Youthful Life: X

 Joshua 1:9 " Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;  do not be discouraged,  for the  Lord  your God will be with you wherever you go." I cannot believe I have now existed for a year of my life without my mom. It still doesn't feel real, and yet it is the reality of my life. That day and so many of the days that followed are seared into my brain unlike any other life experience. I woke up to a "call me when you wake up" text from my dad. I already knew. I called him and the sorrow, heartbreak, and devastation in his voice destroyed me. His final words before we ended the call "BJ go to school, Bianca go to work." I spent the rest the rest of day doing not much else but answering when people asked my why I was at school "because my told me to go." We sat on my bed crying, and crying, and crying, and holding hands, and crying until I had to throw up. Time came, and I had class so I put on clothes, put my headpho...

Truth - The older you get, the finer the line that separates truth from lies. It's rather uncanny the things that we can convince ourselves of, if we believe hard enough. Sometimes the lies we tell ourselves can become the truths that we accept. Little white lies growing bigger and bigger until they threaten to consume to the entirety of who we are. Then there is the guilt that plagues us as we do so. Our conscious reprimands in cross quips of chastisement. Our hearts can't take it. Our minds have trouble keeping up. It all leads to one big blabbermouth reveal. This is confession. "Confession of errors is like a broom which sweeps away the dirt and leaves the surface brighter and clearer. I feel stronger for confession" Mahatma Ghandi   Catholicism is an orthopraxy denomination of Christianity. That word "orthopraxy" means to emphasize correct practice or conduct in both the ethical and liturgical sense. It serves as antithesis to orthodoxy which is a...

Truth - What we believe directly affects how we experience the world. Have you ever noticed how drastically different your worldview can be from just about anyone else? Your entire understanding of how the world works, your purpose in being here (if there is one), and what it all means (if anything), can be in stark contrast to the person next to you. Belief is a powerful thing. It shapes the truths we accept, the things we know to be facts, and the opinions we ascertain as valid. Whether you believe in the sentiment of live long and prosper, the force, a higher power, science, or none of the above, something guides you. It's your force push.   "The Light — It's Always Been There. It'll Guide You." Maz Kanata (Lupita N'yongo) in Star Wars: the Force Awakens It's the season of family, friends, peace on Earth, and religion. It may be the first one that implies the last one as well. Where do we get our belief systems from? Family is the most influent...

Truth - The world can be a scary place. It never ceases to amaze me just how drastically people's experiences can be living in the same place. I understand societies are not actually homogeneous utopias of euphoric amiability but more and more it seems the distinction between the different realities people is stark. I want to ask how can some people not know but I refrain and realize in other ways people could say the same about me. All I know for sure is that no one is getting the whole story and that context is invaluable. The system has failed so many. The system was created to benefit of some and the disenfranchisement of others (whether intentionally or as a haphazard byproduct). The system is heading towards self-destruction. This is system is overload. " If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their ne...

The 20s are all about indulgence. There is something to be said about doing what you want. So often we sacrifice our yearnings to do what others would us. When you're able to do what you most enjoy particularly when it has become a rarity, there's nothing better. It may be cliché but life really is too short to miss out on what you love most. Live your days as if you're they're picture perfect adaptions that are just about to hit the silver screen.   The experience of going to the movies is a powerful pastime. Purchasing tickets, grabbing a freshly buttered bag of popcorn with it's alluring aroma, and a gigantic overpriced 64 ounce drink. Enter the dimly lit theatre with geometric shaped patterns, stadium style seating, and nostalgic red velvet curtains. Choose chairs and settle in for the previews. Phones off, worries put away, and mind focused on nothing more than where you are. The feature film comes in, production studios set the cosmogonist atmosphere, a...

The 20s are all about looking at those around you. You know what I notice about generous people, everyone around them seems happy. When they do well, all those that they are connected to appear to do so as well. As they succeed, so do the people backing them. It's like having an entourage of supporters hyping you and you showing them love. The funny thing is just like those people are the center of their own fandemonium, in other people's lives they are the fans. The question remains who do you surround yourself with and what's their purpose. Lock and load, armor up, this is legion. My  most beloved Biblical tale is that of David and Jonathan or the embodiment of true friendship, loyalty, and love. The Israelites foolishly requested a king (after having departed from the enslavement under the Egyptian monarchy) and made it to the promised land. They were given Saul since the prophet Samuel's own sons could not be trusted to rule. Saul however was disobedient and on...