I'll tell myself that I never needed anybody anyway

The power of dance-Dance can fill you with such joy and comfort. When you become one with the music and it moves you, and you are no longer a part of the world. You become a spirit, a whisper of nature. The cares of the world are lifted off your body and you float, lifted by the passion that controls your movements. Your body has become a testament of your joys, your sorrows, your fears. All of your feeling has become movement. Dance can express what words cannot.
"We dance for laughter, we dance for tears
We dance for madness, we dance for fears
We dance for hopes, we dance for screams
We are the dancers, we create the dreams."
~Anonymous

The power of peace-I went to a peace rally this last weekend. It was quite interesting. There were many things said that I agreed with, and I was glad to be there as an advocate for peace. There was a wonderful band there called Trendy Indies, and they had some good, clean, peaceful songs that I quite enjoyed. But while I (and the other members of SFT present) was there to promote a peaceful attitude, there were many high school students there who were campaigning against the war. I agree, I don't wish the war to continue, I want to bring peace to our nation by bringing our soldiers home, but what they were doing was completely counter-productive to our message. They held obscene and offensive signs and were promoting anti-Bush attitudes. All that is accomplishing is making the community non-sympathetic to our cause. You cannot fight war with war. We are demonstrating for a peaceful attitude, which includes peaceful actions and the goal to unite as peacemakers to change the world. It is pointless to offend others.
"We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude toward it. Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness. Tear out arrogance and seed humility. Exchange love for hate-thereby, making the present comfortable and the future promising."
~Maya Angelou

The power of friendship-Steven and I don't really get to see each other very much anymore, because we have such conflicting schedules. The times when we see each other and talk to each other most are those wonderful Sunday evenings when I go help him with the racks. I look forward to that time, when we actually get to talk and learn more about each other. This Sunday, for example, was probably one of the more enjoyable evenings we've had together. After completing the racks, we drove up a lonely dirt road and sat on the hood of the car and gazed at the stars while talking. We talked of many things, of our hopes and dreams, of fears and comforts. It was nice, just talking together after hardly seeing each other, being so busy with other things. What tremendous gifts little evenings like that are.
"What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies."
~Aristotle

The power of song-We went singing again this Sunday afternoon, 2 1/2 hours this time. It was so amazing. I griped a bit, it's true, but I was grateful for the opportunity afterward. We sang to many different people, some in need, and some just to brighten their day. It's so nice to know that you're helping someone feel better, just by doing something that you enjoy. I know I appreciate the beauty of music, and the calming peace it gives you. The simple pleasure of listening to a beautiful voice, a melodic piano, or a soothing guitar can change your mood and day within an instant. It's not a coincidence that the Lord gave us the gift of music on this earth, to share and to uplift others. Music can be harmful, of course, but the overall benefits of good music are astronomical.
"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
~Berthold Auerbach

The power of life-We should live each day better than the last, constantly striving to do build our character and filling our minds and hearts with knowledge and experience. Life is a gift. Take it, enjoy it, use it. And show gratitude for the small and simple things that are given you.
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
~Albert Einstein

Shalom

Hey howdy hey!

Hello to all my wonderful friends, and an especially big hello to Raage! Please go to

www.littlewheemindmisfires.blogspot.com

for the next piece of the puzzle! Have a wonderful day! Love to all!

Hi to all those I love!

Hey howdy hey and a great big hello to all my friends out there! I especially wanted to say hi to Raage! Hi Raage! What's up? Here's the next peice of the puzzle! Go to

www.littlewheemindmisfires.blogspot.com

Have a wonderful day and love to all!

Death kills 5 out of every 5 dead smokers.

I offer no explanation. I leave you to speculate.

Life has been interesting, to say the very least, of late. As a warning, this is not a "oh, my life sucks and terrible things keep happening to me" kind of blog. I do not want your sympathy. This is merely a blurb of feelings and speculations. I also did not allow for new comments on this blog, because I don't want to know what you think. This is what I think, and I need to allow some integrity for my blog. Not that what you think isn't important, it's just...inappropriate for this entry.

Actually, I really want a glass of milk right now.

How typical. Society is so bent on filling its material needs that it can't even reflect on its individual's lives without fulfilling physical desires first. Why is that? Was Maslow correct when he established the idea of his hierarchy of needs? Do our bodily needs outweigh our spiritual ones so much that we can't fill our spiritual needs until everything else is taken care of? Of course not. We've gotten so used to instant gratification that the time we have spared is not used for meditation, but for fulfilling more needs. I just want to step back and let the flow carry on without me, so that I can observe it from the sidelines and figure out what I'm supposed to do before diving back in to be swept along with the tide of life. I wish I had time for that sort of pondering, time to just sit back and learn through observation, and not in a school setting. I want to change things. I want to change people's lives, influence them for good, help someone back on their way, make people think!

