Spotlight: Shel Silverstein

     As a child, I was a big fan of Shel Silverstein and that hasn't really changed at all. In my opinion, he is one of the world's most inspiring individuals. You know, the kind that comes up with unbelievably creative and innovative expressions and you sit there wondering, "Damn. How did no one else think of this before?" Honestly, Silverstein's mind was a gift.
     For those of you who don't know who he is, Silverstein was an American artist. He wrote poems, songs, plays, children's books, drew cartoons - you name it. In fact, you might not think you know him, but have you ever read The Giving Tree? It was extremely popular ever since it was published in the 1960s. Green book? Tree, apple, chubby little kid?
     Look familiar? If it does, kudos :) And if it doesn't, well add it to your reading list my friend! Although it is a children's book, The Giving Tree has a spark that appeals to the sophisticated and the simple. It's definitely a classic that should be read by everyone, but enough about that. Why is the spotlight on Shel Silverstein today?

     I love the internet for all that it has become over the years. I know a lot of writers out there face writer's block on a regular basis and believe me it sucks, but the internet is like a world of inspiration just waiting for you. I go perusing through blogs, websites, and tumblrs on almost a daily basis and never fail to find amazing pictures, thoughts, and ideas that bring me back to life. On one such night, I found a picture drawn by Silverstein that depicts how people with beautiful minds face ridicule for their ingenuity, and through discouragement, change to become bland versions of themselves. It goes without saying that I love this drawing and that's why I'd like to share it with you.

     So tell me, what are your thoughts?

Quote of the Day

In Memory of my Grandmother

     Writing means a lot to me. And by extension, so does this blog. But I have been neglecting it lately and I'll tell you why.
     My grandmother passed away yesterday. She was an incredible woman. I know it's natural for anyone to say that about their beloved grandma, but she really was incredible. My grandmother had her share of loss in life, but to my 7 year old eyes, she was the happiest woman I knew. I adored her. She taught me how to make braids and told me stories before bed. She made all my favourite dishes and doted on my brothers with an overwhelming love. Nothing but the best for her grandchildren.
     My grandmother was the glue that tied our family together. We all gravitated towards her in times of sickness, sadness, and happiness. She raised me close to her heart for a few years after my older brother died. But due to distance, I only saw her a handful of times since.
     On one of these visits, she gave me a special gift. Two beautiful bracelets, the same ones she wore once upon a time at her wedding. I know it was her plan, her goal, to witness as much of our lives as possible and I wish she could have been here for all the milestones in my life. But I'm grateful. Grateful that she has finally found peace after this long, heartbreaking, wonderful thing called life. And grateful to have known her, loved her, and to have been with her - even for a second.

Just a thought

Your parents may NEVER understand you. Accept that. 

But you will find that as you grow older, less arrogant, and more mature

that you will begin to understand THEM instead.

