Growth.

Words I always used to hear when people described me: Shy, quiet, cautious, nice, hesitant, reserved.

Words I hear recently when people describe me: Bold, kind, fiery, sassy, strong, "gentle yet bad ass"(<-- my personal favorite).

I'm growing and I'm proud. It takes a lot of work to transform the good into something even better and to concur the things that hold us back.

Not Yet My Soul:

Freedom is far, rest far. Thou art with life
Too closely woven, nerve with nerve intwined;
Service still craving service, lost for love,
Love for dear love, still suppliant with tears.
Alas, not yet thy human task is done!
A bond at birth is forged; a debt doth lie
Immortal on mortality. It grows --
By vast rebound it grows, unceasing growth;
Gift upon gift, alms upon alms, upreared,
From man, from God, from nature, till the soul
At that so huge indulgence stands amazed.
Leave not, my soul, the unfoughten field, nor leave
Thy debts dishonoured, nor thy place desert
Without due service rendered. For thy life,
Up, spirit, and defend that fort of clay.
~Robert Lewis Stevenson

Right and True.

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. ~ Marcus Aurelius

This is such a simple yet vital lesson that deserves much more reverence than it receives.

I like seeing and experiencing the restoration of a broken world and broken people only through the fervent love of a most gracious Creator.
Each person is an extension of God's beloved creation. Look into each soul and you will find something of supreme worth.Therefore, I think everyone should treat everyone else well. There is no reason not to be loving towards other people other than giving in to selfishness.

*Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity, except to love God, and to serve Him only-Thomas Kempis

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows
I carry your heart with me(I carry it in
my heart)
(E.E. Cummings)

Quiet sits and dreams:

"Her thoughts are like the lotus
Abloom by sacred streams
Beneath the temple arches
Where Quiet sits and dreams." (A Fantasy) by Sara Teasdale

Oh who can tell the range of joy
Or set the bounds of beauty?" (A Winter Bluejay)


Now for my Favorite:

A Prayer

When I am dying, let me know
That I loved the blowing snow
Although it stung like whips;
That I loved all lovely things
And I tried to take their stings
With gay unembittered lips;
That I loved with all my strength,
To my soul's full depth and length,
Careless if my heart must break,
That I sang as children sing
Fitting tunes to everything,
Loving life for its own sake.

She is an amazing poet: http://www.poemhunter.com/sara-teasdale/poems/