manhood.
Reflecting back upon my high school experience, it was because of my teachers and my friends that guided me into finding my true identity.
On my very first day of school I met my homeroom teacher Mr.Wolfman.
I didn't know it then but he later would become a major part of my life.
Once a few weeks had passed I began to feel more comfortable in the new environment.
I had this idea about writing an article about my views of social media when I told Mr.Wolfman about my idea he loved it and told me that we could work on it together.
The next day, I came in with a rough draft and he sat down with me and we worked on it together.
Through the whole process he helped me realize what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, writing.
I don't think I could ever thank him enough for all that he has done for me.
It goes to show that sometimes even a simple gesture, might lead someone into realizing something about themselves.

In my freshman year, I also met Martwuan who had a major impact on my life.
Martwuan and I where like brothers we always had each others backs no matter what.
He taught me how to be more confident around other people.
I've always had a propensity to be a shy person and most of the time I have I spend alone.
However Martwuan made me more confident about myself.
One time in particular there was this random girl who was sitting all alone, he wanted me to go talk to her.
I told him there would be no way I'd go and talk to her.
Within a few minutes he had convinced me into  going over and talking to her.
As I walked over he cheered me on I felt so embarrassed.
He said "Let's go Matt" then he clapped his hands.
When I got over to her she said to me "Looks like you got a fan club over there."
"That's just my friend being a pain."
Then of course as we continued to talk he kept cheering me on.
The bell rang thankfully and I went over to him.
"Dude you made me feel completely embarrassed over there."
"I was just trying to keep you motivated."
Thinking back now I understand what he was trying to do but back then I felt that he was just being a pain.
I realize now that he was trying to have me meet new people, which by myself I wouldn't normally do.
To this day I still have some trouble meeting new people, however now I am more willing to give it a shot.
If I ever have any doubts, I just think back to that day when he was cheering me on and that's what motivates me to move forward in my life.

Sophomore year, arguably my best year of high school , I met Mr. Garretson.
He made learning history fun.
In prior year I had just taken notes in class and memorized the material.
Mr.Garretson however had a different approach.
He would have us do skits, write journals and protests on the time period we were studying.
We where always moving in his class which I thoroughly enjoyed.
At of all of my high school teachers he has had one of the influential impacts on my life.
He showed me what history can be rather than what it is.; he showed me history in a new perceptive that made my views change on history completely.
I believe that the most important thing he taught me was to embrace my inner creativity no matter what.
Even if it is as simple as writing a poem or drawing a picture we all need some way to express ourselves.

Midway through the year I met Josh.
Josh taught me the value of friendship and what it means.
On my eagle scout project he helped me with every single map.
In school he would always give me advice about life and much of what he told me I use to this day.

Also in my sophomore year I joined our schools TV production.
Through TV production I learned the importance of being apart of something no matter how small.
Down in TV production I found a place were I could fit in.
It's a place were everyone is like a family to me.
Mr.Devlen our teacher definitely plays into the chemistry of our family.
Without him none of this would have been possible.
I am grateful for the opportunity he has given us.
I am also grateful for him helping me realize that I have a passion for broadcast journalism and some day I hope to get a degree in it.

Junior year went by the fastest.
It seems like yesterday when I first started.
Although I can't choose one teacher in particular that had a major impact on my life in junior year there was one class that I matured in.
In English, I struggled initially because I wasn't understanding all of the concepts but after sitting down with Mr.Tarlin everything began to make sense.
In his class my analytical skills vastly improved.
When I first started my analysis were to long and too wordy, however I became a stronger analyzer through lots of practice.

In the beginning of my junior year I met Dante.
He taught me the importance of setting goals.
No matter how farfetched they might be.
You can always aspire to be the very best you can be.
I think what Dante taught me is the central meaning of high school.
It's true that through  high school  you obtain an education but I think it goes beyond that.
High school is the time were you get to explore your interests.
It's a time were setting goals, building relationships and embracing ones creativity become essential in what lies in the future ahead.









 

The Journey Beyond Eagle

Now that I have obtained the rank of Eagle, I've often wondered what will be next for me in scouting?
Until recently I wasn't sure what I would be doing.
I've realized that I want to guide others on their journey.
Whether it be in scouting or beyond.
Currently I'm working with one scout in particular who has a genuine interest in scouting.
He doesn't always understand all of the concepts but he tries his hardest.
I admired his growth as an individual and one day I see him becoming a leader of our fine nation.
He reminds me a lot of myself.
I did not always understand all the concepts right away but with the guidance of a mentor I was able to advance through the ranks.
I use to feel that it was my responsibility to take the lead.
However, now I don't lead because I have to I lead because I want to.




