Something Blue 20

Yup I did it. I posted something blue :)

The power of courage

A week ago we were asked to write the one thing that keeps us engrossed in a story. I chose courage. This is no secret. I've wanted courage for a long time. It's the one element that I try to understand in order to live life. Fear is a major motivator for courage. You can't be courageous unless you are afraid of something. So courage is more than facing a fear, it's accepting that fear in order to move past the obstacle you face. I think courage is what makes a character interesting, and the importance of that courage is the true weapon no matter what the character has to face. Another important detail about courage, it is not easy, but it is simple. In reality, when you are afraid of something, you know that you will have to eventually face it. Facing that fear will make you stronger in the future.

Writing Prompt 16: forgive, forget

Prompt: Forgive and forget, I think.

When it comes to situations where someone tells you to forgive and forget, I think it is best to trust your instincts. Some events are better off forgotten while some events challenge us to learn something. In the case of forgiveness, I think it depends on the person. If they betray you and tell you that you must forgive them, and then betray you again, it really isn't beneficial that you forgot or forgave them. Instead, you are stuck in a vicious cycle where the only way out is to say, "I can't be your friend anymore." Second chances do exist, but I knew someone who took advantage of them and it became a second, then third and then even a fourth chance. By the time I got to the fourth, I realized how completely stupid I had been. I was being used for my kindness. I vowed then and there to never offer more than a second chance. So I think forgetting can hurt you sometimes. If you forget what someone did to you, and then it happens all over again, how is that a beneficial decision? Also, what does it mean to forgive someone? Do you have to be friends again? Are you not allowed to feel hurt or angry anymore when a similar situation happens to you? No it isn't good to cling to the past, but I think forgetting can allow events and situations to happen all over again. So my theory with forgive and forget: do what feels right to your heart, and always trust yourself.

It starts with a step

It starts with a step
Then turns into a journey
Trying something new
No rush and no hurry
Following the heart
Is a simple task
But it's not easy
When you wear a mask
Only when you look
Deep into heart
Can you begin the journey
And find the courage to start

My first photography lesson

It was a really nice day at Denver's Botanic Gardens. My friends and I got there earlier in the morning, which I learned was the best time to take photos. The gardens were amazing, and I finally saw water lilies and lotus flowers up close. It was a breath of fresh air and fun to hang with my friends and learn about all the beautiful and interesting plants from around the world. Maybe one day I'll write a story about a giant garden hidden in a mansion. Until then, I'll practice taking photos and writing about different plants.

Something Blue 19 (The bugmobile)

Yes folks! It's real, its blue! It's The Bugmobile! Now you too can enjoy having bugs all over your car and getting strange looks from everyone around you! This vehicle is hard to miss when driving in public areas and easy to spot in the parking lot!

Backstory: While visiting my friend at her college campus, we happened to see this car, and I knew I had to write about it!

The swing of the heart: dealing with unrequited love

While watching the Korean Drama Playful Kiss, I had to pause at one scene at a playground with two friends. They both sit on the swings while they talk. One friend consoles the other about how they actually feel and how they think they feel. She tells him,

"Sit here and calmly think about it. 'My heart feels this way' 'I know myself' Don't just keep telling yourself that. Just leave your heart to the swaying swing, while looking up to the sky. They say that then you'll really see your own feelings."

It's a beautiful quote about how the heart can change, if we only let it. So, maybe tomorrow, when I'm done for the day, I'll go to the park and do just that. I'll let my heart sway and discover my true feelings.

Writing Prompt 15: a quote that means something

Prompt: Find a quotation that moves you and write it down. Why does it move you?

