sometimes
I sit down and I know exactly what I want to say & exactly how I want to say it.
Today is not one of those days.
I was on a retreat with Student Ambassadors today, and I tell you what... those people are amazing. We did one of those guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-unless-you-have-a-heart-of-stone activities where we went around and talked about our biggest fears and regrets.
So many of my peers have dealt with death of a parent, a sibling, a friend. So many have dealt with disease, closed minds, or painful loneliness...
It amazed me to think about them carrying these things inside of them all day, every day... So much pain, and yet these are the sweetest, most caring group of people you could ever know.
I guess I just always assumed that because they are so talented and ambitious that their lives were just.. put together. But that's not the truth. Not even close. We all have pain.
We. All. Have. Pain.
I think all that we can do is go around every day with that in mind. We need to spread kindness, compassion & brighten this sometimes dark and scary world.
Another thing that really surprised me...
We played a game called Step in, Step out.
I've heard Melissa talking about it before, so I'm sure lots of you guys might have played it before.. But the basic gist is that people make a big circle, and when a statement is read that applies to you, you take a step in, creating a smaller, inner circle & stay there until someone reads a statement that doesn't apply you.
It really breaks down stereotypes...
I don't know why, but I guess I assumed that ambassadors were a heterosexual, largely christian group that would have issues with having gays in the group.
& what the heck do i know!?!
'cause one of the 'step ins' was "I believe in gay marriage" & everyone save about 3 people stepped in. I'm not going to lie... I cried. I guess I was just REALLY surprised. I mean, I never meant to hide it or closet myself but I just assumed I'd tell a few close friends and deal with the rest if/when it became an issue. Now I feel SO much more comfortable.
At times, rampant intolerance have made me feel that I was the only gay person in the world. Today on our way home I realized I wasn't even the only gay person in the car.
These people are going places. These people are America's future. And I know our generation will rise above. I feel safe in their hands.
And... moving on.
Sorry I'm so long-winded today. I have a lot of jumbled thoughts... plus I'm procrastinating like nobody's business.. haha.
So yes!
I feel the flutters of a beautiful new friendship. & GoodNESS do I feel creepy writing about it in my lj, but hey. C'est la vie.
I had a chance at this kind of friendship over the summer, but things went too far & I was stupid then..so now I'm not sure how much of that relationship can be salvaged.
But now I am smarter and my relationship is solid and honest... So I feel good about branching out into the realm of lesbros again. I often find myself reading some little tidbit of dykedrama or something ridiculous & desperately wishing I had someone to share it with, cause Melissa isn't really into all that.
I think it's something every girl should have.
So yes. I am tres surexcitée.
I love love love Beyonce. 'Flaws and All' is one of my faves. If you haven't heard it, you should.
Today is not one of those days.
I was on a retreat with Student Ambassadors today, and I tell you what... those people are amazing. We did one of those guaranteed-to-make-you-cry-unless-you-have-a-heart-of-stone activities where we went around and talked about our biggest fears and regrets.
So many of my peers have dealt with death of a parent, a sibling, a friend. So many have dealt with disease, closed minds, or painful loneliness...
It amazed me to think about them carrying these things inside of them all day, every day... So much pain, and yet these are the sweetest, most caring group of people you could ever know.
I guess I just always assumed that because they are so talented and ambitious that their lives were just.. put together. But that's not the truth. Not even close. We all have pain.
We. All. Have. Pain.
I think all that we can do is go around every day with that in mind. We need to spread kindness, compassion & brighten this sometimes dark and scary world.
Another thing that really surprised me...
We played a game called Step in, Step out.
I've heard Melissa talking about it before, so I'm sure lots of you guys might have played it before.. But the basic gist is that people make a big circle, and when a statement is read that applies to you, you take a step in, creating a smaller, inner circle & stay there until someone reads a statement that doesn't apply you.
It really breaks down stereotypes...
I don't know why, but I guess I assumed that ambassadors were a heterosexual, largely christian group that would have issues with having gays in the group.
& what the heck do i know!?!
'cause one of the 'step ins' was "I believe in gay marriage" & everyone save about 3 people stepped in. I'm not going to lie... I cried. I guess I was just REALLY surprised. I mean, I never meant to hide it or closet myself but I just assumed I'd tell a few close friends and deal with the rest if/when it became an issue. Now I feel SO much more comfortable.
At times, rampant intolerance have made me feel that I was the only gay person in the world. Today on our way home I realized I wasn't even the only gay person in the car.
These people are going places. These people are America's future. And I know our generation will rise above. I feel safe in their hands.
And... moving on.
Sorry I'm so long-winded today. I have a lot of jumbled thoughts... plus I'm procrastinating like nobody's business.. haha.
So yes!
I feel the flutters of a beautiful new friendship. & GoodNESS do I feel creepy writing about it in my lj, but hey. C'est la vie.
I had a chance at this kind of friendship over the summer, but things went too far & I was stupid then..so now I'm not sure how much of that relationship can be salvaged.
But now I am smarter and my relationship is solid and honest... So I feel good about branching out into the realm of lesbros again. I often find myself reading some little tidbit of dykedrama or something ridiculous & desperately wishing I had someone to share it with, cause Melissa isn't really into all that.
I think it's something every girl should have.
So yes. I am tres surexcitée.
I love love love Beyonce. 'Flaws and All' is one of my faves. If you haven't heard it, you should.