Once Upon A Time

All throughout our young lives we are spoon fed one simple phrase, "Once upon a time".  We grow up wanting to believe in magic, fairy tales, and dreams.  Then reality and adulthood hits and we realize that they were just tales, we are taught magic doesn't exist, and dreams only come true to the fortunate.  I used to think that way until I started thinking about fairy tales in general, and how close to our lives are we just don't realize.  Everything from wanting to become a princess/prince, wooden boys who when they lie grow a giant snoz, genies in lamps, and all our evil protagonists.  They are all there, just cleverly disguised though out our lives!

Princesses and Princes

Since day one as a child you are told about princesses and princes.  Girls are called princess and boys are called princes.  And that ideal never changes, because look how many articles there are written on how to find your prince charming, I rest my case.  And one other thing, every time I have watched Say Yes to the Dress, and yes I was watching with my wife, the bride to be's always say they want to feel like a princess on their wedding day!  I have no problem with that, I married the prettiest princess on my wedding day and made her my queen.  Now I have a daughter who when asks if she wants to be a princess when she grows up, will correct you immediately and tell you straight to your face that she already is!  And she is she's my princess and her prince charming to be better not break her heart, because than he will meet the Beast I have inside.  Princesses and Prince's have a very permanent place in reality, but sadly it seems to only pertain to a few situations, and I think it would be a better place if we expanded the opportunities people felt like the better version of themselves.  In fact just tomorrow treat your loved one like the princess/prince they are to you and see how you feel, and if that loved one is a true princess/prince they will gladly return the favor.

Wooden boys!

I have spent my whole life trying to be a real boy, that might sound funny, I was trying for it to, but it is to true.  I have never been the typical guy, I can't fix cars, I can kinda use tools, and the only sports team I like is the Chicago Cubs, and when they win a world series I know there is something called magic in the world!  But one thing I don't do is lie!  For one thing is I lack the capability of hiding the truth, because deep down I always feel the truth is the best said, even if it will hurt in the end.  If I lie I show it in my face, I don't grow a giant nose, but you can tell because I suck at lying.  But just think for a second if every person lied and there nose would grow how much more interesting life would be.  There would be more successful marriages due to you had to be faithful, because if you didn't your spouse could break your nose off for the obvious lying.  Cops would be poked in the chest whenever they pull over someone when they ask why they were pulled over, and a lot less dogs would be punished for eating homework.  But the best thing about if the lying consequence would be watching C-Span, and watching hundreds of people trying to fit their long ass noses in such a  constricted building.  I would pay good money to see that!

3 wishes!

I bet every person would love to find a magic lamp, rub it, and make three of there dreams come true.  I wouldn't.  In fact if I found one I would call three friends and find out one wish for each of them and make it for them.  I do not want a cheapened dream granted, if I didn't work hard for it.  Granted when I finish my book I will be praying for a little magic coming my way in getting published, but other than that I want to work beyond hard to make my dream come true, because it will be that much sweeter in the end when it finally happens.  Each time my pen writes a barely legible letter in my book, I know I'm one step closer to calling myself an author, officially, and being paid for it.  Who knows after I publish a few books, I could publish this whole blog and make some money off of it.   Dreams come true when you know they will, magic happens when you believe in it, and there is no such thing as 3 wishes.  But there are three things that are required to make your dreams come true; a positive attitude, undying perseverance, and finally surrounding yourself with the right people who know deep down in their heart that you can do this, and you will do this!

Evil!

With all the good things in our life there are bound to be things that are bad in our lives as well, our villains.  They might not be evil step sisters or mothers, mean aunts that put curses on you, or even a peer that gets you into smoking turning you into a donkey!  They are still there.  They might be disguised as a jerk boss, a backstabbing friend, or just some people who just have it out for you no matter what.  The fact of the matter is they exist one for one reason, to prove them wrong!  There is no greater feeling in this world than showing people who didn't think you could do something, do what they thought was impossible!  Whether it be bringing your baseball team who lost every game in the first half of the season, end up being second in the long run, and losing the last game by a fluke!  Or it might be as simple as showing your boss they were wrong about you, and you can handle a lot more than they give you credit for.  Or your greatest villain is a supposed friend who smiles to your face, and throws knifes at you when you are not looking.  If your greatest villain is the last one, I have one recommendation, drop that friend, and friend seven dwarfs, all named by their various personality traits.  It will be pure entertainment for all and you will love life ever more if you have them around, all seven of them!

