Materialism

In Zambia,
I looked
And saw
Bloated bellies,
Nakedness,
Empty eyes,
And hollowed hearts
-A lack of
Something.

In America,
I looked
And saw
Broadened bellies,
Promiscuity,
Envious eyes,
And heavy hearts
-Too much of
That same Something.

Dear Change

Dear Change,

I know that I haven't always been very nice to you. There are days when you annoy me more than anything else -days when I don't want you in my life and can't even stand the thought of you. But that's selfish of me and I realize that. I'm sorry.

Looking back on things, I see that even when I have refused to be a good friend, you've been faithful. The truth is, you have been a loyal companion throughout my life, offering me adventure and fun when I gave you nothing. You've also given me plenty of opportunities to grow and learn. Because of you, I am more open to new things, more flexible and humble, and more aware of different perspectives. Overall, I appreciate you more than you could know.

I am confident that you are going to play a vital role in my future. Just as you have been in the past, you will be by my side after graduation. And you will continue to lead me down roads I've yet to travel. Roads I can't wait to travel! I'm excited and thankful that you're a part of my life. So, bring on the next great adventure!

Your friend,
Amy

I Am Fully Convinced...

I am fully convinced that life is all about relationships. Life is making a stranger’s day by simply offering a smile. It is sitting beside a mother and her crying baby on an airplane and helping an old lady with her grocery bag on the way home from school. It’s waving to neighbors, talking to someone new at work, and watching two kids play in the park.

Life is all about relationships and what you choose to do with them. It’s lying on a bed beside your best friend, chatting until you lose track of time and not caring about sleep. It is swinging next to someone, feeling the air beneath your feet as you both float through the days. It is the people you laugh the hardest with and the ones you allow to see your deepest pain.

Life is all about relationships, what you choose to do with them, and how they shape you. It is being a witness to the change inside others, noticing the little things that make them unique. It is being willing to take chances, say hard things, and be present in good times and bad. And it is always working at being better.