Claire in Poland

Dear Claire, Hi. I know there’s a lot going through your head right now and that there’s lots of people telling you a lot of different things, but just sit down and listen to me for a moment. You’re okay. Stop shaking. Breathe. Inhale, exhale. Three times. Deeply. It's going to be okay. I know your heart is eager for an explanation about what is going on. I’m here to tell you that you’re experiencing growing pains. Severe ones, but don’t worry. You’ll grow out of them just like your favorite navy polka dotted mini skirt. The pain your feeling is the realization that the world is scary. You have found that some people are mean and that life can be cruel. You are afraid. This paralyzing fright inside you needs to be let out, and the hospital gown you currently wear reflects this. Let me assure you, though, through this letter, that this fright does not mean the world is any less spectacularly beautiful, nor life is any less worth living. First, some advice: for the nex...

Light through window panes even when it rains A smile when awoken by orange sky Fruit and flower stands Bike riding plans Daffodils in hands Fistfuls of grass Picnic snacks  Bird songs  If outside, no wrongs.  Green fields  White clouds Blue skies  Breeze in hair makes you feel alive. Bicycles, roller-skates, scooters Blue bells, tulips, cherry blossoms Sun, sun, sun Smiles, smiles, smiles.

When I was six years old, my twenty two year old sister told me, “you don’t want to grow up, trust me.” But at that moment, I wanted nothing more than to grow up. I wanted to be tall like her, so I could  reach the top shelf where the cookies were hidden.  I envied her maturity and composure.  When I was eight, I wanted to be nine because the girl who lived in the house behind mine boasted about her seniority as she was a year older than me. She received homework twice a week and her parents didn’t scold her for using the word stupid. I wanted homework, I wanted to use the word stupid.  When I was ten, I wanted to be eleven because ten was the first double digit. Eleven seemed like the real deal.  When I was twelve, I wanted to be thirteen because thirteen was the age that turned a tween into a teen. When I was fourteen, I wanted to be fifteen because I hated being the same age as some eighth graders when I was in ninth grade. When I was fifte...

Dear Mr. President,  Why do we need a wall if we are free and brave?  Dear Mr. President,  The golden rule of my childhood, hung up on every elementary school wall in every classroom, was “treat others how you want to be treated.” Do you want to be shunned because of your location or religion? Dear Mr. President,  Why do you pinch my clean white cheeks and tell me how much my dreams are worth, but shy away from the children stained with blood and debris from fallen buildings?  Dear Mr. President,  Doesn’t the Bible preach to accept and help whoever you can?  I would inform you that they say the same in the Torah and the Quran, but I am afraid you might clog your ears if I speak either of those words.  Dear Mr. President, At what second did America become ‘not great’?   Dear Mr. President,  Why is it that human sympathy and benevolence towards others hardens like paint on a wall or tea left out in the sn...

Rosy cheeks, heavy clothing, runny noses Hot chocolate and tea Meals of soup and meat Naked trees Snow up to your knees Smoke dancing out of chimneys Sledding the parks Skating the rinks After play, warm hands in the sink Frozen cars, frozen toes, frozen ponds  Frozen hopes for heat   “Only a few more months!” a woman squeaks

1. Never turn down the opportunity to travel .  Ever.  Even if you are forced to leave your dog, your boyfriend, your uncle, your mom, or your best friend, I am here to personally promise you that you will not regret it. You may find how lucky you are to have what you have and to have been born into the community you belong. Or, you may find you have been living in false light. You may find that you belong somewhere millions miles away, and you've been missing out. Either way, changing scenery every once in a while helps you discover yourself and open your eyes.   2. There is no reason to worry or even think about things you cannot control. Take a second and think about everything you control. For me when I first did this, I realized how much I cannot control. If you focus on only what you can control, life becomes bearable.  3. Let people finish their sentences before accusing them. You’ll gain much more out of it than interrupting them and ...

“A polite conversation about unimportant or uncontroversial matters, especially as engaged in on social occasions” -Google. It exists in all languages, but there’s something about American small talk that’s different than any other language’s. It seems to be purposely insignificant, purposely shallow. We say everything we don’t feel. We lie for other’s comfort. We’re doing well or good even when our cat died yesterday or we really didn’t want to get out of bed that morning. We say everything that we don’t mean. For example, let’s take the phrase “nice to meet you.” After we shake hands and smile we usually speak this phrase before beginning to converse about the snow storm that may blow over on Thursday or the car accident down on route 122 or any other subject that doesn’t require an opinion.  I was pointed out to this strange saying when I was introduced to someone in Poland. In the process I said “Nice to meet you,” and shook their hand. Quickly though, another person ...