A Journey For Happiness

A long train had to be pulled up a very high mountain. A big train was asked to pull the load but refused because it thought the job was too hard even though he was built for hard work. While all the large locomotives refused, one little blue engine stepped up and offered to take the load. The larger engines scoffed at the pitiful size of the engine. The idea of something so small pulling such a big and heavy load up a high mountain seemed impossible. But the little engine thought he could do it so he pulled the load up the mountain while repeating, "I think I can, I think I can." And eventually, he did make it up that mountain. How? Perseverance and faith in itself. The only size that matters to succeed is that of your determination. The little locomotive never gave up - never let go of hope even when the mountain got rockier and harder to go up. So, let's just cut to the chase. Never give up on yourself. Don't you ever let anyone tell you that y...

What does this picture mean to you? To me: hope. You're crossing a desert and incredibly thirsty. You don't know how much longer you can last, but your human hope pushes you onward. But there are times when you wonder if it's all in vain, and you're afraid of holding onto that hope, fearing the disappointment when it turns out you were just hoping for the impossible. And when everything seems lost, you spot something. Jutting out of the ground is a little green sprout, a glimmer of hope in the hopeless desert. Wherever there is green means water can't be far away. And then you start hoping all over again. Not too long ago, my family and I were thrown into a desert of despair (get it? instead of a sea of despair, I said a desert. No? Okay.)  My grandfather, my dad's dad, was in the hospital. His kidneys weren't filtering his blood fast enough. He was fatigued, confused, lying helpless in the emergency room. I remember how my dad deliv...

"If today were  the  last day of my life, would I want to do  what I'm about to do today?"   - Steve Jobs Why do you think money exists? I think there are many perks about being human. I mean, you can do so many things other animals, like birds for instance, cannot do. Can birds invent world-changing things? Probably not. Can birds fly into space? Probably not. There are lots of pros about being human. We do not adapt like other animals - we bend the world so it suits us. Which sounds pretty shellfish , doesn't it?  Sorry, I just couldn't resist. Then there's that one con. It's those little green slips that humans need to live a comfortable life. We are the only animals that pay to exist. They say money cannot buy happiness and it really can't. But it buys food that we can eat. It buys us shelter so we can live. Money is important . Which is why I hate it. This idea that being rich means having everything you could ever w...

We say goodbye to them, gripping hands and our glistening eyes tell the rest of that farewell. They'll appear again when we need them. Or maybe they never really leave. It's the end. All those memories we made - it just doesn't seem like we've made enough yet.  It's been such a good year and I will cherish the last few days of school like a camel would cherish an oasis filled with water after a thousand miles of desert. I'll never forget this year. But, I'll admit being excited for summer and being able to spend more time with my friends or sleeping like the lazy person I am. (Just kidding.) The final school project: time capsules. And in another six years - at the end of our senior year - we'll come back to dig it up. It's quite exciting. I haven't decided what to put in it yet. I hope future me doesn't change too much. I kind of like the optimistic and naive me of now. I'm trying not to think too much of the future and j...

I'm just going to start this off by saying that I judge books by their covers all the time. But books are not people and people shouldn't be judged that way. My observation of our society: Physical appearance seems like the most significant and commonly used way to judge others. I'm sure you have come across times like this. You've probably come across it while learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. More specifically, about his dream... "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Even though there are now laws about this "skin color" kind of discrimination, I feel like it still happens. Like, people will look at a darker skinned man and have all kinds of bad thoughts about him. But I bet you, that darker skinned man probably has a smile that could light up a room, and a heart filled with love. Pretty faces, not-...

My brain has run dry of ideas. I have none whatsoever and I'm not sure if it's because I've been extremely busy lately that I can't really think or if I'm just really bored and don't want to think. Well no, I really actually need  to think. I really need  a new idea. But I just can't grab hold of one. So, this here is a jumble of thoughts ungathered, unedited, and all definitely unfinished . Spring. This year, the spring equinox was on March 20 and yet, where I am, the weather is anything but pleasantly warm. It just snowed on Wednesday last week and the bitter wind is a constant reminder that the groundhog's prediction wasn't very accurate. Either that or extremely accurate since it's still chilling outside. I hate hot weather, it irritates me, but this is just getting ridiculous. School. I'm kind of happy that the school year is ending because I can't wait to go on vacations and spend my whole day with my little brother. But ...

To Mommy: My lovely, hardworking mother that was always by me when I needed her. "I want to be like Mommy when I grow up." I told her that when I was seven. But I don't say that anymore. Now I aim to surpass her, however hard that may be. Honestly, I could never repay her or thank her enough for all the times she supported me and helped me. She was always there to kiss my cuts, she was always there to whisper me words of encouragement, she was always there to heal my sadness. My mom is my hero, my idol, my warmth. Her strength and love are unquenchable, unconditional, unbeatable, and undeniable . I love you, Mom. Forever. To Daddy: Oh, the blissful memories of my father's strong arms carrying a sleeping me from the car to my bedroom. The memories of my father playing games with me and giving me piggyback rides. The memories of my father making me laugh so hard that I was soon pounding on the ground with my fists. Memories that will stay in my mind and in...

I love roller coasters but I close my eyes I have a bike I'll never ride I wear these shoes but they aren't really mine I'm afraid of the dark but I never turn on my lights I love the water but I can't swim I have this map but I've got nowhere to go I hate the cold but I love the snow I'm young so why do I feel old? I'm dissatisfied with my life but I don't want to die I have lots of friends yet I'm still lonely I got a quiet voice but I want to be heard I'm not good with words but I have a lot to say I don't like hypocrites but I'm one myself

Take my hand, let me take you back and back in time, back two hundred and fifty years ago, the t ransition into the 18th century - Vietnam. This is a story of our origin pass down generation to generation; of our name and our home. Told first by my great-great-great grandfather whose name is lost in time, thrown into oblivion, not by choice but by mistake. Here, I'll tell it now to you :         Once upon a time when Vietnam was still ruled by emperors and empresses, there was a rule. The government's 2nd highest position was the general of the army, and only one person ruled the general – the emperor. If the general attempts to murder the king to take the crown, he would be severely punished. All with his last name, family or not, would be obliterated, along with the next three generations with the same last name.            My great-great-great grandfather was not a general but he served the government. He was ...