Our Words

Sometimes on our own path to awesome we forget to stop and realize how we're already living our dreams, already inspiring others, already improving ourselves. Sometimes we forget to stop and look at our own hearts and feel the passion, the potential that we hold. Sometimes we forget to pause, re-center, and re-focus our direction.

When the going gets tough, it's easy to forget. But when we give time serving others, it's hard not to remember. 

We all have different ways of offering service or adding our light to the world. And I'd venture to say that a lot of times we never know really how much good we've done. 

Today I want to share something that greatly inspired me this week; I share it because it reminds me that the seemingly small things we share with others can change perspectives and ignite a spark in somebody's heart. 

So let your message shine out through your words, your actions, your heart. After all, it's hard to feel down about our own journeys when we give of ourselves to others.

Kid President's 20 Things We Should Say More Often

This is a cute kid. But more than that, he's got some pretty great ideas. Seriously, listen to this guy. :)

Thanks to all you guys for stopping by to read our blog! You're awesome!



Oh, and by the way. Here is a surprise corndog I got you because you are my friend:

Conviction

Everyone has opinions. Some are quiet with them and some shout them to the world. I've never met anyone without their own opinions. From my experience, I've also found that everyone has something that they feel strongly about.

What are your convictions? Now here's another good question: does the way you speak about those beliefs or opinions reflect the way you feel about them?

"I challenge you to speak with conviction; to say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks the determination with which you believe it."

And I, too, offer you a challenge. I challenge you to resolve today to be true to your convictions. This is not to encourage closed-mindedness or arrogance, but firmness and integrity. In a world where standards are too often compromised, it's important to cultivate the habit of being true to who you are and what you stand for.

Change YOUR World | Guest Post by Kyle

Hi everyone, my name is Kyle. To this point in my life I really haven't had a Superman "I just saved the world" moment. I feel like so many people are thinking that because they haven't done anything "world-shaking" they are failures.

Well here's a wakeup call: There aren't a lot of people that have changed Earth as we know it. If your expectation is that, as a teenager, you are going to save a llama colony in Siberia (are there llama colonies in Siberia?), prove some new mind-blowing scientific concept, build a house made out of chocolate and then fly home for dinner, that's just not going to happen all at once. BUT, don't let that stop you. Because you can change the world. 

Let me tell you a story that will illustrate my point: 

So I'm a political geek. In my free time I like to play political simulation games and read my 13 dog-eared copies of The Almanac of American Politics.

In 2012 I had the great opportunity to be the county coordinator for a lady who was running for congress (every Political Geek's dream, right?). I had to make A TON of phone calls, organize events, put up signs, send out emails, and spread around literature. It forced me to get out of my comfort zone, because, truth be told, making phone calls was not necessarily my cup of tea. I remember being told no and talking to a lot of rude people. It was a lot of hard work!

I got a lot of people involved and put a lot of hard work into it. I was able to go to meeting with grown ups and seriously taking part in an election process.

I know: you are probably wanting to know the result of all this time and energy…we lost. But DON'T STOP READING. As depressing as a loss was, I still felt like I had done my own part to change the world.

Yes, she didn't win. But I was able to participate first hand in an elections process. I was able to get out of my comfort zone and meet people I otherwise would not have met.

So, what's the point of this very long and boring post? It is that YOU can make a difference. YOU can change your own world. You aren't just going to be able to wake up one day and figure out the solution to some unknown math problem. You have to work hard at it. As you work bit by bit, piece by piece, you CAN change the world. In a big way!

It takes a lot of small, little, bit by bit things first. But eventually, with a lot of work, you can change the world. 

***

Bio blurb:

Kyle is a political addict. He loves keeping up with current events. In his free time, he likes to play games, watch sports, and manage his fantasy football team. He is a student at Williamsburg Academy and loves the quality of education and all the wonderful people that he is associated with. 

Slowin' it down

Conquering your fears sure isn't an easy thing to do. After writing last week's post, I set to work to see what I could do to overcome my challenges. And I was once again reminded that it's a process, something that often comes slowly. Taking a hero's journey, a path to awesome, or whatever other name you know it by--it's a journey. It takes time, faith, trust, and sometimes a little pixie dust. ;) So don't give up on it. Press on right to the end. Put a smile on your face. Look up. Be grateful to be a part of your own adventure. And if even that is a challenge, you are definitely not alone. Finding joy in the journey is sometimes hard--really hard. But it does come.

I promised I'd come back and write about this week's experience, so what I do differently this week knowing my fears are optional?

I slowed down.

I took 10 minutes each day to meditate, clearing my mind of distractions and worries. I stopped to speak to a friend. And one night when the stars were glowing bright I laid outside on the trampoline and just wondered about this world we call home. The sky seems so big when it's just you, the cool breeze, and an endless expanse of stars above.

It's hard to forget what you live for when you take time each to remind yourself. Even when a mountain of stress seems to have taken up permanent residence in your life, a few minutes isn't too much to spare when it brings a new sense of confidence.

This here is one of my favourite short videos. Basically sums up everything I just rambled on about...in only three minutes. Enjoy. ;)

Punch fear in the face.

Chances are, once you begin your hero's journey, or your path to awesome, there's going to be some major obstacles. They may be physical obstacles, lack of money, verbal opposition, ignorance about how to follow your purpose, or many more challenges. Today I found some amazing writing on how to overcome the universal challenge well-known to all who seek greatness: fear. 

