Cohesive

Our planet is home to upwards of 7,015,000,000 people. That is 7 billion unique personalities. 7 billion unique sets of values. 7 billion unique points of view, unique ideas, unique minds, and unique outlooks. How, in a world of an infinitely growing and intangibly sized population, can we expect to find someone like us? How can we expect to find our other half? How can we expect to stumble upon those few who truly bring out the best in us, understand us, better us? Out of 7 billion people, do we really think we will lucky enough to locate our twin flame, our soul mates; the ones who have the power to bring out the best from the depths of our souls? In a world so vast and mysterious; so intricate and ever-changing, a sense of loneliness is inevitable. A sense of alienation amidst the chaos is undeniable. A sense of perpetual aimlessness constantly nags at the soul. So many of us spend years, and even decades, wandering the terrain of the earth alone, our own beacon, our own reflection. We are surrounded by billions, and yet, we remain alone in our thoughts and ambitions. We remain alone, the single planet suspended in the galaxies of our own inner universe. Yet the true tragedy is this: We know not that we are alone. We see our classmates, our teachers, our family, and our friends, and we think, 'we are not alone.' But step back, are these individuals truly with you? Invested in you? Do they really understand you, care for you? Are they a part of you, a extension of your very being? Do these people water the seeds of your thoughts, do they pick the fruit from the trees of your imagination? Are these people merely accessories to your human existance, or are they vital to the journey in which your soul is propelled into new realms of understanding? The chances are that these people are merely just acquaintances, they have no understanding of you, nor the ability to help your being grow from a single seed, a single idea, into a forest of thought. The chances are that you'll never truly realize how lonely you are, how alone you were, until someone comes into your life and changes that. 

It is not often that someone comes into your life who you can relate to on such a deep level. On such a level that every single molecule in your body is filled with adoration, respect, and understanding. It is not often that you find someone who understands you, encourages you, and inspires you in such a way that every ounce of your being is affected by this positivity. But it is the fact that this unity, this understanding, this cohesiveness is so rare and unique, it is this that makes it so powerful. For when you do find someone who understands you on such a level that it transcends all definitions of love and friendship, you reach a state of happiness and existance that one can simply not reach on their own. You are no longer alone. I am no longer alone. I am lucky enough to have found not just one of these individuals, but a handful. A handful of beautiful, powerful, life changing individuals who come from all over. One lives in the deserts of New Mexico, one among the bustling of Los Angeles, one is galavanting around Clinton, NY, and one in North Adams, MA. But perhaps the most meaningful, influential, and loving one of them all lives right here. It is this human being whom I hold in the highest regard; for whom I have the most respect, and adoration. This level of affection does not fall under any conventional definition of a friendship or a relationship of any sort. This level of cohesiveness is something so other worldly, so rare, so unique that it cannot be explained by a single word or phrase. It is the product of growth and inspiration. Dedication and compassion. The desire to understand, and the ability to do so fully. It is a bond formed not by time or  age, but by mutual understanding, respect, and support. This is not a friendship defined by inside jokes (though they exist, no doubt) or hours spent together (though many were had). This is a friendship built on the foundation of genuine caring, selfless devotion, innate understanding, and organic inspiration. A friendship so unique and valuable that the discovery of it makes me wonder how I ever went through life without it. It has become as essential to my living as oxygen to my lungs. This level of beauty within a friendship is a testimony to the very friend himself. Only a being of such creativity, selflessness, open-mindedness, and compassion could be capable of supporting such a friendship. One in which growth and creation occur with every utterance. One in which each collective breath takes us deeper into understanding. One in which silence is just as powerful as speech. One in which a conversation is not just small talk, but life changing revelations. This is a friendship of days spent star gazing, sharing ideas. Ideas for art, ideas to change the world. A friendship of nights spent watching the waves, sharing thoughts and opinions. Thoughts on God, love, life, death, and everything in between. This is a friendship based not on the external, but the internal. A relationship in which our two separate universes combine into one. 

I do not know where I would be in life if I were still wandering this earth on my own. I don't know where I would be had I not found you; someone who understands my inner workings, who inspires me to create, who encourages me to work through the pain, the despair, the doubt. I wouldn't be where I am, I couldn't be. The path to my true happiness; my enlightened state, has always existed, you have just cleared the way, and lead me down it.

So this, my friend, is an homage to you. 

