Appreciation.

Nothing really seems to brighten up your day more than knowing that you are appreciated.

But appreciating someone or something else can sometimes be a hard thing, and is many times, not on our mind. We think that our lives are too short and too precious to waste trying to appreciate someone or something that doesn't even like us, or benefit us in any way.

But today, I met someone who would always pester me because of what he would say, and someone I would continually avoid.
And I was forced to talk to that person.

But because I was reminding myself that this person was someone's precious child, someone's best friend, someone's cherished sibling, etc, etc, I found it easier to be kind and more accepting.
Not that it was easy, at all. Quite the contrary.
Just a little bit easier, and overall a pleasant experience.

And I suppose that appreciation is something to continually remind myself about.

A little 'thank you' can go a really go a long way.

Sand.

I remember the times when I used to go to the beach during the summer, and used to just sit there looking at the waves. I didn't want to go in, but I couldn't look away. I hated getting wet sand on me. But when I did, I would stay in the waves for hours, and come back exhausted.

Sometimes I would build sandcastles, but those were always failed attempts. Sandcastles never look as nice as when you imagine yourself building one...

On a completely different topic, sand is never on my mind during winter.

But this video made me think twice.

Ferenc Cakó is a genius.

Vivaldi, Four Seasons - Winter film Ferenc Cakó / Sand Animation


Thanks to franzhun for the video.

Stop Motion Art

I absolute LOVE stop motion videos.
It's like photography--only better, in my opinion. It's almost like rifling through an old photo album or scrapbook.

But this video absolutely blows my mind:

Her Morning Elegance / Oren Lavie



Thanks to QuarterPastWonderful for the video.

Midterms and Finals

Whoever thought of giving midterms and final exams after Winter Break was not the sharpest tool in the toolbox.

But on a bright note, the new semester's almost started, and we're only two quarters away from vacation! Which sounds pretty great, since it's about as cold as it gets down South here. I wish it would snow.

Laminin

A camp I once attended showed me this video.
I thought of it again around CHRISTmas.

Watch it.

It's mind-blowing.


Thanks to Tsunkatsemaster.

Happy Holidays? (Part 1: NOT)

As we all know, the holidays are almost here.

The students at my school are already literally buzzing with excitement.
Well, half of that excitement just died today.

I go to a school named Myers Park High. On November the 8th, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education voted to move the IB (International Baccalaureate) program feeder schools to East Mecklenburg and Harding High schools, which both also have IB programs.

For those of you who don't know what IB is, it's an international program that "is motivated by a mission to create a better world through education." It's divided into three programs-- the Primary Years Program (from ages 3-12), the Middle Years Program (from ages 13-15) and the IB Diploma Program (from ages 16-19). Myers Park had the first Middle Years Program in North America, and the first IB Program in North Carolina.

Our school's IB program helps run the school--we organize fundraisers, events, community service, and most, if not all, students participate on some kind of extracurricular team or club: for example, athletics, musical groups, etc. The IB program attracts hardworking students from all over the school district. Fortunately, I'm in the Myers Park zone, so I don't have as long a commute as many of the others.

Well, today, the CMS Board of Education voted to take the IB program away from those who don't live in the Myers Park zone. Which is most of the IB students--around 500 kids. With a little under 200 (I think around 160), Myers Park is left with a mostly highly endangered IB, which will probably be phased out for inefficiency in the future. To have an IB program of only 160 kids is not a very good idea.

They said that they voted to do so because Myers Park was overcrowded, and because East Meck was under populated. (Myers Park is actually not overcrowded-- it has over 63 acres of land and 13 buildings, which supports our population of around 3,000 students well)

So, while a lot of my friends get moved back to their home schools, or opt to go to East Mecklenburg or Harding IB (I haven't heard of many who are planning to), I get to look forward to the upcoming holidays.

Happy holidays?

Is YOUR Life Average?

My friends told me about this website, and honestly, it is probably one of the most entertaining websites I have every seen. And one of the most time-killing. Which is why I'm going to try to never go on it again--I'll never stop reading it. Ever.

MLIA.
http://mylifeisaverage.com/

Here's one of my favorites:

"Today, I realised that my bus driver takes us the long way to school when he finds rubbish on the bus the night before. But Mr. bus driver, what you dont know is that kids on the bus leave rubbish intentionally just so we can be late to school on Mondays. MLIA."

Oh, and here's one more:

"Today, my phone beeped that I had a new text. When I opened my inbox, there was no new text. I emptied the inbox and that pesky envelope was still on my screen. I switched my inbox setting from conversational view to standard and finally found it. The sender was Unknown and the message blank. The date? 11/23/2057. Not only that, I found a second message hidden apparently from 08/18/2057. I am convinced someone from the future is trying to contact me. MLIA."

Here's one from me-- "Today I fell UP the stairs. MLIA."