Life in the Grey.

I never want to be a person who isn't willing to view the world outside of myself. There's so much to learn and experience out there... and I refuse to let close-mindedness be the iron fist that rules.

There are so many different lifestyles... so many view points... so many ways of doing things and seeing things... and I want to understand them all. Real life is lived in the grey. Rarely do we find ourselves among the black and white absolutes. Don't misunderstand... there are sure absolutes in this world that I live my life upon. But let us not get confused that everything is so sure and concrete. Many things are not. And we have the opportunity to discover life in a new way when we take the time to dig deeper and think differently than what we are so often used to.

The next time you see something and you think it is wrong, before passing judgement... I dare you to ask why. Don't ever except something just because its what you're used to. Test everything. Understand the meaning behind what you are afraid of. Dig to the heart of the action or the belief. Because what you find there... may surprise you. It may have the power to encourage... to inspire beauty... to uncover real life in the deepest sense.

And so I do.. And I dare you too.. don't settle just for what you know... keep asking why.

A Whole New World

Remember?

It was a beautiful night and you were standing on your balcony. Raja was providing you the comfort and space to confess your dissatisfaction with life. You want more. You dream for more. You're ready for what this world really has to offer...

And then suddenly he sweeps you up on his magic carpet, taking you wonder by wonder, sideways and under. Soaring. Tumbling. Freewheeling.... and you sing.

Ok, wait... that wasn't actually you. It was Jasmine. And Aladdin wooed her. And they fell in love and the rest was history! An epic fairy tail ending unlike any other! *Sigh.*

When I was little I remember how my brother would pretend to be Aladdin, sword fighting his way through the market and escaping capture by mere inches! And who was I? Jasmine, the princess who fell in love with her love and with life. *Sigh.*

And then - sadly - reality hit sometime in my pre-adolescent past and it was made known that no, I'm not actually Jasmine. And no, my prince will not sweep me up on his magic carpet and reveal the wonders waiting for me in this world.

But...

I was told today that... yes, indeed... my voice sounds just like Jasmine's!

So, ha! If I sound like Jasmine, then why can't I be Jasmine? Besides, I already have a Raja in Roscoe.

See the similarity?? Yep yep... I'm already on my way.

Lopsided

I had a soccer game yesterday. We won 4-2 of course... because we ALWAYS win. No joke. Seriously. And because we win, the Nasties were promoted to Division 2 of our league for Winter season. Oh, and just to put that in perspective for you... there are over 12 Divisions in our league with between A-C brackets per Division. So, we're really getting up there. In fact, Seattle Co-Rec has decided to do an article about our team and put it in next seasons newsletter. Yep! My team will officially be celebrities in about 3 months. So crazy if you ask me... they even took our team picture last night before our game. Kinda strange... even cooler.

Ok, but really, this post isn't even supposed to be about that... its supposed to be about my lopsided head. Yep, I know it sounds crazy and strange... but right now I have a perturbing bump on the left side of my head... and it hurts. In fact, I can't NOT feel it regardless of what I do. I feel it when I swallow, when I smile, when I lift my eyebrows... it even throbs when I sit still. Yep, this bump is pretty dang significant.

But it was totally worth it. You see, I was going for a header during my game last night. It just so happens that an opposing player on the other team was too... and yep, you got it right... our heads collided mid-air... and since I was the smaller between us, I went tumbling down. Rolled a little bit. And felt the bump literally begin to GROW in seconds. Crazy. At first I thought perhaps I got a concussion because it really threw me off and initially made me really confused. But then I tried counting by fives and could do it, so decided I didn't have one. And I don't.

All I have is an extremely lopsided head that throbs regardless of what I do.

But it was for the win people. Sacrifice. And therefore, I can't help but be a little proud.

And so the Nasties continue being undefeated this Winter season. Champions people. That's what we're going for here. All the way.

Simply Beautiful

Pandora recently got me hooked on this song. I just think its beautiful. The video is really kinda cheesy, but check it out for the song and the music. The ending is especially beautiful.