If you haven't read Start by Jon Acuff yet, I recommend it!

This book is an easy, entertaining read, but full of insights. I love what Acuff says about fear:

"Fear tends to argue both sides of the coin, leaving you absolutely no room to stand. Here are two of the complete opposite things it will tell you: "Don't chase your dream at all." And, "If you chase your dream, you have to do it all at once."

Do you see the absurdity of that? "Don't do it! Don't do it! Don't do it!" fear screams. Then, when you ignore those cries, fear changes its tactic and screams, "Do it all at once! Do it all at once!"

Both of those statements are lies.

As you stand with one foot still on the road to average and one foot on the road to awesome, you've got to kill those concerns. Fortunately, there's a trick that will take care of them both. 

Just start."

Have you seen fear working like this in your own life? In all my endeavours to do good, fear has been right up in my face telling me I have to move faster, faster faster! If I don't do it all right away, it will be too late! I'll be too old to become great at this sport. I'll be too late to make a difference with my service. I'll be too late to make a change in my life because it won't seem genuine to others. I'll be too late...

I wonder how many great dreams, goals, and life-changing acts have been conquered by fear's lies. Unfortunately, so many people don't realize how absolutely untrue these doubts, worries and fears are. You don't need to fall prey to the same trap.

Any thoughts that make you doubt your worth, abilities, potential or capacity to do good are not worth your time. They are simply not true. 

This is not to say that we need to push those thoughts away by filling our minds with arrogance, pride or distractions. Instead, address those thoughts, identify them as lies, and replace them with truth. How? I'll share one way that Acuff suggests. And this works--I've tried it. Don't wait. Do it today. 

"Voices are invisible bullies, and they hate when you make them visible....Every time you take a step toward being awesome and a voice gets loud, write it down. Don't ask, "Is this a voice?" before you do. Just write. Fast and furious and imperfectly. Scribble as many as you can down, and then refute them with truth."

Take a piece of paper and draw a line right down the middle. Like this. 

Use a pen, a crayon, or even a purple marker. Just do it right away. Don't let procrastination, fear, or laziness get in your way. On one side of the page, write your biggest fears. On the opposite side of the line, write two positive opposites for each fear. It might look something like this:

Write fast. Write your real thoughts. Don't worry about making it perfect, because this exercise naturally echoes the perfect, real you. 

Once you feel like you've refuted a sufficient number of fears, here comes the fun part! Take a deep breath. Feel that courage? It might be small, but it's in you. By conquering your fear, you're letting your courage blossom. Now rip that page right down the line. Save the positive side. I keep mine in my purse, so if I'm nervous before a social situation it's right there, ready for me to whip it out and remember why what I do makes a difference. 

Then BURN the other half. Destroy the lies. Have no mercy. I'm not joking. Rip up the page. Rip it up and then burn it. Rip it up, burn it, and scatter the ashes to the wind. Whatever it takes to always remember that these lies have no place in your life. 

Just don't set your lawn ablaze. If anything like that happens, don't say you weren't warned. ;)

And throughout all of this, be sincere. Realize that those truths reflect the real you. Realize that you have the strength and power to overcome any and all of your fears. 

Are you up for the challenge? Are you willing to destroy your fears? Comment below once you've burnt or otherwise destroyed your fears. You can even take the next step and share some of your positive truths! Remember, fears hate it when you make them visible, so take advantage of this opportunity. Just start. You've got this.

Next week I'll report back how striving to overcome my own fears has changed how I live each day. Until then, keep following your own path to awesome!

What Makes a Hero?

Chances are, you've heard about what makes a hero before. Joseph Campbell's idea of the hero cycle has spread far and wide since he published A Hero With a Thousand Faces in 1949. Ever wondered why it's so popular? It's because it's true!

One of the key characteristics that these heroes must develop in their journey is courage. To quote the Princess Diaries movie:

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all."

Just like Matthew Winkler said in the video, we are each human, and we each have the amazing opportunity to take our own journey through the hero cycle. No matter our circumstances, possessions, family situation, education, health or past mistakes, we can each find our courage and conquer our challenges. Courage is not something reserved for privileged people who magically have everything they need to be their best. Instead, it is something developed as we dare to step out of our comfort zone and into the unknown. Like JRR Tolkien so eloquently said, "Courage is found in unlikely places." It may not be until the end when you look back upon your journey that you realize you had courage all along. However you find your courage, trust is crucial. Trust that it will carry you through your challenges, no matter how daunting.

Now we'd like to issue a challenge! This blog was created to inspire you to live a better story and to show ways in which people everywhere are doing so. Today we challenge you to (drumroll please...) take a few minutes today to think about hero cycle and how it applies to your life. Have you received a call? Are you reluctant to accept it? Have you crossed into the unknown and now feel like you're wandering a rocky trail? Perhaps you have just undergone a transformation and are returning to the status quo. Wherever you are in your own journey--your path2awesome--think about how you can use courage to overcome your own challenges. Then get started. 

"There's no comfort in the learning zone, but there's no learning in the comfort zone!"

***

Did this inspire you? Visit our Share Your Story page and share how you are living with courage! And don't forget to share the blog with your friends! 

Bridges

Wes Jackson once said, 

"If your life's work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough."

