What Comes Next?

It is human nature to want, to want bigger, better things for ourselves. We are always wanting from the day we are born to the day that we die. From basic needs like food, clothing and shelter we move on to more complex needs. We want friendship, respect, popularity, strong relationships and finally we want to find

that one special person for us. We seek love, we go above and beyond to find that our soul mate, the other half of our heart. But this isn't the end of our wants is it? Human wants are unlimited, the moment one is

fulfilled another arises and this goes on till the day we die. Another human trait is curiosity, we are forever curious. From that first day when we first discover our fingers or toes to the last day when we have travelled

the world, met billions of people, fulfilled a series of wants. They say curiosity kills the cat but, if that were true we'd all be dead wouldn't we?? It's funny this curiosity, it makes us do some of the strangest things. From

taking your father's car for a spin when you don't know how to drive, to crossing the atlantic ocean to search for that special someone! Curioisty makes us do funny, strange, beautiful and sometimes silly things. It's funny isn't it how we often focus on the future although the present is where we are? You've done it, I've done it, hell the whole world has done it too! Haven't you noticed how after breakfast you ask whats for lunch? And after lunch you ask about dinner? We are always asking about the future, about the things that will happen, the places we will go or the people we are going to meet. We all look to the future as though it has the answers to all our problems. Like it's this place where the rich and the poor are equal, where lovers will find their soul mates, and children who have no where to go and no one to love them will find happiness. I remember when I was a kid all I wished for was to grow up. To be able to drive a car, and go partying till the early morning. When I was 13 all i wanted was to be 18. We all fixate so much on the future, on what is to come that we tend to forget the present. Now when I look back and wish I had spent more time enjoying being a kid and less worrying about what the future will be! Bu sometimes we tune ourselves to the future to avoid the present. To forget the pains of that messy break up, or the fight  we had with our friends. People often think that the future will bring them happiness, they believe that happiness is a destination. But happiness isn't a destination, it's a mood. It's that one word, or gesture, that special song or moment when something you least expects happens. That time or that place which holds those special memories. Happiness is a feeling, a moment, a time when nothing but what's here and now matters. If we fixate ourselves on tomorrow, we are going to miss out on today! What's the present today will be the past tomorrow. So why waste time on thinking about tomorrow when you can enjoy today? It is human nature to want more, to want newer and better things, to hope tomorrow will be better than today. We live in hopes that the future will bring us peace and happiness and everything else and that's okay. But don't forget today just because tomorrow may be better. Remember to appreciate the present, to appreciate the small things. In the long run it's the small things, the small gestures which will truly give us happiness. Live each day to the fullest,  every minute like it's the last, and sometimes ask yourself what comes next?

Guardian Angel

It was beginning of the new school year, 

Although it was first day, he did not fear.

As we gathered under the faithful chickoo tree, 

My friends did not notice, but I saw him look at me.

Sitting amongst my classmates I saw him for the first time

His smile, made a thousand bells chime.

Smiling and happy he stood next to another boy; 

His hands seemed to be fidgeting with an electronic toy.

As the days went by he came to be my friend, 

It never struck us even once, that his life was soon to end.

No matter how much pain he went through, 

He was always there for me and for you.

A lot of times he would not come to school, 

But when he did, he was always so cool.

He brought the same lunch day after day, 

No matter how he was hurting, he never walked away.

He was smart no doubt about that, 

And he was the king of combat.

Sometimes he would sneak out late at night, 

But when morning came he was always back.

One Saturday, whilst we sat in class, 

The teacher had come with news at last.

Our dear friend was now in pain, 

We weren't sure if we would see him again.

On Monday evening as we were on our way, 

To the hospital bed in which he lay.

We wondered what was wrong with him; 

He had become sick and slim.

As we approached to visit him, 

Faces were sad, and tears were thin

But no one who stood there could even say, 

And that September evening he passed away.

Life is like a Pair of Shoes

This morning I woke up and I wondered what the hell I should get my best friend for her birthday. As I was thinking about it I realized maybe I should get her a pair of shoes. Everyone likes shoes, everyone needs a pair of shoes My friend likes to paint, she paints on shoes and so I thought she deserves a new pair of shoes to begin a new year.
Life is like a pair of shoes, they are born, they live and then eventually they die. But shoes unlike humans begin their life not when they are manufactured, but when they are bought off the shelves and taken home. Their journey begins when we first wear them; just like a new born baby, every shoe has that brilliant smell. We take such careful care of those shoes; we keep them clean and shiny. As each day goes by our shoes go places, see new things, and acquire new blotches and stains. However those stains don’t bother us that much because they become memories of things we have done, people we have met.
     Shoes are like people, no matter how similar two pairs of shoes look they are very very different. Every shoe defines the person who wears them.  Shoes are funny things aren’t they? They help protect our feet from getting hurt. Every loop of the laces, defines our different experiences. Shoes guide us in the right direction; they take us wherever it is we have to go. Every design and every pattern is unique, is special. Shoes tell people what we are, what we feel what kind of person we wish to be. They tell a story, a story of our lives, the places we’ve been and the places we’re going.
     Do you ever wonder why it is we wear the shoes that we wear every day? Is it because they look good with our outfit or is there a deeper meaning. For a long time I thought I chose my shoes according to what I’m wearing, but this morning I realized, I don’t choose my shoes to suit what I wear because they look good. It is because those shoes mean more to me than the other shoes; they hold a special memory of a person or a place. I have these shoes my friend left behind with me; I wear them at times because they make me feel closer to her. Its strange how even shoes can hold such fond memories for us. You’re cupboard isn’t full of just shoes that you wear every day; each shoe in there holds a special memory for you. Your shoe cupboard isn’t just another cupboard; it’s a box of memories. It’s the past, the present and the future all in one place at one time. Isn’t there a pair of shoes you wear more than the others? Why do you think that is? Think about it, maybe I’m wrong and maybe I’m not it’s all up to you.

     After days, weeks or even months of wearing those shoes they wear out. Just like every human dies one day so do out shoes. However, the memories we created in them never fade away, they remain with us forever more.