Quote: "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."
Walt Disney

This quote has followed me around since a friend mentioned it when I went to the Disneyland College Program. I even bought a stand up version of it for my dorm room. To me, the message from this quote involves three dreams I have in life. The first dream is to publish a novel. The second dream is to make a CD. And, the third dream is to fall in love and make a family of my own. All of these dreams are very big, and each has its own obstacles in my case. For example, in order to make a novel, I must write and revise constantly to finish the story. I also have to endure harsh but true criticism and prepare to write many novel proposals. In order to make a CD, I need to gain the confidence to sing again. It has been awhile, and I will have to work hard to warm up my voice. The third dream will probably be my most challenging one. To fall in love, I first have to make my heart available to someone and trust in myself to make the right choices. This is the biggest obstacle yet, as I don't talk to many people and avoid guys constantly. So there are my dreams and my obstacles. But one thing drives these obstacles, and that is fear. Fear is my worst enemy when pursuing a dream. Fear of failure, fear of pain, fear of ridicule and fear of life. So Walt Disney knew what he was talking about when he said you have to have courage. Achieving a dream is no easy thing. Not only are there obstacles, but there are also tough decisions you must make. Which dream will take priority, how often do you work toward that dream? So you need courage to help you through the steps and motivate you to move forward. I'm learning this through small steps day by day. Counseling for my social problems, daily writing on my blog and in my screen writing book, and practice with songs on my Ipod. Right now, my focus is to publish a novel, and get through school to make the next move.The road to your dream is never easy, that's why you need courage. This quote means so much to me, and I hope you will learn from it too :)

My First Fourteener

Mt Grays Peak


Hiking was a common activity when I was younger. My family and I would go on hikes with our friends and we would start out early in the day. I don't remember how old I was, but I remember that only my Dad and I finished the hike and signed our names at the top of Grays Peak. It was windy and clouds cast shadows on the faraway mountains as I stood on the giant rocks among a few other people who had made it to the top. I think this may have been one of my first tastes of triumph. That moment was a turning point to my competitive side and I began to view so much in life as a mountain and challenge I must overcome. Some of that gusto is gone now, but it still lingers in my memory of that moment. I wrote about it in elementary school and took pride in the fact I had stood on a 14,270 foot mountain. It was a real shot of life, to picture how big the world was and even though I was small, I still made the climb. Never had I felt such a victory, even to this very day.

picture courtesy of http://griffinarchive.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html

The meaning of a teddy bear

A teddy bear can have many different meanings in stories. In Cardcaptor Sakura, rumor has if you make a teddy bear for someone you love and give the bear your name, that person will love you in return. In Goong S the worry bear is a gift to someone under a lot of stress or as a reminder to not worry so much. I found both of these stories intriguing and I will probably use these ideas in a story one day. I will make a bear for the future and I will purchase my own worry bear to keep from worrying so much. This is a cute form of therapy.

With a gentle smile
Or friendly face
Real life can seem better on
Rainy days
Yesterday's quarrels

Become very small
Each time
A friend helps you
Recover from a fall

Lolipop?

I had to do this he he. Palace is an awesome show and these two (Shin-goon and Chae) are adorable ^_^

Beastly Movie Review: What Love really is

After a year of delay, I got to see Beastly today. I've been a fan of Beauty and the Beast stories since I can remember. Out of all the fairy tales, I thought Beauty and the Beast was the most realistic. Why? Because they actually get to know each other before they decided they were in love. Of course everyone knows the message is "don't judge a book by its cover" but I think there's more to the story than that. Especially in the case of Beastly where Kyle Kingsbury is turned into a beast as punishment for his vain and superficial attitude toward appearances. This was a book first, so I must compare the two a bit. In the book, Kyle insults a witch and acts like everyone is beneath him. The same is true in the film. The difference in the film involves the reason why Kendra, the witch decides to give Kyle a second chance. In the book Kyle tells his maid to purchase an orchid and instead the maid buys a white rose. Lindy, a girl working at the dance watches as Kyle's vain girlfriend Sloane throws a fit about it. For some reason Kyle picks up the rose and gives it to Lindy, because she stares at it longingly. In the movie, Lindy tells Kyle what his maid also told him about the white rose. It means, "I'm worthy of you". This was a nice touch to add to the depth of the film's message. It is about real love, not vanity. My only complaint about the movie is that Kyle changes his name to Hunter while in the book after he transforms, he changes his name to Adrian which means "dark one". Other than that, the movie followed Kyle's growth in character beautifully. He is even more involved with Lindy and actually knows who she is before giving her the flower. It's rare when a movie goes into depth about true meaning in life. Beastly is not just about the fact that looks aren't what makes a person, it's also a message that real love cannot be bought or even happen out of the blue. It is much more than that, which I believe is the true value of this story. I give Beastly five out of five white roses, and I will definitely go see it again.