 

A World of Silence

Before you read consider the following quote:

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.  - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

We live in a world were too many people live in silence.
The world is constantly changing around us yet we still remain silent.
We work on finding our voice in our society but every time we speak no one hears us.
Is it because we don't speak loud enough?
Or is it because our voice became intangible?
Or is it because  our silence became our inner most virtue?
The real question becomes whether or not we want to remain silent or whether we want to find our voice.
But how do we find that voice?
Is it something that falls from the sky?
From the moon?
From the stars?
From a whisper?
Or is it something that we find over the course of our lifetime?
When we find our voice though, does that ever really end the silence in this world?
Aren't there still people out there who haven't found their own voice?
What do we do then?
Do we wait for them to find their voice?
Or do we remain silent?
There is always more we can do for the betterment of others.
If you ever see someone who is silent in this world tell them about your voice.
Tell them how you were able to find your voice; your passion.
Then guide them through the journey as they begin to figure out their own inner voice.
Once you have done that, then the silence of this world will have finally been broken.

 

The Call of the Rain

Unlike most people, I enjoy the rain for what it is.
There is this sense of tranquility that soothes me when it rains.
When it's hot or cold, I find that I can't concentrate on my thoughts.
However, when it rains I find inspiration.
I don't know if it's the soft touch of rain drops upon my face; or the soothing echo of rain.
I sometimes find myself standing in the rain.
I close my eyes and I listen.
Each rain drop sounds differently.
Some rain drops sound louder than others.
Regardless, every rain drop sings its own song.
Some sing of knights who slayed fire breathing dragons.
Others sing of great men, who once walked this earth.
As the rain slowly fades away, these once triumphant songs become but a whisper of the past.

A World of Words

Every letter when formed together creates words.
Words create thoughts.
Thoughts on their own create individual ideas.
My life is surrounded by words.
I look left I see words; I look right and I see words.
What these words mean to me could mean something completely different to you.
What you see as a simple object, I see as a metaphor.
When you see an apple that's all you see.
When I see an apple I see an elaborate puzzle.
When I solve this puzzle, I transpose what I've uncovered.
When you find yourself stumped on what to write; I find myself lost in an array of words.
When you dream of chocolate covered streets; I dream of stories.
At the end of the day though, all that really matters was whether or not, I was able to make a long lasting impact on you that will stay with you, until the very end.

What Patriotism Means to Me

To me patriotism means a lot more, than just the American flag.
It extends further than just having pride in my country.
To me patriotism is all about accomplishing our dreams.
When I think of patriotism, it makes me think about Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
His speech shows us how far we have come, yet it still reminds us of whom we are.
I think it's from his speech, that the roots of patriotism lie.
He spoke of how that one day he hoped that race, would not be the judgment of our character; but rather who we are as an individual.
It's through this dream that patriotism is discovered.
Embracing who we are is what I think patriotism is.
It's not about how much money you have, or where you live,
It's about you as an individual, living your life the way you want to live.
Whether that means pursuing your dreams today, tomorrow or even in the future; as long as you stay true to yourself, your dreams will become realized.

The Towering Giants

A memory that will stick with me for a lifetime is my first day of preschool.
When I first arrived at the preschool, I remember seeing the huge doors of the building.
The doors were made out of wood; they were shiny enough that you could see your own reflection.
I remember wondering, if I would be big enough to even go through the doors.
While I was walking in, high school students were walking out.
When I saw them, I was stunned by their size.
They had to be as tall as sky scrapers and the more I looked up,  the taller they seemed.
I asked them if they were giants.
I had really hoped that they were giants, because I had always wanted to meet one.
When I asked them if they were indeed giants, they smiled and laughed.
In a thunderous voice, which echoed in my ears, they told me  that they were not giants.
Which was very disappointing news.
However, I did redeem myself.
When I got to preschool, I told everyone how I had just met giants, but they didn't seem to believe me.
It took a while, but I finally got them convinced that  I met giants.
After that day, all the  kids would come to me and ask me, what giants looked like and were they could find one ; since of course , I was an "expert" on identifying giants.



 

The Man Who Walks Around the World

The man who walks around the world always walks alone.
He walks around the world no matter the weather.
He walks from sea to sea; from mountain top to mountain top.
He never has one destination.
He is tall and slender.
His dark green eyes make him visible for miles.
He rarely speaks to anyone and when he does he says very little.
He is lonely in this world.
I could never tell you for sure, why he walks so much.
Perhaps he is just lost in this world and wants someone to find him; and perhaps, when the day comes that he is found, he will have reached his destination.

