Best Friends Forever

I can say that a best friend is like a sister,
But usually that feeling will fade with time.
It has taken me a little too long to learn
That different friends will come and go,
While a sister is a best friend who will always stick around.

Sometimes we tend to favor our friends.
I learned the hard way that friends aren't always true.
But you are always there when that happens,
With understanding hugs and a shoulder for my tears.
Waiting to help me stand after I have fallen.

Remember when we still insisted that dad come and tuck us in?
When we laid awake talking into the night
And tried to think of ways to get ourselves to stop and sleep?
Me on the top bunk and you on the bottom,
We often forced mom and dad to quiet us down.

Then we grew up and a little bit apart.
At times we fight and don't act as sisters should.
But though I haven't told you 'I love you' too much,
Our love is a bond not easily broken.
I still want to be like you.

Eventually it came time for you to move on.
That made me remember how much I cared about you,
It was tough for me to let you go.
But you were there assuring me that through the changes,
You would always be here for me, just like before.

Always my sister,
And best friends forever.
No matter what.
I'm blessed to have you in my life.

I love you, Chels.

Film Analysis

Karate Kid (2010)
Ordinary World: Dre is a normal twelve year old who likes to skateboard. His dad has died. He and his mom are moving to China because of her work. Dre struggles with the move, trying to fit in and find friends. "We moved to China! That's what happened."
Call: Bullies keep beating Dre up. Mr. Han defends him and treats his wounds. They go try to make peace with the teacher. Instead they end up with a challenge to fight them one-on-one at a tournament. "The boy will fight there."
Refusal: Dre is surprised and skeptical when he learns of the challenge. He believes they will kill him because of the way they have been taught. "So the bad news is now they get to beat me up in public."
Mentor: Mr. Han decides to teach Dre real kung fu. He has him doing exercises with his jacket and Dre is not sure he is learning anything. "Jacket on. Jacket off."
Threshold: Dre starts to connect with the kung fu a little bit. He is still not very good, but he is learning and starting to understand what it's about. "Kung fu lives in everything we do...everything is kung fu."
Tests, Allies, Enemies: He continues training with Mr. Han. They do many exercises and hike to the Dragon Well. Dre learns focus and chi. His mom, Mr. Han, and Mei Ying are supporting him. The bullies continue being his enemies from a distance. "There is only one person you need to learn to control."
Approach: Dre and Mei Ying skip school to take a break. She almost misses her audition. Her parents won't let her be his friend anymore. "We can no longer be friends. You are bad for my life." Mr. Han mourns about his wife and son's death. They use kung fu to work through things. Dre's training intensifies.
Ordeal: It is time for the tournament. Although he starts out shaky, Dre ends up in the semi finals and he has to face one of his bullies. Liang's coach tells him to break Dre. Dre is hurt badly and they don't want him to go on. "I'm sorry, you should not continue."
Reward: Dre finds a true friend in Mr. Han. He gains confidence as well as respect for his mother. He also earns approval from Mei Ying's father. "You're the best friend I ever had, Mr. Han."
Road Back: Dre doesn't want to quit. He is still scared and wants to face his fear so he can overcome it. "I don't want to be scared anymore." Mr. Han heals his leg so he can finish the fight.
Resurrection: Dre returns to the fight. Cheng's coach tells him to break his leg. "Finish him!" In his pain, Dre manages to get up. Calling on the things he has learned, he defeats Cheng despite his injured leg.  
Return: Dre wins the tournament and wins his bullies respect as well. Cheng presents him with his trophy. All of his bullies bow to Mr. Han.

Ordinary World

Part of That World
This is Sara Brighton. She is an average high school student. Stuck in the same monotonous pattern, there is not much variety in her days: school, homework, work, and babysitting the siblings. Let me not forget her longing to do things she doesn't have time for. Sara is 18 years old and just about ready to graduate and move on with the rest of her life. She is doing her best to fight off the disease that plagues seniors and find a source of income for college. Being a planner, she is not so crazy about the fact that she doesn't know how everything will work out. But she is learning how to learn as she goes. One day, Sara sees a poster in the school hallway advertising tryouts for a lead singer in a community musical. People have told her what a good voice she has, but singing in front of people terrifies her. She once tried out for the solo Part of Your World from Little Mermaid and didn't make it. There are so many other people who sing better than she does. With these thoughts, she dismisses it and goes on with the rest of her day. But nothing she does will keep it out of her mind.

