do you feel

a lot of the time we live our lives only for ourselves. We get so caught up in our own things that we don't see all that is going on in the world around us. Life isn't easy for anyone, everyone has problems and trials. Every time we feel alone and hopeless, there is someone feeling that exact same way somewhere else in this world. It's easy to get caught up in our problems and not see how very minuscule they are in comparison to all that happens around us. We can do so much to change that though, it's not that hard to go past ourselves and make a difference. Smile at people on the street, do something for your roommates or family, volunteer wherever you can. Forget about yourself for one minute and look around to see how much needs to change in our world. We can make a difference, no matter how small we think it may be.

Do you feel
the weight of the world singin' sorrow
or to you is it just not real
cause you got your own things
and we all have our things, I guess

all again for you

sometimes we do dumb things, we say things we don't mean, we act very human. Even though we make those stupid decisions, we shouldn't look back and regret them. At the time we made those decisions, we probably didn't think they were dumb. We saw them as necessary or beneficial. We didn't think them through all the way and ended up doing something a little unintelligent. The one thing we can't do is look back on our life and wish we hadn't had those experiences. Everything we experience is for our good, we have to keep that in mind when we remember every little thing we've gone through. It's easy to look back and see those decisions as totally irrational, but hindsight is 20/20. We have to look at the past and remember that we learned from that time, that's how we grow.

use somebody

We all need somebody. Somebody we can always turn to. Somebody who can always help us fix our problems. It could be a best friend, a family member, a pet. The thing is that we are never alone. We may feel alone, but it's up to us to use those resources around us; to realize when we're in too deep and we can't stand on our own. The same concept is found in team sports. In order to succeed in a team game you can't play as individuals, you have to use each other. Find how one player accents another, utilize everyone's talents. We can't be good at everything and trying to do everything alone will only leave us stranded. We prove ourselves by asking for help, by learning how to accept our shortcomings. Find strength in numbers, find peace in others, find joy in somebody.

find a way

the beautiful thing about life is that there is always a way. It may not be easy, it may not be what we want, but we can always find a way. We may face situations that seem to have no resolution, that seem impossible to deal with, but it's not true. There is a solution for all the problems we face and our challenge is to take those problems and find a way to work through them. To find the best answer, even if it isn't what we were hoping for.

There's no fear inside.
This is our time, no giving up.
When we connect our hearts, to our minds,
There's no stopping us.

We need to approach everything before us with the an attitude of success. Take on every challenge knowing we can make it through, no matter how hard. It isn't easy, but it's not supposed to be. We're here to learn and be tested. We're here to grow. We're here to find our way.

human

nobody said this was easy, right?
after all we're only human.

Life is meant to be lived, but it isn't always that easy. Too often we get in our own way; we make mistakes, we stumble, we get distracted. We see everything that we should be, everything we are working for, but it's always just a little too far out of reach. I've come to realize that's ok. If we set goals that were easy to reach we would never grow, never improve. We aren't supposed to be perfect, we aren't supposed to get everything we want. We have to learn to appreciate the little things. Baby steps and small victories. Success isn't instant nor is it guaranteed, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Our imperfections and attempts to be better are where true character is revealed. No, we won't always succeed, things won't go according to plan, but we learn to run with it. To make the best of anything that comes our way. Baby steps, small victories, the little things that keep us going.

Things won are done; joys soul
lies in the doing...

legends

Everyone has a secret desire to make history. Everyone has woken up one morning thinking, "maybe someday I'll be more than just another person." It's inherent in human nature to want to be more, to want to be known. Some people want to make history for the fame, some because they want to create change, and others do it merely because they want to make a statement. They want to prove something. This year my team did that.

We made a statement.
We made history.

The rugby club I play for has never made it to the national collegiate stage. Last year we made it to the Pacific Coast playoffs, the farthest we had been able to go in 8 years. Since this club started 9 years ago we've faced struggles. We get no school support of any kind, all our funding is out of pocket or through generous donations. And, until last year, the national tournament was held on Saturday/Sunday so we were not able to compete because we don't play on Sundays. Last year it all changed. The tournament changed to Friday/Saturday and we were all of sudden in a position to make a name for ourselves. We unfortunately had to play the eventual national champions in the first round of the PacCoast so we weren't able to advance any farther. This year we had a vision and the skills to make that vision happen. PacCoast playoffs come and we come out with a bid to the national stage. 16 of the top teams in the nation, the stage was set. The first round was difficult, but we prevailed. Top 8. The sacrifices, the hard work, it was all for this. The next day we faced Penn State. A team better than any we had played, but we felt prepared. We played our hearts out. Left everything on that field, but Penn State was the better team. They went on to run over Brown and Stanford to win the national title. Despite the loss we still made history. All the hard work paid off, we made a name for ourselves. We proved that heart and desire can overpower brute strength any day. Next year we hope to grow more and make it to the final four, but it won't be easy. We start the season ranked #4 in the nation, there's a target on our backs. Now is the time legends are created and history is made. Again.

We'll part the seas, make history
While chasing dreams like every legend before us

(*fin)

end.

school is half way finished. I can't believe I've almost finished two years of college. It is so crazy how fast time can move when you're not paying attention. Have I made the most of these years? Have I made a difference? Can I look back and say I have enjoyed college the way I should be enjoying it? I think too often we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and we forget to look around and enjoy the sights. People are so busy. We go to school, we work, we play sports, a thousand other things monopolize our lives and make even breathing feel like it takes too much time. And then when we try and take breaks, we stress about all the things we could be doing and therefore completely nullify all relaxing moments. We need those moments. We need that time to recuperate. We need that time to live.

Follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.

Follow your bliss. This quote was above my senior year English teachers door and every time I walked out I would look at it and think "I'll have time for that when I get to college." Well here is college and it's still difficult to find time. In fact it's probably more difficult. I don't want to look back on college and just remember a blur of school/work/rugby/and any other thing I've tried to do. I want to remember the nights that turned into mornings with friends I'll always have a special place in my heart for. I want to follow my bliss wherever it may lead me.