Quote of the Day

In My Own Skin

     I envy them. They walk around like the air belongs to them. Like the sun is shining on them. Like there is nothing holding them down. And I envy them because of it. Who do they think they are? Beautiful, mysterious, charming, classic? I envy them so much it hurts, yet I want to be one of them. I want to be who they are and have what they have. 
     Their skin fits them like a glove, mine hugs me like a mitten. Their thoughts move with their bodies in perfect, blissful alignment. When they laugh, their hearts smile and their eyes sparkle with a spontaneous, undying warmth. You can feel it. I know. You know. 
     My skin smothers me like a mitten. It wraps around me in a protective embrace, sheltering me from defining myself. My thoughts race ahead of me, but my body declines to follow. When my heart breaks and all I want to do is cry until the tears make me sleepy, my body does not let me. It tells me to break down inside. To hold it all in because that's better. Is it better?
     When I feel elated, feel like standing on my toes and spreading my arms to soak up all the sunshine there is, my body hesitates. My arms stay by my side and my toes stay on the ground. It is as if they belong there and have no curiosity about the wonders around them. No, my body stays where it is and lets my mind do all the dreaming. I have traveled miles in my thoughts, but only walked a few steps of my dreams.
     We all see them around us, those beautifully flawed and hopelessly natural people. Their presence feels exotic. You analyze every part of them trying to figure out their secret. Is it the hair? The curve of the eyes, the dimple, or maybe its the clothes? What is it exactly that they have and you don't and how could you try and get it too? How are they able to exude such confidence with every word that escapes their lips? How are they able to physically do all the things you would have done, could have done, but didn't? 
     You could have been so much more, gone so many places. Think of all the laughter you could have sang, all the meals you could have shared, and all the people you could have had in your life. In that drama class, you could have been the one everyone admired, the one who captivated audiences. You know you have it in you. I know I have it in me. So then, what is the problem? Why are we so uncomfortable, you and I? We stand at the hearth and let the warmth touch our skin, but we don't let the glow of the fire kiss us too. We shy away, you and I. We hesitate.
     But I want to be like them. To be comfortable in my own skin. To move as one, single being. To think about what I want to do and to do those things. To dance with awkward moves that make me look as if I've lost my mind and to not care, to not think about what I must look like. To stand up for the people and things I believe in with no army to back me up other than the strength of my convictions. I want to sing and not feel as if every note is weighing me down. For the song to come from my soul, synonymous with every breath. 
     How wonderful it must feel to be able to wash your face in the morning and walk out the door loving every freckle and every scar on your body. Smiling at every little thing that makes you happy and not questioning the beauty of your smile, not caring if it elicits anyone's judgement. How insanely electric it must feel to live your day in a messy hairdo and a slouchy outfit not caring how others perceive you because you know you have gorgeous inside. You know you could look polished if you wanted to. But you don't care, at least not today, because this is life. Every day is magical despite your clothes and frizzy hair. Life doesn't care about the brand of your jeans or the shade of your blush. It's splendid for the sole reason that you're living it.
     I don't want insanity. Not a million friends, just to touch a million lives. I want to be remembered by someone as they go to sleep at night and think about their day. I want to be remembered in stories and I want to live in memories. But more than anything I want to live in my own memory. I want to visit a country for every letter in the alphabet, snort when I laugh, and reference everything in life with quotes from Harry Potter. I want to eat Nutella out of the jar on rainy days, speak up and compliment people I don't even know, and to voice my opinions because if I don't, who will? 

     All I want is to be able to spend almost everyday loving the person I spend most of my time with - myself. Why bother being envious? None of it matters when you are all you want to be. Irrevocably and undeniably comfortable in your own skin.

©AnumAziz

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

20 New Year’s Resolutions For 20-Somethings

JAN. 2, 2012 

By JESSIE ROSEN

1.      Before you status update, Tweet, Tumble or Instagram, pause and say to yourself, “is it entirely necessary that I share this morsel of thought with my entire social network?”and if the answer is not, “yes, I absolutely must,” then step away from the Internet.

2.      Know which candidate you’re going to vote for in the upcoming presidential election, and know why.

3.      Enough with the 14-day juice cleanses. If you want to lose a little weight quickly, eat less and exercise like crazy. If you want to lose a lot of weight slowly, do whatever Jennifer Hudson did.

4.      If you really like the person you’re hooking up with and would like them to be your boyfriend/ girlfriend, find a way to tell them, and hope for the best. If you don’t and wouldn’t, stop.

5.      Find a way to save approximately 300 dollars and spend it on a flight to see a friend or family member who lives far away.

6.      Please stop liking the Kardashians, all of them. It’s not helping anyone, least of all the Kardashians.

7.      Spend less than or equal to the money you earn each month.

8.      Wear clothes that fit you, especially to work.

9.      Call someone on the phone at least once a week, and speak to him or her for at least ten minutes.

10.  Start preparing now to get over the fact that Facebook is probably going to change again in six months. You’re not going to deactivate your account. You don’t know how.

11.  Wait 30 seconds before you look up a fact you can’t remember on your phone, and try to remember it using your brain. This is what the olden days were like.

12.  Replace one terrible reality show you’re currently watching with one wonderful scripted show currently available on television.  Swap suggestion: Real Housewives of Anywhere for HBO’s Enlightened.

13.  Try that food you think you don’t like but have never actually tried, unless it’s brussels sprouts. They really don’t need any more attention.

14.  Cut one person out of your life who you truly do not like and add one person who you truly do. Note: not on Facebook, on Earth.

15.  If you’re still blacking out regularly, you should stop.

16.  Volunteer once over the next 90 days.  You’ll feel really good about it, and probably end up volunteering again over the next 275.

17.   Tell someone who you love that you love them on a more regular basis. To their face, not in a text.

18.  Back up your entire online life onto an external hard drive, especially your photos.

19.  Crap or get off the pot. This applies to whatever thing you’re not doing that you should just sack up and do already.

20.   And in the eternal words of Tom Haverford, “TREAT YO SELF!” 

Source: http://thoughtcatalog.com/

Hope y'all had a great start to the new year! :)

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day