The most radical thing you can do in this world, in this era of paranoia and hate, is to love without frontiers. When you love with a passion that defies logic, that is stoic and steadfast, the changes are far reaching and profound. So be a radical and radicalize others - we are a social species born to love and be loved. Love people of other races and use language that shows you love how they are, who they are, their culture and way of life. It is a psychological hug, a way to show what you truly see when your heart is your eyes. Tolerance is for idiots, love is smart.
"Oh ho!" he said, "Royalty? We did away with that long ago! We have our academics and respected thinkers 'in residence' so to speak. If they wish to serve the nation for the rest of their lives they give us their wisdom freely and in return they have one of the 'idea village' cottages for life. We feed them and such. They live in comfortable modesty, free to think, to do research, to write whatever they please. Usually we recruit them in middle age, some younger, some older at times. It's the inverted triangle model, service and love as our greatest good. Tell me, Alex, when you get back to your time, what will you do?"
I feel this blackness come over me. Like a blanket, but not a blanket of warmth but a blanket of coldness making me shiver. But somehow it's making my eyes feel heavier and heavier. I finally close my eyes finally sending me into a dreamless sleep.
I sit still on my chair, with no strength to move. My shaky fingers finally come to stop after running restlessly through my messed up hair. I bite down on my lip trying not to burst into tears. This not going to help, it's not going to change anything. I know anyone would laugh at it if they were present here right now. I know there's nothing to feel so despair over a C in a mock test which is supposed to be just for practise. My heart still won't stop racing fast, forcing tears to roll down my face.
I crumple the test paper in my fist and throw it away with all my strength. I shout curses at it, and finally let out my tears. How do you take something not to be a big deal when it is one? Do you just act alright because people would think you are over-reacting? My grades have been the only thing that made me visible, and it even made me 'Miss Popular' at least on exam days. Now I am here with a C, just one small letter written in red ink to send me back to being a nobody, a girl not even good enough to be a 'nerd'.
The smell of disinfectant awakened memories long forgotten, echos of those long ago hospital visits jarred her mind. Suddenly being forced to swim once more in the tide waters of the past, she walked down the corridor with attitude of a soldier returning to the battlefield.
The town was a maze of narrow winding streets, as complex as the heart. The streets were the veins, paved with dark red stones, and the people were the blood. The sound of the smiths, beating swords and breastplates into shape, was the consistent and dull pounding that let you know the town was alive.
Imagine a light source within a diamond of pure clarity, one light, one source... forming a kaleidoscope of dancing rainbows. We are the same, souls from one source of love that shines through us to make our individuality. Our uniqueness growing in beauty as we follow and hone our gifts. Divergence is strength and we are the diamonds, born to shine as stars.
Isn’t it funny, that if I had made a different decision I wouldn’t be here now? If I had put a different answer on that sheet, my fate would’ve been written in different ink. Because if I was sat here in a different universe, without you by my side, I would have never become complete.
Everyone thinks car insurance is a sensible expense and self care isn't. If I ride a bike and get a monthly massage I take care of myself and the environment and spend way less. It's car vs care.
The sun, that daughter of the sky, once again took her rightful place on the horizon. She let her rays cascade onto the world, bringing the scene into full view, adjusting the brightness and contrast.
You've got what it takes. The greatest leaders in history had great big hearts such as yours, but they were realists too. They could use cold logic up against the worst of sociopaths, against those whom only crave money and power. Then, in a twinkle of an eye they are the beloved spirit of goodness everyone trusted and adored. Motives matter. Integrity and intention is everything. That you can dismiss intention to see the basic motives of the primitive brain, then layer on top the angelic motivations, control the former an encourage the latter, there's your true power. It's the power of love and all will fall before it because they want to. They want you to bring an orderly world of love and peace. So, be a hero, lead on.
Jack o'lanterns line the street. Some appear shocked, others are puking out their seeds and orange sinewy threads, some are carved like cats or rabbits. They are as varied as the imaginations of their carvers and no two are exactly alike. They glow in the Halloween night as greetings to the costumed children who skitter from house to house to rap on the door and declare their festive ultimatum with gleeful voices. When the candy runs out the candles are extinguished and the jack o'lanterns sit glum and silent, destined for the compost. But their memory lives on in the hearts of the children who will draw them at school and describe them in their writing journals.