precious rain.

today was a rainy morning that turned into something beautiful this afternoon. to me, the day acted as tangible symbolism of seemingly gloomy situations having the potential for beauty in the end. after a great day, i was feeling rather reflective tonight and decided to read through some dusty journals. after getting lost in the old pages of pain, discovery, happiness, and growth i stumbled across an entry from almost exactly a year ago today that is quite fitting. re-reading entries such as this makes me so glad that i enjoy writing as much as i do, for sometimes words have the power to capture a moment in time perfectly in black and white.

Today was another rainy day that somehow offered hope. The rain brings life and life is ever so precious. The majority of the stress I anticipate for this semester is coming to a close until finals week, and for that I am very thankful! It's been interesting this semester and I've certainly learned a lot, in and (more so) out of the classroom. I try as much as I can to not "box" people and "put the person first". Once I get past the initial and natural biases/stereotypes I have in my head, I find it much easier to get to know someone for who they really are. It's a continual struggle but I am moving forward and movement is a good thing I think. You've got to start somewhere, right? I find myself upset that I am not more patient and slower to speak. I'd like to work on this a lot this summer. My professor does always say "active listening is a great skill to have". And professors are usually pretty right about these things? The rain continues to pitter-patter-pitter-patter against my roof, and I suddenly feel overwhelmingly lucky to have a roof over my head, protecting this mind of mine on this cool night. I am starting to fall asleep with hopes of life taking me on an adventure tomorrow.

war of people.

Last week, I did a poetry reading as part of a program called 'Through the Eyes of a Woman: Seeing HER in HIStory'. When I found out what the theme was this year, I tried to answer what I personally thought it to mean. This thought process sparked the creation of the piece I eventually read in the show. This is what I came up with.

war of people.

With brown eyes wide open,

I am a small woman who lives in a big, big world.

This world is one dominated by male influence.

Yet also, a world dominated by racism

By poverty and war.

Brokenness and darkness.

Inequality.

Across virtually every avenue, life in unequal.

Some eat caviar while others starve

Some sail yachts while others drown screaming

Some commit abuse while others fall victim to it

Some scatter joy while others murder laughter

Some hope for Heaven while others fear Hell

Some chase their dreams while others run from them.

They say "life is a marathon, not a sprint".

But I often wonder where we are running to, and more importantly-

What it is that we are so desperately running from.

With brown eyes wide open,

I certainly see sexism.

But I also feel a stinging in my heart and my bones aching as I watch the news.

I smell the decay of rotting war and ashes from bridged burned.

I hear cries for help echo in the night, loud as a gong.

Our little battle of the sexes is trivial amidst this large war of people.

I put knowledge, loneliness, and faith in my pocket, head down the road of life.

With brown eyes lurking over a blink,

The big, big world stops for just a moment and

I see something different.

I see potential.