Stories and Starlight

Yes, I am aware that it's no longer October or November. Or 2020, for that matter. But I re-discovered this post, drowning in my sea of unfinished blogpost drafts, and decided it had some good thoughts that deserved publication. They're just... four months late.

Belated stream-of-consciousness birthday post! It's a mix of what I wrote in my journal, what I posted on Instagram that day, and some other thoughts to pull it all together. Italicized lines are from the song " Crossing a Bridge " from the Anastasia  Broadway musical. I've messed around with this writing style before, although I don't think I've ever published anything like it. It was very enjoyable -- that is, once I figured out where I was going with it.

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"Who I am and who I wanna be cannot connect; why? .... I know I like to preach to always be yourself / but my emotions make me feel like i am someone else Me and pride had made a pact that we don't need no help / which feels like I'm at war inside myself but I forgot the shells  I hold my issue up for all to see, like show and tell / A lot of people know me, but not a lot know me well."  from " WHY " by NF

inspired by lyrics for "WE'RE GONNA BE ALRIGHT" by Switchfoot if you laugh until you cry or cry until you laugh; whatever the order, you'll be out of breath, your sides will hurt, you'll come out stronger than before. it's okay to cry. it's okay to laugh. it's okay to feel.  your emotions don't define you, they are only a part of you.  so don't be afraid to cry. when you've held it in too long and the balloon pops, let yourself go for a bit. take a breath, a new step, and don't forget - you're gonna be alright. so don't be afraid to laugh. when joy is uncontrollable and fun is uncontainable, let yourself go for a bit. take a breath (you know how much you need it), find the spring in your step, and don't forget - you're gonna be alright.  so don't be afraid to feel. some days your emotions will be elusive, some days they'll form a tidal wave, and when that wave crashes, and all that you feel in that moment is just...