The Meadow or the Mountain?

Do not allow a single avenue to define you.
For there are numerous avenues,  that are waiting in the road ahead.
As you continue along your journey, do not allow a single footstep to misguide you.
Each mile that we walk is what will define us.
Where we walk and how we walk, will determine our future.
Walking up the mountain is much more challenging, as opposed to walking in a meadow.
Although walking in the meadow is easier, you don't get as far.
Whereas when you walk up a mountain, you have to take bigger steps towards your future, because if you don't you won't make it up the mountain.
As opposed to in a meadow, you take little steps towards your future.
Even though, you might have accomplished what you were working for faster, by walking through the meadow,  you wouldn't have learned as much, as you would've if you had taken the steps necessary, to reach the top  of the mountain.
 

Social Media: Taking a Stand to End Negative Propaganda

Over the course of a decade social media, has become a vital part of our everyday lives. We use social media to communicate messages and ideas across the globe.   Not until recently, have I come to the conclusion that not only is social media being misused, but it’s also changing our society. We use to live in a society where, if you wanted to talk to another person, you would have to talk face to face. However because of the growing popularity of social media, face to face interaction is rapidly disappearing.

Social media’s purpose has changed drastically from what it was. It used to be a place where you communicated with another person via Internet. However as social media has become more popular, it has become a propaganda campaign. Now in days you see less and less communication, between people and you see more propaganda in our lives. Well some propaganda is beneficial and spreads awareness of an issue. The majority of propaganda is negatively impacting our society. The purpose of propaganda is to make us believe in a certain idea. As social media continues to expand, more children will be affected by these negative ideals. It's common for a child to repeat what he or she hears, even if it’s something bad.  In any case if a child grows up seeing negative propaganda, this is what they will grow up believing. It might be the case that their parents might still teach them other beliefs. However within a few generations, these negative ideas that might have been rejected before will be accepted, because social media changes the way we think.

As a solution, I believe that we need to become more aware of propaganda's effect on not only society, but also ourselves. That's not to say we can't embrace new ideas, but we have to be more self-conscious. We must also ensure that the generations after us, don't fall victim to negative propaganda. In reality we cannot tell them what to believe, or what they should do, but we should always be there to give them another opinion. However, at the end of the day society is always changing; and well there isn't very much we can do about it, that doesn't mean that we can't keep our old traditions alive.

 

 

The Man Who Can't Be Swayed

Do not trust the man who tries to impress you.
For the man who tries to impress you isn't what he makes himself out to be.
Trust the man who isn't trying to impress you, for he is modest.
He not only respects who he is as a person, but he also respects you for who you are.
 

The Best Advice

The best advice doesn't always come from were we'd expect.

If the advice you are given is obvious, you could interpret what it means literally; however you must consider if whether or not the advice you were given has a deeper meaning.

Good advice comes from the heart, it's not meant to tell you what to do, its meant to guide you throughout your endeavors.

Good advice is meant to be passed down, from generation to generation, so that others may benefit from it.

Good advice isn't meant to scold an idea or concept.

It's designed to make you see an idea or concept in a different light.

How you respond to good advice is up to you.

 But regardless the best advice, isn't always an elaborate idea, it could be something as simple as saying thank you.

The Jar of Marbles

Life is much like a jar of marbles, each time you remove a marble there will be less marbles left in the jar.
Therefore in life the more you take out of each moment, the less marbles you will have to remove.
We all get to a point in our lives, were we feel that there simply isn't enough time.
We want to go out and see the world, meet new people, spread new ideas.
However we are constrained by outside forces that limit what we can do.
When the opportunity arises, in which we have a chance to experience new things, time slips by and we are left with wanting more.
Every day we live a marble is removed, how we spend each day is what will determine when the marble will be removed.
If we waste our time, and not be mindful of the moments slipping by, a marble will be removed immediately; since there is only so many marbles a jar can hold, we will run out of marbles quickly.
However if we spend every moment we can pursuing life to the fullest, then by the end of our lives, there will still be some marbles remaining in the jar, and our life will have been much more happier, and much more longer.

 

The Value of Goals

Does a goal still have value even if it is not accomplished?
I believe that regardless, of whether or not you accomplish a goal, it still has some value.
How you achieved your goal will determine its value.
Even if you do not accomplish your goal, as long as you tried the best you could, there is still some value from trying.
However, if you take short cuts to accomplish your goal, then it loses all of its value.
It's better to try something and fail, than it is to accomplish something without even trying.


