Stargirl Caraway. Clarisse McClellan. People who made a difference. People who changed a life. They are the most important people, our guiding stars, the people who bring us back to the path we need to take. But if you look at them, who are they? Oddballs. Strangers. They never stay long, and they’re always unexpected. Is this gift going to die out? Disappear? Become rarer and rarer? Will we become the bookburners, the firemen, convinced that we’re doing it for the greater good?
Look at our civilization. We have everything. Technology, comfort, entertainment. But are we truly better than the cavemen playing with fire? Maybe all we are is a different, more advanced kind, and more dangerous. People wrote those books to leave some kind of a warning for the future generations, and yet I watch this generation groan and grumble through them and I fear we are on the train headed straight for that direction with the cliff looming ever nearer as we, still young and ignorant, throw more coal on the engine fire.
We scoff at these words, and in these very actions we show that there is still a reason and a need for these stories, that there is danger in the things we do. If we cannot bring ourselves to understand this, then, indeed, that culture, that repression, will become the fate of our sorry race. We will become the pleasure-seekers, the layabouts, and we will accomplish what? Nothing. Progress without spirit, without soul, means nothing. Technology and all the improvements it has given to our society means nothing if we don’t progress in how we use it. We may say it’s for entertainment, but do we want to end up like Mildred Montag, a videot, engrossed in things that don’t make any sense to her just because they talk to her? “I laugh, they laugh!” Did we come out of the dark ages for this?
We seem to be following some kind of life cycle. After all, how does the human life go? Babies, knowing nothing, understanding nothing, doing everything. Children, bright-eyed and innocent. Teenagers, growing sharp, maybe jaded. Adults, in their prime, capable, working. And then? Elderly, feeble, and falling into the “second childhood”. Well, we had the adult stage, it seems. Days of explorers and people who did things, days of expanding and working and collaborating. Is this the result? Second childhood? Confused and not understanding again?
Let these words serve as a warning. Let these tales serve their purpose. Let them pull us away from the danger of the plunging cliff. It’s not too late. As long as there are willing, ready minds, as long as there are people willing to take a hand in things, as long as there are people willing to be active, and as long as there are people willing to remind us, we can still survive. As long as there is one person left with hope and the fire to do something, there is hope. Let that person be you.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
WE DID IT!
.WE DID IT! WE DID IT! WE WON!
Yesterday marked the 15th year that FFJH has won the State Science Olympiad—in a row! It was a milestone year and a most incredible feeling. Something about being on the team that did it again against ever more increasing odds fills one up with pride. The little bit about getting to be the one who receives the trophy was nice too.
It’s a funny feeling you get right before an eventful day. All day on Friday I was walking down the halls, I was thinking about how the next time I’d show up at school, everything would be different. Well, it was true—but in a good way, not a bad way, thankfully.
Not only that, but on Saturday morning, we couldn’t help imagining what would happen if we didn’t win, if we broke the streak…14 years of Olympians angry at us, a dead quiet bus ride home, a drab ice cream social…but we won.
We won! Two little syllables that mean so much—in this case, at least. Our team has been preparing for this since October, and to know that effort and work have definitely paid off is a rewarding experience, especially as it promises more fun things to come (in the form of Nationals, which happens to span my birthday).
This is good for other reasons, of course, I have to say that I’m glad this happened, because it’ll hopefully get everyone motivated again and “off their rumps”, as someone so kindly put it. There’s nothing like winning to get people psyched, and nothing like a large golden trophy to make people proud of the team. To be honest, I don’t feel that this year’s team is as close as last years, but I’ve no doubt that that will change now.
Personally, I’m proud of myself and the team I coached. I medaled in every event: a set and an almost-set, lacking a bronze. My Experimental Design team (you’re amazing, guys!!) took silver, matching last year when we had a much more competent coach. It was a success in many ways, although I feel a bit like Apolo Anton Ohno—lots of medals, but not the best ones. Apparently my brother had 4 golds his equivalent year.
The best reason to be energized is that we are going to Nationals and my gold medal goal (<3333 “Smartiepants”) has a possibility of realization. And that is much more than exciting. I have a chance to earn the gold medal I know we can make, and maybe even another—I have my eye on something for Experimental Design (6th? Maybe? 10th last year) and Solar System (please tell me we’ll beat 7th).
It was an exciting day all around, though I swear I’m never taking 5 events again. It’s very hectic to have to run from room to room and event to event in a hurry with little time to study and relax. Be as that may, it’s certainly an experience one ought to have as an Olympian. And really, it’s the experience that counts, for everything. So…
GO TEAM!
