Storms rock. There's the sunshine afterward to look forward to.
Friday, November 14, 2008
My 17th Birthday
Septumdecim. It seems like just last week when I was a 12 year old kid about to embark on an education journey only relatively few people get to experience first hand, with a lot of expenses paid for. And now, I'm seventeen years old. It's unbelievable, really. Time has passed by so fast, and I've changed from a goofy kid who makes lame jokes, to a taller and lankier goofy teenager who amkes lame jokes in a not-so-sqeuaky voice.
This past year, what exactly have I accomplished? How much exactly have I changed? And most importantly, how can I better myself in anticipation of my 18th birthday? These were the thoughts that were occupying my mind for the past 20 days. To those who had no idea what was going on and got *slightly* paranoid (especially ONE person in particular...), I honestly apologize for the sudden 20-day sullenness and warn you with all my normal energy levels that it's going to be EXACTLY THE SAME NEXT YEAR MWAHAHAHAHA!!! But seriously, to think I had gone suicidal is overindulging the imagination just a bit, don't you think? Oh well, I'm back to normal for 345 days.
Friendship is a tender thing, it's every joy that life can bring.
A bit of hope, a heart so true, so much another shares with you.
It's courage when life brings a frown, to lend a hand when you are down.
It's loyalty and peace serene, remembering to share your dream.
A comforter when things are wrong, a guiding light to the throng.
A faith, a hope, a bright new day. Friendship is a chosen way.
Have I walked this way for my 17th year? How can I walk this way more fully during my 18th?
SUCCESS is speaking words of praise, in CHEERING other people's ways.
In DOING just the best you can, with every task and every plan.
It's SILENCE when your speech would hurt, POLITENESS when your neighbour's curt.
It's DEAFNESS when the scandal flows, and SYMPATHY with others' woes.
It's LOYALTY when duty calls, it's COURAGE when disaster falls.
It's PATIENCE when the hours are long, it's found in LAUGHTER and SONG.
It's in the silent time of PRAYER, in HAPPINESS and in DESPAIR.
In all of life and nothing less, we find the thing we call SUCCESS.
So, in my 17th year, have I succeeded in the way I have been living?
Take time to laugh - it is the music of the soul
Take time to think - it is the source of power
Take time to play - it is the source of eternal youth
Take time to read - it is the fountain of wisdom
Take time to pray - it is the greatest power on earth
Take time to love and be loved - it is a God-given privilege
Take time to be friendly - it is the road to happiness
Take time to give - it is too short a day to be selfish
Take time to work - it is the price of success
In my 17th year, have I taken enough time for the things that matter?
The more you give, the more you get.
The more you give, the less you fret.
The more you do things unselfishly, the more you'll live abundantly.
The more you love, the more you'll find, that life is good and friends are kind.
For only what we give away enriches us from day to day.
Has my 17th year been one of abundant living?
I leave my answers unpublished, since they are for me and God alone to know and understand. But whatever the case, here ends my 20 day introspection. I trust that God will lead me on to my 18th birthday just as closely and lovingly as he did to my 17th, and help me become the person I was meant to be. Meanwhile, according to my birth certificate, I was born on 0253 hours on the 14th November 1991. Now is 0253 hrs on the 14th November2008. Here begins my 18th year. I am seventeen years old.
