Love the Life you Live, Live the Life you Love

I stepped out of the suburban onto the cracked, fading black pavement. Careful not to trip over the tree roots that have uplifted the cement path, I made my way to the large, square brick building that had the slight resemblance of a prison. The fake plant that serenaded the meager company that walked in 'when their schedules would allow them to' was almost too much. The first thing I saw as I walked through the squeaking glass automatic doors was a towering, faded picture of Mary. It clashed horribly with the cheap, white painted walls. I turned left down the familiar hallway that was too bright, the light reflecting off the cold floors. I found myself in a lobby that was far less comforting than it should be. The cream, pleather couches framed a small glass table with yet another fake plant on it. I suppose these people were too busy to water real plants. "Can I help you." A woman behind the desk in a white nurse's uniform asked monotonously as she stared at her...

Mom’s Rules 1. Don’t lie 2. Be independent 3. Ask me first Snuggling in mom’s “nook” and watching the Channel 5 news embodied the perfect morning in my childhood. At night, I perched on the glass kitchen table, watching her do what she does best: cook. During these times, mom rambled on, teaching me life lessons I promised to never forget. From what not to wear, to why my classmates were so sassy, to how to pick the perfect husband, mom exemplified a walking encyclopedia. Of all the lessons taught, she had three rules "to live by" she constantly instilled in my head. First, never lie. Don’t lie when I’m scared of the truth, don’t lie when I’m unsure, don’t lie when I’m nervous. The truth is the most valuable entity a person can possess. Second, remain independent. Be independent financially, physically, emotionally. Be my own person. Always have a way out. Last, and most important: ask mom first. I had no issue with the first, no problem with the...

In life, there are moments when we want to put up masks and hide our feelings. We want to show everyone else we are not easily affected by the pain of others or maybe even the pain others inflict upon us. As adults in a world surrounded by competition, we must learn to accept situations as they come with little or no sentiment. Although this is accepted by other people, I have decided over the course of events that it’s not okay to feel as though I must pretend I cannot comprehend pain and vulnerability. Crying is the truest, most honest form of communication, and it should never be held in. At a funeral, I sat amongst my bawling friends, and I wondered if growing up, if being mature, meant I was not allowed to cry, to be outwardly angry, or express my feelings in any way that attracted attention. I wondered…but eventually, I realized some things, big or small, are worth crying over. I have attended four funerals in the past three weeks. Two were for friends whose parents died suddenly...

Yesterday I was driving and I had one of those odd surreal moments in life that I sometimes get. I was seeing everything pass me by but it was much clearer than before. It's one of those moments where you can really feel yourself live. It's like those moods I get in when I really sit and think about my life and who I am. I sometimes feel like everything I'm experiencing is generic. The feeling I'm feeling right now when I'm most happy, most sad, most stressed, most uplifted, has been experienced before. Some one has felt the exact same feeling I am, and some one will feel it again. At this moment, when I'm the happiest I've ever been, some one else is having the worst day of their life. And the roles will switch. One day when my life is completely falling apart, some one's life is changing forever, for the better. You know how people often say that other people have never felt the way they felt? That is such a lie...you know some one else has felt that e...

It always stuns me to find how easily love can slip to indifference. It never fails to amaze how a person can go from the top to the bottom in importance. How easily friendships can be lost. How effortless it can be to forget firing compassion and how painless it can be to choose to disregard. Others attempt to salvage, but their efforts go unnoticed and words go unremembered. Before you know it, they're just another person at the party you avoid eye contact with. Let's all just stop discriminating and paying attention to the old grudges and cliques of highschool and enjoy the very last year we have together. This year...Foster friendships of a lifetime. Dream dreams too exciting for reality. Make memories that can only bring laughter Sometimes there aren't enough words in the dictionary to describe a feeling.The aching, but not a bad aching...like a want, but feels like a need. The chills and the feeling as though I can't suck in air fast enough. The constant feeling a...

You walk through the hallway from second period class to the café. As you stare at your feet, waiting for the halls to clear, a bright blue square catches your eye. There is a calendar curiously painted on the wall. This towering six foot calendar is compliments of The Academy’s very own Principal Council’s Club. This year in Principal's Council, the rules are changing. Girls are given more empowering roles in the high school community. Committees such as school improvement, morning and afternoon announcements, and PC weekly have been formed this year. “We have a huge club this year, it’s bigger than ever, and all the members are willing to contribute time and effort into the projects. I feel really comfortable giving the girls more responsibilities within the school,” club president Stephanie explains. Their latest project includes a calendar painted on the wall to announce upcoming athletic events, dances, spirit games, and other important school activities. This will be helpful ...