"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn."

One thing about this world that is troublesome, and sometimes goes unnoticed, is that everything and everyone you know is or will be, someday, lost to change. Things happen and people change before your eyes, and most of the time others seem to overlook it until something different stands before them. Some believe that change is for the better. Some believe that change is for the worst. I'm not quite sure where my stance is on the matter, but sometimes, you'd rather have everything stay the same, at least for a little bit longer. It's hard to grow up and leave behind all the things you've ever known. It's hard when a loved one passes and every aspect of life is different. It's hard when friends leave and when you never get to say goodbye. Change is never easy to deal with. Change is always hard. I've known a lot of people that have been trapped inside the grasp of change's hands, and have never escaped. It's very strange to see someone you once knew so well walk by you as if they've never known you at all. But, the thing is, change happens. Sometimes there is nothing you can do but to somehow find a way past it. Sometimes you'd rather just go back to the world you'd once known where everything was how it used to be, and nothing ever changed; No one ever changed. Sometimes you wish change wouldn't take away the ones that you love.
But sometimes, all you can do is watch the leaves turn color, as the people you once knew turn color, too.

"Never be afraid to sit awhile and think."

Even the most outgoing need their alone time, right? Life can give anyone a hard time, and sometimes some room for thought can make all the difference. Sometimes, I'd like nothing more than to drop everything I'm doing and just think. I'd think about pretty much anything I could think about. Sometimes, it's hard not to get lost in thought. That's usually how I fall asleep at night-- I spend hours thinking until there isn't anything left to come up with, and eventually close my eyes and drift off to sleep. Usually, we'd rather be out and about without any worries than sitting at home trying to get rid of those worries once and for all. The best you can do to solve something is to just think for a while. Why are things the way they are? Why did this happen? What am I supposed to do? Will things always be like this? Maybe.
Just think about it.

"The aim should not be victory, but progress."

So, as you all may have heard from my previous blog, our band's first competition was on Saturday. First, we went to OCHS to compete, and then came home to AHS to host our annual marching classic. I was very nervous for my first competition as a part of the colorguard-- but, surprisingly, things went better than I thought they would. Both the band and the colorguard(above) ranked first in our class (AAAAA), and 2nd overall. We took home the Reserved Grand Champion trophy! It was almost surreal to have done so well at our first competition. Usually we place near the lower end of the rankings. Needless to say, we didn't this time. I have a feeling that this is going to be a good year for our marching band. Never before have we had so much motivation to work as hard as we are working now, and never before has that hard work actually paid off. Things are finally looking up.
Maybe now, we'll make a name for ourselves.

"Is it easier to fight with dignity than to surrender in shame?"

We all come to a situation in life where we have to fight for something, whether it be a stuffed animal, the correct answer to a math problem, or a beloved friend. Sometimes, we are so determined that we can never accept the fact that we may be wrong, and that sometimes, giving up is all you can do. Everyone has always told us to stand up for what we believe in, but on the other hand, we're told that fighting is "bad." Nonetheless, the world continues to quarrel with words, guns, and fists. Many people probably find it hard to gather the courage to fight for themselves. Those are the kind of people who find it easy to drop to their knees and beg for mercy. But, honestly, in my opinion, I think that if you absolutely must defend what is right, and you must fight for it, then it is better to fight with dignity than to surrender in shame.

It just might not be as easy.

"Be who you are. Your simple presence can make others happy."

If you asked me one day what I'd like to be, if I could be anything rather than me, I would think for a while of something to say and if I could think of nothing, I might just walk away. But, honestly, I'd more likely just shrug and smile because I could think of nothing after a while. But if you asked me later, let's say, tomorrow, I'd feel a little bit wiser, with some word's that I've borrowed. If I could be something else, I'd be all I could be. I'd be happy, and wonderful, and filled up with glee. And maybe the next day, after thinking some more, I'd say I'd like to be somewhere else in the world. I'd be free and gone, and enjoy the fresh air, because it's really quite nice to feel the wind in your hair. Or maybe after that, I'd have thought something new. And say I'd rather be pretty, and good looking, too, because everything's easy when you are not you. But the next time I'd come back, with some new words to say, because after thinking a while, I thought of something that day. It's hard to be anything that you know isn't you, because deep in your heart you won't feel so true. Sometimes you just learn that your faults aren't so bad, and that your crooked smile is kinda charming, and you'd rather have what you had. So, I'd tell you, I know what I'd like to be. When it comes down to it,
I'd rather just be me.

