Lift someone up when and where you can. Lose judgment - for it's not our place to judge. We have no idea the struggles someone is facing....just be kind in all things. A smile from you and a sincere word may just be the encouragement that someone needs to take that next step. You have the power to be a positive force in the lives of others. Count your blessings and bless others....a small act can have a major impact of good. Be blessed.

In 9th grade I thought I had the world figured out. I set my sights on a college and dated a guy that would pave the path to my successful all American future. I was going to be the woman I was supposed to be.

In 10th grade I had broken through the denial that I wanted any of that, and my world was in shambles. Dances with death occupied most evenings and weekends. I did not see a future for myself. Just a lie that would lead me to my early grave.

In 11th grade I formed relationships that I thought were everlasting. I felt the butterflies of young love for the first time, and I found it at the lips of girl. I was honest with myself but not with the world.

In 12th grade I knew what heartbreak felt like. Too often we assume the youth can't experience such feelings so deeply, but it is untrue. Passion doesn't have an age requirement. I had been emotionally, physically and sexually abused by those I placed my trust in through my adolescent years. But I was still here.

When I graduated I felt like the world was at my fingertips. I could be anyone and go anywhere I wanted. I had finally made it to the finish line. I was fully alive.

Starting my career I found purpose in my life. I was able to interact and intervene in a way that made a difference for people around me. I felt I was contributing to the lives of others and establishing my own as well. I started to accept myself.

As I grew with confidence, I let my true self start to emerge. I was met with hostility and more conflict. But I continued on anyways.

I met the woman I now call my wife and we found love and connection that was unmatched by others. We also found jealousy and resentment as the years passed.

Our love persevered and we married. Good times and bad were inevitable, but unconditional love would be the end result.

More hard times were faced and at each point I thought I knew my path and the destination. I would at times find myself lost at a crossroads and unsure of where to go. Limited by location and finances. My freedom was capped by the obligations and responsibilities bestowed on the middle working class.

After we had kids, I again found myself in a position of defeat. I wasn't the mom I wanted to be. I couldn't live up to the expectations I had of me or even find myself in the mirror. Parenting is hard. Raising kids of another while grieving my own losses knocked me off my feet. Their cries reminding me I am not enough.

Now I watch as my children go out and spread their infectious smiles and kindness with those around them. Developing into the change the world needs to see. I wake to their giggles and watch their passionate hearts affect everyone they meet. Including me.

I could not be more thankful to be where I am. I am so proud of the family we built and the life I survived and now appreciate fully.

The point of all of this is to summarize and demonstrate what I have lived and learned. Life is going to be hard. There are going to be moments you want to give up and walk away. There are also going to be experiences worth sticking around for. With each crossroad I faced, I had to clear the path to proceed. The view always ended up worth the work.

I stopped looking for the destination and put more effort and focus into the journey. I met so many great people I would otherwise have missed out on if I had stopped trying. And now I am watching my children grow into versions of themselves that might just change the world one day. Children that otherwise might have had a different childhood in my absence.

Your life is worth living and discovering. Just when you think you have it figured out... just wait there's more.

I love the small things

Because it makes the big bad one less terrible

When a colorful bird sings and flaps its silly wings

Or when a shirt has a patch because it's repairable

It makes me feel okay when I see someone singing in their car

Jamming out and banging their heads with a grin

I remember the bad things won't go far

And that the world will keep on moving with a spin

Calligraphy

at night,

indecipherable

along the halls

shifting...

only slightly

into the I: AM

(the One At Morningtide)

...rest assured

that meaning

is forming,

and the proper

Moment...

when the orb

from behind

clouded brow

of mountains

once more

articulates

its shine,

we will read

the writing

once again

off the wall.

Til then,

My Friend(s)...

05.10.2023

Something Uplifting challenge @Blackgirlwritin

Lift someone up when and where you can. Lose judgment - for it's not our place to judge. We have no idea the struggles someone is facing....just be kind in all things. A smile from you and a sincere word may just be the encouragement that someone needs to take that next step. You have the power to be a positive force in the lives of others. Count your blessings and bless others....a small act can have a major impact of good. Be blessed.

Travel back in time to Weimar Germany, 1920s. You could literary use money instead of wallpapers, wrap your bakery in it, go to the water closet with it. Dead economy.

