My mantra for 2014

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to touch base with a past student of mine. I can remember the days he would walk into my classroom and would fill the room with laughter. He has since graduated, gone on to college, and is rocking this world OUT!! The young man sitting in front of me was grown up, thoughtful, amazing, and filled with such maturity. He made me so proud and brought me an unexpected surprise.
I have given up on resolutions as I do not make it to the end of the year with these sorts of things... ah the days gone by of getting back into shape...taking up random projects... eating better...BLAH.
But I do appreciate a time for reminders, a time for forgiveness, a time for reflection, and a time for setting goals and adopting mantras. This student brought me a mantra he had adopted for the year and I thought I would put it out here amongst the blog-o-sphere.

"I love being horribly straight-forward. I love sending reckless text messages (because how reckless can a form of digitized communication be?) and telling people you love them and telling people they are absolutely magical humans and I cannot believe they really exist.
I love saying, "Kiss me harder" and "You're a good person" and "You brighten my day."
I live my life as straight-forward as possible.
Because one day, I might get hit by a bus.
Maybe its weird.
Maybe its scary.
Maybe it seems downright impossible to just be.
To just let people know you want them, need them, feel like, in this very moment, you will die if you do not see them, hold them, touch them in some way whether its your feet on their thighs on the couch or your tongue in their mouths or your heart in they hands.
But there is nothing more beautiful than being desperate.
And there is nothing more risky than pretending not to care.
We are young and we are human and we are beautiful and we are not in control as we think we are.
We never know the magic that can arise between ourselves and other humans.
We never know when the bus is coming."
~Rachel C. Lewis
from "Tell the People You Love That You Love Them"

These words dig deep.
These words ring true to my heart at this very moment.
Living life as FULLY and being open to each and every moment.
Just BE fully present and open to each new experience.
Beautiful written.
Powerful words.
Raw thoughts.
Loved this so much.

BRING ON 2014 and all the adventures it may have in store.