Thanks, mom.

Do you think that you could live without your mother? She was, and probably still is your personal assistant that accommodates every request, even the stupid ones:

“Hey mom? Can you fetch me a chocolate milk?”

“Can you fluff my pillows till they turn to silk?’

“Could you please cut the crusts off my grilled cheese sandwich, slice it into triangles and, oh, can you also make the Campbell's tomato soup the way I like it,  thank you?

Endless demands, endless agreements, usually. Mothers don’t get the recognition that they deserve. We give them jobs to do with while their coffee brews and their reports are due and meanwhile, we could be doing those jobs, too. With millions of things to do, they make time for you. So the least we can do, is say thank you because we don’t appreciate them enough. 

The Place I Go

            Across from the family television, near the central ottoman, next to the cadet gray crouch, lies a place that I frequently visit. I travel there to escape from reality, to unleash the creativity that is trapped inside of me, and to restrain the negative thoughts that flutter in the infinite abyss of my mind. If you take a long glance at this location, and I mean a long glance, you can almost see the sweat and tears that have been soaked into it from persistent practice and work. I have spent hours on end at this location succeeding, failing, and learning. There are no beautiful, flamboyant colors at this location, because it has no intention of being a spectacle; the only hues that you will see are blacks and whites. What I can say, however, is that there is more to this place than what meets the eye. Inside the central contraption is a sophisticated and advanced mechanism of twine and knobs that are perfectly tightened and ready for the instantaneous release of dopamine. This location provides the keys to the realm of creativity and fluidity. It is with these keys that I have great power and opportunity. I can open a door that has been opened a thousand times before me, or make my own; there are no rules in this dimension.  This is a place of  joy; a place of comfort; a place of expression. This is the place that I go. 

The Good Ol’ Days

Remembering those simpler times

Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

-  Joni Mitchell

        It is the vividest of memories that we are glad to recall, but nostalgic to remember. While they do evoke emotions, it never hurts to remember the best times of your life every once in a while. I make a point of never letting the greatest memories slip from my head. The memories that we make as a child are crucial to our development as a young adult. My years as a child are slowly ticking to an end. I have made so many memories that will only last if I cherish them. Memories like sitting on the living room couch with my family, watching an award show late on a Sunday night; memories like eating a nice home cooked meal out on the back yard porch; memories like playing board games with my family with the muffled sound of an 80s band ringing through the air, radiating out from its port: the Amazon Alexa. These are the memories that I hope I never forget. It is only if we treasure these heart warming recollections that they will not slip away from us.

The Power of Grit  

How hope can lead you through the most daunting tasks

        Behind every great human achievement, there is grit. Ranging from a soldier in battle, to a simple trip to the gym; grit is the basis of all accomplishments. In recent years, the film industry has made many movies that depict characters with perseverance. One film in particular, Unbroken, has done an outstanding job at portraying the emotion, the pain, and the determination of the characters.