  

Conclusion

So please look at your life and realize how magical it actually is.  Sure you might not have mice running around singing you a song while making you a dress, a talking monkey, or any kind of singing furniture.  But you have something even more magical, real life sprinkled with fairy tale elements, and the possibility to make your dreams come true if you believe.  Believe in being a princess/prince, one day becoming a real person, magic is real and dreams come true, and evil exists just so you can overcome it!

The one

I haven't wrote a straight out love poem in a long time!

The One

We all have that one person.

When you first meet and say hello you just know.

If you are lucky you don't miss that moment.

I didn't.

I found the one.

The one that completes me.

The one who makes me feel like I am flying high in the sky.

She gives me the power deep inside to save the world if need be.

But has the intelligence to tell me I actually don't have any super powers.

Yet.

That's how I know you are the one.

When we are apart it feels like time drags on, and on.

Never ending it seems.

But when we are together time stands still.

We are the only ones around.

The only ones that matter.

The birds stop flying and just float in the sky.

Water is stuck time.

Children are frozen in mid play.

When we have the moments when it's just us.

That's how I know you are the one.

The one accepts all parts of you and brings out the best.

But knows how to tolerate the worst.

The one is the person who teaches you how to deal with storms.

Because deep down life is not all about the sunshine.

Through laughter and good times.

To sadness and tears.

If they truly are the one they will stick by you.

In good.

And most importantly through the bad.

The one knows everything about you.

And even that doesn't scare them off.

That's how I know you are the one.

When I look at you I see all my dreams come true.

And even bigger dreams form.

You have brought out the best in me.

And never stop challenging me to up the ante.

You will never let me give up.

Even when you know I've bitten off way more than I can chew.

You are next to me holding my hand still pushing me to greatness.

That's how I know you are the one.

All these reasons and more.

Some are better left unsaid.

That's how I know you are the one!

Friends

I wanted to write a poem dedicated to so many people because without my friends I would be no where near where I am today!

Friends

We all need friends.

Best friends.

Good Friends.

And yes bad friends.

We all have best friends.

The ones who know all our secrets.

The ones who we can always trust.

The ones who know why we are up.

And try so desperately to hide it when we are down.

They will always guide you to the light in the darkness.

Or hug you in the cold.

Their voice overpowers the demons.

And they will die first before they ever let you give up.

They are the ones who you love like family.

They are your unofficial brother or sister.

The ones who have a special place in your heart. 

And hold that special kind of love.

Good friends are the ones who have good times with,

But not the best times.

They are the ones who mostly have your back.

The ones who will fight for you.

Their relationships have a distance factor. 

With best friends there is no distance to great for friendship.

You will say hi to a good friend and most of the time get a response

But occasionally there will be an echo of your own voice

But most of all good friends are the training ground for best friends.

Bad friends exist to basically show us who not to become. 

They stab you in the back while smile to your front.

You tell them secrets.

And they use them, weapons against them.

They poison you internally without you knowing it.

They are the kind of people who only come to you when they need help.

But when you need it they are far away.

These are the friends who we cut ourselves away from immediately.

Because in the end they only care about one thing.

Themselves.

So be a friend.

Love a friend.

Tell your friends Thank You!

Because without friends our world would be a darker place.

If

Now that I have all of that out of my system, and all will be calm after Saturday, I have had a poem in the back of my head for a few weeks.  Cooking little by little, changing organically, basically having more and more of a meaning to me.  It's inspired by a poem If by Rudyard Kipling, yes the guy that wrote the Jungle Book, which is also a great book!  Reading that poem inspired all these thoughts, and I believe that is the true definition of inspiration, to breed new inspiration so inspiration never dies!  With that I give you If:

If...

If we all thought before we spoke would there be silence.

If we all know time is so valuable why do we waste so much of it.

If we know that happiness is choice then why do we choose the opposite.

If we see something wrong why are we scared to say something.

If we know what causes others pain why do we continue to do it.

If we know what hate creates then why do we still allow it to continue.

If we all know how powerful love is why is there so little of it.

