uncertainty breeds fear
the unknown
makes you question
what’s the right thing
to do
when you’re not given
accurate information
or it’s being withheld
anxiety sets in
should i stay
or go
what would keep me
safe
over two weeks of
isolation
no end in sight
loneliness
a new way of life
the need
for human contact
growing stronger each day
all i need is
a hug
Today was a perfect day. I need more days like this.
Morning slicing
No rush
Sunny and breezy
The wind in my hair
Ninety minutes of stretching and kneading
Melting into a Thai massage induced coma
A short walk through the familiar neighborhood
My favorite Penang curry by the lake
A bit too spicy this time,
But still delicious
Quick stop for some Thai snacks
Before heading to the pool
Water the perfect temperature for lounging
And catching up with not one,
But two friends
Sunkissed, heading back as the sun set
Showered and in our pj’s
Pizza, laughs, and Netflix
The perfect end to
A perfect day
It’s that time of the year where the stress has built up. It’s been almost 12 weeks since we came back from Christmas break, and we are all in need of a holiday. After school, I was frustrated. My typical response to frustration or a stressful day would be to come home, stew about it, veg out on the couch watching Netflix and eating junk food, feeling sorry for myself. But today I chose a different response. I chose to honor my commitment to the gym despite feeling cruddy.
grumpiness started
to make itself at home
the chocolate chip cookie
doing little
to stave off the feeling of frustration
dreams of the couch
coming to my rescue
played in my head
but I have an appointment
do I cancel? or do I go?
begrudgingly i went
convinced I’d do my thirty minutes
and leave
the beat started off slow
then sped up
motivating me to row
faster than normal
picking up speed
with each passing minute
endorphins taking over
the stress started to thaw
my training session
over too fast
but i was ready
for more
Months of preparation
Countless hours of rehearsals
Making sure everything is just right
Stress and worry taking its toll
Will they remember their lines?
Will they get the timings right?
Will the audience be impressed?
Performance day is finally here
Sweating and pacing as the audience arrives
Did I remember to put deodorant on today?
Finding my seat, it’s time to begin
With each performance, my shoulders relax a bit more
All that practice was worth it
Everyone is doing their best
The audience seems to like it
The finale is up next
Will they pull it off?
This was always the shakiest part in rehearsals
They did it!
The audience is clapping and cheering
We all breathe a huge sigh of relief
It’s over
We made it
Happy and smiling after the show. Parents were so impressed and excited about the students’ performance today!
As an avid traveler, photography is one of my budding hobbies. I haven’t taken a class (I probably should ) and I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I try. That’s what counts, right? 🙂 Today, as I swiped through the photos I’ve taken so far on my trip, I’ve been thinking about me as a photographer.
At first
center it
point and click
snap, snap, snap
quantity over quality
Through the years
I’ve evolved
no longer
am I satisfied
with mediocre
Now my photos
have to
tell a story
make the viewer
wonder and
question
The focus now
is less
on the famous
or touristy
and more
on the ordinary
Catching glimpses of
everyday life
made interesting
by the angle
the framing
and the focus
Color and
lines
grab my eye
intriguing me
enticing me
to take the shot
The goal to
get the perfect shot
the right angle
subjects in and
out of focus
framing it just so
better than editing later
More concerned with
quality over quantity now
many shots
don’t make the cut
but the ones
that do
are just right
Here are a few of my favorite shots:
One more day
just one
until
Spring Break is here
The words
that make
every teacher
around the world
jump for joy
do a little jig
high five everyone they see
One more day
just one
until
I’m packing my bags
carefully selecting the
perfect outfits
for my two trips-
one for work and
one for play
One more day
just one
until
the weight of the
term is lifted
just for a bit
and I can breathe a
sigh of relief
Just over a day
until
I’m boarding the plane
for country number
thirty-six
Singapore
here I come
in just
one more day
This is my second attempt at a What I Believe poem. My first is here.
I believe kindness always wins.
I believe people change and grow– sometimes together, sometimes apart. Both are okay.
I believe we have to be our own biggest cheerleader.
I believe our words reveal who we are inside.
I believe everyone should travel to a new place alone– at least once in their lifetime.
I believe a home-cooked meal is love.
I believe we are all a little too hard on ourselves.
I believe everyone is a writer, but many of us just don’t know it yet.
I believe eating plants gives us energy.
I believe I wasn’t meant to live life in one place.
I believe in saying thank you.
I believe in finding someone who complements us rather than completes us– we need to be whole on our own.
I believe in hard work.
I believe disconnecting is good for the soul.
I believe in doing what makes your heart happy.
I believe in taking risks– we don’t grow in our comfort zones.
I believe in second chances.
I believe a beach, a good book, and no agenda make for a perfect day.
I believe we learn from kids more than they learn from us.
I believe in saying sorry when we mess up.
I believe everyone should keep a writer’s notebook to capture their thoughts– you’ll thank yourself one day.
I believe we all have slumps, but we can’t allow ourselves to stay there forever.
I believe listening– truly listening to someone– is a lost art, and if you find someone who does, you should hold onto them.
I believe smoothie bowls are life.
I believe in investing in your own health.
I believe how people react to situations says more about how they’re feeling than anything else.
I believe everyone is beautiful– it’s our job to find their beauty rather than their flaws.
I believe you don’t truly appreciate your family until you’re older.
I believe in making people laugh.
I believe telling our stories is how we share our lives with one another.
innovation. inspiration. education.
Fearless cooking from a tiny NYC kitchen.
We have the perfect words. Write when you need them. www.carlambrown.com
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