I've noticed a lot about myself lately. I used to think that I really depended on someone to help me through the hard times and to give me advice and to just be there for me, to hold me when I needed it. But people move, people change, and sometimes you can't even count on your best friend. I always knew I was solitary, but it was mostly at home, to avoid arguments or conversation. But lately, I've noticed that I'm not so sure about people's company. I like to be with people. No. I like to laugh. And people sometimes do that. But more and more I've curled deeper into my books and away from the blaring, blinding bedlam of life. I don't enjoy company like I used to. I don't want to talk to people. I want to watch. And listen. And learn. I don't want to interact. I want to be done with public education and travel. Travel to different states and learn about different dialects. Travel to different countries and learn and imitate their culture, their language, their politics, their games. I'm not content with what I have. I want more, and then I want a way to share that information to wrest ignorance and prejudice from the close-minded. I want to share the peace I have found from the scriptures and the gospel. I want freedom to do what I want when I want. I want to learn tennis. I want to dance. I want a lot of things. And that opportunity just isn't here. Where to go? It seems that all fantasy stories involve a journey of some kind, a quest to rescue a maiden, or an adventure to find your true identity. That's what I want. I want to pack a backpack and start walking up the hills, and keep walking and walking to see what I'll find. Mountains seem to call to me. It seems that whenever I'm around mountains, I feel a pull, beckoning me to climb, climb and climb to see what's on the other side. Maybe there is no other side. Maybe I'll just keep traveling over hills and vales until I find a nice quiet spot to finally lay down my pack and settle down. Maybe if I'm really lucky, I'll find a young man on the way, to accompany me and share stories and ideas. But not get in the way. Be a constant companion who knows when to be quiet. Like an imaginary friend, but one you can actually hold. Words can enhance and they can hinder, and I feel that this is one of those hindering times. I can't really say what I want to. I can't express it in words, or pictures, or even colors. Touch maybe. That sense is used so rarely, and it has become a controversial action. It is also not entirely truthful. It can be, if the intentions behind it are well. People distrust each other so much now, that nothing can be taken seriously anymore. The brushing of hands, a casual hug. Innocence is not naivete. It is purity of intent, excellence of character, honesty of heart. It is so easy to lie. But to have truth emanate from every fiber of your being, till people know that you are true and honest in your dealings, and that everything from you can be trusted. It's hard. Which is why it is so unpopular. Chivalry has lost its place in this world. But there's always something better. There's always that beautiful sunset, that moonlight on you face, that whisper of wind through your hair. Beauty is not lost, just the appreciation.

Remember, this is not fact, nor even opinion. Speculation, nothing more. My intent was not to offend, but to broaden. You may disagree, but you now have the glimmer of another idea, another mind. Shalom. Peace be unto you, my friend.

John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

I'm sorry to Peter for stealing his picture, but this is so amazing. I love it so much! These are my good friends Evan, Gary, and Brad. I can only imagine what was going on at this moment.

Hey howdy hey and a hullabaloo to all my wonderful friends out there! I know I haven't written in a very long time, but to be frank, I am not sorry at all. I guess I just haven't really wanted to write down what I was thinking or doing for a while. Secret Jedi activity that cannot be mentioned. But yeah, school's ok. I don't really like it that much, but it's not too difficult so I'm living through it. I have early morning seminary, no first period (which is nice), Psychology (which is really fun, I have it with Raage and Mike and Jason and it's fun), Choir (which is sooo frickin good this year! We're going to kick butt. And we have 26 guys!), Health 2 (which is a stupid and boring class, but I have it with Mollie and Elly and Coop), and then AP Comp (which is hard but I'm learning a lot and we have a good intelligent group). But that makes three classes with Raage, and then I have three next semester as well! It's great. And I only have choir with Steven, but he's a loser, so why would I want classes with him anyway! ; ) But yeah, it's tolerable, I suppose. But I'm not auditioning for the play, which is the Foreigner, cause there really aren't any parts I'm interested in. Or approve of. But I have to get a job anyway, so maybe this is my opportunity to do so and not die of exhaustion or stress.

I know I mentioned this before, but I love the night! There's such an energy that flows and gives you life. "Night juices" is what Steve calls it, but I prefer something a little more sacred. In fact, I can't even really think of a word or even a phrase that adequately describes it. I wish I lived a life where I could be nocturnal and sleep all day and then be up and doing things at night. Too bad most of society does it the other way, so I would really be able to work with anyone. Maybe if I become a writer I'll be able to do it that way. I get most of my inspiration and energy from the night anyway. I don't know. Maybe I'll try it some day.

You know, I'm not one to openly express my political views and all, but I do wish that we didn't have to fight over everything. We had to fight to free people, yes, but what about all the civilians that were killed in the process? Those people aren't free. In fact, quite the opposite. It would be a lot more convenient if the two opposing leaders merely dueled, or had a fist fight, and (according to the codes of war) whoever lost would have to give up their power. Then they wouldn't be dragging other people's husbands or wives or children into the whole she-bang. It would merely be a contest between the people who actually want the power, and leave all the rest of us out of it. So in the epic words of Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes: "Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." We certainly are a messed-up people.

Well, enough thinking for today. It's a holiday, not made for coherent sentences. But I'd better go anyway, since Melissa and I are going to try to pop down to the Baxter's and wish a wonderful birthday to a certain Mr. Mike Baxter, who is turning fifteen today. How weird. I just can't imagine that Mike and Dan are the same age. How weird. I guess because Dan's a year ahead in high school, and he's larger in stature, but it's just weird. So happy birthday Mike, even though you'll probably never read this. Hope to see you all at the dance! Love to all! Shalom