Stop & Think

You walk past him everyday but think nothing of it. Why? Because you're not him? Because he doesn't pertain to your life?

Because you don't think he pertains to your life?

An observation can be a slight glance. It's not until you really acknowledge something, that it becomes a story... 

So who is this person? 

Maybe he doesn't yet know who he is either. Perhaps he does and he's perfectly content with it. Or maybe he's afraid of who he is and hopes you're not complexly trying to figure him out.


Everyone comes from a unique background and no two lives are identical, no matter how closely they are related. 

So when you continue to ignore and walk past the same person time and time again, maybe consider what their story is.



--Stevie

BOLD

She took a risk. 

Jen walked into that church full of college students and sat down...alone. Already afraid and uncomfortable, she argued with herself whether to stay or to take the easy road and leave the church and her nervousness behind.

"Hey! I'm Kelly. Do you want to come sit with my friends and me?"

Suddenly her face lit up and her fears fled. 

Because of Jen's boldness to take a risk and walk into a positive unknown and thanks to Kelly's  boldness for reaching out to her, Jen's life was changed forever.

Be bold... 

Even if it seems scary.



--Stevie

More Than Just Sweat

His feet slam the pavement as his stress balls up in liquid form and roles off his powerful body, left behind him forever. The burn marks from painful words begin to heal and erase with each step. The fear of inadequacy has lost its grip because each hard breath builds his mind stronger. The frustration from life that squeezed itself into his muscles begins its journey out and away from its victim, for now the victim has become the survivor.

The dim echo of cheering whispers in his ear. It builds as he rounds the last kilometer; finish line in sight. His gifted body carries him to the end as the crowd cheers louder and louder.

Running; some do it for fitness, some do it for everything else.

--Stevie

Fallen Half

Joy sat in the pew staring apathetically at the coffin that caressed her grandma. When she first received the apologetic news, she felt overwhelming angst to the point that she was inconsolable. 

            Joy was absolutely enamored with her grandma ever since she was born. As a baby when she would cry, her grandma would rock her in her red wooden rocking chair so passionately that she would fall asleep every time.  

            Joy felt jaded and powerless to carry on without her grandma; her other half. The only thing that pulled her through each day was the memories of her grandma she had repeating in her mind. 

Her beautiful grandma was always bubbly and joyous no matter the circumstances. Her embarrassed smile could be mistaken to be lewd when she blushed after doing something facetious. Her candid personality caused her to be a little credulous at times, but it was always with the best intentions. 

Since her grandma’s passing, Joy has simply been going through the motions of life. She hasn’t been bellicose but she has been easily annoyed. At times when she used to get excited and loudly express it, she now seems to be introverted instead. 

Who can blame her? A grandmother to one person can be just a grandmother. To Joy, a grandmother was a best friend.

 



--Stevie

Wooded Whispers

She runs along the dark wooded road. Her breath crystallizing as she quickly inhales and exhales.

What are you chasing?

The wind runs its fingers through her loose hair that is just as dark as the night sky; her eyes glistening as bright as the stars above her.

Her feet come to an abrupt halt.

Don't do this to yourself.

She whips her head around quickly, looking into the thick wooded trees surrounding her, her heart painfully pounding. Helpless and afraid, she falls to her knees and cups her head in her hands. "Please don't leave me," she whispers. The words nearly write themselves out in her breath.

Her heart feels heavy and her body is paralysed with unsure emotion.

I won't let you give up.

She completely lies down in the dirt on the side of the gravel road. Her eyes drift from one star to the next. Her heart slows down, beating every...so...often...She filters the dirt through her fingers, feeling how infinitesimal each granule is. She feels just as small, compared to the universe above her.

Tears accrue in her starry eyes and begin to escape down the sides of her face.

She closes her eyes and allows the tears to slide down one by one as the dry dirt beneath her head imbibes the pure liquid in a quick fashion.

A soft thumb brushes the side of her face, wiping away the moist streak her tears left. She frantically opens her eyes and sits ups. But no one is physically there.

A moment that should have panicked her, feels calm and comforting. The thumb she felt wipe her face was strong, yet gentler than anything she's ever experienced.

You know that I am with you.

Slowing standing to her feet, she looks back up towards the stars, clasping her hands together and pressing them against her heart. "Thank you," she whispers.




--Stevie

What are Boyfriends Good For?

What are boyfriends really good for?

Pretending to listen to you?
 Scattering their stuff all over your room?
"Jokingly" calling your small dog a rat?
Grabbing at their manhood as to check to see if all are accounted for? Awkward.

With boyfriends come quirks that aren't always appeasing. So remind me why we love our boyfriends so dearly?

Oh, that's right! This is why:

Where I live, the weather changes faster than a pregnant woman's hormones. The morning will be sunny and beautiful and in two hours it looks like an apocalypse is beginning.

So when I witnessed a boyfriend piggy backing his girlfriend to the car after class, in order to rescue her cute shoes from the flooded ground, I instantly remembered why boyfriends are so great.

Boyfriends are good for:

Holding your purse even when he's in front of all his buds.
Making you feel beautiful when you feel the ugliest.
Surprising you with flowers when it's...why?...oh yeah, no reason at all.
Sitting patiently in front of the mirror with you while you curl your hair.
Going on midnight walks with you when you're stressed and need to clear your head.
Reminding you that you're not alone in this scary world.
                                and of course,
Carrying you through the rain so your shoes don't get wet.


So thank you boyfriends, for being our best friends.

 
 
 
--Stevie

Those Old Students

Being a college student, I see a lot of different types of people. The students at my university are from different walks of life. They have different cultures, different backgrounds, and a lot of us are different ages. One of the strangest things to me when I began college, was having an old guy in my class. In reality, there are almost as many adult students on campus as there are younger students.

One adult student that sticks out to me the most is an older guy who I walk past every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning. He sits at the same table with the same diligent look on his face, as he scrambles through his papers that he has spread out all over the place.

I used to think adult students were crazy for coming back to school, but in reality, most of them don't come back by choice. I'm sure some might, if they're bored enough and have the money. 

Have you ever taken the time to think of reasons why these adults who have had careers, families, and major life experiences, come back to college?

Perhaps, this man I see has had the same successful career for over a decade. A new supervisor has just been hired; young and in charge. The new supervisor may decide that a higher degree is required for the position this man holds. No longer is this man viewed as doing his job well but he is now looked at by what degree he holds.

Here he is, in his mid fifties I'd say, stressing over exams and research papers. He hasn't been a student in over 30 years and times sure have changed. He doesn't only have to learn about the everyday assignments in class but he has to relearn how to be a student. 

He probably questions himself daily if going back to school is worth it. I'm sure he easily qualifies for many other jobs. But he has situated himself in a career! A career where his co-workers are now friends and his daily tasks are his passion. So, re-struggling through college to save a career that he has already earned, is worth it to him. 

For some younger students, I understand when those old people are in class and they ask a million questions, that it could get annoying. Try to put yourself in their shoes. It must be uncomfortable to be in a room with people half your age and still feel less intelligent than them. As a grown adult, they are back in a situation that scares them to death...

This man that I see, studying his heart out, is probably doing it for more than just himself. Saving his career would mean continuing to provide for his family. It's not just him studying, it's his wife, his kids, his grand kids, and let's throw his pets in there too. 


But, then again, he could just be bored and need something to do...




 --Stevie