The Forever Blaze, The Phoenix's Flight

I am strong. No one can or will stand in my way. I follow my dreams and I believe in a bright future. The fire in my eyes burns brightly with determination in meeting my goals. I cannot be stopped, this fire is too intense. I cannot be stopped, it burns through everyone who tries to bring me down. Your hate, your rejection, your will to make sure I fail will not douse this flame,. I am the Phoenix. I rise from the ashes, reborn. And I soar beyond all expectations. They tell me "You'll never make it". They chant "Your hopes are nothing and your dreams are worthless". Their negativity doesn't hurt me, not at all.  They yearn for my failure, they want me to fall. But I won't listen. Their hate does nothing but motivate me to do better.  As my motivation rises, my fire flares even brighter and brighter. My soul is ignited, free, wild. My will is strong enough to crush all. My determination and anticipation for success will scorch anything and everything. I will not be stopped, and I will make all of my dreams a reality. I shouldn't have to worry about people like you destroying everything I believe in. I shouldn't have to live in fear of your neglect and spiteful words. It doesn't matter if you want me to succeed or not. The only thing that matters is my will to move on. My final goal. I should really stop wondering about what people think of me, and learn to only worry about my own self-satisfaction. They will only drag me down, extinguish my flame. Why would I want that? It's time that I showed them what this fire could really do. Get out of my way, or prepare to get burned.


It's funny how they think that they can hold me back, bring me down. It's interesting to think about what goes through their ignorant heads every time they try to bring down. Do they not understand? It doesn't matter how many times I may fall. It doesn't matter how many times they can take out my flames. I am the Phoenix. And like a Phoenix, I will always rise again. I will be reborn, rejuvenated, free once again. I will soar again, like a brilliant fire in the sky. They may hate me. They may await my downfall. But just like the Phoenix, you can assure yourself that I will come back. I will  reappear, and then I'll show you how much damage I can really do. This flame? Is unstoppable. This confidence? Is unbreakable. My flight? Is not over yet, so don't celebrate too soon. As long as my will to live burns, my driving force to succeed. You will never defeat me, and like the graceful....yet destructive phoenix, I will return for round two....to finish what I started.

Phoenix

Out of my ashes
will rise a new phoenix.

A soaring being
returning from death
proving once again
that life is eternal.

I live forever
because the spirit
never dies.

I will return
in another body
in another time,
but it is me.

The me who is me now
will always be.

As long as I live,
I learn.
And I live
F o r e v e r

The Tears Of My Heartbreak, My Triumphant Awakening

As I sit here in the dark, and the silence is mocking me. It tells me how much I screwed up and how I shouldn't have given up. It tells me that I needed to man up, to stand up and finally take control......But I can't. As I sit here in the derailing silence....the ominous quiet, I'm crying. With every teardrop comes a memory. As they fall gracefully to the floor below, I can see. In each individual drop, I can see a conversation, a smile, a kiss we once shared. I remember how great we were and how desperately I want to have that feeling you once gave me back. When those droplets finally hit the ground, they meet their grave. So does every little memory replaying in each. I cry at my mistake. I weep at my loss. I become infuriated with myself. "How could I be so weak?" "How could I let things turn out the way they did?" You were the only person that was able to place a permanent smile on my face. Only you, could bring the happiness that overflowed from my being. Now, I'm left suffering. I'm left alone, and that smile I once had is now erased. It will never be the same. We will never be the same. We spent a short time together. We never got a chance to grow. Even though the time we shared seemed insignificant, the joy you brought and the impact you made will forever be implanted in my heart. Have you ever had that feeling you get when you know that you've loss something great? Do you know how it feels to be pressured to end something magnificent? The pain is unbearable, and it makes my eyes pour. Those wounds are forever fresh, which makes me cry even more. They say that time heals all wounds. Well until that happens.......I'll sit here, alone in the silence, alone in the dark, alone with myself. It's funny, you told me that you'd be there for me whenever I needed you. Who would've thought that right now, after you've gone away, would be the time that I needed you the most?




