Life's ring of fire is something we all dance through, so why not burn brightly for others? For ourselves? Yes, it is difficult to find time for the things we love, but we must also know what we love. Let what you love light up your soul. A craving for faith, a passion and thirst for life, a longing to connect with others, a love for life, helping others. These all personally make my heart and soul dance like wildfires. Be brave and go after what you want, and let it light up your soul. 

But can you still be quiet and soft? Or do you have to be bold and courageous? The answer is, you can still be set ablaze either way. It's up to you whether you want your path to be a wildfire for others that is daring and wild, or a soft smoky trail where your flames gently touch the souls of others. But remember, "just because you are soft does not mean you are not a force to be reckoned with, both honey and wildfire are the color gold" (author unknown).

So, why does all of this matter? Life flies by, and there are days that are lacking in purpose, in passion, in energy. Sometimes the flares that set fire to life are deficient. There are times where many of us, myself included, wake up each morning and immediately set ourselves to "default" mode - doing the same thing, the same routine, every day without putting time aside for the matches that light our souls. It's not selfish to do what you love, that's exactly what we are put on this earth to do. We have to allow ourselves to melt away the things we don't have time for in order to have room for the things that are imperative, igniting a flare of energy to course and flow through our veins. 

Set your heart aflame. Don't dim your own light. Dive into the fires that illuminate your life, that enlighten every breath you take, every step you walk. Let the fires of life envelop you in a fiery embrace. Become a lighthouse for others, a beacon of light set ablaze when the grasp of darkness settles upon others. Let what you love light you up and let you burn. 

The striking of raindrops upon the ground and windowpanes is a comfortable sound at times, making us feel safe and snug where we are, enveloping us in a hug with anticipation of new life. The day after it rains, flowers lift their heads and kids draw new art with sidewalk chalk, remaking what was washed away by the rain of yesterday. I like to think we are all similar to rainstorms. Sending our voices out into the world, breaking through the sky, washing the dirt out from each other's eyes. To be chaotic and bold, or soft and gentle. To show that we cannot be controlled, and that nothing beautiful grows without a little rain. We grow where the rain falls, and we are fed by the light. 

 I've been asked where I see this website going, or what my overall theme for this blog is. Honesty, I don't have an answer. Like the leaves that blow with the gusty wind, or the raindrops that free-fall from the sky, I just go with the flow. This is a place to let my thoughts out, to share them with the world. A simple word for describing this website is "free." A little hint of this and that, of all things. Personally, I would consider myself free spirited. I'm independent to the point of being rebellious at times, and I try not to be tied down by the worries of life. Maybe you can relate. I love traveling anywhere and everywhere, and enjoy the thrill of meeting new people along the way. In a sense, rain is the same way. It goes its own way, travels far and wide, and helps others by giving them fuel to grow, therefore allowing them to be fed by the light as well. Sometimes the rain in our lives helps others bloom, as talking about our struggles lets others know they are not alone in this vast world. After all, we are the sun, the moon, and the stars. We are rain, we are flowers. We are the world. Giving off a light for all, even amongst the rain. 

This poem has resonated with me for a while, causing me to realize that "and then," is similar to life itself. Life is a world full of promise and is a prelude to something wonderful. Each and every day is a transition to the next unexpected event, either a soft whoosh or a gust of wind pushing us to the next day. As I'm sure you've all heard before, we have to start romanticizing our lives and believing that we are the main characters. That our story impacts the story of others. That even the smallest mundane moments are exciting. This is when we truly start to live, to look forward to the next day while still being excited about this day.  Something I have always struggled with was focusing either too much on the future or too much on the past. However, I have now realized that focusing on anything but the present will not get me anywhere. By focusing on the present, we not only are helping prepare for our future by not worrying about it, but we are also not worrying about the past. With that being said, we shouldn't treat the season of life we're in as a time of transition. Meaning, we shouldn't waste our school years wishing we were graduated and had a job,  or wishing for someone to be in love with when we're single. When these things come, they will come in perfect time, and often when we least expect it. I know this all may sound cliché, but there is nothing like looking back and feeling a pit of emptiness on those months or years, because all we did was hope for something better to come along instead of focusing on what we currently had. I've learned from experience, and that empty pit is something I wish no one ever had to experience, as sometimes that emptiness can consume you. There is light, I promise. Stop expecting and start focusing on the season of life you are in now. While it is more than important to reach for our goals and obtain a better self, we cannot keep neglecting the present and where we currently are. It is now that determines our future. When there is a period of darkness we go through, we have to remember "and then." "And then, the light pierced through the dark, forbidding sky, and the rain stopped falling..." and then the sun rose again.
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