The Bridge Builder

by Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man going a lone highway, 

Came, at the evening cold and gray, 

To a chasm vast and deep and wide.

Through which was flowing a sullen tide

The old man crossed in the twilight dim,

The sullen stream had no fear for him;

But he turned when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,

"You are wasting your strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day, 

You never again will pass this way; 

You've crossed the chasm, deep and wide,

Why build this bridge at evening tide?

The builder lifted his old gray head; 

"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,

"There followed after me to-day

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that has been as naught to me

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!"

On our own paths to awesome, there are many things we can do to build figurative living bridges. What will you choose to do today?

Intentionally Precise, Precisely Intentional

It's so nice to leisurely open your eyes in the morning, glance at the clock, and lay there, staring at the ceiling for a few minutes before you slide out of your bed to make your way to the pantry for a bowl of cheerios. Relaxing days without much direction are always enjoyable. Who doesn't like the freedom of just doing whatever?

What's also so nice is collapsing into bed with a triumphant sigh knowing that you really did good in the world that day. Falling asleep with gratitude in your heart, memories of smiles shared and the thrill of accomplishment is always enjoyable.

There's nothing wrong with lazy days! In my eyes, they are essential. We've got to take some time to chill and renew ourselves otherwise we'd burn out and that really doesn't end well. But today I want to let each of you know that there is such a power in living intentionally. The past few weeks have been filled with both kinds of days for me, but the ones that I am happiest with are the ones where I literally fell into bed after working all day to keep a commitment or help somebody out.

If you've taken music lessons before, you probably know the importance of staying actively engaged. If you start a piece even a little bit late, the timing of the whole thing is off. Or if you allow yourself to get sloppy halfway through, the precision that makes music so beautiful is lost. From even before you begin to play to the very last note, you have to be intentional. You've got to be mentally prepared so you can start strong and confidently. You've got to be physically prepared with your fingers on the right keys so there's no mad scramble at the beginning. It takes so much effort, but soon you find yourself mastering difficult pieces with a new-found confidence.

You can consider each day to be a new piece of music, and look at this! You're both the composer and the musician! You choose which "notes" to play and how you'll play them. Are you going to open your eyes with a smile, hop out of bed and fill your home with happiness and gratitude? Are you going to consciously choose who you want to be and hold yourself accountable for your actions? When you find yourself just coasting through the day, are you going to remind yourself of your goals and dreams and get back on track?

I promise you that if you start each day with purpose, passion, and a solid intention, everything changes. Each decision leads you precisely where you want to go, and you end each day with a deep satisfaction. Now that is always enjoyable. :)

Realize That It's You | Guest Post by Sheila

Hey, my name is Sheila. I'm a normal girl. I run track, do my homework, and hang out with friends. But not everything about me is normal. And today I want to tell you about how I make my life awesome.

It started with a quite: "The good news is that one person has what it takes to change the world. The bad news is that you haven't realized that it's you." I don't remember who said it, but I loved that quote. But for the longest time I had no clue it was talking about me.

That changed last year. I won't go into details to protect her privacy but someone I love was hurting really badly. I wished I could help her, make her a little happier. See, I would take on the world for any of my friends and she was no different. That's when my old quote popped into my head. I could do something. I could change the world. So I decided to try.

My goal was simple: to make the world a little happier. Being there to listen, telling sincere compliments, writing letters, giving our friendship bracelets, just a few things I try to do every day. I even listen to strangers vent online, giving advice where appropriate, and started a blog dedicated to my cause.

But if I'm pouring my heart out to some internet stranger, I might as well be honest. See, no one ever said changing the world would be easy, but neither did they say how heart breaking it can be. I learned that the night I failed to talk someone out of suicide. But now I know it's worth the hurt. Because since then I've touched countless other hearts and even saved three lives. Making a difference and inspiring others is all I want to do with my life and I could not be more excited to see what the future holds.

But I didn't write this to talk about my story. No, I want to talk about yours. Reading this, right now, is someone with the ability to cure all sorts of diseases, if they only believed in that skill and took a chance on it. Reading this, is someone whose art could hang in galleries all across the country, if only they decided to chase that dream down. Reading this, is someone who has the potential to raise millions of dollars to end hunger, if they only had the courage to start. Every single person at this site has undiscovered potential, creativity, and intelligence. And it will stay undiscovered unless something or someone brings it out. What's your passion? Whatever it is, your dream comes second to nothing. Because when everyone is chasing their goals, and being the best they can be, the world automatically becomes a better place.

So before I go today, just think about something: What's stopping you from doing something beautiful? Something inspirational? Something life-changing, or even world-changing? Because chances are, the only thing stopping you is yourself. Chances are, you sell yourself short. You haven't let go of that voice in the back of your mind that says you can't do something awesome. But you've forgotten something: that voice doesn't know your potential, your creativity, your intelligence. That voice is holding you back. That voice is a liar. You can accomplish more than you think with a simple goal and some motivation. All you have to do is realize that quote wasn't just talking about me. It's talking about you.

*****

Sheila is currently a freshman in college and wants to be an inspirational speaker when she grows up. When she's not trying to change the world, she loves running, baking, and drawing. Catch up with her or share your own world-changing story at http://how-to-save-the-world-by-eva-marie.blogspot.ca/.