Before, I used to sit and cry in a whirlwind of negative thoughts about how I screwed up. Before I used to moan and complain about how I desperately wanted to make it better. That was the old me, the naive me. I'm much wiser now. I've learned that everyone has their falls at some point in their life. I taught myself to rise from those falls, and to make each negative into a positive. Dwelling on the past will only keep me from reaching my ultimate goal, my future. I have to move on.....even if I don't want to. We all have obstacles to face in this thing we call life. We all have to suffer before we find happiness. Well I can say that my suffering is over. I will no longer let the past haunt me. I will conquer it, my fear of forgetting. I can never forget all the times we had together. They made me stronger. You made me stronger. You made me happy and you've earned a permanent place in my heart. I used to cry an overwhelming amount of tears whenever I thought of you. Every time I spoke your name, depression would instantly rain over me. But like I said, that was the old me. The new me, smiles at the thought of you. The new me, is thankful for what you've done to keep me sane. The new me, has learned to accept the fact that our lives travel different paths.......and that's fine with me. Never will I forget how you used to make me feel. Never will I forget the smile on your face. Never will I forget that you made me who I am today. This is my triumphant awakening, my time of renewal. It's time I move on from the past, and make sure that it never brings me down again.

the hardest thing to do in life is say goodbye

today i learned a lesson
that will always be true
saying goodbye to someone
is the hardest thing to do

I've never felt a loss
until i said goodbye
i thought i was strong
and i broke down and cried

never will i forget
the times we had
though the reflections are happy
it makes me rather sad

the most brutal of men
cries at the past
i only wish 
the good times would last

so i humor myself
I'd smile if i could
why can't things work out?
because life isn't supposed to be that good

Tick Tick Tick...

  With every second that passes, we slowly grow older. Another life created. Another life ended. We take for granted the little time we have on this earth. We look into the future and ponder about what we could be.....what we may accomplish. We often like to reflect on the past, at lives that were taken and regret. We never live in the now and take a chance. We're too interested in the future, the next year, day, hour, minute. As we do this, we waste the precious time that we have. Life is not forever. If it was, would we truly be alive?....Life is delicate. Life is sacred. Life is beautiful because we die. We all have hourglasses that represent our life span. As each grain of sand falls, we inch closer and closer to the death that many of us dread. We need to live as much as possible. Take chances, live in the moment, be happy and forget about all of your worries. If you can't live a long life, at least make the little time you'd had worth it. Express yourself. Dump the negative. Take in the positive. Make each tick an adventure. Make each tick a memory worth remembering. Make each tick count. Then when your time finally runs out, take all of those memories, dreams, ideas, and adventures with you into the next life so you can be happy there too.

Time of Love:
    Learn to love. Love your family, love your friends, love yourself.  Show them all how much they mean to you before time runs out. Make each second a moment worth remembering. Take a picture.....not with a camera, but with your mind. Make a mental note of everything you appreciate. Don't dwell on the past. Don't focus all of your time on the future. Think about the now, not the next. We're young, but not for long. You've been told all of your life to use your time wisely. Now take that advice. Your grandparents have probably told you that youth is only a single second in a life time. Live your life. Be happy. Be sad. Be alive.

 Time is of the essence.....

Healing Time:
    They say that time heals all wounds. They say that over time, you will learn to tolerate. Time is an amazing gift. We often don't use it wisely. We often use it to remember the negative. Time is the ultimate medicine. It will cure the disease of a broken heart. It will relieve the pain of losing a loved one. We need to learn how to respect time and it's abilities, because once it's gone, it won't be coming back.

Don't waste time....

Dwelling on the past and bringing up all of those memories that cause you hurt, will destroy you in the end. Only with time, can you learn to accept the past. Time is a blessing, and it's unfortunate that many of us don't realize it until the very last second.




 

Importance of Time

Today was tomorrow yesterday,
And tomorrow it will be yesterday,
Time will go on in this way,
We will come and go away,
But in the time when we are here,
We should live and work without fear,
To make this world a happy place,
For men may come and go but mankind will be here always,
We cannot go to the past and make a change,
The future is unknown and strange,
The present is what we know and understand,
Its precious moments are like grains of sand,
That in an hour glass keep flowing,
To remind us that time is going,
Without a halt, without a pause,
Time flows by Natures laws,
So let us learn from Nature how,
The most important time is NOW.