Pause

So often we find ourselves caught up in the tangles of conformity and trapped by the walls of what is considered to be socially acceptable. We find ourselves lusting over unnecessary accessories that are being shoved down our throats by advertisements and the media. We begin to hardly even notice the corruption and manipulation that is constantly pulsating throughout our lives and fueling the society we live in. We get caught up in it. We become blinded by it. We become part of it. We start to worry about how much battery our iPhones have left, or if our favorite pair of pants are clean. We get upset that the grocery store is out of our favorite ice cream. We get mad at our closest friends for the smallest of things. These are trivial things, petty things; but we are all guilty of this. Every single one of us; you, me, him, and she. Every single one of us are victims of human nature. But it is now, when you are just starting to get lost in all of this, in every lie and fib society has you believing, in every unnecessary desire and illogical concern, it is now, before you are in too deep, that you just need to stop, step back, and take a moment. Just, 

Pause.

What are you doing? You're unhappy, but for what? Because you have to wake up early? Because you can't get tickets for a concert? Because you can't find the movie you want on netflix? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Reflect. Reconsider. Remember what you have. And just, 

Pause.

You are beautiful. The life you live is beautiful. The world we are part of is beautiful. Remember this, appreciate this. What are you complaining about? What can you complain about? How can you be so unhappy when flowers exist, when mountains rise far above the earth, when the ocean tide sweeps in and out every day? How can you be upset when trees tower in the forests, when the sun rises each day, when the moon rises each night? How can you question happiness, joy, beauty, anything when love exists? You can't, as long as you remember these things. As long as you take the time to pull yourself away from the corrupt smog of society, and breath some fresh air.  Take a long look at your life. Take a long look at the world. You have so much to be happy about. You have so much to be thankful for. Think of the people in your life. Think of the people who mean the most. Can you really, truly be unhappy when they are there for you; with you? Can you really complain when that much affection and understanding exists within you and around you? Think of the beauty that surrounds you. Think of the the earth we inhabit. Can you really be unhappy when something so incredible, so unimaginable, so magical is our home? Can you complain when there are mountains and trees and oceans and rivers there to greet us every morning? Think of music; think of art. Can you really be unhappy when something original, something beautiful, something unique can be created with the pluck of a string, the stroke of a brush, a burst of imagination? How can you even begin to question happiness when love exists? It doesn't matter if you do not have it right there in front of you. The mere fact that love is a feeling, a state of existence, that is attainable, that is possible, that is out there... that should be enough to keep the light in your eyes for all of the time you can keep air in your lungs. With all of this in existence, friends, nature, art, love, with all of this, how can you possibly find something truly worth complaining about? Realize what you have, realize the happiness that you can achieve, but do not take it for granted. Do not get so caught up in it that you don't realize the other side of reality; the dark side of the moon. Before you get too carried away in your own fortune, in your own life's beauty; you need to sit back, reflect, take a moment, and just, 

Pause.

Don't ever forget how beautiful you are; how beautiful your life is. But also never forget that there is adversity out there. People suffer every day. People struggle every day. There is genocide. Murder. Theft. Torture. Hunger. Poverty. There is so much to worry about, to fix, to cure. There are so many people who lead such difficult lives. Don't ever forget this.

Don't ever forget about the reality of the world.

Don't ever forget how truly lucky you are.

Don't ever forget to be thankful for what you have. 

And don't ever forget to share your happiness with those who may not have found that beauty in their lives yet. 

Next time you find yourself upset, concerned, or angry  just take a moment to Pause. Think about it. Think about love. Think about nature. Think about music. Think about art. Think about everything you have and how lucky you are. Think about how much beauty exists in the world. And think about the people in the world who may not be as fortunate as you. This world doesn't necessarily just need people to invent, discover, and explore. They need people like you, like me, people who can be truly happy, people who can change the world with the very positivity, ambition, and love that every person should strive for. 

You are capable of happiness. You are capable of love. Don't pass that opportunity up because of societies definition of happiness.

Don't believe their definition.

Don't believe them.

Find happiness in the things that cannot be defined.

Pause.

And define happiness for yourself. 

Existence

What am I? 

I am one human being out of the seven billion that live on Earth.

Earth is just one planet out of the eight in our solar system.

Our solar system is just one out of the one hundred billion solar systems in this galaxy. 

This galaxy is just one out of one hundred billion galaxies in the known universe.