(This should've been published last week but I forgot to do so after I wrote it. >>)
Yesterday marked the 15th year that FFJH has won the State Science Olympiad—in a row! It was a milestone year and a most incredible feeling. Something about being on the team that did it again against ever more increasing odds fills one up with pride. The little bit about getting to be the one who receives the trophy was nice too.
It’s a funny feeling you get right before an eventful day. All day on Friday I was walking down the halls, I was thinking about how the next time I’d show up at school, everything would be different. Well, it was true—but in a good way, not a bad way, thankfully.
Not only that, but on Saturday morning, we couldn’t help imagining what would happen if we didn’t win, if we broke the streak…14 years of Olympians angry at us, a dead quiet bus ride home, a drab ice cream social…but we won.
We won! Two little syllables that mean so much—in this case, at least. Our team has been preparing for this since October, and to know that effort and work have definitely paid off is a rewarding experience, especially as it promises more fun things to come (in the form of Nationals, which happens to span my birthday).
This is good for other reasons, of course, I have to say that I’m glad this happened, because it’ll hopefully get everyone motivated again and “off their rumps”, as someone so kindly put it. There’s nothing like winning to get people psyched, and nothing like a large golden trophy to make people proud of the team. To be honest, I don’t feel that this year’s team is as close as last years, but I’ve no doubt that that will change now.
Personally, I’m proud of myself and the team I coached. I medaled in every event: a set and an almost-set, lacking a bronze. My Experimental Design team (you’re amazing, guys!!) took silver, matching last year when we had a much more competent coach. It was a success in many ways, although I feel a bit like Apolo Anton Ohno—lots of medals, but not the best ones. Apparently my brother had 4 golds his equivalent year.
The best reason to be energized is that we are going to Nationals and my gold medal goal (<3333 “Smartiepants”) has a possibility of realization. And that is much more than exciting. I have a chance to earn the gold medal I know we can make, and maybe even another—I have my eye on something for Experimental Design (6th? Maybe? 10th last year) and Solar System (please tell me we’ll beat 7th).
It was an exciting day all around, though I swear I’m never taking 5 events again. It’s very hectic to have to run from room to room and event to event in a hurry with little time to study and relax. Be as that may, it’s certainly an experience one ought to have as an Olympian. And really, it’s the experience that counts, for everything. So…
GO TEAM!
(This should've been published last week but I forgot to do so after I wrote it. >>)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
I Should be Working
I Should be Working
I should be working
but
Outside the sky is deep, deep blue
And clean, puffy clouds drift by—
I should be working
but
The grass is so green and new
And the gentle breeze brings
Fresh
new
air.
I should be working
but
Someone’s calling my name out there
And the promise of the day is simply too hard
to resist.
So pardon me, my homework, my grades, my parents—
I can’t refrain
From going out there
Today.
—H R M
I never thought writing about why I didn’t want to do my homework would classify as working, but there you are. Welcome to my blog post about procrastination. Why do we procrastinate? All sorts of reasons. Deadlines don’t look real until they’re right in our faces. We’re tired. We’re lazy. There are other things to distract us. But most of all, we just don’t feel like working.
Unfortunately for us, in this competitive society, always working and being on top of things is one of those things we have to do if we want to make it in the world. Kind of ironic that the thing we’d rather not do is something completely and utterly necessary.
I think we realize this, but as with so many other things, it’s hard to admit to ourselves and others. So, we procrastinate. I’ll admit that I feel like there are so many other things I could be doing (and want to do) that the prospect of spending an hour at the dining table drawing pictures that don’t turn out so well isn’t the most exciting. It’s even worse when someone’s offered to do something, or when the weather is amazing. And, especially when there are several days before it’s due, there’s always the little voice that says, “You’ll be able to do it tomorrow anyway.”
Of course, then we get to “tomorrow” and end up staying up late. Why’s that? It’s a lot of annoyance either way, just postponed. Some people, of course, work better under pressure, but I daresay that’s not all of us. And with less time, we’re more likely to produce a slipshod job and then be frustrated because it doesn’t turn out the way we wanted it to.
But we human beings manage to defy reason every time. That’s why we’re people, not automatons. Reason at all times is reserved for robots. If we always followed reason, well, we’d be predictable—the world might be nice, but then it would be all the same, too.
Does that mean procrastination’s good? Not really. I didn’t honestly mean that. But it’s a fact of life and it proves we’re human and we can make mistakes…even the same ones over and over and over again. It’s just one of those little things that shape us. We shouldn’t do it, but we do. For better or worse, procrastination is pretty much a part of our lives (for teenagers, anyway). With a bit of luck, we manage to get by. Just don’t put it off too far!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I should be working.
