LXXII

We Are Made for More.

Broken. we lie broken. tainted. abused. under used. under appreciated.

Craving. we exist craving for perfection. for something more. something greater.

Flawed. we remain unaccepted. by others. by ourselves.

Longing. we were created for heaven. a higher calling. we are 

made for more.

LXXI

Humanity 

In the midst of the midnight darkness, three friends are reclining. Surrounding us, a cloud of smoke wafting through the air. Peaceful, we sit discussing art and literature, upon which a thesis is brought to my attention. Humanity is the same no matter where we are located. We cannot flee our problems, for they reside within us. There is no help in hiding from our problems. Conquering them is sought solely through facing them. 

Such is the curse of humanity.  

LXX

Only Love's Illusion

"And in the end, we were all just humans...drunk on the idea that love, only love, could heal our brokenness."

- F. Scott Fitzgerald

We, as humans, chase fleeting illusions of love, not the real thing. We seek a device to cure us of our extensive loneliness and pain. However, we look to other people and different substances as our cure. We use and abuse to get what we want -- an illusion of love to cure our pain. True love is selfless, caring, and forgiving. It does not rob, steal, or abuse. We, like all of humanity, are drunk on the idea that the illusion of love, not real love, could heal our brokenness. 

LXIX

Tender 

"Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness."

- Kurt Vonnegut 

Through heartbreak and strife, it is all to easy to close ourselves off to the world, to retreat into our own internal reality. However, retreating allows no room for growth. In the face of hardships, instead of avoiding conflict like a coward, we must embrace it with courage. Maybe the most courageous act one can perform when dealing with strife is to not close themselves off to the world. Becoming calloused benefits no one. In fact, it allows your troubles to conquer you. True victory is being able to withstand difficulties while remaining tender, still loving though you are faced with pain and hatred. Maybe, really succeeding is simply continuing to care and love when the world has given you a reason to give up.