Laughter is the best medicine

When you're faced with difficult times, I think the most important thing you should do is laugh and try to have some fun. It may be hard, and at times it may feel like you don't deserve to laugh or even smile, but I think those are the times you should try your hardest to be happy. Distraction with humor and fun can be a really healthy thing when you're drenched in sorrow and depression. So my new motto will be to laugh for awhile, do what I want to do and not worry about anything.

Something Blue 18 (On feeling blue)

In a lot of ways this week, I had to face the past. I've never had to take so many personal indulgence trips or purchase cake and cookies so much in one week. I think I learned something though. When you're blue, you need to remember that you are still you. There will be times you won't be able to handle everything that comes your way. But instead of thinking you're weak, you should ask yourself why you feel you won't be able to handle it. Is it too close to home? Why is it too close to home. If it's bothering you this much, why would you want it to rule your life? So I guess you could say the the past few days, I've been "blue" because I came face to face with my painful years of Middle School and High School. I'm not lying when I say that I would rather forget they happened. This week I had no choice but to read a book that told a story so like my own it was hard to handle. Reading this book made me feel like I was reading the pages of my diary, that I had been convinced I had thrown out or burned. I never thought the feelings, the memories and even the people would show up again. I had no idea how much the book would effect me. I never knew that having the events which happened in your past discussed like an academic debate would feel like a dagger plunged in your chest. What events you ask? Bullying. Yes, I knew exactly what it was like. And according to everyone in my class, I was the only one who was an outcast in my Middle School and High School days. I don't think I have broke down and cried in front of a teacher at college ever! But I did. I was able to deal with the entire class period but I had to stay after class and explain to the teacher that this book was so close to home, that I reacted the same way as the main character and lived through the majority of her circumstances, that I would not be able to listen to college kids discuss the events like robots. I'm grateful that my college teacher understood. And, even when I apologized, she told me I had no reason to relieve the painful events of the past. I still had to read the book, but I didn't have to go to class and discuss it. I was so relieved to hear that, but it still didn't mean it was easy. Imagine reading a book that was so like your past it would make you tell yourself, "I'm not that person anymore. It's over" over and over again. I'm glad that the character in the book found resolution, and I'm glad that no one else in my class had to go through that. I'm not glad that they couldn't understand what she went through. I guess it is hard to imagine going to school where no one will stand up for you, and you won't even stand up for yourself because you feel you've done something wrong. You are also the only person you can rely on. You don't know if anyone can be trusted. By reading this book, I had to accept that all these events happened, and I will need to eventually find my own way to resolve, within myself, that I'm no longer the victim I once was. It will be a hard battle, but I think reading this book and relating it to my past is the first step. Clearly I have a lot of emotions tied to this time in my life, and I admire the author of the book I had to read for being able to tell her story. Maybe one day, with the right words and the honest perspective, I will tell mine.

The Scrapbook of the Teenage Girl

Congratulations Twilight fans! Now you too can go out in the woods, force your boyfriend to wear glitter and make pained expressions at each other while a friend or family member captures it all in photos. The Immortal Love scrapbook allows you to add finesse to your attempts with flashy backgrounds of meadows, apples and moons and the gothic red letter stickers mark your adolescent pact in blood. All you need to add to the fun is a battle of the teams with Team Edward and Team Jacob fans duking it out for the camera. This photo can go on the page with a spooky full moon and forest in the background. . . how romantic. If your boyfriend refuses to glitterize, you can do it yourself by sprinkling the stuff on the photo and pasting the picture next to the apple, just to make it official. Throw in a random rose that covers the entire page and you're done! So what do you think? Would you buy this product? I think if it is used for anything it has to be pictures of your boyfriend either trying to bite you, or howling like a wolf. Whatever team you're on, I'm sure your boyfriend will appreciate the honor (torture) to indulge your girlish fantasies.

Writing Prompt 14

Prompt: My ten favorite works of art

1. Wildwood Dancing by Kinuko Y. Craft


2. Serenity by Kaguya


3. Beauty and the Beast ballroom



4. Kyo and Tohru's hug by Natsuki Takaya



5. Bride of the Water God by Yun Mi-kyung


6. Horizons by Josephine Wall


7. Psyche revived by Cupid's Kiss by Antonio Canova


8. True Love by CLAMP


9. Memories by CLAMP



10. Tribute to Macalania by MelancholiesChild