Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Horror. Breath. Desperation. Edgy.

Paranoia is fear. Movies of the suspense or horror variety can instill the sense of impending harm. People fear the unknown. They fear failure, rejection, pain, spiders, heights, death, having no control. The craze of our generation is apocalyptic apprehension. We are in the dark when it comes to knowing the future.

Things that go bump in the night:
Cats
Wind
Wind chimes
Creaky house
Charlie Sheen
Stuff falling off dressers
Drunk people
Murderers, assassins, thieves
Doors

A good dose of fear reminds you to stay on your toes. It gives you an adrenaline-rush. Society makes a great use of fear; it's a great motivator to drive certain actions. You never know what could happen.

Fear of monsters, a childish nightmare, has stuck with me even now. When I was young, I sometimes used to sleep with an arm hanging over the edge of the bed. I was cured of this when I saw the episode of Rugrats with the monster under the bed with a deep, threatening voice. I know that there is nothing under my bed now. Quite frankly, it's too compact for anything. Yet, in the back of my head, there's always that "What if?" that rears its ugly, maleficent head. I know no monsters lurk, but the definition of monsters remains ambiguous since I hit puberty. There are others ways to scare and be scared.


But really. Where are you safe? Under the blankets is for children. No sheet of satin can save you. What can a gun do against aliens, the unnatural, or the supernatural? In a room full of other people, you can still be mercilessly picked off. A quick flash in the dark and your friend has disappeared, you're finished. The nooks, crannies, and closets in your house are not enough to hide you, or if they are, you could be easily found out. Not even roller coasters are child-tested, mother approved. There are still incidents of the cars falling off the track, seat belts or harnesses unclasping, and getting stuck in one place. The arms of a lover offer little protection from death. Safety is an illusion.

Sleep well. Make life beautiful and enjoy every minute.

At Three A.M. I Don't Know Where To Begin

Bored. Tired. Famished. Don't want to do homework.

People always make lists of how to avoid procrastination, so here's one to help you to do just that.

1. Find something to eat. You look in the fridge many times hoping to spot something you missed the first ten times searching. You're never too full for a snack.
2. Go clean something. Chances are you've been letting things get a little messy while you've been busy doing homework.
3. Internet (StumbleUpon, Twitter, Facebook, AddictingGames, IMDB, Wikipedia, Blogger, Shopping, Email, YouTube, the Weather, Pintrest). You're here so you've already covered this one.
4. Blog. People love to talk and have attention on them. Why not be one of them?
5. Bake something. See number one.
6. Take a walk. You need to clear your head before you start your homework. And you might bump into someone you know and make plans to go out tonight.
7. Listen to music. Nothing like dancing or singing or listening to energize you!
8. Road trip!
9. Plan a murder. You don't have to follow through, but sometimes it's a nice thought and distraction. Creativity and morbidity is encouraged.
10. Plan out what work you need to get done. This seems productive, but really you're just organizing what you have to do.
11. Work out. It's healthful, and you get an adrenaline boost. And sweaty, which you can either work to your advantage or go shower.
12. Dance party/jam session in the bathroom or hallway. If you go to a school similar to mine, that shouldn't be too difficult.
13. Be a ninja.
14. Call a friend and say you'll do homework together. Because that works every time. Unless you have nerdy friends, you good student, you!
15. Write a letter to one of your friends. College students love getting mail.
16. Watch a movie.
17. Color. Nothing like cracking out the old crayons or Twistables to help give your room that je ne sais quoi.

Well, that's all I can think of at the moment. Make life beautiful and enjoy every minute (even procrastinating).

Grace Like Rain

Poise. Art. Discipline. Grace.

The art of ballet is fierce and beautiful. Each move is a Kodak moment. Elegant effluence of the body, fluid like a snake's slither. Detail and effortless concentration in every part of their body from the fingers to the toes.

Ballet is a combination of dancing and acting, but without speaking, which makes it all the more difficult. Telling a story without words is easier said than done in our society. We thrive on words. But that's not the point.

The point is ballet. Unfortunately, the only ballet I've watched is the different versions of The Nutcracker on television during the Christmas season. Everyone is familiar with The Nutcracker Suite song and several other songs I bet they don't know are from this performance. Just viewing the multiple versions that play each year astounds me. It may also have a bit to do with the fact that I know almost nothing of ballet so it all looks fabulous. Yet I am fascinated by the different and various interpretations that premiere each year. Though I am not familiar with the different productions by name, they fail to disappoint.

The way the ballerinas and ballerinos move is an art in itself. All is natural and beautiful. They tone their muscles and condition their bodies to do just that. There is a sensuality even in the most unflattering moments. For example, one performance made a pillow fight look like a photo shoot of pixies by a waterfall. Every movement is purposeful and distinct. Grace, determination, and focus are ballerinas' and ballerinos' staples. They have to feel every muscle and dictate how they want it to look and be very comfortable with their bodies. The curve of the hand, the pointedness of the foot, and the arch of the back making a portrait of a Greek statue.

Why has ballet decreased in popularity? It is a beautiful art that doesn't get the credit it deserves. Maybe it is popular, but in my low-brow community, it would attract as much attention as a discarded beer can on the street. It's not as appreciated as it used to be. Is it an upper class event? Or rather simply that people do not care so much for it anymore?

Imagine if people were to move about like ballet dancers. I envy their grace. The stamina, elegance, and beauty of them all. They make it look so easy, but when I try it in a mirror, well, let's not go there. It makes me appreciate their efforts and style all the more.

It just goes to show that if you follow your dreams and dedicate yourself--your body and mind--you achieve mindfulness and you will get somewhere in life. Or at least look good trying to get there. Make life beautiful and enjoy every minute.