"My winning is getting to perform. That's my victory."

So, I've been in marching band all throughout highschool (at least, as far as I've gotten in it) and have experienced all of the things that go along with it. I know of the teasing and ridicule from other students. I know the feeling of coming in last place. I definitely know the feeling of messing something up or doing something stupid. Since middle school, I've played the flute, and have tried my hand at the piccolo. After about 5 years, I can say that I'm not too shabby. Just this year, though, I joined the band's colorguard. All I can say is; it's different. I've learned a lot of ballet techniques, and maneuvers with a flag that I never thought possible. In the beginning, I'd drop my flag about 34903120 times (Yup, I just typed a random number, but you get the point) before I could nail a toss, and I was clumsy with my hands and not so graceful with my feet. I can say that I've learned a lot already, though. I can do all of the work I've learned for the show pretty well, or at least decent enough. Anyways, our first competition is Saturday, September 17. I'm pretty nervous. You may not be able to tell, though-- but behind all of the pretty makeup and braided, carefully done hair, flowing skirt, and colored flags, I'm sure I'll be fearing for my life. It's scary to think of all the people in the crowd, watching you do your thing. It wasn't so scary when I was disguised behind a thick blue uniform and hat that shadowed my face, but now that everyone can recognize me, it's hard to hide from my mistakes. Still, although I am nervous, I'm pretty excited. To me, winning doesn't mean everything, as long as we try our best. I love to perform more than anything, and that, in itself, is enough of a win for me. I hope everyone else feels the same and tries their hardest, because when it's all broken down,

it's an individual thing.

"No matter how hard you hug your money, it never hugs back."

In this materialistic world, it seems that money is everything. Sure, you can buy some nifty stuff with it, and it is important, but sometimes it seems to just corrupt our way of thinking. How much is enough? I honestly don't see how anyone can find it fair for a single person to have millions, even billions of dollars under their name, and still want more, when there are others without food or shelter. The only way that I'd find money to be a fair thing is if every single person had the same amount- but then, what's the point of it? I often think of what the world would be like without money. In a way it would be better, as everyone would start off equally and greed wouldn't be found in every corner of the earth. But, who knows what chaos would consume us all. I'd like to think that money doesn't make the world go round, for it is not nearly important as the people and values we sell out for it, but I guess there are some things you just have to admit. But, no matter what money can buy, it will always remain true that money can't buy happiness, love, or friendship, and it certainly can't hug you back.

"Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were."

But without it, we go nowhere.
Even if I am at the age where I should "know better," I still believe in imagination. I may not be a child anymore, but there will always be that small, naive person inside of me that proves otherwise. Without imagination, everyone and everything would be so bland and boring. There'd be no vivid colors and strange shapes and things that make you wonder, only the reality of everyday life crashing down on you. With the weight of the world on your shoulders, it's hard to live in a fairytale world. But, afterall, that's all we yearn for after a while- to laugh, and play, and be nothing more than a child. Sometimes, all of the troubles in the world are gone, and the most important thing is to be how we used to-- with scraped knees and eyes full of curiousity. Be a kid. Use your imagination. Look at the world with wonder. Stay forever a child at heart.
Stay forever young.

"A family that laughs together stays together"

I've heard it said that laughter can cure anything. Well, I believe that it's true, if only for a moment. Smiles, happiness, and laughter are the things that bring us all together. Without it, where would the fun in life be? When one laughs, it's as if they don't have a care in the world. It may be for only a few seconds, but what a glorious few seconds they are! Laughter truly is timeless, for you just wish the joy could last forever. I'm a person who believes that the whole world should be laughing with you, rather than at you. If we could all laugh together, well then, maybe we could all stay together.

"Do what you love, love what you do, leave the world a better place, and don't pick your nose."

One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to do what you love. I mean, what's the point of doing anything else? Well-- the point is that, if you do HAPPEN getting stuck doing something else, it's important to love doing that, as well. Although it may not have been your first choice, if you can't help it, you might as well love it. Now, it may seem like little things don't change anything, but if everyone were to try to leave the world a better place, it WILL be a better place. I'm sure of it. And picking your nose? I'm not sure what Jeff Mallett means by that, but don't do it. Just don't.