I should be working
but
Outside the sky is deep, deep blue
And clean, puffy clouds drift by—
I should be working
but
The grass is so green and new
And the gentle breeze brings
Fresh
new
air.
I should be working
but
Someone’s calling my name out there
And the promise of the day is simply too hard
to resist.
So pardon me, my homework, my grades, my parents—
I can’t refrain
From going out there
Today.
—H R M
I never thought writing about why I didn’t want to do my homework would classify as working, but there you are. Welcome to my blog post about procrastination. Why do we procrastinate? All sorts of reasons. Deadlines don’t look real until they’re right in our faces. We’re tired. We’re lazy. There are other things to distract us. But most of all, we just don’t feel like working.
Unfortunately for us, in this competitive society, always working and being on top of things is one of those things we have to do if we want to make it in the world. Kind of ironic that the thing we’d rather not do is something completely and utterly necessary.
I think we realize this, but as with so many other things, it’s hard to admit to ourselves and others. So, we procrastinate. I’ll admit that I feel like there are so many other things I could be doing (and want to do) that the prospect of spending an hour at the dining table drawing pictures that don’t turn out so well isn’t the most exciting. It’s even worse when someone’s offered to do something, or when the weather is amazing. And, especially when there are several days before it’s due, there’s always the little voice that says, “You’ll be able to do it tomorrow anyway.”
Of course, then we get to “tomorrow” and end up staying up late. Why’s that? It’s a lot of annoyance either way, just postponed. Some people, of course, work better under pressure, but I daresay that’s not all of us. And with less time, we’re more likely to produce a slipshod job and then be frustrated because it doesn’t turn out the way we wanted it to.
But we human beings manage to defy reason every time. That’s why we’re people, not automatons. Reason at all times is reserved for robots. If we always followed reason, well, we’d be predictable—the world might be nice, but then it would be all the same, too.
Does that mean procrastination’s good? Not really. I didn’t honestly mean that. But it’s a fact of life and it proves we’re human and we can make mistakes…even the same ones over and over and over again. It’s just one of those little things that shape us. We shouldn’t do it, but we do. For better or worse, procrastination is pretty much a part of our lives (for teenagers, anyway). With a bit of luck, we manage to get by. Just don’t put it off too far!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I should be working.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Headlines
Headline News! Student stabbed 16 times with a steak knife! Senatorial scandal revealed! Economy makes worst downturn in 68 years! Breakout from prison! Hurricane strikes the southeast of the country: 68 killed!
Sure, maybe it tells you things, but it’s downright depressing.
Do you ever think how nice it would be instead of seeing all that on the front page, we had things like…The first rainfall in 16 years leaves a town in the Sahara Desert celebrating in joy! 2 captured endangered species survive in the wild! After the fire 14 years ago, forest covers 6 acres of the devastated park! A cancer patient recovers from the brink of death!
Maybe it doesn’t draw people in, drive them to know exactly what happened, make them talk in the streets worriedly, but it gives a lighter tone to things, and you know what? It should. We should be just as concerned to hear about the great things that have happened in our world as hearing about the bad things. Reading the newspaper, you’d think that nothing good ever happened in the entire world. Perhaps they think to make us try and find the good things in our own lives and then alert us to the bad things, but a better balance would be nice.
And what’s with the reports on scandal and all that? Sure the general populace enjoys that kind of stuff…just like people in a crowd are idiots compared with people on their own. The general IQ of a crowd is about the average of everyone in it minus about 30 or 40 or more points. People turn into mobs that way. If you’re going to report the darker side of things, at least you could report things that affect people, rather than things that make nosy people opinionated about others.
At least, though, the focus of newspapers ought to be more balanced. Some good things, some bad things, interspersed throughout the paper—both on the front cover instead of the darkest things taking up most of the front page. Perhaps you could divide it into two parts, and have one happy thing and one direr thing per page. Uplifting and educating at the same time. To remind us that all is not hopeless, that good things still happen, but that we need to do things to preserve them as well, that bad things do happen, and that maybe we have a chance of righting them.
If we could only communicate with everyone else in the country and the world, if we could only find a way to show everyone that we’re all on the same side, that we’re not enemies, but friends, the same people, part of the same clan—one earth, children of the same planet that shelters us, no matter what else we might believe in. The concerns of one people are of all people, but the joys of one people are also of all people. And all are equally important. If everyone could realize, there wouldn’t be a need to talk about war or destruction or misery, and we could show all the other things in every issue, everywhere.
That’s not likely to happen anytime soon. But we can always hope, can we not? We can always try and hope and work for it, and then we wouldn’t need to worry which to focus on. <3
Sure, maybe it tells you things, but it’s downright depressing.