What can You do? Nothing... unless you are an ambitious young engineer or architect. In that case, you should join Ludwig van der Rohe or Walter Gropius.

It is much likely that you would have to work on pure enthusiasm some time, or even get fired. However, soon you see that those ideas of yours change the world around.

Here are some important uplifting aspects of BauHaus philosophy and attitude:

- Make your poverty your advantage. If you are poor, make your own sense of the word "luxury". Some bright examples include social housing in Dessau-Törten (1928) and another truly modernist design from a distant part of the world: an X-shaped crossed staircase at a simple, modest apartment block on Hasima Island, Japan (1930s). Those buildings look stylish with their simple and expressive lines, despite being meant for low-paid workers.

- Do not make yourself work too much; be inventive. (Look at the transformable, light-weight Bauhaus furniture and mechanisms to open upper window sections with minimum efforts.)

- Don't be ashamed to influence and inspire. People who are influential make changes in urban environment, 1920s designers thought. In fact, if you look at many buldings of our century, you will still notice the ideas of Bauhaus, a hundred years after. That is because those ideas were intended to influence. This principle concerns literature, too.

From the Father Figure, "life is short, may as well make it short and fantastic!"

And that means a lot of things doesn't it. The word "fantastic." And who was he speaking to? Oh, a grown-up. Because when else is life so short? When else do we never let ourselves play. Hey, if you don't mind when we're in school, awkwardly kissing behind the bleachers, reciting lines, or envious of the cheerleaders could we have some time to play? Just a bit.

"Standing out can feel outstanding!"

And elms take chances.

Inimitable, innevitable. So immovable. So unstable.

Research will later reveal the broken pieces that was Roman's creativity. A bit dull? Some would say so(namely his twin).

But it was still invariably his own.

So why should he not be proud? Flaunt and strut a bit.

"I've just been thinking."

"Thinking" (so snide-- I love it)! "About what?"

"Guys."

"What else is new?"

"And Dolls."

"Oh shit!"

What! It's funny. Not every instance needs some deep philosophical aside! I just liked it. And to those who will be confused well I dunno what to tell you except credit my source.

All quotes are from Thomas Sanders' webseries of Sanders Sides on YouTube. For all his baggage and goddamn is it baggage, this almost 40 gay man is the def. of uplifting.

I will PHYSICALLY fight... whoever wants to be an ass about it. Because an opinion is an opinion and even you trolls online with nothing better to do light up this world and give me fluttery feelings.

In the midst of life's challenges and uncertainties, there exists a remarkable resilience that resides within each and every one of us. It is the capacity to rise above adversity, to find strength when faced with obstacles, and to embrace the beauty that surrounds us. Let us embark on a journey of uplifting words, woven together like a tapestry of hope and inspiration.

In the darkest nights, when the world seems devoid of light, remember that stars only shine against a backdrop of darkness. So too, your inner light can radiate with brilliance, illuminating your path and guiding you forward. Embrace the power within you, for you possess infinite potential to overcome any obstacle and transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Have faith in your dreams, for they are the whispers of your soul yearning to be heard. With every step you take towards their realization, you manifest the extraordinary possibilities that lie within your grasp. Trust in your abilities, and let your passions ignite a fire that will fuel your journey towards greatness.

In the realm of kindness, there lies immense power to change lives. A simple act of compassion, a gentle word of encouragement, or a heartfelt smile has the ability to brighten someone's day and create a ripple effect that extends far beyond what we can perceive. Share your warmth with the world, for it is in giving that we receive the most profound blessings.

Pause for a moment, amidst life's hustle and bustle, to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. Marvel at the delicate petals of a flower, dance with the symphony of nature, and lose yourself in the awe-inspiring colors of a sunset. For in these moments of connection, you find solace and a renewed sense of wonder.

Remember, dear soul, that you are never alone. There are countless others traversing their own unique paths, facing their own battles, and dreaming their own dreams. Together, we weave a tapestry of humanity, connected by our shared triumphs and joys. Let us extend a helping hand, offer a listening ear, and uplift one another with love and compassion.

May your days be filled with purpose, your heart brimming with love, and your spirit dancing with boundless joy. Embrace the uplifting power that resides within you, for you are an extraordinary being, capable of creating a world filled with endless possibilities.

Believe in yourself, for you are a beacon of light in a world that often yearns for it.