Happy Habits

Wow! Summer has sure kept all of us busy with exciting adventures, road trips, family visits, camping, and more. Hopefully your summer has been amazing as well!

Following the path to your own awesome life requires some big things, but mostly a lot of little habits. Wesleigh has inspired me with a new habit she's developed in her own daily routine--recording the positive things of the day and writing what she's grateful for. Just like this quote from Henry B Eyring states, doing so helps you see the little blessings you receive each day, even if you didn't notice them at the time. How cool would that be? It's like gaining the ability to see beyond worldly perceptions and find what makes you truly happy every day! I'm joining Wes in developing this habit because I feel it will really help me keep a big smile on my face even when times are tough.

What keeps you happy?

We Live Unbound

Hey there everyone! Hope your summer is going awesome! We have a really cool challenge we're cooking up and hopefully we'll get some guest posts up soon. :)

We have something we want to share with you. :) Ladies and gents....

(go ahead and click on this picture to visit their website and be changed forever)

Sanneke discovered Live Unbound a while ago and shared it with me (Wesleigh). I think we both fell in love with it instantly. 

Live Unbound is seriously one of the coolest things ever. Here, watch this video....

Pretty amazing, huh? And while you're at it, like their FaceBook page, subscribe to their YouTube channel and continue to be inspired. :D

Here's what Live Unbound means to us. 

Wesleigh: Live Unbound. What does it mean to live unbound? To me, live unbound means to live unbound to fear, circumstances, limitations, unbound to our own self doubts. When I think of living unbound, I think of someone that overcomes obstacles to achieve their dreams. But not just their dreams, but they overcome everyday obstacles to get the most out of life. To live a meaningful life. 

I'd like you to read this. Not just skim over it, but really read it. 

"To reach the unreachable"......"to discover what we are truly capable of."

Live unbound to me means that I have in me, the potential to achieve great things, and so do you. I can reach the unreachable. I am discovering what I am truly capable of. I live unbound. 

Sanneke: Live Unbound...that phrase holds a lot of meaning. I encourage all of you to find out what it means for you, but for me it has a meaning that goes a little deeper than just learning to find adventure. In all honesty, I would love love LOVE to have the time and means to jump off a cliff in a squirrel suit or learn to surf or try skydiving! But for now, the path that I've chosen isn't headed in quite that direction. So can I still live unbound? I think so.

Consider the phrase from the video "We fight to live unbound. Unbound from our debilitating thoughts: I can't, it's too risky, I'm afraid, that's impossible...Instead, we follow our intuition, even when it guides us off the well paved path, into the unknown."

I have a sticky note on the back of my bedroom door. It says one simple sentence: I live unbound. For me that means having true personal freedom. Whenever one of those debilitating thoughts enters my mind I recognize it for what it is: a limitation for becoming the best me, and shut it down. No matter if it is a negative thought about a sibling, a fear or doubt about the future or a justification for settling for mediocrity, it's not worth it. It truly isn't worth my time and energy. And since I have started to live each day in a way that allows me to move forward without constant uncertainty and fear about the unknown, things have really started happening. Years and months ago I thought "That looks really cool! Maybe one day I'll try it." Now starting a company, hosting a shoe drive, learning ukulele and more are realities. I could do these all along, but fear held me back. No more.

Sure, my path isn't quite as exciting as white-water rafting or climbing a mountain, but it's meaningful. And because I live unbound, I have the courage to pursue it. There's no doubt in my mind that you guys can all have the same freedom from living unbound, so I encourage you to try it out for yourself! 

Get out there and live unbound! Thanks for reading :) 

Thank You!

Path2awesome is about to hit its 3-month milestone! Yay! We're amazed at how far this blog has been able to reach in this short time. So far we have over 35 followers and 3400 pageviews from people around the world and counting.

Since our first blog post on February 27th we've taken a fun journey, learning how we can live better, more meaningful lives in different ways. We've laughed and smiled at the stories you guys send in. They make our day! Each of you have something amazing to share, and to thank you for making this blog what it is today we've got a little video for you. Enjoy!

Summer is right around the corner, and we're excited to get adventuring! Keep your eye out for some fun summer posts!

The Power of Opposition | Guest Post By Casey

How do we enjoy things in life? What is it which makes us happy?

Let's say we live in a world where everything was good. Nothing bad ever happens. It's the perfect temperature, nothing dies, there is no shortage of food, everyone gets along, and nothing causes pain. Life just goes on.

Do you think that would be enjoyable? How happy would you be?

I, for one, would be extremely bored.

Why would I not be content with things in these circumstances? Because there wouldn't really be any happiness in that world for me. Before I can know that it is a good thing for it to be my perfect temperature it has to be something other than that. Before I can know the value of life something has to die. Before I can know how nice it is to have my wonderful fridge stuffed full of food I have to experience part of that pain which comes from not having food. Before I can enjoy the beauty of a harmonious home I need to know how contention feels. Before I can really love the softness of an object it needs to be contrasted with something coarse. I need to know both sides. Luckily—in my own opinion--, for everyone, this life, without us even having to ask, provides both.

With opposition in all things we can truly begin to feel that word "love". But, I believe that life doesn't stop at "Ok, I've felt the prickliness of an evergreen tree and I’m good for the rest of my life." One of the enduring characteristics of man is that if we don’t either remind ourselves or become reminded by life then we will surely forget. Along with that, if we aren't brought to a higher plane of pain then how can we know a higher level of joy?

