#DreamDay

“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.” –Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from his infamous ‘I Have a Dream” speech, delivered August 28, 1963 during the March for Jobs and Freedom in Washington D.C.

Fifty years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King spoke to a packed crowd at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. His speech spoke of the mistreatment of Blacks- their rejection of jobs and basic rights. The varicolored crowd of demonstrators cheered Dr. King on as his spoken words resonated in their souls. It’s one of the most famous speeches in history and if you never heard it in full, I recommend that you watch the video clip on YouTube.

Dr. King’s dream is still alive today- and it’s strong. I imagine if he were still alive,  Dr. King would still be fighting for equality- not just for minorities but also for the disabled and LGBT population. His message still resigns true, right now, in 2013- everyone deserves respect and kindness.

We all have dreams- personal wishes that we hope one day will come true. But what is our dreams for the world? Peace in the Middle East? To stop global warming? End national homelessness? These dreams may seem impossible to achieve but I believe that if we work together, we can make these into a reality. That’s my dream.

So, dear reader, what’s your dream?

These Things Do Happen

This week has been filled with disappointments- plans for a weekend with some college friends up in Tahoe was aborted when no one called me back to confirm. A trip to Los Angeles is officially canceled due to a friend’s timing issues. My dear boyfriend made the decision for both of us to only see each other less often, once a week. Okay, I’m being a bitch. I do know that these things happen- sometimes, they happen more often than not.

I started dating when I was twenty-three. I knew I was late in the game but I was convinced that the first man I met on OkCupid was the going to be the love of my life. Yup, I was wrong about that one. After that particular gentleman, I thought maybe Prince Charming would be the second guy I went out with. Wrong. I kept this train of thought, finding my ain true love, with the next slew of guys I dated those couple of months. Then, it hit me. I don’t know why I didn’t think about this before but the thought hit me one day while out getting coffee on Bedford Avenue. I was putting too much pressure on myself, expecting something perfect and with those expectations, I would only see disappointments. I took a step back and realized that dating should be fun and carefree. I made the mental change and afterward, went out with a bunch of cool guys and had some incredible times- made a really good friend and plenty of memories and eventually found myself in a serious relationship.

Expectations are all around us, ambushing us from every corner. From the expectations our parents place on us right when we emerge from the womb to the those expectation we twentysomethings are hearing from the world right now (the “what are you going to do with your life”/“when are you going to finish school”/”you and so-and-so are so cute- when are you going to get married?’’ types of questions), we have all this pressure placed on top of our shoulders. Pressure is never a bad thing- it’s the pressure I put on myself that makes me the best writer I can possibly be. But there are times where we just need to take the world of our shoulders and remember to breathe. Pressure builds up expectations (or in my case, a personal fantasy land) which can lead to disappointment.

I don’t know about you, dear reader, but I’m going to try to relax and let things be as they are. Call it living in the true moment, if you will. We can only hope for the best- if we don’t get the best, we can always take a different route to strive for it again or just brush it aside and follow a new path.

Thank You

As I made my commute to work this morning, I thought about a bunch of things I’m grateful for (this thought coming to mind as I avoided being doored while riding my bike). I know that I should be thankful for everything in my life but today, here’s a little list of the things I’m contented with:

• My teeth and my smile (and also toothpaste and floss).
• My thoughtful boyfriend. I had a rough weekend but he calmed me down, wiped away my tears and fed me french toast. Thinking about it now, he is the most generous person I know and is constantly motivating me to be a better person.
• My newspaper and magazine jobs. Yes, I work in order to pay my bills but I also work because I love it. A few weeks ago, it finally hit me- I write for a living. I may not make a lot of money but I’m pretty happy. I’m doing what I love (and my co-workers are pretty awesome, too).
• Considerate drivers who respect bicyclists and don’t mind sharing the road with them.
• The end of summer. I’m so excited for autumn and I’m loving the cooler morning and nighttime air.

I hope you, dear reader, find plenty of things to be thankful today and everyday. Happy Tuesday.