Do you ever think how nice it would be instead of seeing all that on the front page, we had things like…The first rainfall in 16 years leaves a town in the Sahara Desert celebrating in joy! 2 captured endangered species survive in the wild! After the fire 14 years ago, forest covers 6 acres of the devastated park! A cancer patient recovers from the brink of death!
Maybe it doesn’t draw people in, drive them to know exactly what happened, make them talk in the streets worriedly, but it gives a lighter tone to things, and you know what? It should. We should be just as concerned to hear about the great things that have happened in our world as hearing about the bad things. Reading the newspaper, you’d think that nothing good ever happened in the entire world. Perhaps they think to make us try and find the good things in our own lives and then alert us to the bad things, but a better balance would be nice.
And what’s with the reports on scandal and all that? Sure the general populace enjoys that kind of stuff…just like people in a crowd are idiots compared with people on their own. The general IQ of a crowd is about the average of everyone in it minus about 30 or 40 or more points. People turn into mobs that way. If you’re going to report the darker side of things, at least you could report things that affect people, rather than things that make nosy people opinionated about others.
At least, though, the focus of newspapers ought to be more balanced. Some good things, some bad things, interspersed throughout the paper—both on the front cover instead of the darkest things taking up most of the front page. Perhaps you could divide it into two parts, and have one happy thing and one direr thing per page. Uplifting and educating at the same time. To remind us that all is not hopeless, that good things still happen, but that we need to do things to preserve them as well, that bad things do happen, and that maybe we have a chance of righting them.
If we could only communicate with everyone else in the country and the world, if we could only find a way to show everyone that we’re all on the same side, that we’re not enemies, but friends, the same people, part of the same clan—one earth, children of the same planet that shelters us, no matter what else we might believe in. The concerns of one people are of all people, but the joys of one people are also of all people. And all are equally important. If everyone could realize, there wouldn’t be a need to talk about war or destruction or misery, and we could show all the other things in every issue, everywhere.
That’s not likely to happen anytime soon. But we can always hope, can we not? We can always try and hope and work for it, and then we wouldn’t need to worry which to focus on. <3
Sunday, March 7, 2010
A Fable
(...So I thought I published this ages ago but apparently I didn't hit the button. >.< I added lots more on since, so...I'll publish it as one big thing!)
Is it better to be ruled by logic, or by feeling?
Once upon a time there were two brothers. The first was a very logical man. He prided himself on his coldness and his ability to judge everything objectively and rationally. He was so logical, he said, that he could follow connections between objects that would lead him straight back to the original object. He could invent an explanation for everything that was based on pure logic and the simplest explanations. The second brother was ruled by his emotions. He did things on the spur of the moment depending on how he felt. He would feel sorry for the little birds in the winter and give them his dinner bread, and have none himself and feel sorry later. He felt for everything however they deserved and went through every span of emotion there was, sometimes in the course of just a single day.
One day the two brothers decided to go out into the world and seek their fortunes. They came to a fork in the road. “Which way shall we go?” asked the second brother. “I’ll choose the left-hand way,” said the first brother. “It goes downwards, and everyone knows you must go down before you can come up. Furthermore, downward-running roads often lead to streams, for water always runs at the lowest point, and streams will run out to the plains and the sea.”
The second brother took a look at both of them and frowned. “I’ll take the right-hand side—it is lighter and brighter there. The birds sing more beautifully. I feel sure that the right-hand path will bring me good fortune.”
“Farewell, then, brother,” said the first one, and went on his path.
“Farewell,” said the second brother, not without feeling, for although they were very different, he loved his brother very much. He, too, set out on his path.
We shall follow the second brother first. He walked through the forest with a light heart, for the trees were thin and the sun shone down. “Surely I have picked the better way,” he exclaimed. “It is bright and beautiful here. I think I will lie down and have a small nap.” And he did so.
When he woke up, it was full dark. An eerily bright crescent moon lit the forest up. “Oh no!” he said with more than a touch of fear. “I slept too late, and now I shall never find my way out!” And he began to weep inconsolably. Never a thought occurred of getting out, following the road that was still there, or even of sleeping until morning and going on. Neither did a darker thought of what might be out there occur.
Soon enough he felt a touch on his shoulder. He jumped up immediately. A figure dressed all in glowing white was standing in front of him. “Who…are you?” he asked, now entranced by the mysteriousness.
“Who I am is not important. Would you like me to show you the way out?” replied the figure in an ethereal voice. The second brother nodded vigorously. He followed the figure, who said no more, until it led him out onto a plain facing a castle on the other side, then vanished.