 

The Bug on the Wall

You can learn more from a small bug on the wall, than nothing at all.
No matter how insignificant a bug maybe, it's the small things in life that make up the bigger ideas.
Every idea has to start from somewhere.
Even the simplest ideas, might not come from where we'd expect; Or even the most elaborate ideas, could have started from something simple.
Next time you see a bug on the wall, do not simply disregard it, observe it, and you will be surprised about what you find,  you will not only discover more about yourself, but more about the world and beyond.

The Shoelaces of Life

A father, who teaches his son how to tie his shoes, teaches his son the basic fundamentals of life.

He teaches his son, right from wrong, justice from liberty.

He teaches his son these lessons from tying his shoes.

The left shoelace represents what is seen as right.

The right shoelace represents what is seen as wrong.

When the laces overlap, they create our morals.

The right loop that is formed represents justice.

The left loop represents liberty.

 When looped together  it creates a place, where regardless of who we are, or what we believe in, we can be ourselves.

 

The Lost Prodigy

The following is a story from the bible, that I put into my own words.
Following the story I have an explanation of what this story means to me:

There were two brothers, who split their fathers wealth.
The elder brother took his share, and stayed with his father.
The younger brother took his share, and went off and spent his money carelessly.
The younger brother, with what little money he had left struggled to get by.
The younger brother tried working, but soon even that was not enough.
The younger brother convinced himself, that he was no longer worthy of being the son of his father.
He went to his father, and told his father that he was no longer worthy of being his son.
His father told his servants " Get my son clothing . Put a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet. Get the fatted calf and kill it.  For this son of mine has been dead and is alive again; he was lost and now he has been found."
Later that day, the elder son returns home from work, and takes notice to the festivities going on.
He asks a servant what's going on, and the servant told him that his brother had returned, and they had killed the fatted calf."
This infuriated him, and he called to his father.
His father came out to him and pleaded with him.
The elder son told his father "I've worked all of my life for you, and I've never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me a goat , that I could use to celebrate with my friends. But when your son came back , who wasted your property, you kill a fatted calf for him?"
"Son you've always been loyal to me, what's mine is yours. But we must celebrate and rejoice the lord, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and he was found."

I believe that in life, when we are first granted independence its common for us to cast astray.
The younger son, was given  the freedom to spend his money how he wanted to.
The choices he made caused him to have a difficult life.
Even though the younger son tried working, it wasn't enough for him.
The younger son realized that he had wasted all of his money, on things he did not need.
This led him to believe that because of his foolish mistakes, that he was no longer worthy of being called the son of his father.
When he return to his father and repented, his father embraced him.
This causes his brother to be outraged.
Despite the fact that the younger brother made mistakes, does not mean that he is unworthy of being his father's son.
Through the younger son's experience, it made him realize that he had not spent his money wisely.
The younger son's ability, to recognize the fact the he did something wrong is what drives him to ask his father for his forgiveness.
The younger son felt that this was the end of his journey, but rather it was just the beginning of something new.
A greater life would be awaiting him in the future, it would just be up to him to seize it.

 

Great Men

Great men, who are unknown to their generation, live humble lives.
Men, whose sole purpose in life is to gain fame and fortune, live dishonest lives.
Great men, who don't seek recognition, for what they have done, are the men we should look up to.
Great men, who act without being told to, are the men we should all aspire to be.

E.D.G.E

From my experience with working with children, I have found a variety of methods that work well, and others that have not.
The most effective way of leading children, I have found is by using a method known as E.D.G.E.

Explain; when explaining a concept to a child you must take into account their age, and what they will comprehend.
What a seven year old might understand, will not translate as well to a five year old.
The best way to explain a concept to a child is to explain it in simple terms.
After you have tried your best to explain the concept, ask the child to reiterate what you just told them.
This will not only help them better understand the concept, but it will also help clear up any confusion.
As a side note, notice how the child explained the concept to you.
So that way, when the next time you have a similar age  group, you can explain the concept in the language that the children will better understand.

Demonstrate, when demonstrating a game show the children how to play the game.
Then instead of going right to the game, have a volunteer come up and show the group how to play the game.
I know as a kid, I would not always watch the demonstration of how to play, but when I saw one of my peers demonstrate how to play, I would pay more attention, and have fewer questions on how to play.

Guide, when guiding you are not physically doing the activity for the child, but instead you are overlooking the activity, and or participating, and aiding the kids that may need guidance.

Evaluate, reflect on the previous steps.
Figure out what went well, and what could have gone better.
Once you have figured out what works best for you, you are one step closer to being an effective leader.
 

The Quilt of Life

He who sews, gathers pieces of life, and puts them together.
Each piece he gathers has its own story.
Each piece he gathers, represent something greater, and when he sews them together creates a bond.
This bond consists of stitches that are intertwined, that cannot be broken apart easily, and should these bonds ever weaken, he will sew the bonds back together.