And it doesn't stop there, the unknown reaches out into infinity. If you look at it with this perspective, we seem so utterly insignificant. We are just a drop of water in the infinite ocean of the universe. But we so often forget to acknowledge the fact that the ocean is made up of millions of water droplets, and without each drop of water, the ocean does not exist. When you zoom back in, through the billions of galaxies and solar systems; through all of the planets and the billions of people; when you zoom back into yourself you will realize that although you are such a microscopic part of this world, you are still you. You have the ability to create art, to write a song; you have people who love you and depend on you; you have fingerprints unique and exclusive to only you. You are enormously significant. You, yourself, are your own universe, capable of creation and destruction. Each of us, each unique universe, uniquely contributes to the personality of our planet, our solar system, our galaxy as a whole.  Even when you feel insignificant, even when there is so much evidence to back up that you, truly, are just a speck of dust floating aimlessly in the universe's atmosphere, remember this:

You are the only you in existence.

You have the power  to create.

You have free will.

You can choose your role in this world.

You can chose what direction you go in.

You can chose what you wear.

What you do.

What you say.

What you love.

What you hate.

You have the ability to think.

To feel.

To hurt.

And to be.

You may think you are insignificant, but you are you.
And that is exactly what this universe needs. 

Take hold of who you are and the time you have on this planet. Do all you want to do. Be all you want to be. And don't ever let the scale of the universe drag you down. Instead, remember, "the entire universe is inside you." Don't stop. Don't wait for anything. Who knows how long we will be here for? Who knows how long our earth will be here for. On one of the other seven planets we share our solar system with, Mars, scientists recently discovered magnetism in old, volcanic rock on the surface. This proves that once, Mars, much like our very own planet, had a magnetic field around it. Mars, once upon a time, could have been a planet just like ours. With a magnetic field, it could have had an atmosphere, protected from solar storms and been capable of sustaining life. And then its magnetic field disappeared, leaving the surface of the planet to be stripped by the waves of cosmic power that surge through the universe. Here on earth, our magnetic field is rapidly losing power. Are we next? Are we to become a barren, lifeless planet? And if so, does it really matter? Our planet is just as insignificant as each of us are. It is just one piece of the infinitely growing and changing cosmic puzzle. As our earth has a magnetic field emanating from its core, we too, each have a powerful field emanating from our hearts. We die, and our magnetic field flickers out. Our earth, too, is mortal. We are each our own planet, our own universe. Keep that in mind next time you feel insignificant. Because, if you believe our planet is so important, remember, you are a planet too. 

You are nothing; you are everything

You are you.

And you won't be here forever. 

Impermanence

One of the greatest truths of life is that nothing in this world will remain here forever. Not you, not me, not we. Not the smallest of creatures or the biggest of mountains. Nothing is eternal; everything is constantly changing, and we have absolutely no control over this. Nothing on this earth is permanent. People die, pictures fade. Fights are ended, and mends are made. It is for this reason that we must learn to live in the present, to be here now. We must learn to appreciate what we have for everything it is worth. Give your everything to the now. Stop making excuses. If you love someone, tell them you love them; show them you love them. Take a risk, follow your heart. Stop making excuses. If you want to do something, do it; fulfill your dreams. Stop making excuses. Stand up for what you believe in; stand up for what is right. Don't wait until tomorrow, for who knows what tomorrow will bring?

The only thing we know about tomorrow is that it will be nothing like today. 

Grab your life with both of your hands, and grab it firmly. Give all you can give. Love all you can love. Do all you can do. Create, learn, explore, discover, love, be loved, understand, question. Do all you can, and do it now, because now, right now, is the only moment in existence. The past is a memory, the future is a figment of your imagination. You are here now, and now only. But now does not last forever. Enjoy what you have for what it is, but understand that it will inevitably be gone one day. Understand that nothing is forever, that things will change. People will come in and out of your life. You yourself are bound to change. Embrace your life right now, and don't be sad tomorrow when the chalk is washed away. Instead be happy that it was there, that you saw it, experienced it, created it. Be happy that life has given you a clean slate; a canvas on which you can create a whole new work of art. Life is constantly changing; nothing is eternal. Don't let this frighten you, don't let this discourage you. Instead, let this inspire you to make each new moment more worth living for than the last. 

Seed

BLANK.

EMPTY.

VOID.

The barren landscape of an empty canvas stretches deep into the horizon of imagination. The bare, white corners poke and prod at the fire of the soul. The untouched surface begs to be breached, broken, decorated, and designed. Paint me, make me, create me. 

Ideas flow in and out of my mind, visions dance along the canvas' edge, thoughts flood my existence.

What to do, what to paint, what to make, what to create?

and then.....

There it is.

The inspiration.

The idea.

The seed.

And in that moment of creation, nothing else matters.

Mix the paints; turn the soil.

Sketch the shapes; plant the seed.

Paint the base; begin to sprout.

