America, the Beautiful?

A poem! I wrote this a while ago, but it's still a good one.

Is it late? Super late. Is it out of the season of the holiday? Yeah - but just enough that I can still squeeze it in. Happy 4th and 24th of July, everyone. And remember what it means to be an American. It's a priceless gift, and a treasure that we should stop and consider how grateful we are to have. And in thinking of this, remember those that don't have this blessing. 'Merica, y'all.

America, The Beautiful?

Michael Dressman

A battle scene,
A terrible war.
Does this seem familiar?
Has it happened before?
In the midst of the battle,
both sides losing ground;
At the same time, on each side,
a man is hit down.
One from America, the other Pakistan,
each one of them drafted to fight for their land.
The age of them both?
Roughly 17.
And to think they just wanted
to keep themselves clean.
In this 3rd World War
all alliances are gone.
It's free-for-all battle,
every soldier a pawn.

Night falls,
and the battle postpones for a while,
But all of the soldiers are lost in their bile.
From memories of partners, of real good pals,
who used to be there, but aren't there now.
The coughing and wheezing, it comes from all sides,
where down in this wasteland, most everyone dies.

Now during this evening both boys are in pain,
but each faintly hears each other as the night wanes.
By morning both of them sit back-to-back,
helping each other to get back on track.
They pretend to be dead with the battle begins,
knowing the fat that awaits them if seen.
Night falls again, yet neither side wins.
The boys, best friends they are now, each other's wounds they clean.
But the next morning a general spots them there,
before their remedy to escape this despair.
"Up boys, fight boys, over is the night!"
But they can't even stand, let alone join the fight.
As the general examines each boy closer,
he sees each a traitor and no act is grosser.

Night falls once more, this battle wears thin,
but neither of the boys hears news of this win.
Both of them lay in a great carcass pile,
brutally beaten and scarred, no trials.
Because of the kindness they showed today,
both were accused as traitors and lie dead in the fray.

War does strange things to men;
Sends them against their own brothers and friends.
In this God-given country, please let us say,
"This is America. Can we have peace today?"

Contemplate

Contemplate
Michael Dressman
It kinda starts like this:

Originate
Immaculate
Complicate
High stress rate
Infiltrate
Permeate
Can't relate
Agitate
Insinuate
Proliferate
Insinuate
Can't see straight
Anticipate
Obsfucate
Triplicate
Desperate

Isolate
Instigate
Separate
Exacerbate
Salivate
Take the bait
Inundate
Satiate
***
***

Sigh...

Implicate
Interrogate
Perpetuate
Incriminate
Depreciate
Invalidate
Desolate
Desecrate
Reprobate
Second-rate
Worthless, mate
Denigrate
Self-berate
Commiserate
Overrate
Underrate
Eliminate
Obliterate
Eviscerate
HATE

Rinse and repeat
(A couple hundred times)
For example:

Originate, Complicate, Immaculate, etc.
Isolate, Instigate, Separate, etc.
Implicate, Incriminate, Interrogate, etc.
WAIT!

Contemplate.
Meditate.
Prostrate.
Appreciate.
Educate.
Elevate.
Clean the slate.
Inoculate.
Exterminate.
Eradicate.
Consecrate.
Renovate.
Imitate.
Participate.
Cooperate.
Emulate.
Integrate.
Coordinate.
Emanate.
Innovate.
Up to fate.
Hope it's great.

And...

Smile.

It Was MY Mom

So, I know this a little late, but this is important. Like, really important.

Happy Mother's Day, Mum. I love you so much, and words can't describe how deep that goes. In a world where it's really hard to know who really loves you and who doesn't, it means a lot to know that you do - and I have never doubted your love. You have put in countless hours doing pretty much every sort of thing for me, and even if I spent the rest of my life working, I don't think it would come even close to paying you back for everything you've done, do, and will do for me. And I can say that with absolute certainty, without seeming selfish, because I know that's who you are - you love us, and you will always show that love in the best ways you can.

Ha. I can't even claim my personal stuff. I know that, as hard as my problems are, you probably worry about them just as much as I do - and that's a pretty incredible feat when you've still got four other kids to do that for, and to still have as much love to dole out as you do...well, it's nothing short of incredible. I know that some of my "baggage", as we'll put it, it something that a very large amount of mothers don't have to deal with, and there are even fewer instructions for it than the 0% you already have for motherhood - but you've handled beautifully, and that is a large part of what makes your love that much more poignant.

So Mum, the best way that I can really think to pay you back is this - listening. Life is really hard sometimes, and I don't have the answers (not by a long shot), but I do know that I've been taught good principles, and regardless of where life takes me or what choices I make, I want you to know that I'm going to do what I can (even though I may fail) to be a son that you'll be proud of - one that makes you happy. I can promise you, I won't be perfect, but I'm going to do what I can.

I love you, Mum.

Michael

And because it wouldn't be me if I didn't include it, here's Kid President's Muthah's Day to ya, and another honorable mention for a Mother's Day video.

Want to Change the World?