                                                                                   

   

The Ghost You Became

When we were younger, I used to always love your smile. Whenever I looked into your eyes I saw happiness, hope, and more importantly......I saw affection. You always managed to brighten my day, ignite my flame. Your reassurance, the soothe in your voice, made me listen. You gave me the strength to move forward. Your laugh made me feel as though all of my problems had dissipated. That infectious laugh, managed to lift my spirits. It somehow removed me from this existence I call reality and placed me into what I considered a perfect world. I felt safe, and that's when I discovered that you were my best friend. A few years roll past and we grow apart. We stop talking to each other as much, and I start to feel as though maybe you've moved on. When we start to talk again, I feel great, reborn. I feel like we can pick up where we left off in our friendship, but I notice that you changed. I can't tell if its for better or for worse, but there is an obvious change in you. A simple alteration that isn't easy to point out or recognize. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but you seemed as though you lost something. You still have that same smile that used to give me warmth. You still showed the same amount of love and friendship that you had for me many years ago, but there is something about you that's odd. Over time, our friendship grew stronger. Our bond is unbreakable. Over the years, our trust in each other has solidified. Our bond was invincible. I tell you everything, and you tell me everything. You listen to me and my problems, but I can't say that I do the same for you. You say that you're fine. You say that you're loving life right now, but I can tell that there's something you're not telling me. I've never noticed before, but I complain to you about everything. I tell you how much my life is in shambles, and yet you still manage to listen and tell me that you love me. You never tell me to stop or to quit whining, you just sit there and listen. That makes you a true friend and it shows me that you love me. You stay up with me whenever I feel alone. You watch over me, you protect me like I'm your first priority. I never once thanked you. I never once returned the favor. I never asked you how you felt, or if you needed anything. You were a good friend to me, while I just sat back and assumed that everything was okay with you. That night, when you told me that you felt alone......when you told me that you felt unloved, neglected, forgotten, I was crushed. I couldn't believe that you, the one who made my life worth living, was feeling this way. I didn't know what to do, how to act or respond. I just sat there and reflected on all the times we had. I wanted to help you, but I knew I couldn't. I wanted to make you feel better, make the pain go away, but I know that I couldn't. You became a ghost. You aren't the same girl I loved seeing everyday. You were a lonely spirit lost in forever darkness, and I vowed that I'd bring you back. I fought and I fought, and finally I was able to bring the happiness back to you smile. That's what had changed about you......your smile. it was missing happiness, but now I've brought it back and you weren't a ghost any longer. I've come to realize that I'm not the only one with problems. I now understand that you also have your own issues. The only difference between you and I, is that you're stronger than I am. You  handle things better than I ever will and I've learned that I need to respect you more. You mean the world to me. I couldn't function without you, and I know that you are the person who loves me for me.


Everyone has at least one friend, but finding someone you can call your best friend is  hard to do. Someone to pick you up when you fall. Someone who will fight for you night and day, a best friend will always stand by your side no matter what. I'm fortunate to have someone in my life that I can call my best friend. There isn't a day where I don't think about how lucky I am to have this person in my life. I found my best friend in this world.....did you find yours?

A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart.


A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

 A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walk out.

The Nightmare

I'm running. I'm tired, exhausted, afraid. I don't know where I'm going or what's behind me. It's chasing me....hunting me down......toying with me. It's laugh, so cynical, so evil, like it's mocking me. I'm running away, but I don't know which way to turn....left.....right...or maybe up. As I run, flashbacks haunt me. Every time the beast spoke, a new memory appeared. Visions of my friends revolting, betraying me, abandoning me. There's something wrong....these memories are not my own.  It's feeding me lies, but I'm too terrified and naive to notice. The beast gets closer. I can smell it's breathe, it's stench choking me....engulfing me...strangling the life out of me. I'm engulfed in fear, it's gravity weighs me down. I'm sweating now, the pressure is too much for me. Its getting closer, and there's no escape. I'm crying now, with tears that flow so cold.The beast is tempted, it knows its winning. The creature approaches, even closer than before. With fluctuating intent, it burns a hole through my sanity. It began to speak, with a voice so eloquent, with an utterance so malicious. It brought me pain, so intense, so permanent. Every time it spoke, chills rolled down my spine. "You're worth nothing, no one can save you. No one will even try to help you, just finish yourself off now." The demonic tone in his voice is so painful. It hurts me from the inside out, it's affecting me like a toxin.  My head is throbbing.....lack of oxygen.......I'm losing consciousness.......getting sleepy......closing my eyes.......fall....ing.......flowing....into.......deep.....sleep....."You're a waste of a soul" is the last thing I hear before my mind drifts away, before it escapes.  I wake up to voices screaming, no, shrieking in my head. "Where am I?" "What am I doing here?" I get up and I notice that I'm still in darkness. It's cold, yet I don't feel anything. How can that be? I'm shivering in this dark place, not out of frost, but of fear. My confidence is unknown, forgotten. My path is destined for failure but I MUST move on. The shrieking, once so unnerving, turns into innocence,  a child-like laughter. "No one will love you, you're a waste of space", is what they sing...over.....and over.....and over again. I want it to stop, but it wont. I want silence, but there is none. I can't take it anymore!! I must escape the voices, I must break free. I began running at a steady pace. I move further, and f u r t h e r,  and  f  u  r  t  h  e  r away. The voices are getting louder, and louder, and louder. 