I would state that because of opposition to that which is good we can truly know by how we feel what is good. We understand from life—and no one teaches better than life. Because I have been sick, I realize and love my health.

So, a human's story is a struggle for peace, love and joy. Life will inevitably provide that which will give the contrasting emotions. There is nothing more wonderful than a human struggling through life, learning, becoming better and working through it all and finding that love, peace and joy. Why? Because it wasn't easy, in fact, it was probably the hardest journey they have ever undergone.

Life was never intended to be easy or fair.

Ok, now we are past the doom and gloom. The beauty is that we are given the knowledge in our lives through living life and by that we can live to be better. We will all make mistakes. But that is how we learn best. We make mistakes just in the same way a child learning to walk falls down. Do we scold the child for falling? No, we cheer it on for its learning and persistence to the task. As we struggle in our uphill battles we can overcome that which is the hardest thing for us. We can do it. The limitations set by man are not his own—from birth the thing which constantly goes through a free child’s mind is the simple but powerful two words "I can"—but those restrictions as to what we can do are given by those who are around us, those who think with their years and from their own inflicted limitations that they can limit you from greatness. I'm one of those people who just doesn't like to be told what to do. When people say "You can't" I relish the moment when I show them "I can".

You are better than that. Toss out the limitations. Limitations to you are but dirty coins in your fountain of hope that need not be there and those coins will not leave unless you toss them out yourself or some kindly person comes by and shows you that they care and helps you remove them. Toss them out. There are times when one can give you a coin into your hand that is clean and good and you can use it for your own advantage, but don't limit yourself by not attempting because others say it's impossible. There is a point to sand back and to say "Ya, I probably can't jump off this cliff and fly and if they end up being right I might as well try over water rather than these jagged rocks." There is a time to be smart and know physical limitations. But, many a time, we cannot know those limits till we push them. The Wright brothers ended up flying. If you think about it at one point the things that we today have accomplished from experiment and
using what is around us we have accomplished many things that once upon an earlier time where known as "impossible".

The pains you endure help you mature, life isn't fair though man tries to make it so, and don't limit, degrade or belittle yourself because of what others may think. You can do hard things.

My message is simple. Enjoy life as it comes. Accept that which is difficult and show life that despite its hardships there is something that strives for good within you that is untamable. Don't wait another second, get out and make life better. Don't sit around waiting for someone else to come in and fix things for you. It has to start with you. Change your perspective and then the world will look different. If you have regrets find peace with them, if you have sorrow accept, realize it, know it, and learn from it, if you are reaching the end of your rope then go out kicking and unbroken. We'd all be quite surprised if we realized how much power we truly had.

In the end your accomplishments aren't your parents, the person who told you that you could not or anyone else's but yours.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."~Theodore Roosevelt

Dare to be great. Be thankful that you know what sadness is because therein lies the ability to do great and to love.

As I sat there sick and in tears,

Thought, twas lovely to think of the years,

Of life here on earth so far I've trekked through,

Life is beautiful, oh so beautiful, this much I knew.

I've been on earth for my share of time,

I've had my terror and I've had the sublime.

But I feel sorry for those who when in agony,

Are angry, mad, and do not see pains true beauty.

"Why me!" they exclaim in their sorry, self pity.

'Tis true that a soft feather is nice,

'Tis pleasant to have the flavor of spice,

The lovely views on earth are good to see,

The plants, the trees, the earth, the sea.

But the one thing that people miss at such a loss,

A fact that before so many minds have not crossed,

That after the years of tears and heartaches endured,

Then we humans are better strengthened are more matured.

I guess what I'm getting at is to be thankful of the pain,

Because without our broken feelings we could never gain.

Nothing can be known without its bitter opposition.

To not ever feel--we'd find ourselves in lost condition.

So here I lay, my body in sickly distressed,

Tightened and sore and really quite stressed,

I move to my knees in much pain,

I bow my head though I wane.

And I offer thanks for that which I feel,

I am grateful I can endure this ordeal.

For this sickness that doth cause me pain,

Shows me how dear my world is again.

~KC

****

Bio Blurb
I love life, I love slacklining and one hope to highline in the sky. I enjoy philosophy, government,
politics, psychology, the great outdoors, hiking, backpacking, camping under the stars (who needs a
tent?), serving, and trying new things.

Conscious and Confident | Guest Post by Missy

You are awesome! That is a fact. You were born to change the world. You were born to be yourself. You were born to be awesome. It doesn’t matter who you are, this is true. YOU ARE AWESOME! The question is, are you conscious of that? I’m not asking if you know you are awesome, cause you should know now if you didn’t before. Since you know that you were born to be awesome I’m asking if you are consciously living up to that knowledge?

Everyone has the ability to be awesome in their own way. But I think you’ll agree with me that most of the world today is not living up to that ability. Most people just go through life, living, without really living. Yeah, they might not be dead, but they aren’t living up to the awesomeness inside of them. Why is this? I believe it is because of two things. 1. They aren’t consciously trying to become better and more awesome. And 2. Most people have no self confidence in themselves and in what they are doing.

