My Cousin's Keeper

Minutes stacked upon days and days stacked upon years, I have gotten closer to realizing IT. But as I continue on this journey, I must still ask: what does it take for a person to stop feeling bad for thyself? You must know that the whole 'woe-is-me' mentality only lasts as long as you would like it to. For sure, we go through some very tough times - even the really hard ones that seem like they will never end or get any better. There is one truth here: one day, this will all be over, done and gone in the wind. So what is the point of getting caught up and feeling bad for thyself? Be grateful that you are living and breathing because there are MANY MORE individuals in the world who have it worse than you. And there are even MANY MORE individuals in the world that have it worse than those people. So why not live? Why not dream? Why not DO? Everyday I talk to individuals who are afraid to BE. Everyday I talk to individuals who are afraid to live for they are merely existing as complacent beings. Five years ago, I lost a friend and a cousin who dreamed bigger than anyone I have ever known. Dreams of great worth and integrity. Dreams to prosper and help others. Dreams of realizing IT. At times we lose sight of what is most important - to work with what we have and to work to change the things we are not willing to accept. My cousin succumbed to leukemia at the age of 14, but never EVER gave up the fight to live, the fight to dream. I still remember the moment when it was his time to go. There was a definite pain in my heart when I experienced the passing of someone who was younger than me. It was then, when I realized that age was nothing more than a number. I fight today because I know that one day, a tomorrow will be my last. I live and love earnestly knowing that nothing is permanent in the world. I dream knowing that there is nothing I can NOT do. Of course, times get hard and they sometimes will, but it should be those times that wakes us all up as we say, "I am the master of my own fate, I will not feel sorry for myself any longer, I will fight, I will love, I will work harder, I will follow my dreams, I will BE." Be whatever you want in life, but be ready to work hard for it and understand that shit happens [had to be frank].

Life is short. Eat it up why you can. To my little cousin watching over me, I do this for you.