I see a light, so dim in the distance. As I get closer, the beast from before blocks my path. "You won't escape. You have nothing to live for. Be afraid and run like the coward you are." I look at it's distorted face, into it's demanding eyes and run straight ahead. It's time that I settle this. I MUST move on. There's a brightness, a luminosity.

...............................................................I see the light..............................................................................

I wake up and I'm greeted by silence.....peace.  I can't really remember what just happened, "Was it a dream...or was it reality? Were the voices right? Am I really a waste of space?" My head still hurts.....but I'm thankful that the nightmare is now over.

Soon after my frightful encounter, I come to the grim realization, that the beast in my nightmare was  a reflection of myself. My mind concocted this creature from the all of the negative thoughts and emotions that compiled as time progressed. The voices, the child-like laughter, mirrored my younger self mocking the cowardice disposition that I displayed. My greatest fear is the fear of myself. I'm afraid of one day failing to become the man that I strive so hard to be. But, even in times of stress, I must remember that I MUST move on. I must face my challenges and work to conquer all that stand in my way. If we can't even manage to have belief in our own success, do we really even deserve to have the capability to believe at all?

My Guardian Angel

You're always there whenever I feel alone. While I cry, you whisper "Everything is going to be alright". You were there for me in my time of need, I don't need anyone else. You were there for me whenever I lost my way, You are my guiding star. You love me how I am, I don't have to change. You watch over me, like you're my guardian angel. You're the only one who's ever cared. The only one who knows the real me. I trust you......you believe in me. I don't know where I'd be without you right there to guide me. I'd be lost........afraid...........sad.......alone. You keep me sane. You keep me smiling. You give me a reason to keep living this life. You watch over me, like you're my guardian angel. I cry on your shoulder. I tell you everything. I put my faith into you. You watch over me, like you're my guardian angel.......like you're my best friend. You bring me happiness. You cure my sadness. You are my family. The only one I need. I often take for granted how lucky I am to have you.  Never again will I forget how much you mean to me. I'd just thought that I'd let you know that I love you.

We all have that one person who we can tell everything and anything to. We all have that one true friend who would do anything to make you happy. A real best friend is a protector. They make us feel safe, confident, strong, and more importantly, they make us feel like someone loves us. In a way, your best friend is your guardian angel. They want the best out of you, and they want you to be happy. Love your friend. Take a second to reflect on how much that person has been there for you. Never forget who was there for you when you needed someone the most. Don't lose sight of your true friend. Find your best friend. Tell them how much they really mean to you. Tell them that they are your guardian angel.

 Sometimes your best friend is actually a guardian angel in disguise.


The sweet souls who love, cherish, inspire and protect the angel in you are your guardian angels. They are your Friends and Family.

The Love I Once Felt

When I'm with you, my heart melts. It beats at a pace that is impossible to measure. I feel like I can let my guard down and still feel protected. We share our secrets. We share our dreams. We share our lives. We share our fears. When we were together, nothing could stand in our way. We were strong. We were invincible. Our hearts beat at the same pace. The rhythm they make sings in our ears. I felt like you would be there forever. You felt like our love was everlasting. We gradually grew apart.....leaving......a large.....and permanent...hole in our once flawless relationship. We become friends, acquaintances, strangers, ghosts. We lose sight of what we were. You continue to go down a path that is not my own. I continue to make decisions that keep us apart. We drift farther.....and farther..........and farther....until finally, we reach the rope's end. You cut the rope. You erase our memories. You leave me alone, and as you do so my weak and broken heart finally stops beating.  You made me feel alive, but when you left, I lost all reason for living.