I like April. It's a pretty cool month. It's the month that I really associate with spring (even though it doesn't feel like it sometimes in Utah), the month that one of my awesome brothers has his birthday, the month that National Pretzel Day is on, etc. But there's something about this month that I think is special, and it's because I'm making it special.

It's a goal of mine to make each month of the year meaningful for me in a special way that allows me to really get in touch with a deeper part of myself: something that really makes me who I am. So far, I've got August down and maybe February. This year, I've found something that I'd like to start doing every April. You're probably heard of it before. It's called Paying it Forward.

The last Thursday in April (in this year's case, on April 24th) is Pay it Forward Day, based on the book and the film of the same name. In honor of my first Pay it Forward Day, I bought the book and read it earlier this month. It's great. Essentially, the idea is that you choose three people that you care about, and do something special for them. Something that they couldn't necessarily do for themselves. Then, instead of paying you back, you encourage those you help to "pay it forward" to three other people in turn, and the cycle continues.

One of the first criticisms that easily comes to mind is that of selfishness - that people won't actually pay it forward. It's so easy to say something, but it's another entirely to do it. The argument is valid - but should that stop us from trying? So what if it doesn't work?

And what if it does?

Can you imagine a world where people have spent so much time "paying people forward" that it just becomes a habit to help people wherever we go? Who wouldn't want a world like that?

"But life is so busy," you say, "And how am I supposed to find the energy to help someone else when I barely have enough energy to work on my own issues?" That's a valid point, too. Life's been pretty stressful for me lately, trust me. But sometimes, giving that last little bit of energy to someone we care about it the perfect way to get twice the energy back. And I believe that it doesn't take someone who knows all the answers to make a difference - it just takes someone who cares.

Still not convinced? Watch this TED video about why it's actually in our own best interest to help those around us.

Need ideas? Here are some I pulled from the site:

- At a drive through, pay for the car behind's meal.

- If it's raining give your umbrella to someone who does not have one.

- Tell the manager of of a restaurant how great your waiter/waitress was (or tell the person directly!).

- Give a homeless person lunch (and a genuine conversation).

- Drive an older person in the neighborhood to the grocery store.

- Be a mentor for someone who needs some support.

What are some things you can think of doing for Pay it Forward Day? Post them in the comments below!

Paying it Forward doesn't have to be done just on one day. Ideally, it's something that can be done every day. And it doesn't necessarily have to be done to specifically three people. Maybe one's all you can handle right now. Maybe you want to do more. That's great! The point is, no matter how big or how small, you're making a difference. So, this month, I encourage you to Pay it Forward. And you'll be surprised how fast Paying it Forward brings it back to you.

A Not-So-Fan Letter

Dear Sara,

I understand this may be just another fan letter from your point of view, and that's cool. I mean, I would obviously be really excited if you saw and/or responded to this, but that's not why I am writing this. I doubt I'm your biggest fan. I don't own any of your albums. I've never been to one of your shows. I wasn't obsessed with you before you became "big". Until a while ago, I didn't even like you on Facebook (I know, right?!)! So I'ma speak on grounds I have the basis to be on.

Thank you - for you powerful music and your inspirational lyrics. There are a number of your songs that help me in just the right moments when I need them. More than that, even, thank you for who you are. Granted, this is only what I've seen from your videos and heard from your music - but I'd like to think that still shows the real you (music especially). That means a lot - to me and other fans as well, I'm sure. In a world where most of the media isn't real, and superficiality is the only thing we ever see, it's wonderful to see someone so beautifully genuine. I mean duh, you're gorgeous, but it's a gorgeous on the outside and inside. Sure, the critics can say the same thing, but they're there to talk about you professionally - we can see the difference between real singers and real people. And from what I've seen, Sara Bareilles, you are both. From a world that seems really fake and tells the world that's the only way to live, thanks for giving me permission to be real.

Thanks for teaching me to be brave. Sometimes life just plain sucks, and I'm hurt, and I pretend to be okay. I'm one of those people - the kind that shells up and paints a smile on. It's a good reminder that I've got to be brave and speak up about myself sometimes, even if it's hard. And maybe this letter is a step in that direction, learning to show "how big [my] brave is." (See how cool I'm getting? I even quoted you. Snap.)

Thanks most of all for being you. From your videos, I know you were worried about everything coming out right in this new album - in a way that was very you. At least from what I feel, you nailed it. :) But really. And it motivates me to be me. All the blessed unrest that is me - whether it's hardcore fangirling in the line at Wendy's when a song of yours comes on the radio, feeling at home playing the piano, crying on my bedroom floor for hours because I just can't handle life that day, making stupid faces every time my Dad takes a family picture, or just enjoying me and all my crazy friends. And letting myself be okay with that - because I'm being me.

Since you said it better, I'll let you read the quote you found:

Thank you, Sara Bareilles. Thank you for being beautifully real. Thank you for being so publicly brave. Thank you for being so unabashedly you. And thanks for helping me do the same, in my own little awkward way.

Love,

One of the satellites

P.S. I thought about asking you to change the locks on your house like you did to Rashida Jones, but I thought that might be a little creepy - so I decided not to. :)

To see the fan post my brother did about OK GO - click here. But just know, it's not as good as mine. ;)