The second brother immediately went straight to the castle town. “Where am I?” he inquired of all the people he could.
“In His Majesty’s town, of course. Would you like to buy a meat pie?” replied a hawker. It smelled delicious, so he bought it, leaving only a few silver pieces left in his pocket.
Having nowhere else to go, and mindful of the figure who had led him there, he went up to the gates of the castle and knocked. Surprisingly, they opened, and a suspicious-looking man stuck his head out. “Whaddayawant?”
The second brother took offense at this. “Why, to marry your princess, of course!” he said rudely, thinking of the most outrageous thing he could. However, the doorman simply blinked. “All right, come along then,” he beckoned.
Completely bewildered, the second brother followed him.
And now let us return to the first brother…he had followed his path, which indeed led downward, but unlike his brother’s, his path was dark and overshadowed and he was soon lost. He bit his lip and kept going. “Surely after this is must get better,” he muttered.
Soon enough he was lost inside the forest. Being very logical, he went to look at the trees, for he knew that moss grew on the north side. “I was traveling east when I entered, and that will be the shortest way out.” He quickly found the way he thought was best and followed it.
It led out to the same open ground his brother had found, and he, too, went straight to the town. He refused the offerings of food and went straight to the center of the town, where he found an announcement.
His Majesty’s Subjects:
The good King’s eldest daughter, fair Rosalind, has come of age and is ready to be married. Whosoever shall come and who can prove themselves worthy shall have her hand.
Now, the first brother thought that it was high time he obtained a wife, and so directed his footsteps to the castle, where he met the same greeting as his brother had and the same question. “I noticed an announcement about the princess’s marriage,” he said courteously. “Might I present myself as a suitor?” The doorman drew his head inside and beckoned.
When the second man saw his brother led into the great chamber, he was overjoyed. “My dear brother! What brings you here?”
The first brother raised his eyebrows. “Did you not see the announcement regarding the King’s daughter?” The second brother shook his head. “Certainly not, but I’m glad you are here with me.”
Before they could say any more, the princess entered the room. Both were stunned. The first brother recovered first. “Fair lady…” he said softly. The second just gazed at her.
“Welcome,” she said. Her voice was musical and added to the enchantment of her appearance. “You seek my hand?” Both brothers nodded. “Then, one will show you to your rooms tonight. There are tasks you must do. The first night you may not sleep or take any rest, no matter how weary you may be. A shape shall appear and entreat you to sleep, but you must not. Come to me tomorrow morning.” And she dismissed them.
The brothers were led to adjacent rooms and ushered to bed. “Good night,” they said to each other, and without further ado, they entered their rooms.
The second brother sat awake on the bed, the only furniture that could accommodate sitting, wondering what would happen that night. It was only to be expected that he felt a thrill of confusion. Who knew what he would see? In the next room, his brother sat calmly, awaiting what would happen, sure he could handle it.
The clock struck 9…10…11…both their eyelids began to droop, though they fought, until…
Dong….dong…dong…the clock struck twelve.
Suddenly soft, eerie music began to play. The first brother stoically refused to listen to it. The second brother was entranced. He rose and looked out of the window, searching for the source of the beautiful, ethereal sound. The moon appeared especially bright, as it had the last night, and a faint silver glow suffused the air.
Suddenly, a bright figure appeared behind the second brother. He realized it to be the one he had met the other night, and instantly turned toward it.
(TBC)
Is it better to be ruled by logic, or by feeling?
Once upon a time there were two brothers. The first was a very logical man. He prided himself on his coldness and his ability to judge everything objectively and rationally. He was so logical, he said, that he could follow connections between objects that would lead him straight back to the original object. He could invent an explanation for everything that was based on pure logic and the simplest explanations. The second brother was ruled by his emotions. He did things on the spur of the moment depending on how he felt. He would feel sorry for the little birds in the winter and give them his dinner bread, and have none himself and feel sorry later. He felt for everything however they deserved and went through every span of emotion there was, sometimes in the course of just a single day.
One day the two brothers decided to go out into the world and seek their fortunes. They came to a fork in the road. “Which way shall we go?” asked the second brother. “I’ll choose the left-hand way,” said the first brother. “It goes downwards, and everyone knows you must go down before you can come up. Furthermore, downward-running roads often lead to streams, for water always runs at the lowest point, and streams will run out to the plains and the sea.”
The second brother took a look at both of them and frowned. “I’ll take the right-hand side—it is lighter and brighter there. The birds sing more beautifully. I feel sure that the right-hand path will bring me good fortune.”
“Farewell, then, brother,” said the first one, and went on his path.
