NULC

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. -Nelson Mandela

Reader, I have a confession to make:

I believe this quote with all of my heart.

And yet...

There have been times when I lost faith and found my passion and big dreams too heavy on my heart. My eyes became shielded from the sun, and my gaze had fallen.

I told myself there was no shame in being normal, mediocre. It was ok to settle.

Settling. What a horrible word. What a horrible concept. What a horrible way to live!

But today reader I dare to dream big! I dare to defy defeat! I dare to stick a fork in the face of my fears!

You see reader I received the following encouragement from the National Undergraduate Literature Conference:

February 18, 2010

Dear Applicant:

Congratulations! You have been selected to present your submission at the 25^th annual National Undergraduate Literature Conference. Your work is among the finest submitted to us by undergraduate students from every state in the nation, and we enthusiastically congratulate you on your achievement as a writer.

They called me a writer.

They want to hear my ideas.

They are congratulating me.

And perhaps they too see my potential.

Success to me is living a life filled with passionate pursuits. It means setting goals and then reaching them. It means always progressing and never settling. It means never getting too old or too comfortable to leave room for dreams.

Today reader i have tasted success. The crumbs will remain on my fingertips and the taste will linger in my mouth, because i know it's all possible. All of it.

At least for today.

melatonin and movies

Reader, sunday afternoons were made for naps. Say what you will, but even the LORD said it was a day of REST. I was exhausted after church, but my mind would not stop running in thoughtful circles. So I may or may not have taken a little sleep aid in order to take my much needed sunday nap. Consequently I have woken up with a blogging epiphany....and a sleep aid hang over...

But no matter, i am resisting the "i just got ran over by a concourse of 16 wheelers" hang over feeling to bring you my epiphany.

And here it is (remember reader if it's not very good, I may or may not still be under the influence of a beautiful little substance called melatonin...):

I happen to have a brain. Therefore I should bring more culture, personal insight and reflection into my blog while nixing the ambiguous stories about myself. I love writing all about how "totally awesome I am" (gag!) and I'm sure reader, you LOVE to read all about me, but alas I am choosing to create a blog of meaning rather than meaninglessness. (But don't worry reader, I will still include my ridicules life stories along with my rare moments of spiritual clarity...) And so here I go...

Last week av and I went to see a foreign film portraying the effects of genocide in Rwanda a decade or so after the violence. The movie is entitled, "Munyurangabo" and I highly recommend you watch it if you ever get a chance.

Toward the end of the movie, a very poignant and moving poem is recited. In my mind, it is the epic experience of the 90 minute film. In essence, the poem is a call for Rwanda to rise up and change. It is a call for people to build hope for their future. Ideas such as peace, acceptance, education and hard work are expressed in the poem. My initial reaction was one of awe. The beauty of the poem’s language and rhythm were shocking. Then I began to wonder was this an accurate reflection of Rwanda and her people, or a reflection of the director? While the poem criticized The West, it also praised many of their practices. Where had this poem come from? I did a little research of my own, and found that the person reciting the poem was actually the author of the poem. He is a poet in Rwanda and he was telling, from his own mouth and using his own words, his hope and dreams for his country. The poem is entitled, "Liberation is a Journey". I have yet to discover a translation of the poem online, but I can never forget the look in his eyes as he showed us a piece of his soul. It was beautiful and moving. Sometimes I forget how strongly and innately humanity will beg for liberty and freedom. I am grateful for the reminder.

I hope one day I will be able to help liberate, either literally or intellectually, other people from their own tyranny and bondage.

Speaking of tyranny and bondage, if you REALLY want to educate yourself about Pakistan (which I HIGHLY recommend you do, because we cannot win in Afghanistan without Pakistan.) then click on the link below. The video is entitled, "Children of the Taliban":

http://video.pbs.org/video/1134781691/

It will change your perspective and make you question everything you think you know. Watch it. I dare you.

Well there you have it reader. In my post sleep-aid-coma, I have found the words to hopefully enlighten your mind, enlarge your heart, and add some much needed culture to my blog.

Mission Completed.

I Did Something Stupid....

On wednesday I have class at 11. I have to leave my apartment at 10:40. At the latest.

So please tell me why at 10:24, this last wednesday, I decided it would be a good idea to CUT MY OWN BANGS.

Using my roommates not too good hair cutting scissors, and the mirror as my guide, I start wacking away.

At first it started off pretty well. I thought to myself, "I can do this"! But then I realized one side was shorter than the other...and I had to fix it...so i cut off some more...and then eventually it looked a little like this...



By the time i set the scissors down, i looked at my work and felt panic seize my heart....i had totally just jacked up my bangs and i had NO TIME to fix it. And even worse, i had no idea HOW to fix it.

Needless to say, i have an appointment just for my bangs on friday.

You see reader no one recognizes me without my bangs. My bangs are famous. Famous! They are as part of me as my ridiculously loud laugh and one dimple. I feel like my mojo is all off if i don't have my bangs to peer through.

So lesson learned.

Cutting your own bangs is bad. Cutting your own bangs right before class is REALLY BAD.

An Epic Sunday Indeed...

Sunday was quite an exciting day.

Minus the Superbowl.

Poor Peyton.

But I finally got rid of my 6 pound can of Chili (thanks to Ma and Pa Williams). We almost ate all of it as we watched the Superbowl. We had good food, good company, a good football game, and tons of good commercials.

God Bless America.

And then...

I climbed up the door and opened the stairs,
Said my pajamas and put on my prayers,
Then I turned off the bed and crawled into the light,
All because you kissed me goodnight!

(Thanks for the poem B. Perfect description!)

That's right reader. A.V. kissed me....

And I have never been so flustered after a first kiss in all my life! I lost my cool! Lost it! A "V.L." would have been cooler than me!
(For any of my 3 readers who do not know what a "VL" is, it's a slang reference to a person who has NEVER been kissed. Utah style.)

He said it was cute. I say it was ridicules.

I'm seeing him tomorrow. Hopefully I can resurrect my "cool as a cucumber" image. Wish me luck!