Imagine the fourth movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony; imagine the gentle rise of the orchestra, until choirs of angels begin to sing in harmonious jubilee:

"More joyful sounds!  Joy!  Joy!"

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“I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much.” 

- Mother Teresa

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A single teardrop rolled down her cheek.

It was the stuff of movies.  It was the ambient lighting of the room, the sun struggling to peek in through the window blinds.  I glimpsed at the shadows of leaves shaking in the wind, and it was as if they were dancing.  From my eyes, it was all just amazingly cinematic.  It was a vividly written novel -- the kind that keeps me turning the page. 

"I want you to trust yourself..." 

Then, it felt like time was passing rapidly, even though it must have only been a fraction of a second.  Life felt hushed, like it was waiting for something.  Something big.  Like it was standing on its tippy-toes in eager anticipation for the novel's denouement.

"...because I trust you."

With that, although the room itself remained dim, the world seemed a little more vivid.  The sun was somehow both brighter and a little less harsh on the eyes.

I rolled out into the town, more alive and more lucid.

I don't know much, but as always, when the skies feel like they are at their brightest, and the weight on my shoulders feels at its lightest, one reigning thought rang proudly in my mind:

"omfg I feel so good about myself, I feel like I can do anything, hell yeah, all y'all can suck my d--"

Then -- thank god -- I cleaned up my act a little bit by reeling it back a few notches, and bringing myself back down to earth,

and then I just remember how thankful I am to be alive.

From there, the rest always follows.  The good graces of life and love.

optimism, rejuvenation… l'etoile