The Guest-House - Rumi

Whenever my english class gets cancelled (which is starting to seem like once a week) my professor emails us an assignment. Usually it's a boring assignment that just takes up time, but this week was completely different! We had to read a few poems and analyze them. The first couple I read were boring and I couldn't relate to any of them. Then, I found this one and I can honestly say I feel like I have a new perspective on emotions and how I should view them!

The Guest-House

This being human is a guest-house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness, 

some momentary awareness comes 

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all! 

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, 

who violently sweep your house 

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honorably. 

He may be clearing you 

out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, 

meet them at the door laughing, 

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes, 

because each has been sent 

as a guide from beyond.

Say I Am You: Poetry Interspersed with Stories of Rumi and Shams, Translated by John Moyne and Coleman Barks, Maypop, 1994.

When I first read the title I expected a poem full of imagery and words I didn't understand painting a picture of someone's guest house. Boy was I surprised when it turned out to be the complete opposite!

The one thing I love about poetry is that everyone can interpret the same exact words into a completely different idea then everyone else! Here are just some things I found powerful in this poem.

Lines 7-12:" Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight." These few lines were my favorite. It took me a couple read throughs to try and figure out what this meant. I finally realized that Rumi was saying that sorrow can so easily swallow us up and drag us down and eventually empty us completely. How beautiful is it that he is able to see this as an opportunity for renewal and a way to start over with new, better emotions.

Lines 16-18:" Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond." I believe that word choice was crucial here for Rumi. He could've easily said that the emotions were simply sent from above but instead he chooses to say that they were sent as a guide. That these emotions weren't meant to fix us immediately but rather guide us to be stronger and joyous.

What did you take away from this poem? 

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words

As you may know, one of my favorite things to do is take pictures. It doesn't matter where I am, I always have my phone out and ready to snap a pic. Here are just a few of my favorite pictures with the little stories that go along with them!

Love is Everywhere 

So I'm pretty sure Chinese food id the best food ever, I order it all the time. One day I was eating dinner and I looked down into my soup and this is what I found! I couldn't believe what I saw. It was so cool to look down and see four perfect hearts floating around in my soup!

Dad Doing Funny Things

This is one of my favorite pictures! It was my Dads birthday and we were at Texas Roadhouse for his birthday and when they sang happy birthday they made him sit on this saddle, it was priceless! 

Sunsets

I took this picture of a sunset two summers ago. I had gone to a little ice cream shop in Connecticut with my friends and family. Every summer we spend a week camping and we never fail to go to this ice cream place, it's a tradition! 

All Of The Lights

This was taken at a Fall Out Boy concert in June. I forget what song they were singing but it was so amazing seeing all of these people holding up their phone flashlights and swaying to the song. My favorite part of every concert is that everyone is there because they love the same music! 

Tips to beat the struggle of a long-distance relationship with your BFF

Ever since I could remember Jillian has always been my best friend! Our moms were friends in high school and then we just became friends through them! Only problem is...she lives in Colorado! It's so terrible having your best friend live so far away but I have to say that we are closer than I am with some of my other friends. Here are some of the things we do that keeps our friendship so strong!

1. Keep In Touch- I know this one sounds pretty obvious and it's definitely the most important. Jill and I text all the time and we try to FaceTime whenever we get the chance. With technology now it's impossible not to keep touch, you just have to put in the effort!

2. Pen Pals- Even though I just stressed how important it is to keep in touch with friends through technology, writing letters is also super fun! I love getting letters and packages. It's another fun way to keep in touch and also let the other person know you're thinking of them!

3. Visit- This is my absolute favorite one! There's nothing better than staying at your best friends house for a week and meeting everyone that you've heard so many stories about. Now that I'm older I'm trying to get there as much as possible, which is difficult but totally worth it. 

4. Be Open- Another super important tip! I tell Jill everything...literally, everything. It's the best feeling having someone who knows everything and anything about you. It makes it so much easier to go through everyday knowing there is someone who is able to help me through the tough times because she knows where I've been!

To Be A Kid Again

Do you ever look back on your childhood and wish you could just go back in time? Back to when it didn't matter what you wore,  when makeup wasn't even an issue and you could just leave the house with the messy hair you woke up with? Me too! (Even though I may still do this sometimes...) Life was so much easier!

Now I have to set my alarm super early just so I have enough time to do my hair and makeup. But now, when I look at the young kids I can't believe what they are wearing!! They all have their makeup done perfectly and their hair more straight then I could even imagine. Sometimes I even find my self envying them (Yikes!).

But then I remember how simple life was when I didn't care what anyone else thought of me. I was comfortable in my sweats and ponytail! Part of me feels sad for the younger girls now because when they're supposed to be having fun and not worrying about looks they are constantly stressing over their hair and "acne".

I have to say that I am very grateful for the childhood I had. Free of makeup and stressing about every little thing. I can't believe how much things can change over one generation!