BE INSPI(RED) : Words of Hope and Courage

Introduction

If you ever doubt the power of language,

listen more closely.

Witness the magic the first time someone whispers "I love you."

Watch a woman put on headphones,

close her eyes, and have her life changed

by a lyric.

See a bad moment flipped upside down

by a well-timed joke.

Words propel us, empower us, make us human...

and more than human.

We constantly struggle to say what we mean

and mean what we say.

To "wrestle with words and meanings."

That's what T.S. Eliot calls it.

But as we whisper and shout, stutter and spin,

we create order out of the chaos around us.

We are built of words, and we live by them, too.

This book is about a few of our favorites.

* * *

The intro above is from a little book I found a year or so ago at Hallmark; BE INSPI(RED): Words of Hope and Courage. Let me tell you, it is quite the treasure trove of inspiration.The writers took what they called "red" words and wrote a few insightful lines for each one.

(Note: Assuming you're wondering what "red" words are... the book was produced by Product (RED) in partnership with Hallmark. If you've never heard about (Red) before, you can check it out here. But in all honesty, Bono - along with several other icons and huge companies - endorses it so if you haven't heard of it... well, nevermind.)

Every now and then I intend to post a word or two when things get a bit slow on the blog just to keep some creative juices flowing. I posted the intro because... well it just seemed fitting to do so, I guess. It also could have been that I love the intro and felt the desire to share it... Now you don't know what to think, do you?

Anyway...

In hopes that you can get a taste of why I love this book:

Ca(red)

There is love embedded in the subtle simplicity of every day.

Don't overlook its gentle magic.

Its life's gift. Take it.

Let it charm you.

A cautionary tale . . .

We need to remember that we are blogging at school---or at home for school purposes---when we post to the Jeniuses, the Spektors, the Mutts, or any of the English 10 blogs, so we have to abide by all AUP guidelines.

I can't help noticing that some of our more avid posters have begun to overlap their school identities and their private identities. Sometimes this is OK, but I noticed that a few of the followers have some pretty sketchily-named blogs on their lists of other blogs they follow, and I need you to correct this.

If a blog has a name you can't say at school, you can't tell us you follow it on a school blog.

Please---check your lists and make the necessary adjustments.

And please---don't let this dampen your enthusiasm for all things blog and web 2.0 that many of you have only so recently begun creating---just let's keep it all school at school.

My Wonderful Wandering Mind

My eyes are tiring fast. My focus is completely gone. I look up from my book, just for a minute. It is never only a minute. After an hour of waiting for Dr. Scott, I begin to hallucinate.

A doctor bursts through the door on the other side of the lobby. There is sweat on his brow. Behind his moon shaped spectacles is a look of terror. A sudden crash echoes out of the room he just left. He jumps, startled, and keeps looking behind him. It appears he was the only one to notice, besides me of course. His lips move slower and slower every time I replay the sequence in my head. I've seen more than enough horror films to know he's mouthing out, "zombie". Then he smiles and puts on his dark trench coat, making his way to the exit.

A man stumbles into the lobby after the doctor leaves. He is shorter, unshaven, shifty eyed, and very shady. The shadiness comes from the black sweatshirt he's wearing with the hood pulled over his head. He takes the seat right across from us. I shift around uncomfortably in my seat, checking my back pocket to make sure my wallet is secure. He's eyeing my mom's purse. Awkwardly I slide it farther back in the seat, closer to us. Then a couple of toddlers charge through the entrance door and sprint to their dad. The man smiles as the kids start climbing all over him. A pretty lady walks in after the children and takes the seat beside the man, scowling at the kids.

A nurse speaks in an inaudible tone. A tiny smirk appears. The lobby suddenly erupts with laughter. Tears are pouring out of the faces of her audience. Somebody suggests she start a career in standup. Elated by the confidence her loving fans show in her, she decides to pack her bags and move to L.A.. This does not end happily ever after, as she discovers the comedy business is tough work. Humiliated, ashamed, and pessimistic, she decides to open up a pet store. But for today she is a big fish in a small pond.

