Broken Pencils

  Everyone has a different definition of a “good” day. Some people think a good day is laying around the house and others believe hanging out with friends makes it better. No matter the definition everyone can agree that kind words can make their day just a little bit better. Encouraging others can often make you feel more motivated as well. I personally believe that making other people shine increases how good a day is.  My personal philosophy is to make everyday brighter by making others shine. I’m a firm believer that I practice what I preach. So if I spend everyday being a grouch and projecting that on others then I’m just going to make my day worse. Instead of that I try to go about my day with as much whimsy as possible. Choosing to complement others and reach out a helping hand inadvertently makes my day a little better each action at a time. Knowing that my actions are bettering someone else makes me happy. 

  Dear 3rd grade Erin, I know that you’re going through a very tough time. Your parents are getting divorced and people are still bullying you. The people are saying mean things about your weight and your glasses. Your dad is still drinking quite a bit, and your cat recently passed away. I know that you feel like you can’t talk to anyone about your problems.  Your life gets a little better. Your parents still aren’t civil. They argue every time they talk, but you don’t have to deal with it as much. You learned that just because your parents don’t get along you don’t have to let yourself drown in their sorrow.  People still talk about you, but you’ve learned that other people’s opinions on you don’t define you. You have become a lot more confident because you realized others don’t define your worth. You have some of the best friends and the best boyfriend. They never let you go a day without telling you how much they appreciate you. Mom got us a new cat and she just ha...

  JUNE 29 My perfect society would be called Everland and is located around where Hawai’i is. The geography is set up to where everything is eco friendly. We are very big on recycling and keeping the earth clean. Everyone would have to have a job, but it can be a small job like babysitting. We grow most of our food, and are very big on raising animals to eat. No one is allowed to purchase from fast fashion. We all agree that health care should be free, and education is one of the most important things. Everyone has the rights to their own anatomy, and hate won’t be tolerated. The legal process is very fair. You’re only allowed to become a person of power if  you don’t have a criminal record and your phone will be searched. Everyone, even if they’re rich, pays the correct amount in taxes. All tax money goes to the school and healthcare. Children legally aren’t allowed to have a phone unless they play a sport or they can write an essay on why they should have one. Once you are 1...