Why Not . . .

Why not . . .
plant flowers in your yard
learn a second language
GET UP AND DANCE
go on a road trip
climb a tree
laugh when you fall.

So what
if your flowers die
at least you gave them a chance.

So what
if your accent is off
you gained KNOWLEDGE.

So what
if someone laughs at you
laugh at them for standing still.

So what
if your car breaks down
you will get it started eventually.

So what
if you fall
pain is only temporary.

Why not throw away limitations?
And fear and shyness
and self-consciousness
and replace them with knowledge
and do not neglect having FUN!

What If . . .

What if . . .
Everyone desired to be the source of profound change.
All people wanted to educate
Instead of hate one another.
Others shared a passion
To clean the world of litter and prejudice.
To eliminate class and borders
Because poverty and sickness
Have no borders.
If only we would make ignorance our adversary-
Not our fellow human beings.
Embrace idealism
In place of pessimism.
Rethink tradition
And annihilate the obsolete,
Trite routine.
What if we showed compassion
In place of contempt.

"But I Can't Live Without Him" . . . A post on attachment

Have you ever seen a young woman so distraught with grief because her boyfriend has dumped her? Have you ever witnessed an intelligent teenager become irritable because he cannot play his favourite video game at the moment? I see situations of this sort all the time at my high school and elsewhere. In almost every case of suffering, attachment can be found at the source. Attachment takes many forms: attachment to a person, to a treasured item, even to something as essential as clothing or food. All forms are equally destructive. If one cannot train himself to let go of everything he holds close, then he will always be enslaved to possession. If he does not prepare himself to give up everything he fears to loose, then he will never truly be free.

Three Cheers For First Postings!

Ahh . . . the first post on a virgin blog. What to talk about? I created this blog at school for use in the VIRTUAL WRITING CENTER. Its great to finally be doing something meaningful in the American Educational System. One of my causes is education reformation, so expect for me to rant about the poor quality of school systems in the U.S. quite often. It is beyond me how anyone growing up in an industrialized country can graduate from high school without the ability to comprehend adult level reading or basic math. I came across a startling piece of information the other day- more than 20 percent of adults read at or below a fifth grade level. FIFTH GRADE! Let us comprehend that for a moment. Fifth graders are usually around ten or eleven years of age.

There I go again ranting about education. I am so predictable.