In order to really become as awesome as you can, you have to make a conscious effort. You have to work hard. Be different, and realize that what you are doing right now will change your life for the better, or for the worse. If you aren’t living consciously everyday, and knowingly try to be a better person, you become a zombie. Yeah, pretty much a zombie. Zombies aren’t conscious of what they are doing, they just live, without living.

Once you know that you are awesome and you are consciously living up to that, you have to not be afraid to be awesome! Being confident in being yourself is really rare. People might judge you, they might label you as “weird.” It’s hard, trust me I know. I’ve been there, done that. But you can’t be afraid to be you. When you are you, when you are confident in the awesomeness you are consciously living every day of your life. You will be, completely awesome. Not just partly awesome, but completely awesome.  

So live a life of conscience awesomeness, and hold your head up high. Be confident in being you, even when you might be mocked as being “weird” because of it. Don’t be a zombie. Be conscience, be confident, be you.

***

Bio blurb:

Missy is a sweet teenage girl who is confident in who she is and consciously lives everyday trying to become a better person. She is passionate about writing and inspiring people to be the best they can be. She loves hot sauce and hates bacon. If you liked this check out more of her writings and such at: http://smilemrn.blogspot.com/

Wave to the World

Hey everyone! With finals in school this week and all the preparation that requires, we've neglected this blog for a little while. But fear not! Today we're going to showcase a cool project that the Williamsburg Intermediate online school is doing. We feel that this is really a meaningful way to reach out to so many people.

The Wave to the World Project: 

"In 1713, a letter traveling under the best conditions from England to America took six weeks to six months to reach its destination. 

In 1963, a letter could travel around the world in that same time.

Today, how long would it take to get a message to every country in the world?

No one knows. No one has tried.

Until now…

On Today, Tuesday, April 23rd, make history with Williamsburg Intermediate by sharing our virtual message with everyone you know. Our goal is to spread a message to every country in the world in 24 hours, using social media (including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.) We hope to inspire the world with the knowledge that our little actions can create a wave so big it will spread throughout the entire world. We have created a video with our message that you can view. 

Help us send a positive message that connects humanity and echoes throughout the world! Be part of the Wave!

Visit our website, view our map, leave a comment with your location and share the message!

           

Don’t just watch history; make it! Spread the wave at www.wavetotheworld.org

Stand up, Stay true, Stand out!

Spread the wave!

Be part of history in the making!"

The 24 hours officially ends at 11:30 AM MST on April 24th, so get to it! If you want to see how many countries have already been reached, visit their Tracking the Wave page!

A New Conviction | Guest Post by Erin Mwanje

“Sadly, in our times, we’ve all become inured and desensitized to death and bloody mayhem unfolding on our TV screens almost nightly.”

– Stephen O’Byrnes

A year ago I was completing my final week of grad school in Cambridge, MA, planning an afternoon subway trip to the Boston Marathon. There I would watch runners struggling up “Heartbreak Hill,” a punishing one-mile climb, that precedes the final six miles of the course. It’s an emotional experience, to see men and women who have given days, months, years training, brought to the verge of despair, crying, stumbling, trembling – but pushing on and through. Such passion is inspiring; such discipline is rare.

Last night, polished newscasters spoke of limbs blown free, of bloodied streets and young death. In between advertisements for deodorant and Mazdas, we learned of bombs, explosions and terror. With ire I noticed that the newscaster concluded the story of the marathon with a plastered smile, moving smoothly onto the next news item, the weather.

To be fair, I know she is not responsible for the stories she reports nor the day’s events that guide those stories. But I have a problem with such glossy news for the same reason that I have a problem with the fact that we can go to McDonalds after a rushed 2-hour tour of the Holocaust Museum. Life is worth more than that.

Thoreau told us sagely that “the effect of good government is to make life more valuable,” and I have often thought on his remark. Do our institutions and our actions make life more or less valuable? Do our educations, our jobs and our entertainment make us value life (our own, and others), more or less?

While the acts of perhaps one person changed the lives of hundreds for the worse in many ways at the marathon, do we believe that we can have the same level of impact – but for good? Do we deeply believe that our purposeful actions can have the same degree of consequence, but in the opposite direction?

It is more likely that the days and months ahead will reveal a cohort of evil-minded terrorists behind this latest attack; but that too should increase our conviction that together we can be an immense power for healing and helping. Our united efforts have incredible power to uplift, encourage and strengthen. Equal to, and greater, than those who destroyed so many lives and limbs that day should be our purpose to give our best, to heal, to free. Are we driven with a thirst to share, uplift, and unite with those around us for good?

Let’s make the anniversary of this event one where we can look back and say, “That was the beginning of a new conviction and a new intention; that was the start of stronger ties and kinder words. The world is better and more whole because I am here.” Answer the injuries of the world with an equal measure of passion and discipline. It’s what got the marathoners to the end of the race; and it is what will get us to the end of our lives with purpose and victory.

***

Bio blurb:

Erin Mwanje is the director of Williamsburg Intermediate, a project-based online school. In an effort to spread the message to the world that together we can have world-wide impact for good, the Intermediate Students will attempt the unprecedented – to send a virtual, uplifting wave to the world in 24 hours, on Tuesday April 23. Please join us by visiting wavetotheworld.org to see how you can help!

This Week's Stories

Hey everyone! We've got a couple more stories of how people from all over are taking their very own paths to awesome. 

