Lyrics

Just taking a brief moment to say:

Lyrics speak to me. 

Not just because they are words, but sometimes, they are so clever, or beautiful, or relatable, they reach a point where I can listen to them over again. There are always certain lines that bring shivers up my spine, that cause me to look around (even when I'm by myself) and say, "That is SO good." From there, I rewind, and hear it again, smiling at the bit of melodic genius. 

Is it just me? 

I envy those who can come up with words that can invoke such feelings in people, for I have had my attempt at writing songs, and have most indubitably and unmistakably failed. 

We're getting dumber!?

I can't help but notice the trend in literature. As I look back at the years of writing, and see great pieces of work from (in no particular order) Homer and Aristotle, to Edgar Allen Poe, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, C. S. Lewis, and J.R.R Tolkien etc. All fantastic thinkers and writers who give us a glimpse into their time, or their values. Then I look at the writing of today and shudder, unable to help cringing thinking our society is defined by a bunch of vampire-crazed people.  

Yes, there are some beautiful books on vampires, but these books are hardly as popular as the ones sold to the drooling teen population. Over the past few years in English class, we have gone over things like, American literature reflects society of the time, and I cannot help but think. This, these books, are reflecting our society? 

Horrible. 

Will it change? I hope it is merely a quick trend that will be replaced by something much more deep and intense. With something that is worth delving into, to get a glimpse of something more than quick love and a little action. 

That Circle Song.

"A circle is round, it has no end, that's how long I'm going to be your friend."

Friendships change, they grow, and they die. They are much like life in that way. There are some that stick with you through your whole life, and other that come in for a part of it, then drift away, leaving their mark on your life to take with you wherever you go. 

Those who stay with you provide support, opinions, honesty, kindness. You can have good times and bad, but through it all, the relationship remains intact and strong. It can handle a few speed bumps because no relationship is perfect, and you know everything will be okay. However, others may find their time with you to not be as long as you would have liked. They find that they cannot be there for you the way you hoped they would, or there is too much between you to ever return to the way it was. Sometimes, it is hard to face the end of the road with someone you have been through a lot with. You may start questioning the necessity of the end, and whether it is worth it at all. 

There are times where it is hard to let go of people and relationships that have helped you get through rough patches, but in the end, it is sometimes time to stop. It doesn't mean everything must stop. There is no need to never speak to that person, or to not treat them with the kindness you always have. Just a quiet acceptance that you have grown apart, you are not interested in the same things, or there are just things that you can't work out.  It may be hard to understand, and sometimes, it can be fixed. But other times, they were only meant to be with you for a while, and now someone else gets a turn. It is now time for you to turn to others to fill the new gap, or just turn to the friends that you still have.  People grow apart. It happens, people need to be happy for the experience, and move on. 

Please dear. Don't join the army.

I have been anti-war almost my whole life. I went through the hitting phases of being a toddler, and a sibling, but now, I would like to say I'm proud to have grown out of that. I know that growing up, I was taught to share, and help other people. The ol' "Honey, why don't you let him have a turn?" or "Use your words," was always stressed for me. Sometimes, you don't get your way, and you have to deal with it. And other times, it is just nice to do things, because they make other people happy. I have a feeling, that most of us are brought up that way. To share and compromise, so that we can learn to deal with other people in our lives as we get older. 

What I don't understand, is how there is war going on. Between people, and countries. I don't understand how two five-year olds can sit and share the same doll, yet grown men and leaders cannot seem to work problems out. Instead they resort to warfare and violence. I do not see why it is necessary. War brings destruction, and loss to the world. Here I am, supposed to understand that we mature as we age. If people who lead others seem to fail at utilizing a lesson most people learn as children, what good is that?

Perception.

Upon speaking of perception this week in class, it reminded me of a time in middle school where our perception of taste was tested. We were all given different strips to taste, and our reactions were noted. Sometimes, something that I could not taste, tasted horrible or bitter to whoever was across from me. I recall leaving that class with a whole new outlook, having a small epiphany that consisted something along the lines of, "That's why people like different food!!"

Subsequently, this idea led to other thoughts about how we perceive different things. I moved from taste to sight, and considered color. I thought about people who are colorblind, who genetically perceive colors differently, and whether we all see different colors, but would never know it. 

For example, I could see the grass as green. But green to me, may be (my) blue to another. Someone's skin tone could be filled with a variety of peach tones and reds, but to another my peach could be their green.  Through their eyes, all the colors would be different, but referred to with the same names. We will never really know whether another person has a completely different color spectrum than your own. 

Nympha

After seeing the trailer for Nympha, a cloister-nun horror film, my mind was left turning by the amount of corruption that exists in people. 

            Nympha was a saint and martyr who was put to death for the faith at the beginning of the fourth century. Flashbacks of her life with her corrupted grandfather unfold as the movie depicts Sarah, a young woman who comes from the United States determined to lead a life as a devout nun of the New Order. This small group of nuns follow a very particular set of rules, believing each one must follow a path where one shall "hear" the Lord, "see" the Lord, "touch" the Lord and "speak" with the Lord…

            However each of these steps are so vigorous, physically and mentally, it's a torture. Sarah's ears are punctured, her eyes blinded with acid, her hands burned, and finally, her tongue removed so she can speak to the lord with only her soul. As each of these steps continues, Sarah begins to see and hear images and people that connect with the saint from the past. 

            It's strange, hearing about different cults, and having been in a much milder one, how devoted people are to their beliefs. They will go to such irrational lengths to continue their way, often so blinded to how morally wrong it could be. And unfortunately in most cases, there is no one there to tell them they are wrong, and get the chance to do something about it. These brave people are sometimes killed, exiled, forced out, ridiculed.... You would think if it were so wrong, more people would attempt to go against this corruption, or something would be done sooner.

 

Damn, that block.

You never see it coming, the small, yet powerful invisible cube that drops onto your mind like an anvil, and never fails to bring with it, stress, who is always tagging along. Always, the paper sign taped to the side reads: 

WRITER'S BLOCK

YOU WILL NOW EXPERIENCE THE ABSENCE OF THOUGHT

DEPARTURE: UNKNOWN

Sometimes, it stays for merely a few moments, until your mind finds a loophole in the weightless brick, other times it's for hours, or days, wreaking havoc on your creative thought. 

For instance, right now. I have absolutely no idea what to write. At all. I have no witty remarks about anything that I'm thinking about, and no creative thoughts to share. In terms of creativity, I find it ridiculous, that something can come along and leave us with absolutely nothing to create, or think of. Especially with the amount of knowledge the brain can hold, and how unique each person is. I find it so intriguing that something can put a stop to our flow of ideas, even if it is only for a moment. With the vastness of some people's minds, I don't understand why we do not always have something to create. 

Even now, still, I have nothing. And evidently, will leave you with nothing.