It's now or never

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

-- "A Dream Deferred", Langston Hughes

How to have a good day

Get enough sleep.
Take your time getting ready for the day's activities.
Do something spontaneous and different before you head out.
Pack a good lunch.
Spend some time outside in beautiful weather.
After a hard day's work, do a little bit of what you most like to do.
Spare a couple of minutes out of your busy day to catch up with people that you like.
Set aside enough time to have a nice, relaxing dinner.
Figure out one big thing that you need to do and get it done really well.
And at the end of the day...
...take a moment to reflect on how great this day has been.

Heather the 12-year-old poet (no. 3)

I really rather like this poem. It made me happy just to read it.

FREE VERSE POEM: Moods of the Days

When it drizzles,
ever so slightly,
like a mist of freshness,
cool to the touch,
that always feels wonderful,
especially on summer days.
When the sun shines,
even through the clouds,
yet still it rains,
a thrilling sight.
Those are the times,
I feel a glowing contentment,
spread throughout me,
as I skip through the streets.
All my worries float away,
on the magical blanket,
that only mist can form.

When it pours,
and it's muddy and cold,
the earthworms wriggling,
glistening and pink.
When the twigs,
so tiny,
are pressed until they snap,
by the relentless rain,
coming down furiously.
Those are the days,
I feel gloomy,
tired and without stamina,
ready to collapse,
short-tempered.

When it snows,
all fluffy whiteness,
like soft feathers,
resting gently on the ground.
And the sparkling specks,
follow careening paths,
twirling and flipping,
as they try to reach the ground.
That's the season,
when I am always wide-awake,
alert and watchful,
the light reflecting from the snow,
dazzling in my eyes.

When the wind chills,
a knife slashing across the skin,
stripping the leaves from the branches,
whisking away the garbage cans.
That's the time,
when I shiver,
and wish I could go to sleep,
but the wind does not permit it.

My favorite kind of day,
is when it's the beginning of spring,
where everything is green,
when newborn animals,
come out to begin their life in the world.
The sun shines,
a gentle, warm glow,
not stifling,
not humid in the least.
The wind blows,
a gentle, soft breeze,
that blows my hair back,
and lets the leaves fly,
swirling up their small tornadoes.
The air is fresh,
with a smell saying, "NEW!"
neither cold nor hot,
but warm and cool.
This kind of day,
the best of them all,
is the time when I am happiest,
light as a feather,
as if nothing in the world,
no matter how heavy,
could ever weigh down my high spirits.
I can't help but be cheerful,
in my mysterious way,
and when I am frustrated,
all that is needed,
is a look at the lively world outside.

Putting aside for the moment the abundance of unnecessary commas everywhere, I didn't know I was capable of being this descriptive. Whoo, I actually shivered imagining all that.

Dang it, sometimes I just want to enjoy today!

Once upon a time, I created a blog. (And wrote four entries in it -- in one day!! Unheard of for me.)

Then I was smitten by finals, rehearsals, a work assignment, and other such time-consuming, energy-draining aspects of life.

But oh, how I thought of my poor, sweet blog, laying untouched for days, even weeks! Hardly a day passed that I did not wish to commune with it.

Alas, 'twas not to be.

Sometimes there's just so much stuff going through my head (thoughts, worries, emotions, etc) that it hurts. It literally makes me queasy inside. That's been me for the last week or so. It's when I get like that that I know I could really use a writing session to let it all out. Even just to recognize all the things that are bothering me so that I can be in a better position to improve my own life. I hate feeling like I'm just being swept along by the stream of time.

Thankfully, some things have been kicked out of the way or otherwise conquered, and I can breathe a little for the moment.

Schoolwork prepares me to be able to get a job. Rehearsals prepare me to perform well. Working prepares me to be able to eat later. I spend plenty of time preparing for tomorrow and the future, but I want to have a nice day today, too! Is that so much to ask?

It's crazy what people will do to themselves in order to do what they think is the right thing. I've been depriving myself of food and sleep all week to get things done, and although I've done all my schoolwork, rehearsals, and work decently, I sure feel pretty crappy. My body doesn't want to respond to anything I tell it to do, my muscles are achy, my eyes hurt, and my brain is performing at a little less than top-notch level right now. (Plus, I realized this morning when I went to shower that I hadn't showered since Tuesday night. Eww.)

It's also crazy how fast time flies by when you need to be getting stuff done. I feel like I've hardly done anything today, yet here we are nearly at 8PM already. Does Einstein's theory of relativity explain that?

...man, I'm so glad that my physics final is over.