If we know the world needs heroes why do we stop believing.

If we know we are winners in whatever we finish why do so many of us quit.

If we know the demons in our head are just figments why do we give in to their demands.

If we know its our job to take care of our world why do so many of us slack at it.

If we all know how bad wars are why do we let them begin.

If we know how hateful our words are why do we still say them.

If we know the truth why do we say the opposite,

If we all had a hand to hold.

A hug from a friend,

A kind hello.

A sincere smile.

The truth.

No Fear.

The world would be a better place.

Not just the world but our own personal world.

If we all know this is true.

Then why the hell haven't we done anything to change it!

end

Underdog

I'm not sure writing a blog after working 14 hours at the Cheese and closing cash on top of that, and with having the week I just had is a good idea.  I don't I think it is a good idea, I think it is the best idea!  They say you will speak the greatest speech you will ever regret when your angry, and currently now there is a lot of anger, and if I had gamma rays in me I might turn into the Hulk, literally!  Smashing everything in sight which would be cathartic at first, but I feel bad about the damage afterwards because that's the kind of person I am.  A caring person or so I think so.  Sometimes too much!  Which leads me to the subject of this blog, the kind of person I have always rooted for, the teams that I will always root for, ultimately the kind of person I feel I am, the underdog!

First place has never been a name associated with me in anything really.  I may be the favorite of something, but when it comes down to it, I'm still not first, I'm second!  Being in second place your whole life makes you see things a lot differently, bitterly and optimistically in my eyes.  Second place is the closest I have ever gotten to victory in sports, work, and even in life.  I could retell my homecoming story here but I've told it to many times this week already, and yes after all those years have passed the pain still stings a little.  Coming in at second means you gave it 120% and still came up short, might be a little, but still you weren't good enough in the long run, which might be okay with some people, but me personally I'm tired of looking at first place and wondering what it feels like.  I'm tired of always getting the short end of the stick, just because it seems like my place in life is to always be second.

They say its not if you win or lose, it' how you play the game.  Truth of the matter is that is BS!  Who gets paid more, champions!  Yeah its fun, but it's more fun for the people who always win!  The champions who it seems to always have the red carpet thrown out for them, and all obstacles cleared for them so they can always be champions!  If they hear the word no they think it's a foreign word, because the only thing they are used to hearing is yes and always seems to boil down to their way, no matter the situation.  While the people behind them stare wondering why do the cards always line up for them.  What makes them so special that they never get the rug pulled out from under them, and whenever I get close to the prize I always trip while they skip to victory, not bothering to help a fallen man.   Thirty plus years of coming up short makes one humble, thirty plus years of helping out others than yourself, always doing what's best for others in the long run, builds humility!  Something that most champions lack, but the underdog has an over abundance of!

The world needs underdogs though, because it makes some people feel good to cheer on someone you know has no chance of winning, when you have already bet on the winner.  I know who has rooted me on my whole life and I know win or lose they will always be in my corner.  They always comfort me when I fall up short and tell me it will be okay, and always tell me next time, you'll get it next time.  Hundreds of next times later and guess what I still haven't got it!  But what I do have is loyalty from the ones always in my corner.  But when I do win, and yes I will win others will follow suit, because people like to flock to champions, and lie saying they believed in them all the time when the underdog becomes the winner!  When that day comes I will keep my friends that were always there for me by my side, and the bandwagoners can stay on the sidelines, because that's where they  have been this whole time!  The only reason I can think why I'm still an underdog is because I have a little more to learn, or put in if you must to become a champion.  Because God knows deep down they day I start winning there is no way I'm going back to just being an underdog!

Hate

I made a promise to myself I would never post anything negative on my blog, but I have realized without any negative there is no reason and no chance of positive.  In a way they need each other to both exist.  Same as hate and love, one word I hate and the other brings so much joy to so many aspects of my life, and since I've only wrote about love I think I have to be balanced and write about hate as well.  First of all if you are offended by foul language skip this blog, because there's no other way to get the point through with out using it.  With that being said I give you: Hate

I hate the word hate, and I hate using that word because of how powerful it actually is.  Hate has caused many deaths in the past, to much, and yet it gets thrown around like it means nothing, kinda like love has.  People say they love just about anything which negates the true meaning, and same thing as hate.  The way I I define hate is having no chance of having anything positive to say about anything, and to me that is one of the scariest things ever.  Hating someone because of sexual orientation, skin color, gender, religion or any other reason is in my eyes is beyond definition.  We are all human, sure we may be different, but what gives us that right to hate someone else for petty differences.  It doesn't and we do it to many times through out our life.
   
