the paradox

"The paradox 
of our time in history is that 

we have taller buildings 

but shorter tempers,

w i d e r   F r e e w a y s, 

but narrower viewpoints.

 

We spend more,

but have less,

we buy more,

but enjoy less.

 We have bigger houses

and smaller families,

more conveniences,

but less time.

We have more degrees

but less sense,

more knowledge,

but less judgment, 

more experts,

yet more problems,  
more medicine,

but less wellness.

We drink too much,
smoke too much, 

Spend too recklessly,

 laugh too little, 

drive too fast, 

get too angry, 

stay up too late, 

get up too tired, 

read too little, 

watch TV too much, 

                                                                             and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, 

but reduced our values. 

We talk too much,

 love too seldom,
and hate too often.
 

We've learned how to make a living, 

but not a life. 

We've   a d d e d  y e a r s  to life

n o t  l i f e  to years. 

We've been 
all the way to the moon and back, 

but have trouble 
crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. 

We conquered outer space 

but not inner space. 

We've done larger things, 

but not better things. 
 

We've cleaned up the air, 

but polluted the soul. 

We've conquered the atom, 

but not our prejudice. 

We write more, 

but learn less. 

We plan more, 

but accomplish less. 

We've learned to rush, 

                                                                         but not to wait. 

We build more computers to hold more information, 

to produce more copies than ever, 

but we communicate less and less. 

These are the times of fast foods

and slow digestion, 

big men 

and small character, 

steep profits 

and shallow relationships.

 These are the days of two incomes 

but more divorce, 

fancier houses, 

                              but broken homes. 

These are days of quick trips, 

 disposable diapers, 

throwaway morality,

 one night stands, 

overweight bodies, 

and pills that do everything

 from cheer, to quiet, to kill. 

It is a time when
there is much in the showroom window

 and nothing in the stockroom. 

A time when technology can bring this letter to you, 

and a time when you can choose 

either to share this insight, 

or to just hit delete. 

 

Remember 

to spend some time with your loved ones, 

because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, 

say a kind word to someone

 who looks up to you in awe, 

 because that little person soon will grow up

 and leave your side. 

Remember, 

to give a warm hug 

to the one next to you, 

because that is the only treasure

 you can give with your heart 

and it doesn't cost a cent.

  Remember, to say, 

'I love you' 

to your partner and your loved ones, 

but most of all mean it.                    

A kiss and an embrace                   

 will mend hurt when it comes          

from deep inside of you.                

Remember

 to hold hands and cherish the moment 

for someday that person 

will not be there again.

Give time to love, 

give time to speak! 

And give time to share the 

precious thoughts in your mind.

 

And always remember, 

life is not measured 

by the number of breaths we take, 

but by those moments 

that take our breath away."

-George Carlin

 

George Carlin's wife died early in 2008 and George followed her, dying in July 2008. It is ironic George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent and so very appropriate.


.Haily.

the chase

I haven't ever thought about it much before.

Until I read an article that said,

"But who are we chasing? 

What are we running after?"

And my thoughts catapulted elsewhere.

Every night for as long as I can remember

Every night my dreams revolve 

around the exact same theme:

Hiding.

My dreams are pretty bizarre.

Some of them are hilarious.

Most of them are terrifying.

I go through different phases:

dreams I think are real,
and lucid dreams I know aren't real.

(Those are the dreams I have some control over.)

I can usually choose where I escape to,
(It usually ends up in the vast mountainside.)
I can chose who I try and hide with,
(Which is why my friends always get wrangled into every dream.)

I can choose who I run with,
(Although I usually don't want to get someone mixed up in it with me.)
I can request obstacles to get in the chaser's way.

(Which sometimes works.)

But that's about it.

No matter what the dream is,

lucid or vividly real,

I can always fly.

I go from place to place.

I go through some little happy moment,

and then it is abruptly brought to a close-

When I am found.

 And then I seek solace elsewhere.

 

In the dream I know I'm being chased 

Because I did something wrong.

But what is it?

I never have asked.

I never know.

I've never been captured 

without being able to escape.

But lately it's getting closer and closer.

Sometimes I'll even fly miles away 

over the mountain side,

Where I am finally free from running.

I land in places where they need my help.

I'm the only one who can save them.

But the minute that I start to help
He has found me.

And I leave them helpless

As I abandon for safety.

The entire night
I'm terrified.
I try to escape.

I try to hide.

I try to start over.

But no matter what I do

I am always on the run.

Chased by my past.

And when I wake up,

The chase continues.

and now we're in the early teenage years... again!

So now that it's 2013 

does that we're going to start acting like bratty tweens again?

I mean, thirteen is a tough year. I remember. In some ways it doesn't seem that long ago.

But even with it's challenges, thirteen was also pretty awesome!

I grew five inches that summer. 

I started doing plays, and fell in love with performing.

I had a couple embarrassing crushes on guys.

I was on Student Council.

My sister got married.

I first got a facebook and decided to add the whole world as friends.

I made it into Treble Trios and thrived off of harmonizing.

I was in Studio Art and Drawing and started a little spark that has grown into a flame.

For the first time, I became great friends with my brother Adam.

I made a lot of new friends. Most of which I'm still close with today.

All in all, thirteen was pretty great.

And so far, 2013 is gearing up to be pretty amazing, as well.

[Ringing out the New Year with sledding at 1 AM. An old tradition of ours.]

Wishing you the very best in 2013, friends. And thanks for making 2012 so incredible!
.Haily. :)

heres to a fresh start

2013.

Weird.

17. 

Weirder.

My Birthday turned out awesome!

Thanks to my amazing family 

and such sweet friends.

17 doesn't feel any different.

It's not like the leap from non-dating to dating

or teen to adult.

It's the in between buffer zone.

 But it's the sound of 17.

It has a weird ring to it.

It feels.. OLD.

 When I was in Kindergarten 

I remember clearly 

that weird feeling towards those big High Schoolers.

Never, I repeat, ever

Would I become a High Schooler.

The whole growing up thing never really hit me.

I liked getting older each year, 

and I was getting taller and taller,

but I never really processed the fact 

that I would be one of those big kids one day.

5th grade hit.

My sister was in High School.

She was SO old in my eyes.

I idolized her and all of her friends.

 

8th grade hit.

My brother was in High School.

 That was mind blowing.

Well, 

next year I will graduate from High School.

 WAHH WHA..

 

Time is proving itself to be a weird thing.

 [If you look at that last gif for too long it looks like she's saying "Brandy"]

Moving on,

I really want to do this now.

I cant can't for the adventures ahead.

Lacrosse is starting up soon.

Soon as in THIS WEEK.

Definitely excited about that.

I'm excited to start running 

and conditioning again.

I'm definitely out of shape.

Unless you count round as a shape.

Then, I'm most certainly in shape.

 That whole homework thing?

I still have a lot of it.

So,  

☮ peace out ✌

.Haily.

Go out and enjoy the snow!

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