extreme politics

on more mainstream notes

(i'm a dweller - i tend to operate in phases, take things to an extreme, then leave them to the wayside for a while, hence the re-visiting of the 'i believe' theme : )

i believe in miracles... you (something something, i think)
- i can't remember the singer/lyrics of this song for the life of me.

I believe in the sand beneath my toes
The beach gives a feeling an earthy feeling
I believe in the faith that grows
And the four right chords can make me cry
When Im with you I feel like I could die
And that would be all right, all right
- love this song! 'semi-charmed life' by third eye blind

I believe that children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
- you know the 411 on this piece

i believe...

i believe in relationships, the kinds that have history, that make you smile when you're alone in a crowd, that are songs that are being written at this very moment

i believe in libraries where you're sure to find public restrooms, free internet access, and most importantly rows and rows of shelves and shelves of books (some better than others, of course)

i believe in seasons, change is natural - and sometimes we need to be reminded of that

i believe in rain, snow, tears, sweat, hunger, pain, satisfying meals, and masala bhangra dance workouts

i believe in swings - pushing, lifting myself into the air, the wind blowing in my hair, the views of the dry, muddy ground-the clouds-the grass-the sky-my shoes-the infinite

i believe in believing.

following a train of thought

beliefs are strange things. you spend a large chunk of your life developing them, and then spend the rest of it watching them unravel before your very eyes. and since it would be far too simple for it to happen in a linear fashion - you spiral back and forth between being a believer and a dis-believer, with nothing tangible to show for yourself. of course, _this_ doesn't dawn on you until your folks call you up and ask you, 'so, what have you been up to today?'

in an effort to get to the bottom of this, i did a google search on a phrase that included 'belief,' and NPR's 'this i believe' popped up. after listening to one essay and skimming a few others, i was inspired to seriously reflect on my beliefs and how they've changed with time. (and boy, do _they_ change with time!)

in my childhood years, i would've probably said that i believe in friendship, reading, and imagination. during high school, i would've said i believe in friendship, spontaneity, and life. somewhere in the middle of my college years, i might have said i believed in myself, family, friendship, and the possibility of different realities....and it doesn't stop there.

when i first entered to workforce as a teacher while doing my masters part-time, i would've said i believed in sleep, partying on the weekends, friendship, family, ideas, young people, and potential. (and since i can't stay still for longer than two years...) when i lived in india for year and half, i would've said i believed in education reform, family, and friendship.

and now? now, i'm thinkin it's time take stock of what i have believed in before before, and figure out what that means for me today, in this moment. i guess there comes a time in one's life where you sit back, take a deep breath, and think about how it is you got here, and where it is you're headed.