“Farewell,” said the second brother, not without feeling, for although they were very different, he loved his brother very much. He, too, set out on his path.
We shall follow the second brother first. He walked through the forest with a light heart, for the trees were thin and the sun shone down. “Surely I have picked the better way,” he exclaimed. “It is bright and beautiful here. I think I will lie down and have a small nap.” And he did so.
When he woke up, it was full dark. An eerily bright crescent moon lit the forest up. “Oh no!” he said with more than a touch of fear. “I slept too late, and now I shall never find my way out!” And he began to weep inconsolably. Never a thought occurred of getting out, following the road that was still there, or even of sleeping until morning and going on. Neither did a darker thought of what might be out there occur.
Soon enough he felt a touch on his shoulder. He jumped up immediately. A figure dressed all in glowing white was standing in front of him. “Who…are you?” he asked, now entranced by the mysteriousness.
“Who I am is not important. Would you like me to show you the way out?” replied the figure in an ethereal voice. The second brother nodded vigorously. He followed the figure, who said no more, until it led him out onto a plain facing a castle on the other side, then vanished.
The second brother immediately went straight to the castle town. “Where am I?” he inquired of all the people he could.
“In His Majesty’s town, of course. Would you like to buy a meat pie?” replied a hawker. It smelled delicious, so he bought it, leaving only a few silver pieces left in his pocket.
Having nowhere else to go, and mindful of the figure who had led him there, he went up to the gates of the castle and knocked. Surprisingly, they opened, and a suspicious-looking man stuck his head out. “Whaddayawant?”
The second brother took offense at this. “Why, to marry your princess, of course!” he said rudely, thinking of the most outrageous thing he could. However, the doorman simply blinked. “All right, come along then,” he beckoned.
Completely bewildered, the second brother followed him.
And now let us return to the first brother…he had followed his path, which indeed led downward, but unlike his brother’s, his path was dark and overshadowed and he was soon lost. He bit his lip and kept going. “Surely after this is must get better,” he muttered.
Soon enough he was lost inside the forest. Being very logical, he went to look at the trees, for he knew that moss grew on the north side. “I was traveling east when I entered, and that will be the shortest way out.” He quickly found the way he thought was best and followed it.
It led out to the same open ground his brother had found, and he, too, went straight to the town. He refused the offerings of food and went straight to the center of the town, where he found an announcement.
His Majesty’s Subjects:
The good King’s eldest daughter, fair Rosalind, has come of age and is ready to be married. Whosoever shall come and who can prove themselves worthy shall have her hand.
Now, the first brother thought that it was high time he obtained a wife, and so directed his footsteps to the castle, where he met the same greeting as his brother had and the same question. “I noticed an announcement about the princess’s marriage,” he said courteously. “Might I present myself as a suitor?” The doorman drew his head inside and beckoned.
When the second man saw his brother led into the great chamber, he was overjoyed. “My dear brother! What brings you here?”
The first brother raised his eyebrows. “Did you not see the announcement regarding the King’s daughter?” The second brother shook his head. “Certainly not, but I’m glad you are here with me.”
Before they could say any more, the princess entered the room. Both were stunned. The first brother recovered first. “Fair lady…” he said softly. The second just gazed at her.
“Welcome,” she said. Her voice was musical and added to the enchantment of her appearance. “You seek my hand?” Both brothers nodded. “Then, one will show you to your rooms tonight. There are tasks you must do. The first night you may not sleep or take any rest, no matter how weary you may be. A shape shall appear and entreat you to sleep, but you must not. Come to me tomorrow morning.” And she dismissed them.
The brothers were led to adjacent rooms and ushered to bed. “Good night,” they said to each other, and without further ado, they entered their rooms.
The second brother sat awake on the bed, the only furniture that could accommodate sitting, wondering what would happen that night. It was only to be expected that he felt a thrill of confusion. Who knew what he would see? In the next room, his brother sat calmly, awaiting what would happen, sure he could handle it.
The clock struck 9…10…11…both their eyelids began to droop, though they fought, until…
Dong….dong…dong…the clock struck twelve.
Suddenly soft, eerie music began to play. The first brother stoically refused to listen to it. The second brother was entranced. He rose and looked out of the window, searching for the source of the beautiful, ethereal sound. The moon appeared especially bright, as it had the last night, and a faint silver glow suffused the air.
Suddenly, a bright figure appeared behind the second brother. He realized it to be the one he had met the other night, and instantly turned toward it.
