What Can Happen In A Second... (Color Version)

I wrote this for a journal entry in school for Creative Writing, but this was more based to us here on Writers Cafe. You'll see why. :p You should listen to it.

Anything can happen in a second. We all know that, don't we? But we all think of only the negative. How can we be negative centered and try to look at the world positive? When will we stop and realize, "Oh, I've been traveling down this road too long, just trying to find my way back home, the old me is dead and gone, dead and gone, eh?" -T.I. (Dead and Gone)

How long are we going to look into the past? Traveling down that road? Always remembering what was done to us? How long is too long? You'd tell me too long is when you're long gone. When you're lost in your own head, in your own Mind. When you're Shattered and feel No One Sees You.

When you're all alone and wonder, "Would it matter if I was here tomorrow, would anyone care, would anyone lose sleep?" -Skillet (Re-Wording of "Would It Matter?") When you give up. When you're drowning in your own Mind, when you have voices in your head that won't shut up. When you feel if you don't let it out you'll go insane. When you cease to become yourself and begin to become a Pain Bearer.

But how long are we going to hurt? How long are we going to travel down this road? How long is too long? How long are we going to be stuck in this dark pit, this Maze, this Rift, not awake, not alive? (Skillet) How long is it going to take us to wake up? (NF) Trying to find our way back to ourselves, to the light, to our soul, to home? How long are those of us that hate ourselves not going to forgive ourselves and not see that the old us is dead and gone? And not let this Bad Blood dry? (Bastille)

How long are we going to not try to make the old us dead and gone? How long are we going to have Her Pain? How long are we going to be Ashes to Ashes, Looking Up At The Stars In The Sky? How long are we going to be a Beast, Transparent? How long are we going to hide, not Asking Ourselves About The Masks? How long? 

How long? You said that this reminded you of what you need to do. You said it's an important quote. You said you live every day this way. You said you're doing this, but are you seeing The Sunset or Sunrise? Are you seeing positive or negative? Are you truly Living As If You're Gonna Die? Are you Together Forever? How long are you going to lie to yourself? You're not. You're not doing so many of those things many of us say we are. We lie and maybe try a little, but we really don't.

Whether deep down or right there visible on the surface to the non-mask covered eye we know we don't. We don't have time. We are Sands, and we live for mere decades. Nothing in the eye of eternity. A grain of Sand. When will we decide Today I Can and Today I Choose? How long must we disagree with the voice in our head that says Why Not? How long must we suffocate with the fact that We Have A Dark Past?

How long must we see everything as Armageddon? How long will we choose to be fine with This World We Live In? How long will we continue in this cause that'll lead us to a grave that says, "What a waste..." Instead of, "WHAT A LIFE!" "It's not what you're running from, it's what you're running to." -Nicholas Sparks. So today I choose to run to what I've been running to.

I choose to decide Today I Can and I Choose. I choose to listen to Why Not? I choose to realize we are just Sands. I choose to be Together Forever. I choose to positively see The Sunset. I choose to see The Sunrise. I choose to not see Armageddon. I choose not to have Regrets. I choose to forgive, because that old me is dead and gone. I choose to have people and my gravestone say, "WHAT A LIFE!" I choose to Live As If I'm Gonna Die. 

What about you?

Are you with me truly, honestly, and fully?

Will you join me?

Author's Note

The colors were partly chosen on purpose... just read it and tell me what you think. I was gripped in this writing until I finished it, I couldn't stop it... I feel everyone needs to read this... I'm also posting a non-color version. Just tell me what you think.

Reviews

[Meat of Dog]

I feel like people get comfortable and take time for granted. Anything CAN happen in a second from love, to death, to… well anything. This was a nice, inspiring thought (the story itself, I mean). I have often caught myself thinking too much about the past. That’s why I got back to writing, to make a place for my past. The longer I let it occupy my present (especially when it is negative thoughts) the more good experiences I miss. I actually thought the color coding was cool, too. At first I was like jeez, volume control. But, the more I read the more it made sense and added to the artistic aspect of this thought. The only one I would change is the light blue part, because it was too light, making it a little hard to read against the white BG of the site page. In ways I felt like this was a Slam Poem. You ought to look up Slam Poetry and try reading this aloud/ recording it in that style. You might really enjoy the experience! The end was a nice call to action, as well. Good job!


Suggestions:

~ “old me's dead” Me is.
~ “running from, it's what you're” Semi colon instead of a colon.


Nitpicks:

~ “We all know that don't we?” “We all know that, don’t we?”
~ “A LIFE!!!!!" Multiple punctuation is grammatically incorrect and unneeded. Sorry, it’s like a pet peeve of mine so I always comment on it. A single exclamation mark is enough emphasis, multiple is just distracting.

[The StoryTeller]

Thank you, Meat Of Dog, and that is also what I do a lot (another reason for creating this) and therefore, I know I need to change it. I'll change the old me part, and the exclamation point and I'll add the comma. Thank you for the suggestions and personalizing! Are you with me?