We've all had that one crush or relationship that just ended badly in the end. We have to learn that not every relationship is destined to be, and as we grow and mature, we start forming ideas and opinions that may not be the same as the person next to you. We need to learn how to move on and live our lives. We shouldn't let one bad relationship define the rest of our life. Life isn't perfect. Life isn't easy. The pain we go through only makes us stronger in the end.

If You Really Love Something Set It Free.
If It Comes Back It's Yours,
If Not It Wasn't Meant To Be

 “Everyday is a new opportunity to stand up and try again.” -Amelie Chance

 “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” -Buddha

  Forgiveness is the economy of the heart. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits. -Hannah More

Why I Cry

They tell me to "man up" or "stop being so emotional". They always tell me how depressing and disappointing I am. I try and brush it off like I don't care, but it still hurts. It hurts that the people I call my friends would do that. They assume that my life is perfect or that I exaggerate things. They constantly remind me of how much of a baby I really am. They leave me broken......in pieces.......shattered....like glass to the floor. They tell me that I complain too much or that I take things too seriously, but they don't know my true feelings, the real me. They never will understand me, so I do nothing but sit at home and cry.  I try and play it tough like I don't have a care in the world. I try to laugh or put on a smile to create the illusion of happiness for my friends' sake. I try to stay positive, look on the bright side, keep an open mind. But I always find myself right back where I was in the beginning. After a while, the false smile becomes transparent. After a while, they soon figure out my trick. I try to explain myself, but I can't. So what do I do?, I sit in embarrassment....and cry. 


NO!...I'm not going to cry anymore. I will hold my head up high. I'm proud of who I am. No matter what anybody says or thinks about me, I will let NO ONE steal my joy.


Self-confidence is what many of us lack. We question our abilities and we doubt our own judgement. We often exclude ourselves from speaking out in what we believe in and for what is right in our opinion. When we let others, especially our "friends", tell us that we are stupid, dumb, or worthless, we let them control our mind. We are not puppets. We have our own voice. We should never let anyone or anything bring us down. We should never have to sacrifice belief in ourselves. We should never let someone else steal our happiness away from us. 


Definition of SELF-CONFIDENCE

: confidence in oneself and in one's powers and abilities

— self–con·fi·dent adjective

— self–con·fi·dent·ly adverb

• Celebrate all of your victories
• Stop putting yourself down
• Stay within your limitations
• Love all of  your strengths
• Pat yourself on the back

Tolerance To All Possibilities

I'm sure that most of us have used to the terms "gay" or "faggot" at least once right? "It's just a joke, who cares?" is probably what you'd might say. Well it may be a joke to you, but do ever stop to think about the person you just called "faggot"? Homophobia is the FEAR or HATRED of members of the homosexual community, whether they be gay, bisexual, lesbian, or transgender. Usually, homophobic individuals use harsh words or violent actions to express their hate or fear. What would you do is you say a gay teenager at your school being harassed or ridiculed? Would you run to the rescue or just stand by? You may think "Someones gonna help eventually, why do I have to?", but that's not always the case. Many heterosexual teens wouldn't step up for a homosexual teen because they themselves are afraid of being called gay. A poll was taken on a group of high school boys that asked "What is the worst thing someone can all you?", almost all of them said that being called "gay" or a "faggot" was the hugest insult. I looked up the word gay in the dictionary, and guess what? The word gay means "Full of joy or mirth" and "Supporting or having interest in the gay community". It doesn't mean STUPID or GROSS or INSIGNIFICANT, like the way many of us use it. We should all learn to tolerate each other. That doesn't mean that you have to like the person, it just means that you should learn to accept the fact that not everyone else is straight. Don't attack or shame the person because they're different. We need to stick up for each other. We need to be the change that stops the trend of punishment for being different. We need to stop being bullies. We need to learn to TOLERATE all sexualities.



"People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost."
— H. Jackson Brown


"We will never know the difference that can be made in our life and the lives of strangers unless we choose to be open to all possibilities."
— Chelle Thompson, Editor of Inspiration Line

LOUD!