Fearlesslystaystrong said:
I went and auditioned for my high school choir today! I haven't done a public school choir ever, and I want to get some more experience with singing. A year ago I was really against doing anything public schooled, but now I'm more open to it. I'm really excited, and have been called to call backs. :) Yay!

Abigail Allen said:
One time, I was visiting my friends who lived in Honduras (now they live in Ecuador), and I went to a class to learn Spanish. All the people there spoke Spanish as their first language, and they were not allowed to speak English (by rule of the class), except for the teacher. The idea was that I would pick up the Spanish language by being immersed in a classroom of middle-schoolers speaking nothing but Spanish. Needless to say, I learned the Spanish language perfectly during the 3 weeks I attended class...NOT! I would have flunked if they gave a grade...but I had fun! (now this is the part that relates to making others smile) One day, I noticed that the entire classroom atmosphere was sad, so I decided that I was going to cheer everyone up. I gave myself a challenge, make at least 5 people in my class of 10 (including me) smile, before the hour-long class was up. The first thing I did was I started to smile. Just smiling makes people feel happy, and it worked! I smiled at the girl who was giving a presentation (she looked scared and nervous), and she started to smile! Then, one of the kids started to smile when he saw her smile. Then, other kids began to simultaneously smile! It was the most awesomest thing ever! By the end of the class, I got all 10 people to smile! I far exceeded my goal, and I felt totally invigorated and happy. 

You guys are so inspiring! Stepping out of your comfort zone and sharing smiles are both fantastic ways to live a better story. Keep it up!

Drops of Awesome

Have you ever had one of those weeks when you're so tired of doing school or work (or both) you don't really care whether it's 4 in the morning or 6 in the evening as long as you can find a comfy spot of floor and sleep? Yeah, that was me this week. Finals are coming up and I'm just a little stressed. *cough*

Last Friday I remembered it was Friday...sounds silly, but Friday means it's time to write about what I did to live a better story this week. I thought about it for a few minutes. And a few minutes more. You see, there's this thing called school and it's taking over my life. I couldn't think of any real specific incidences in which I made a conscious effort to live a better story. Blogging can be really dry and boring when you don't have anything to write, so I decided not to write.

Today I thought better of it. Good news is I made a bigger effort over the weekend to live a better story. Sunday night before bed I spent some quality time with my little sister. We did her hair and hung out for a while and talked about anything. It was so simple, but it was a huge deposit on our emotional bank account (for those of you who have read Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People).

So I didn't live the story I wanted to and was even planning to this week. The fact that I couldn't even really think of anything I did to reach out or serve or bring a smile to somebody's face testifies to that. But you know what? There's always today. I took advantage of that great blessing and took a couple more steps down my path to awesome.

Think about it--you're living in an amazing moment right now--amazing because you have the power to choose who you are in that moment. Have you ever read Drops of Awesome from the Daring Young Mom blog? It illustrates this idea of taking each moment as it comes so well! You know, guys, I'm coming to see that there's not really any good reason to be down on ourselves all the time. There's always today.

Guest Post | The Psychological Effects of Implementing Your Very Self Into Your Life: A Discussion

Hi, I’m Nando/Dallin. This is a very awkward post for me to write. I don’t take things seriously. Your pet cockatoo may have been murdered in cold blood and I will have no sympathy. *Shrugs* That’s just how I am. Accurately describing “Being Yourself” is pretty difficult unless you take things seriously. So as you read my words, just keep that in mind.

And this is where I, Simmy/Kimberly, come in. *touching music starts to play* I’m pretty much the complete opposite of dear Nando, so this isn’t quite as awkward for me to write. And if your cockatoo dies, I’ll come to the funeral. Just don’t get me wet with your tears. And for heaven’s sakes go blow your nose on someone else’s shirt. But we’re getting side-tracked. I’m here to keep Nando in line and add some thoughts of my own. Let us continue...  

So...what does it mean to be “yourself?” Well, first we’ve got to define that idea. At first, you might assume that being yourself might imply that you don’t take in any outside influences, that you are not tainted by other sources. This thinking is flawed, however. For instance, at my school I’m well known for many things, but almost all of my major characteristics were taken from elsewhere. For example, my sombrero was stolen from Kid History, Pookie - my wooden spoon sidekick - was an taken straight out of an Internet meme, and my characteristic introductions of my teachers when I turn the time over to them was an idea purely from Scout Camp. But...I’m pretty good at being myself. So what’s up with that? Maybe I’m just a psychopath (he is....) and I want to kill you (he won’t...) so I can steal all your homemade chocolate chip cookies and your precious broccoli oreos...

......I would hide all your cookies and oreos, if I were you.  Jussayin’.  But, I do have to agree with Nando even if he is a psychopath. Being yourself doesn’t mean to hide in a random dark cave like a hermit and shun any and all societal influences.

Hey...don’t dis my social life...

Ah, shut up, kid. Nobody cares where you live. As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, these societal influences actually help shape who we are. Once upon a time, I read “Who Are You and What Are You Doing Here?” by Mark Edmundson. In this essay, he addressed why we even want an education anyway. Why do we read “Blake and Dickinson and Freud and Dickens? ...The best reason to read them is to see if they may know you better than you know yourself.” <---Important right there. He’s saying that if we immerse ourselves in gaining an education, we start to find who we really are. We are shaped by what we let in, either for good or bad. We become our own person. But I really can’t tell you how to “be yourself.” I’m not you. I’m me. I love llamas and dislike facial hair. You may hate llamas and love a scruffy man. I don’t have your brain, your heart or your soul. And you don’t wear a sombrero. What drives me could be completely different than what drives you. So in essence, you have to figure out what makes you tick, what makes run and what....makes you, you.