(TBC)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Love or Perish
With Valentine’s Day tomorrow, the ideas of love and romance grow on everyone’s mind. We think about roses, chocolates, perfume, and all the other things that characterize this time. What we don’t think about, though, is everything that we miss every day of the rest of our lives. Our culture, despite having a holiday that celebrates it, has managed to suck a lot of real love from our lives, substituting it with artificial things that don’t give us what we truly need.
Take a look around, if you will, and see what we embrace. Look at our music, our movies, and our books. Many of them have ties to love and romance, and we attach ourselves to them like barnacles, as if hearing and seeing perfect stories could make our own lives much better. We accept them as supplements for what we want in our own lives and sadly lack. Instead of finding and giving support and love to our friends and those close to us, we desperately cling to unreal echoes of what we really need and somehow cannot get.
After all, when there are so many other things to focus on than helping and loving other people who need it, how could you? Money, personal gratification, work, advancement, staying ahead of everyone else and making more money and more profits and more things than what everyone really needs. Our culture has made it so that love is a little thing by the wayside and everything else comes on top, or else you can’t succeed. It’s made it so that too many things inhibit what we feel translating to how we act.
Even the words we use have made a change in things. Words like “love” and “hate” are bandied around like snowballs in a field full of kids and new snow. Exaggeration makes it hard, I think, to say what we really mean when it’s something really big. “______? I love him,” is something you hear often that means nothing of the serious sort. “He’s awesome,” or “He’s so much fun,” or “He’s a good friend,” would fit the job just as well, but the amount of times you hear the first, at least with modern teens, equals the amount of times you hear the rest of them.
And the thing is, the topic is nothing to be thrown about so easily. Love is a real thing that so many people, even those that are considered “fortunate” and “happy”, lack. It’s something that people do crazy things for and are constantly hurting for, and are definitely not getting. Our culture isn’t helping. Ask yourself, “Am I really happy? Or am I lacking something? Could I use more love?” Chances are the answers to the last two questions will be a yes. Everyone could use more love.
So when you’re there on Valentine’s Day, surrounded by flowers, hearts, chocolate, love songs, and wishes, think about giving more love than you’re getting. Think about how everyone’s hurting for love just as much as you are, and how glad they’d be to get some. Think about how much you need and want it, and open up to the rest of the world. Everyone’s stuck inside his or her own mind watching everyone else. Anytime you make someone less alone is a beautiful thing.
And if you do have a special someone, show them. Maybe they’re just waiting for you to say it.
Take a look around, if you will, and see what we embrace. Look at our music, our movies, and our books. Many of them have ties to love and romance, and we attach ourselves to them like barnacles, as if hearing and seeing perfect stories could make our own lives much better. We accept them as supplements for what we want in our own lives and sadly lack. Instead of finding and giving support and love to our friends and those close to us, we desperately cling to unreal echoes of what we really need and somehow cannot get.
After all, when there are so many other things to focus on than helping and loving other people who need it, how could you? Money, personal gratification, work, advancement, staying ahead of everyone else and making more money and more profits and more things than what everyone really needs. Our culture has made it so that love is a little thing by the wayside and everything else comes on top, or else you can’t succeed. It’s made it so that too many things inhibit what we feel translating to how we act.
Even the words we use have made a change in things. Words like “love” and “hate” are bandied around like snowballs in a field full of kids and new snow. Exaggeration makes it hard, I think, to say what we really mean when it’s something really big. “______? I love him,” is something you hear often that means nothing of the serious sort. “He’s awesome,” or “He’s so much fun,” or “He’s a good friend,” would fit the job just as well, but the amount of times you hear the first, at least with modern teens, equals the amount of times you hear the rest of them.
And the thing is, the topic is nothing to be thrown about so easily. Love is a real thing that so many people, even those that are considered “fortunate” and “happy”, lack. It’s something that people do crazy things for and are constantly hurting for, and are definitely not getting. Our culture isn’t helping. Ask yourself, “Am I really happy? Or am I lacking something? Could I use more love?” Chances are the answers to the last two questions will be a yes. Everyone could use more love.
So when you’re there on Valentine’s Day, surrounded by flowers, hearts, chocolate, love songs, and wishes, think about giving more love than you’re getting. Think about how everyone’s hurting for love just as much as you are, and how glad they’d be to get some. Think about how much you need and want it, and open up to the rest of the world. Everyone’s stuck inside his or her own mind watching everyone else. Anytime you make someone less alone is a beautiful thing.
And if you do have a special someone, show them. Maybe they’re just waiting for you to say it.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Success
(I have a point. Bear with me.)
Rain in the winter doesn’t fit, somehow. Washing it away—for what? Dry, yellow grass. Nothing to want in the slightest.