Then I look at my family. My brother and mother are so focused on their books. I wonder what people think of us. Perhaps my mother is a crazed bibliophile. Our house is filled to the gills with books. The children are forced to read or they do not eat. Our family is on the America's Most Wanted lists for armed robbery of the Library of Congress. They pray to God the doctor will not call us before we are finished with this chapter.

At last our name is called from the nurse's desk. Another patient gives me a "look" as I walk toward the swinging doors. People are weird.

2nd Semester . . . I can't believe it myself

Hi, Jeniuses!!

Well, it's that time of year again. Time to look back, to reflect, to recommit ourselves to going forward to greatness. To bid a fond farewell to mediocrity and complacency and a big fat hello stranger to fabulousness!!! Oh wait---we already know fabulousness, and we don't even hang out with mediocrity anymore. I got confused there for a second.

We now have four, count 'em, four brand new bright shiny creative writers to call our very own. Say hello to the 11th period Creative Writing class---they are the Writing Mutts!!!! Show 'em some respect all up in their blog space!!!

With more foresight, I might have included a picture of the Mutts---they're way better looking than us, though, so maybe I had the right idea after all.

More soon,

KR

Worth More Than Diamonds.

white frosty crystals,

fall from the sky,

dancing in the chilled air,

sparkling in the moonlight.

a brilliant new garment,

one beyond any price,

has been drapped over the earth.

who will appreciate its beauty?

who will marvel at its elegance?

even the stars are envious.

for the earth now shines and sparkles,

like they have always done.

white frosty crystalls,

continue to descend upon the earth.

each one different from the next.

each one bringing something new.

a thought.

an idea.

inspiration.

wonder.

surely they are more precious than diamonds.

i would think we would proudly claim them as our own...

if we could.

Sorry, But I Will Probably Never Be Rich.

"So, what do you want to do with your life?"
I rattle off a vague yet ambitious sort of answer that I know they won't expect, adding an "I'm not really sure, though." for good measure.
"Oh, well that's... interesting."they reply.
"Mmhmm." Their lack of interest is apparently infectious.
"Do you really think that's going to work out for you?"
I see the somewhat shocked and semi-concerned look in their face. It makes me want to laugh. And so I smile and say "I have no idea. But I guess I'll find out soon enough."
"Oh." This conversation has not turned out like they expected to.

It's funny how people are so skeptical of or confused by others dreams.

Maybe they're scared of risks; of not being secure.
Maybe they don't think it's "realistic".
Maybe they limit themselves to what's comfortable; not stepping out of their comfort zone.
Maybe they've failed and never had the courage to try again.
Maybe they wish they would've went after their own dreams.
Maybe they resent not having the same opportunities anymore.
Maybe they don't understand that not everyone lives for money.
Maybe they don't know how to fully appreciate the beauty in life.
Maybe they think too much.

Whatever the real reason may be,
I hope it's not a crime,
to live and laugh and love and hope;
to dream of a fuller life.

Getting it Done

They say many hands make light work.

So I resurrect my cowboy outfit from 1997

Equipped with a hat, revolver, and lasso,

And I set out in search of a work force.

It's sometimes easier to hogtie people.

And when the rope ran out, I used a shepherd's hook,

And when the hook broke, I cast out a giant net,

And when the net tore, I dug a tiger pit.

And when the pit was revealed, I baked cookies.

You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

My group now, of the most tenacious men,

Of the most gargantuan, stalwart guys on Earth.

They're like two-eyed cyclops, towering tremendously

Over elephants and whales, who tremble.

And I their leader, the most magnificent of all.

And so when you need a job done,

You have to get the right people,

And to get the right people

You have to use the right force.

For the right force, try cookies.

courtesy of the youtube.