[The StoryTeller]

I've changed everything except for the semi-colon instead of colon. :D

[Meat of Dog]

You're welcome! I am!

[The StoryTeller]

I'm glad you are, and once again, thank you for the suggestions. :D To kind of go with this and for me (and whoever wants to go so with me) I am making a sort of social statement to be me, and help people. To not be blind to the world we live in, to not conform, and to not be an addition to the pain by not saying anything because we are not "supposed" too. I am going to Live As If I'm Gonna Die. I made a new article that also kind of says that, called, "In thᴉƧ wØrld wə lᴉvə ᴉn.." But I sent a RR to you for that so. :p

[Meat of Dog]

Any time, friend! That's a good social statement to make. I'll check out my RRs here in a sec and give it a read. It's nice to see people spreading ideas of confidence and positive thought. I find that literally the more positive I decide to be, the better my life and attitude seems to get.

[The StoryTeller]

I'm in concordance with you on both of those ideas. I'd love to see others make and live the statement too, that's why I call them out (in fact, in the writing I was just talking about I asked the reader to post something on their about me if they were making the same statement) and I feel it's a great way to live, and this world is dark and asks us to be silenced and conform, and I don't agree with that. Check out this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YshUDa10JYY

Anyways, I agree, and that's one of the main things that helps me combat my past. Being positive. Plus you influence others! From what I've seen so far, at least. Now I'm trying to use that influence to influence them to other things that may better their lives, such as the statement. :)

[Lizardo]

I with you brother!
Damn, you created a masterpiece here that reached the cosmos!
This is beautiful, just ismply beautiful thoughts about life and everything around it
You are one great writer here dude, awesomenesss is not even a word to describe you!

[The StoryTeller]

I'm glad you are! And lol, thank you Lizardo, you humble me. :P I'm also glad you liked it. This is one of the few articles of mine that I sent a read request for to every friend and feel everyone should read. :))

[Lizardo]

its true, everyone should read it :)

[The StoryTeller]

Well, so far it's gotten 159 views and 16 comments. :) And I don't even know how many reply comments.

[Lizardo]

jajajajaja xD

[The StoryTeller]

lolololol XD

[Andrew Williamson]

Very thorough and thoughtful. I was a bit sceptical on the colour thing but on-line the beauty is that you can do something like this :) Obviously put a lot of work into it, well done! (Personally loved the reference to Skillet as a huge Skillet fanboy)

[The StoryTeller]

Rise is my favorite song by them. Lol, that kind of explains a lot of what this talks about... anyways, XD I also have a non-color version. If you don't like the color. Just because I think it's that important. So, are you with me?

[Andrew Williamson]

I kinda see the connection to Rise now :) I'm more a fan of American Noise but yes I am with you, took me reading it to convince me :)

[The StoryTeller]

Some things I wish I hadn't done/other things I wish I would/cutting through the American Noise/you've got a voice/and song to sing/ :p I'm glad you do. :D

[Astrid]

This is great :)
I know you said that the colour had a purpose, though I'm still going to state this idea (perhaps you can use it in another work): making a poem out of the isolated colours within the poem ~ poem-seption

"You're not doing so many of those things many of us say we are, but we don't." the "but we don't" at the end doesn't seem to hold anything except for repetition for the next line.

[The StoryTeller]

Okay, I'll take out the "but we don't." I will think about doing that, thank you. :) I'm glad you liked it, and I'm wondering: Are you with me?

[The StoryTeller]

I went ahead and got rid of the repetition. :)

[C. Lee Battaglia]

I will also join you!
The color was a good idea... I see great potential in your writing...
Great job dude...

C. Lee Battaglia

[The StoryTeller]

I'm glad you will, and thank you. :)

[Ishita Dixit]

I will join you! Count me in.
The use of colour was a smart choice. I could see the titles of your writings. Clever guy you!
I ♥ it! :P

[The StoryTeller]

Lol, I'm glad you liked it, although I just wrote this yesterday, just typed it today, and yet already I'm really depressed and not really doing it....

[Ishita Dixit]

Blade.
There is a silver lining behind every cloud.

[The StoryTeller]

Yeah, but sometimes it's not real silver. And if it wasn't bad enough that I'm depressed again (I've been having an amazing week since Monday until today...) how can I be the leader/great guy/friend/positive influence/inspirationist that you guys need me to be? To be a leader, or even someone everyone looks to for help or strength etc I can't have a bad day but when I do I know I'm even worse than most people.

[Ishita Dixit]

Every one has good days and bad days. And its the bad days that bring out the best in us.

[The StoryTeller]

Yeah, but how can you have bad days with everyone looking at you? And not even on here, but irl too? And you can't be you... you have to be happy. I have to stay strong for some of my friends... some might think the way I did when I helped them... to help, but some might be like, well, if he can't do it, I definitely can't do it, because he's much better than me. I hear that so often... no one ever said helping people would be hard... I don't remember seeing that in The Bible. I remember seeing that they won't listen, and that the world will hate us as they did Jesus, and we will face the same trials... but still.