Before you think I'm crazy and say hey what about all the bitches and assholes in our life that we all have (see the language warning), is it ok to hate them?  The answer to that is simple is ask yourself why people are like that.  The word Why can unveil a lot about people, and if we ask a simple why, we might find out why they act the way they do.  Who knows maybe their whole life they were treated horribly and see the world as a horrible place so they treat others in accordance.  So they are paying it forward to how they were treated because that's the only way they've been treated their life.  Which is completely wrong to me but to some people it just seems to come naturally.  Some of our biggest battles are silent among people, they might realize and not care what they are doing, or they know what they are doing and don't give a rats ass.  So the best way to deal with bitches and assholes is to be as nice as possible to them and see if they change, and if they don't well you tried, wash your hands of them, brush them off and go off living.  Don't let their hate poison you, because poison can spread and kill the love within  for others.

There are bullies through out our life, when we are young and when we grow older sadly.  Sometimes they have a name, sometimes they have your voice, and sometimes you may even be the bully.  My whole life I have been bullied by actual bullies in my youth so bad my sister had to come to my rescue.  Which was embarrassing then, and still it is to admit it now, but I know my sister meant well, and I love you sis for doing that.  But now my biggest bully is inside my mind.  It's a bully that says no matter how hard I will never amount to anything, because I' m not special enough.  Or it's telling me to keep looking the mirror fattie and put on that bikini top to hide those man boobs, no matter how hard I work out.  Its a voice that tells me at night give up trying to write, because you have given up every other time you have tried before.  Some of those voices are fueled by past and previous experiences, and others are simply talking shit.  People talk and talk not realizing that words hurt more than they know, or they do and they don't care.  What they say about stick and stones are lies because you can heal from being beat with sticks, but emotional scars from words being flung are a lot harder to heal from.

So in conclusion, I hate the word hate!  I only actually hate one person, and that person is dead, so I'm not going to waste anymore time on that.  I strongly dislike a lot of people, but the more I think about it I feel sorry that they are not giving me a chance to like them.  I want to believe we are all good people in this world deep down, but there are a few in this world that are put here to test how strong our hearts really are.  Maybe the good people of this world are put here on this world to devenomize the poison that the not so nice people spew with their hatred in words and actions, or maybe God put them here to show us there is a reason to be good, because if your not you end up like that.  I just know I'm done letting the poison of hatred get in my heart from now on, and walking away from the bullshit hatred breeds.

Life Begins

Life begins when you know the truth.

When you stop believing the lies telling you it will all be ok.

Instead knowing the only way it gets better is if you do something about it.

When you realize there are two types of people in this world.

Those who help you, and those who hurt you,

And knowing the difference between the two.

When the epiphany happens when you know there is only person who is in charge of your life

You.

Life begins when you find the greatest things in life are earned and not given freely.

Love, respect, wealth are not just given out.

You have to show the world you deserve them.

Smiling doesn't change the world it just makes it a brighter place.

That moment when you find out the only way to learn anything is to

Live.

Life begins when you find out how strong you really are.

That what doesn't kill us makes us not only stronger but also wiser.

When a smile shines through all your personal storms.

That one time that you being around creates a much needed rainbow for someone else.

When you have the whole world on your shoulders

And find out who can help you lift it if it is needed
Everyone you love.

Life begins when you figure out how scary life actually is.

Fear becomes a motivator of what you couldn't overcome but now can.

Darkness and the unknown fuel the imagination.

When whatever was impossible in the past 

Is now possible in the 

Present.

Life beings when for different times for everyone.

It could be that first kiss.

The harsh reality of sink or swim finally hitting you.

Or that moment when you see everyone around you rooting for you

Showing you are not as alone as you thought you were.

But the only way life truly begins is 

When you open your eyes

Open your heart 

And go out in the world and 

Live.

Live a life full of mistakes, lessons, and failures.

But most importantly live a life full of 

Success

Respect

and

Love.