Park Benches

It is not a rare occurrence that I see a park bench that, instead of being freshly stained and sanded, is littered with names. The former is a bench that I would expect to find in a private garden -- surrounded by roses, a place where women in sundresses would place themselves to chat. It, the garden bench, is a scene of serenity. The latter, though no longer pristine and guest-worthy, is intriguing. Once as nice as the garden bench, this bench is a relied upon place of rest, and, going above and beyond its duties as a bench, it has become a proof of existence.

You see, the latter has met hundreds, maybe thousands, of people. It is riddled with names: “Ethan,” “Mary,” “Glenn,” “Rachel.” Along with the names are initials, often equations that are equivalent to love: “B.E.L.,” “A+C.” There are so many there is no room for me to fit my own, and it is crude lettering -- gouges and scratches that are an uneven pattern beneath my fingertips. I do not know any of these people, but there is a connection between myself and them. We have been at the same place; that is what makes the bench such an intrigue. Although some may look upon the bench with disgust and call it vandalism, I would call it beautiful The names have transformed the bench into something more than just a bench. It resembles the existence of individuals and the memories that they made. To me, it is a piece of romance.

The Canyon

I want to sit on the edge of the canyon
And let my feet dangle over the edge
Gaze at tis wonders forever
And never leave the ledge

I want to see all the crests and all the valleys
All the highs and lows its been through
See the colors change beneath the sun's rays
And experience the secne's new hue

But if I sat on the same ledge forever
And never wandered to see the depths
My heart would always yearn and wonder
What secrets it has kept

My heart is alike to the canyon
Where shadows echo the sky
Where a call for adventure is always lurking
And the mystery rate is high

I can dream of far off places
And the mysteries they hold
But none will hold more secrets
Than my very own heart untold

Passion

Passion is deadly. Confidence is rare. Greatness is obsolete.

I ought to know because I describe myself as passionate and confident, and aspire to greatness.

Some nights I lie in my bed, unable to sleep. I can feel something stirring within me; it starts at my core and works throughout my entire being. It is like adrenaline; it causes my heart to beat faster. With every heartbeat I can feel my desire for life growing stronger, seizing me. I want to change the world. I want to be remembered; I want a great legacy. As my mind whirls with world-changing possibilities my heart beats faster and my breaths come quicker.There is no escaping this rush; I get high on passion. You see, passion is not a strong interest. Passion is not comparable or equal to an obsession. Passion is captivating. It is the gleam my sister sees in my eyes; it is what motivates my life; it is the contagious spark for life, and it enables the ability to truly live.

But passion is deadly. Nothing kills passion like failure, or prospective failure. All it takes is one disheartening comment, a pinprick, to shatter dreams. Who would do such a thing? The insecure. The jealous. Those who have given up. The insecure were once passionate, but perpetual doubt held them back from success. What they viewed as personal failure grew to jealousy; they wanted to change the world, and they do not see the change. They gave up, and do not see how anyone could have a different outcome than they did. They are the pinprick that kills passion. The pinprick that kills the life. The individual that kills dreams commits a greater murder than a serial killer, for they have just killed the passion for life.

If it is passion that motivates life, great amounts will be needed. Do not let passion die; add fuel to the flame; help it grow. It will not disappoint.

(Essays on confidence and greatness coming in the near future.)

Difficult Days

Before reading this I recommend that you watch these two links:

A Speech by Martin Luther King Jr:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvHghWudXz4

A Song by Eminem (this is a rap song):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmXumtgwtak

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We've got some difficult days ahead

We've got some terrifying days

Got some lonely days

Where we’re going to tread

You have a whole life of one chance

To change the world

So you better not carpe diem.

Seize the moment -- that’s your only chance.

The moment, don’t ever lose track.

We've lost enough time already

We’re walking, but we have to sprint

We can’t get that lost time back

We can’t afford to run -- even that’s too slow

We need wings.

And we think these days are hard.

I've been on the mountain -- we’re gonna go low

Do you hear me?

We’re lagging

This world is suffocating itself

We may be the last chance, the only plea

More than a cry

A shout in the dark

A high, shrill shriek that will make heads turn

It’s worth more than a try

It’s worth all the life you can offer

To save a few lives, maybe the whole world

To make an impact, leave a legacy

This is the offer

Give all of yourself and never look back

It may not sound too promising

But this is a once in a lifetime chance

Besides you can’t go back to your past

Now or never

This is the choice you've got

Change the world now

Or hold your peace forever

We've got some difficult days ahead

But let’s change this place

I can’t live life in a world like this forever

It’s up to us to make the mend

We've got some difficult days ahead.