If you should ever wish upon a star, I'll be right behind you.
If you should ever fall, I'll be there to catch you.
Should you ever grow sick, I'll be there to take care of you.
Should you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I'll cry with you , and should the days light ever grow faint, I shall be your light.

Choices

The choices you make are much like riding a train.
Before you board the train, you must know where your final destination will be; otherwise you will not  know where to get off.
You could board the train, with no set destination.
Is it the right choice, or is the wrong choice?
Well, that depends on how you look at it.
Some may say that this is the right stop, and not go any further.
Others may stop and think, and ask is this really where I want to get off?
Those who choose to board the train again are an optimist and those who choose to leave are pessimists.

If you can, I can

If you can fly, I can fly

If you can dream, I can dream, and if you can love, than I can love you.

Defining Moment

Fly, Fly away, and spread your wings out to soar.
Your life is all within your control.
What you do, who you want to be, and who you are, is all up to you.
This is your defining moment.
The moment were you judge, right from wrong, evil from heroism.
Will you have courage to stand up against the oppressor, or will you cower away?
Will you defeat the odds, even when they are stacked against you, or will you refrain from acting on?
Will you say what you believe, or will you allow others to shape your opinion?
Will you love your family, even through the hardships, or will you ignore them?
Will you accept your life as is, and not do anything to make it better, or will you change your life, for the better?
Will you go where the money is, or will you chase after your dreams?
This is your life, you're one life to live, and it is up to you to choose how you will live it.

Mistakes

In life when we try to do something new, its easy to look past our mistakes, and move on without admitting that we made a mistake.
We convince ourselves that we are flawless; when in reality no one is perfect.
The best thing to do in our lives, is to own up to our mistakes, and reflect upon what caused our mistake to happen; so that next time when faced with a similar experience, we can correct the mistake before it happens.

 In order to accomplish your dreams, you have to work for them, dreams are not something that can be given to you.
This idea is much like peeling an orange, with the skin of the orange, being the barrier that you must overcome, and the center being, what you are working for.
Now obviously, all you would have to do, to remove the skin from an orange is peel it off, but its the idea that the skin does not come off by itself.
In life you have to work hard, in order to accomplish your dreams.
Along the way, you will have to overcome many obstacles, and through these experiences, you will shape your dreams into what they are today.

In This Moment

Fear few, trust many, and we will change the world.
What we see as fear, differs from person to person, but what we must learn is how to overcome our fears.
If we spend our lives living in fear, we are not going to get very far in life.
That is not saying that we can not fear anything, all it is saying is that we have to be willing to take risks, in order to have a better future.
Although trust, is not something that is earned over night, we need to have the flexibility to trust people, we do not even know.
Even though, there are no guarantees when we take a chance, it very well could lead to a golden opportunity, that could change our lives forever.

What Lies Beyond the Horizon

The sun is shining ever so brightly, casting its light across the lands.
As the wind is blowing, autumn leaves began falling.
Their vibrant colors reflect off the sun light.
The light blue sky turns to a light orange, as the day fades away.
The world begins to settle, calm is casted over the face of the earth.
Nightfall soon arrives, as the creatures of the night awaken.
A distant howl could be heard throughout the lands, echoing off the mountain tops, and into the world and beyond.
A storm from the east emerged; it began raining lightly, each drop as soft as a feather.
Within a few minutes it started to pour, like buckets falling from the sky.
As the storm began to settle, the sunrise could be seen beyond the horizon, its effervescent beauty casting its light, upon the shadows of the earth.

 

Identity

Every relationship we have, whether it's a good relationship, or a bad relationship, has a purpose.
There is something to be learned from each relationship that we have.
What we learn from these experiences may not always be evident, but what we do realize is our values.
How we react to from these experiences, ultimately tests our values, which then shapes us into the person that we are today.

Chairty

The best charity someone can give, isn't always donating money, it's volunteering your time for a noble cause.
Volunteering has a more significant impact on a person, not only at a personal level, but also on someone elses life.
It shows to someone, that you care about their well being, and that your willing to take your own time, to make their life better.
That's not to say that donating money, isn't as noble, but you get more out of experiencing the change first hand, than you do when you give money.

What is often felt, yet not seen

The best things of our lives can't be described in words, they are felt.
These feelings aren't felt by everyone, they are only felt by a few, because to others what we feel about these things, doesn't always have the same effect on them.
While these feelings may change on the outside, and appear to be different, they will always remain the same in the inside, to those of us who understand them.