[Ishita Dixit]

No one can be strong all the time. Even leaders. No big deal.

[The StoryTeller]

Yeah, but still... besides, I guess I'm more the one seeing myself as everyone's leader, because only a few people have told me that I am... I guess it's just how I feel with everyone looking at me and what they say.

[Ishita Dixit]

Don't let others' opinions define you.

[The StoryTeller]

So what do you think of me then? I know, it's going right against what you just said, but humour me, it's important to me.

[Ishita Dixit]

You're cute as a button!
So when someone asks you who you are, put your hands in the air and yell, "I am a button!"

:P
Bad right?

[The StoryTeller]

Lol, that wasn't exactly what I was asking. XD Although it did cheer me up a little.

[Ishita Dixit]

Mission Accomplished! :D

[The StoryTeller]

Lol, I still want to know what you think of me though. If you're not comfortable saying it here you can in an email.

[Coyote Poetry]

I liked the use of color. Color create reaction and thoughts. You said a lot and left the reader with many places and thoughts. I did like the question at the end.
"I choose to decide Today I Can and I Choose. I choose to listen to Why Not? I choose to realize we are just Sands. I choose to be Together Forever. I choose to positively see The Sunset. I choose to see The Sunrise. I choose to not see Armageddon. I choose not to have Regrets. I choose to forgive, because that old me is dead and gone. I choose to have people and my gravestone say, "WHAT A LIFE!!!!!" I choose to Live As If I'm Gonna Die. "
I like the above words. You are right. Thank you for sharing the excellent story.
Coyote

[The StoryTeller]

I'm glad you liked it, and I hope you join me. I don't know if you noticed or not, but a lot of those are my writings... or other people's here on Writers Cafe. I tried to especially create impact citing their and my works.

[Cool Girl]

I like the parts from different songs! It's really cool and unique:)
You did a wonderful job, and this piece was so well written!
Great job, my friend...

[The StoryTeller]

I'm glad you liked it. I usually don't ask you (or anyone) this... but could you send read requests for this to all of your friends?

[Cool Girl]

All 77 of my friends? Sure!

[Cool Girl]

Scratch that! I sent it to 98 people LOL

[The StoryTeller]

98? Geez. XD I've only got like 68, and 10 don't accept RR

[Cool Girl]

15 of mine don't accept, so only 98 requests were sent

[The StoryTeller]

Lol, that's all good.

[Cool Girl]

Haha, I got so many friends xD

[The StoryTeller]

Lol, I have like 60 or 70 something/

[Cool Girl]

Haha, I Have more!!!!

[The StoryTeller]

Yeah, eh. XD

[Cool Girl]

You Jealous xD jk jk

[The StoryTeller]

Nope, not at all. XD

[Cool Girl]

Good!! :) :)

[The StoryTeller]

Yep, that's true. :)

[Cool Girl]

Very True..

[The StoryTeller]

Very very true.

[Cool Girl]

I'm tired... Bye bye

[The StoryTeller]

Adios .

[luvs2write]

I like how you used pieces from different writings and songs...that was a cool idea. =) Actually, over the weekend I started a journal about this. The cover page says "Letting Go". I just want to forgive everybody (and myself) and move on. Then I got depressed, because here I am only two days after challenging myself and I'm already back to old habits. But this...this is inspiring. I think I should read it every morning. =)

[The StoryTeller]

That would be a good idea, lol, Anto said this might make me a cultural personality... I don't know about that but hey. I did the using songs and quotes and OUR OWN WRITING ON HERE on purpose to prove my point.

[luvs2write]

Yeah, I recognized a lot of the writing =)

[The StoryTeller]

Glad you did, hope you especially noticed yours. :)

[ANTO]

I really like it Res. (just the aquamarine colour I would dump - nearly made me pass out - joking - but would change that one only).
If this was stream of consciousness then you were in tune with some philosophical heavyweights, I feel and also James Dean.
I think this will make you into a cult personality so don't be surprised if people start gathering outside your house after this. Its excellent.
:)

[The StoryTeller]

I have a non-color version too... and lol, I have favorite quotes by Dean... I don't care if I become an icon over this, as long as people listen and gather under it and join me. Be different, be happy, be real. :) I'm glad you liked it. I'm not entirely sure too many people would think of me as an icon. Anyways. I'm tired of conforming. I'm tired of being sad. I think others should too. Anyways, you really think that about the icon? And you really liked it? One last question: Will you join me?

[ANTO]

Im too much of a conservative my friend and way past rebelling - but I'll certainly embrace the sentiments - in a pitiful apathetic way - ;p

[The StoryTeller]

That's fine, as long as you embrace them, to truly live. To truly live isn't always to rebel, but sometimes it is. This way can go either way.