Spread your roots (keep painting)

Spread your branches (keep painting)

Sprout your leaves (keep painting)

Grow

keep painting

Grow

keep creating

Grow

Grow 

Grow

the canvas is in

Bloom.

And when it is said and done, when the tree of creation is in full bloom, the canvas is no longer empty. 

Where a tundra of white possibility once was, now stands a forest made of art.

The vision; the seed.

The brush; the sun.

The paint; the water.

The canvas; the soil.

With seed, sun, water, and soil out comes a tree.

With the vision, brush, paint, and a canvas out comes beauty.

Fill your canvas.

Fertilize your mind

Let your tree grow.

Let your imagination flow.

Caged

So often I find myself sitting at a desk in school, mind wandering, soul searching, and completely detached from whatever words are pouring from the teacher's mouth. I find myself saying, "I don't want to do anything anymore." But then I step back, and I realize I could never be more far away from the truth. There are so many things I yearn to know, experience, learn, and try. There is an infinite amount of things I want to do, but there is only a limited amount of opportunity.
Shackled.
Locked up.
Caged in.
I am stuck living a pre-cut pattern. Wake up, go to school, do your homework.
No time to paint, no time to explore, no time to plant a garden or learn a new skill.
Only time to work. To earn a grade.
Only time to get an A, pass the class, get on honor roll.
We are locked up, I am locked up, in the prison that society builds for each one of us so willingly.
7:00am each morning; wake up, go to school, do your work, eat only when I tell you, no doodling, no headphones. Fix your hood, pull up your pants. Do what I tell you, and don't you dare forget to pledge allegiance to our flag. Don't forget that we are a free country, you can do what you want, believe what you want, think what you want, as long as we approve of it first. Oh, and definitely don't forget that you have to be here.
You aren't given a choice.
Not a real one, not one with any options.
Only success and failure are there to chose from.
Freedom is an allusion.

Down,
down,
and
down

Goes any desire to branch out, to be different, to experience life in a way different than what society had planned.
Too tired to fight back.
Too exhausted to forge a new trail.
Too accustomed to following mindless demands.

I want to learn.
I want to experience.
I want to understand.

But I don't want your understanding, I want my own.
I don't want to read in a text book, I want to live out my lessons.
I don't want to follow your schedule, learn for your tests, fix the holes you punched into society.

Unlock my cage.
let me explore.

You say you want to help me reach my fullest potential, but all you have done is clip my wings.

Let the bird out of the cage.
Take a risk.

Let me free.

Beautiful

It is just one of those days. One of the ones spent outside at work, listening to music, strumming a guitar here and there, and talking about life with anyone who is willing to sit down and chat for a while. The sun is warm, the earth is blooming, and everything in the universe seems to be aligned in this exact moment. But I'm not here to write about this moment, or about this weather, or even about this universe at large. I'm here, right now, to talk about the people who make all of that possible. The people who have taught me to look at the world in such a beautiful way. The people who have been there to glue me back together, the people who have been there no matter what. The ones who have inspired me, taught me irreplaceable lessons. And the ones who just stop by on a sunny afternoon, just to talk about life and share with me one of the most priceless commodities man can offer; knowledge. Many days I find myself to be completely exhausted with the human condition; with the people I see around me who are shallow, selfish, and ignorant. My well of faith in humanity begins to slowly trickle dry. But then there are those people, those few, who cause a monsoon of love and wonder and brilliance, and again my well becomes full. This, right here, is an homage to you. There are many of you out there, I know there are. I know this because in my short 18 years of life, I have already found so many of you. You are beautiful. You are wonderful. You are vital to my very existence. This is dedicated to you, this and every single thing I do. This is for my wonderful friends, the one who will always be open to laugh with me and to cry with me. The ones who inspire me to create art, to love, to be who I strive to be. This is for the beautiful people who I may not see too often, but when I do, they always offer a word of encouragement; a word of wisdom. This is for the people I may cross paths with once or twice in life who are genuine, real, and making a difference in this world. For the ones I pass in the street with that look in their eyes; the look of truth, of exploration, of understanding. I love all of you, each and every one of you. You have all taught me so much, and in so little time. I love you. You are beautiful.
Never be afraid to share who you are.
Never be afraid to show what you love.
Never be afraid to sit down with a stranger, and pour out everything.
To talk about life.
Love.
Music.
Inspiration.
The Earth,
And what Lies Beyond It.
Never be afraid to reach out, for you never know what beautiful people you may come across.
And much like with me, these people could change your life,
For the better,
For the beautiful.