LOUD is what we hear. LOUD is what feel. LOUD is what are. But when does it get too loud? We want to be heard right? Even if it means shouting louder than all the rest. You have to be heard first. You're opinion is the most important. No one else has anything intelligent or interesting to say. Why do we have to be so loud? Why must me beat all the rest? We're always BLASTING. Always creating an UPROAR. Always creating a SCENE. But we never quiet down. We never stay calm. We never listen. How can we expect to be heard by our peers, if we can't even make an attempt to listen to what they have to say? The world works in funny ways. I guess it's just human nature to think about yourself before everyone else. We're all too LOUD. We need to quiet down. Maybe then, everyone will get respect and the fighting.......arguing...... constant bickering, will finally come to an end. We all want to be understood. But that can't possibly happen unless we take a chance and try to understand others.

 Speak your truth quietly & clearly; and listen to others, even the dull & ignorant; they too have their story. Max Ehrmann

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. Winston Churchill

 Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk. Doug Larson

The Tunnel's End

Sometimes, the things we say or the things we do can cause more damage then intended. We say "Lol I'm kidding", but does that really make it any better? The constant taunting. The ridicule. The hate. The loneliness. It's no wonder that so many young people resort to the worst. They feel like the only way to end their pain is to end themselves. It brings tears to my eyes whenever I see or hear about someone who's attempted suicide. We have our entire lives ahead of us. Why would anyone want to just throw that away? There is no reason for any of us to kill ourselves in order to find peace. Death may seem like the ultimate escape but in all reality, it isn't. I remember a time where I felt completely alone and afraid. I felt like the only way to stop my suffering was to stop my heart beat. I wanted to be lost......gone........erased from this world. Why must we have to deal with these things? "It's just a phase. It'll pass" is what mom and dad say, but do they really understand the situation? Can they really relate to the pain? Can their love heal the emotional wounds that I've lived with for years? You may think that the kid who's always smiling is happy. You may think that the kid who's always smiling has the life you wish you had. You may not think that that kid is miserable. You may not believe that there could be anything wrong with his life.You say "Whatever, you're lying to get attention". But do you ever stop to think how someone else may feel? Do you bother to listen to what that kid has to say? It could be a cry for help. A cry for a friend. A cry for someone to accept them and to love them. You never can tell, can you? We need to stand together. As friends. As Strangers. As a generation. We need to help those who can't help themselves. We need to look out for each other and make sure that no one else ever has to face the decision of life or death. Life is hard and death is easy, right? We all know this. But do we realize that life is a delicate and ever-changing cycle of turmoil and tranquility?  The hardships we face and the happiness we gain are all apart of what makes life as beautiful as it is. Next time, before you choose to end your life, ask yourself; "Is it worth it?" "Will this give me the happiness I want?" " Am I making a rash decision?". Maybe then, we can all work on living in happiness and acceptance together.

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming."

(Helen Keller, deafblind author)

"The greatest glory in living lies in not never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

(Nelson Mandela, former South African President)

"Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start."

(Nido Qubein, Motivational Speaker)

The Change We Are

"We are the change. Never forget that"

They always tell us that we're too young to have an opinion. They say "You're just a child, you don't understand". It's funny, they tell us what we do understand and what we don't . They force us to follow their rules and to listen to their orders, like we're mindless slaves working under their control. If they took the time to stop, watch, embrace, and listen to what we have to say, they'd be surprised at what we really do comprehend. We can make a difference. We can make a change. We can do things that they would never expect us to do. We are powerful, independent, creative, and able. We shouldn't let them think for us. We all have the ability to do good, its just a matter of whether they can see the good within us or not. Never let them force their thoughts, their dreams, their opinions, down your throat. Take charge. Take a chance. Take that first step to a brighter existence. You make your own path in life, not someone else. You make decisions, follow your own morals, do things your way. We aren't babies anymore. It's time to let us go into the world and to experience new things, breathe new air. It's our turn to make a change. It's our turn to create a masterpiece with the tools you gave us. Let us go. Let us breathe. Let us travel, think, and grow. Let us live, and we promise you that the things we accomplish will finally make you see how much we do listen. We are the change. This time, you're the one who doesn't understand.

