Ashes to Diamonds

The road ahead is long and broken. Sharp stones bring me to my knees, cutting my skin, but I won't stay down. Instead, I struggle to stand and walk the million miles to my dream. It is the city out of reach but a world ready to fall into my hand, but life is ready to push me back down, force me to surrender with the harsh cards that I am dealt. But what if Aces were wild? I'm ready to play, overcome the challenges that lie in wait, and this hard road beneath my feet will become a smooth surface to carry me across time into the dreams soon to be lived. And from the ashes of a broken world will I harden into a diamond that shines forever with brilliance, inspiration to those still struggling to walk through the dark.

3. Shine Your Laughter Down Upon Me

The turmoil of our lives are the storms threatening to tear our world down. We can only weather the storm for so long until it rips us apart, but some find the strength to hold on. Where there should be tears, there is laughter instead, and the bell inside their heart rings forth into the darkness. And they hold strong. They rise when they should fall, but the ground cannot break beneath their feet. They march forward, holding to the dreams that threaten to slip away, but cling to the silver lining that wavers over crisis, and they shed the layers of depression, anger, and loss. And the storm that carries across their world is no match for what they have become, and the wings of inspiration take flight. And we hear their laughter ring out against our darkness, touching the bell of our heart, and lighting the windows to our soul, and we follow in the footsteps of giants, comedians such as Christopher Titus and John Leguizamo, fueling our strength to weather our own storm and break on through to the other side.

2. Painted Portrait of Perfection

Hollywood is a painted portrait of perfection, and we are captivated by its beauty. But if we remain standing before it for too long, would we then see its flaws? Masterpieces hardened and broken? Talent shadowed by ego or controversy? Originality painted over and over by layers of creativity? Golden was the age when Hollywood was born, and silver are the eras traced across paint. Legends defined remain to fill the hearts of inspiration, and stars rising keep the dream alive. But the cruelty of life, its trials and tribulations threaten to tear down all hope of filling a space in this portrait of stardom, denying the sweet taste of beauty and fame, and burying any dream that could grant it life again, but we can't give up. Through the hardships of life do we find the icons ready to give us hope, strength to march forward and into the arms of the dreams that await, icons such as Halle Berry and Kiefer Sutherland. We can't give up, and this painted portrait of perfection that we call Hollywood was once the broken ground beneath our feet but built up through the blood, sweat and tears of those that would rise to meet any challenge and race a million miles to victory. And in them, we believe, and we dream of living the dream.

1. The Power Behind Music

In the darkness, there is a heartbeat. There is a voice whispering across a sea of chords, strumming to the conflict of life. Intensity pounds to the beat, vibrating through the floor, and forcing us to dance, silencing the tears that would wash us in pain but now refresh us in joy. And we burn, hating the moments that keep our dreams down, and we thrive in the hope of breaking free. A voice now carries across the corridors, where we walk, traces over our lips, and fills our minds with words over words, lyrics, poetry in motion, and our hearts tap across the piano keys that speak to us, revealing who we are buried beneath the layers of denial. But through music, we find the power to rise. We find the soul to mirror our own. We find a voice. We are not alone, and the trials that break us down, tear us apart are the trials that fell against them. But they survived, and they are speaking to us. Listen to the chords that strum against the beat, and move to the vibrations that bring you up from your knees. Wipe your tears aside, and know that you are alive. Find inspiration in them. Let their strength become your own. Know the true artist, artists such as Eminem and Rihanna, and raise your hands in the air. Keep them high, and fight the current that would pull you down and keep you down. Let the music be the wind beneath your wings, and take flight through the storm to the dreams that wait on the other side.