Questions
Will Sara try out for the musical lead?
Will singing become her new passion?
Where will this idea take her?

Stand Up

This is for the little girl with big dreams, and the adult who remembers when she once had big dreams. For the woman who can only dream of dancing because she can't use her legs. Stand up. Even if you have to let someone else help you.

This is for those who give their all and it's not enough. For the teenagers who don't believe they're good enough. Stand up. Because no one can make that decision for you.

This is for those who question whether they're on the right road. For the rebels who glance back believing it's too late to go back. Stand up. Take that first step. Then take another.

This is for the child who wishes for an injury so she can be noticed. For the kids who wonder what they did to deserve this pain. For the kid with too much pressure and the one without any pressure at all. Stand up. Take charge of your life and be the best you can be.

This is for the boy who lost his chance. For the girl who had to move on. This is for everyone who has ever felt their heart break. For those who wish it would've gone differently. For the teenage girl who just found out she's pregnant. Stand up. Move forward.

This is for the girl who smiles when things aren't working out, but the smile doesn't reach her eyes. For the kid who laughs things off only because everyone else is laughing. For those who run as fast as they can and get nowhere. For the one who falls on his butt every time he kicks the ball. Stand up. Kick it again.

This is for the kids who end up in the middle of their parents' divorce. For the mother who is losing the battle with cancer. For the teenage girl who just found out she only has a couple months to live the rest of her life. Stand up. Keep living.

This is for you. For me. For everyone.
Stand up. Stand up for yourself and pull others up with you. Stand up in that dark corner you've crawled into and walk out. Stand up and don't let the darkness push you off your feet because it will lighten. Stand up.

Gandhi

I'm scared of the future.
Every adult tells me that things will work out...they have hindsight bias.
I'm about as sure as Gandhi was that he would make a difference,
It feels like the right thing, but is it?
I guess all we can do is trust our personal Muses to guide and inspire.
And, perhaps more importantly, trust ourselves.

When we were young, our parents made a lot of our choices.
As we grow, we must make more decisions by ourselves,
And then own up the the consequences, good or bad.
But still, when will we own ourselves completely?

I get too caught up in thinking:
Decisions, the future, who I am.
Maybe it's a good thing, then, that I haven't finished that guide book.
I've gotten about halfway through and marked the pages.
Yet, it's hard to tell if it's helping or increasing my stress.

I keep forgetting to just have fun with life,
Otherwise it'll continue seeming like an endless, monotonous pattern.
I keep forgetting I'm positive,
Because I'm focused on now rather than the future.

I'll just keep following the light of the future,
And pray that it won't be the last time I see that light.
Live today for tomorrow.

The Blurbs

Skin (Rascal Flatts)
David was with Sara Beth when she fell and then she only got worse. After she is diagnosed with cancer, he watches as she battles it, not knowing how to help. Sara tries to act tough. She wants to be a normal teenager but she is scared and worried because she's not anymore. When David does something for her, Sara knows that he truly cares.

Fifteen (Taylor Swift)
Taylor is nervous on her first day of high school. She becomes fast friends with a girl named Abigail and they take on high school together. They get caught up in the emotions of relationships and think everything is real. Unfortunately Abigail gets hurt by a boy who says he loves her. At that time the girls didn't yet know what they would know later.

Jesus Take the Wheel (Carrie Underwood)
Caroline is distracted as she drives to her parents for Christmas. She has been trying to make everything work with her job and her baby. When she hits ice and starts spinning, she is terrified. Caroline cries for Jesus to save her. She knows that she needs to change things in her life. She prays for forgiveness and asks for guidance in her life.  


Only Exception (Paramore)
Kylie witnessed the pain that both parents suffered when they were divorced. Believing that all marriages ended that way, she concluded love could never last. Convincing herself that she was fine with being alone, she would push people away and stay distanced. But now Kylie has met someone. Will he change her view of love?

Mine (Taylor Swift)
Lily is guarded because of the relationship she witnessed growing up. She now expects all relationships to end. Lily meets Sam at his job as a waiter. They fall in love and Sam learns her reasons for being fearful. Eventually they get married and are doing the best they can. Sam and Lily fight and everything she has experienced tells her it is over. But is it?

Who Needs More Than Six Words?