You Can Be Whatever You Want To Be!

by: Donna Levine

There is inside you
All of the potential
To be whatever you want to be;
All of the energy
To do whatever you want to do.
Imagine yourself as you would like to be,
Doing what you want to do,
And each day, take one step
Towards your dream.
And though at times it may seem too
difficult to continue,
Hold on to your dream.
One morning you will awake to find
That you are the person you dreamed of,
Doing what you wanted to do,
Simply because you had the courage
To believe in your potential
And to hold on to your dream.

Label Me This

I'm black, I must be ghetto. I'm gay, I must be flamboyant. I'm rich, I must be spoiled. I'm fat, I must love McDonald's. Stereotyping is seen wherever you are. People do it so often, that most of the time they don't even realize that they're doing it. "I'm just callin' it like I see it" you've heard that before I bet. For some reason, members of our society love to make assumptions based on how someone looks or behaves. I bet you're saying to yourself right now that "First impressions are everything." That may be true, but do "first impressions" also justify calling someone GHETTO because they're African American, or DISGUSTING because they aren't as skinny as you? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and everyone has the freedom of speech, but there is a limit to what's appropriate and what's down right hateful. You should get to know that person before you gossip about them because you don't know what their situation is. You don't know what goes on in their lives. What's the point in making someone feel WORTHLESS or PATHETIC? Would you like it if someone called you something that was completely false and out of line? So next time, before you call someone UGLY,DIRTY, and FILTHY, think about how you'd feel if those same words were used to describe you.

My Own Self-Expression

We all have our personal sense of style and tastes. But what happens when we aren't allowed to express how we really feel? Society always tends to criticize the differences in people, the slightest blemish. It surprises me that so many people like to point out the imperfections in others and then ridicule them about it. It's for that reason, that many individuals ultimately decide to hide from the world. What kind of world do we live in? Living in fear is not something that sounds enjoyable. Being forced to follow the crowd and think like everyone else is painful, both mentally and physically. There have been some instances in where someone has caused self harm or even resulted to drastic measures like suicide, just because they couldn't be true to themselves. I know the feeling. Before I started speaking up for what I believed in, I used to always sit alone, thinking.....wondering......and hating who I was. I lived in fear because I didn't want to be judged or looked at like a freak. But then, I just slowly started to express myself overtime and eventually, I became the loud and proud person that I am today. Keeping your feelings inside, will only lead to more pain. You'll start asking yourself questions "What's wrong with me?" "Why am I this way?" "Why can't I change?" The best thing to do is to show the world and all of society who you really are. Self expression is an important key to happiness and self-love. Not caring about what society may say about you shows their ignorance and your independence. Just because they're too afraid to open up and embrace their differences, doesn't mean that you have to be.

"No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit." 
Ansel Adams 




"Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary." 
Sir Cecil Beaton 


Shine on. Be free. Be yourself. Stay radiant. Love yourself, and don't change for anyone.

Who I Am

I used to think that I was ugly, imperfect, and just plain uninteresting. I used to always feel like the "odd one out", like I didn't belong anywhere. For a long time I went to the extremes to change who I was. I wanted to change myself so I'd feel loved. It took a while, but I finally came to the realization that I wasn't weird or ugly. I was myself and there was no way that I would change for anyone. Everyone should be proud of who they are, whether they're black, white, gay, straight, tall, short, Muslim, or Christian. No one should ever feel like they have to hide who they really are from anyone else. We are all beautiful. We are all important. We are all different from one another, and its those differences that come together to create a beautiful world. If you are "different", embrace it. Express yourself and stay true to who you are.  Don't let anyone bring your spirits down. If you can be yourself, you'll be able to take chances, live free, and find the true happiness that resides deep down inside of you. If everyone spent all their time trying to be the person next to them, then no one would be happy.

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Family Affairs

 A child is something precious and should never be taken for granted. Parents are supposed to give their children that unconditional love that no one can destroy. The bond between parent and child is so intense, so bright that nothing can extinguish it. If this is true, then why do some parents feel the need to continually abuse the ones they are supposed to protect? No child should ever be afraid of their parents. A child should be able to rely on their parents in times of need. Abusive parent-child relationships are more common than you think and the abuse comes in a wide variety of shapes and forms. The fact that someone can cause deliberate harm to something so precious, confuses me. Why must a child feel unloved and forgotten? It's not their fault. If you can't trust the ones that gave birth to you, then who in this world can you trust?