*Looks up from scarfing down some blackberry pie and hurriedly reads the above paragraph* So...*swallows*...apparently Simmy here has come to a conclusion that the only way to be yourself is to...be what you are. Sound logic. So here’s the deal. In order to be yourself, you need to figure out what you are. So I have a few suggestions to help you.

• If you listen to Justin Bieber in any way: SHUN THE BIEBS. (This goes for any idiotic pop culture singer.) <---- This is where you are allowed to hibernate in previously mentioned creepy hermit cave.
• Take a few really close friends that you know will judge you for who you are - not for what you wear or what music (unless it’s JB) you listen to. Go up into the wilderness. I don’t care if it’s the desert, the mountains, the forest, or the bushes in your backyard. Get away from technology and culture, and just be with your friends. Nature’s legit and apparently magical. Just wait for results. But to accelerate the results...
• Get an education. I don’t mean formal education, although that can assist. I mean education in the sense that you get a knowledge of facts and then formulate opinions about them. That’ll help you, like Simmy said, in your quest to find yourself.
• If you don’t have the friends mentioned above: Toss your current “friends” and get new ones. I’ve learned how important good friends are over the course of my 17 years. (Yes, I’m ancient. No need to stare at the drool pooling in the corner of my mouth.) But seriously, listen up. I’ve had friends that pretended to be best buddies with me, pulled me down, and then tossed me to the side like a smelly left sock. It’s happened too many times for me to count. Because of this, I put up emotional walls. However, I’ve finally found some people who love me for who I am and who motivate me to be a better person. Who cares if I don’t fit the mold? There is no mold to fit. Choose your friends wisely.  In addition to your friends, go talk to your familia! They’re (probably) really awesome - even your parents. Yes, your parents. I know that’s difficult to get into your tiny juvenile brain, but accept it regardless of your personal opinion because you’re WRONG!
• Eat some cookies before I get to ‘em. And hide your pie. ;)

Sometimes, it’s helpful to have a personal motto...or um...battle cry. Basically, it’s something short and sweet...something you can remember...that packs what makes you or who you are into twenty-five words or less. (Mine is, “For Waffles!”) What is my motto? Be prepared for awesomeness: “Be happy. Be you. Be llama.”  See? Short, sweet, to the point and easily memorable. What does it mean?

Be happy-- Well duh. Who doesn’t want to be happy in life? The Grinch doesn’t... Actually, the story ended with his heart growing into a big huge teddy-bear-full-of-joy heart. So there. It wasn’t an improvement. Continue. Anywho...being happy involves smiling. And smiling makes other people happy. (I’m talking about the genuine long-lasting happiness, not the happiness that comes from worldly stuff like buying a new pair of shoes....)

Be you-- This is pretty self-explanatory. It’s what this whole blog post is about. But having this in here reminds me that I don’t have to fit a “mold” other people set for me. I definitely want to take their ideas to help shape me into a better person, but they can’t force me to be who they want me to be.

Be llama-- This ties in with being me. If I didn’t have an obsession with llamas, I wouldn’t be me. It’s like trying to imagine Nando without his sombrero.

In conclusion...should we bring this to a close? This has kinda been droning on and on and on and on and on...

SO. Our thesis:

Be Happy. Be You. Be Llama. Get good friends. Trust your family. Get an education. In other words, if you’re not yourself, become yourself.

Actually, the rest of this post kind of drones on and on and on and doesn’t really say anything. In fact, you should definitely stop reading it right now. I mean it, stop reading. If you read this last sentence, I hate you. Ah, get a life, Nando. If they even make it to the end, then I applaud them. You have a point.

NOW BEGONE AND DO GOOD WORKS! And embrace your inner llama.

~Fernando the Zombie Slayer

Simmy and llama <3

***

Bio Blurb

Fernando the Zombie Slayer is the stuff of legend. When he’s not slaying zombies and cackling like a madman while dancing on their remains, he enjoys polishing his Civil War Confederate cavalry sword, crooning lullabies to Pookie, stalking his fellow classmates and taking advantage of Simmy’s gullibility. Nando currently resides in a hermit cave in northern California where he is making plans to take over the universe and force everyone to worship waffles.  Otherwise, he is a darling child who will sweep off his sombrero and dance to a Spanish love song on request.

Simmy is famous for not keeping her mouth shut when she should. Known as “The Master of Llamas,” she would willingly participate in any sort of activity that regards the fuzzy beast from Peru as holy - including dancing like a complete nincompoop. She abhors facial hair, considering it the bane of her existence. She considers it her life work to embarrass herself and all she is acquainted with, which gives her aura of llamaness an interesting twist. She lives in Utah - without a llama, unfortunately. Her hobby is getting involved in silly teenage romantic relationships.

Do you want my email at this point? Sorry, you creepy stalkers.  Get a life or go die. .

Or else...we’ll return the generous favor and find you. :)

If you really want to contact them, leave a comment below and they'll get back to you. :)