Why is it that what’s such a blessing in the summer is torture in the winter? In the summer we’re desperate for a drop of that life-giving liquid that’s so precious to break the endless heat. In the winter, we look upon it dully and wish that it were snow.
It’s the same with other things, I find. In the summer I’m desperate for something to happen because it’s so monotonous. However, in the winter when everything’s piling up, I’m desperate to get out. It’s never been as bad as this year. I don’t feel prepared for anything and if I could just let everything go I probably would.
How can something be such a blessing and such a curse? It’s supposed to be great to be involved and to be able to do so many things and have opportunities. Somehow, the reality doesn’t look anywhere near that good. Why do we do what we do?
They always give you answers. “College. Money. Support yourself.” But if you’re always working for something that never really comes…in college it’ll be “good grades, good job.” When you’re working it’ll be “Money, promotion.” When you get there, you don’t have time to enjoy it. Why do we force ourselves so hard? In another century will we start school at age 2 and have it all year long until we’re 24, then throw ourselves into a horribly competitive workplace? If that’s where this is going, what good will it do any of us?
But people will always say, “Well, if that’s what you need to do to succeed.” What is “succeeding” in this case? I think that succeeding should honestly be making a difference. It doesn’t matter how many degrees or money or anything you made if you didn’t make a difference for people and for the world. When you’re dead, will it say “S/he made a lot of money and spent it all on their house, got 10 degrees, and sat at home all day”, or will it say “S/he didn’t make a lot of money, but s/he was the greatest parent, community person, friend, and gave everything s/he had to help others”?
What is the point of forcing yourself to the brink in something that won’t matter in the course of the thing?
I think we really need to change this. In Lewis Carroll’s Sylvie and Bruno, there is a section where the mysterious figure Mein Herr tells all about another planet where competitive examinations ran wild. “Teach them everything that’ll be on the examination and don’t bother about letting them learn anything else. It won’t be useful. As long as they can answer all the questions right, they’ll be good and successful and so will you as a teacher.” Will that be our goal? Just to learn everything on the examination and ignore everything else because the examination is what matters?
Don’t let this happen. Make it your quest to succeed because you know and you understand and you can apply it to the rest of your world, however small or large it is. I think that’s the measure of success (even if I meandered on the way to getting there!)
Rain in the winter doesn’t fit, somehow. Washing it away—for what? Dry, yellow grass. Nothing to want in the slightest.
Why is it that what’s such a blessing in the summer is torture in the winter? In the summer we’re desperate for a drop of that life-giving liquid that’s so precious to break the endless heat. In the winter, we look upon it dully and wish that it were snow.
It’s the same with other things, I find. In the summer I’m desperate for something to happen because it’s so monotonous. However, in the winter when everything’s piling up, I’m desperate to get out. It’s never been as bad as this year. I don’t feel prepared for anything and if I could just let everything go I probably would.
How can something be such a blessing and such a curse? It’s supposed to be great to be involved and to be able to do so many things and have opportunities. Somehow, the reality doesn’t look anywhere near that good. Why do we do what we do?
They always give you answers. “College. Money. Support yourself.” But if you’re always working for something that never really comes…in college it’ll be “good grades, good job.” When you’re working it’ll be “Money, promotion.” When you get there, you don’t have time to enjoy it. Why do we force ourselves so hard? In another century will we start school at age 2 and have it all year long until we’re 24, then throw ourselves into a horribly competitive workplace? If that’s where this is going, what good will it do any of us?
But people will always say, “Well, if that’s what you need to do to succeed.” What is “succeeding” in this case? I think that succeeding should honestly be making a difference. It doesn’t matter how many degrees or money or anything you made if you didn’t make a difference for people and for the world. When you’re dead, will it say “S/he made a lot of money and spent it all on their house, got 10 degrees, and sat at home all day”, or will it say “S/he didn’t make a lot of money, but s/he was the greatest parent, community person, friend, and gave everything s/he had to help others”?
What is the point of forcing yourself to the brink in something that won’t matter in the course of the thing?
I think we really need to change this. In Lewis Carroll’s Sylvie and Bruno, there is a section where the mysterious figure Mein Herr tells all about another planet where competitive examinations ran wild. “Teach them everything that’ll be on the examination and don’t bother about letting them learn anything else. It won’t be useful. As long as they can answer all the questions right, they’ll be good and successful and so will you as a teacher.” Will that be our goal? Just to learn everything on the examination and ignore everything else because the examination is what matters?
Don’t let this happen. Make it your quest to succeed because you know and you understand and you can apply it to the rest of your world, however small or large it is. I think that’s the measure of success (even if I meandered on the way to getting there!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)