#“standing calmly at the crossroads no desire to run/there's no hurry anymore when all is said and done” i am going to be SICK omfg

[compacflt]

Thank you so much for sharing your Tom Kazansky and related playlists because I’m obsessed with them and how perfectly the songs fit. Yesterday I cried on a plane to When All is Said and Done

uncritical support for abba and mamma mia! for providing me the perfect song with which to end my top gun fanfic series called “easier done than said”

[alliaskisthepossibilityoflove]

inspiration saturday

Hiiiiiii long time no me participating in tag games (long story will be under the cut 😅 if you want it), so here I am with a two parter - an inspiration AND a tidbit

First, I can't get this song, and in particular this version of the song out of my head

(Apologies for Pierce Brosnan's singing, I just really really love the moment Meryl Streep joins in on "but dignified")

I mean listen to this

Clear-headed and open-eyed With nothing left untried Standing calmly at the crossroads, no desire to run There's no hurry anymore when all is said and done

That's everything I want for Buddie post Tommy, knowing themselves, knowing each other, all they need is to take this new path together, and there is no rush, because they are sure and ready.

So if anyone wanted to make my entire year and make an edit?🙏😘

And now a TIDBIT 😊

This is from the very beginning of my heart’s over-pumping and your mouth is an ambulance by fleetinghearts, have some Eddie picking up Chris after a field trip 😍

because heart-eyes! Eddie isn't making heart-eyes just as Buck, he's also making them at his son 😍😍😍

tags and all under the cut

Thank you everyone who's kept tagging me in various games and when you posted something new even when I didn't have capacity to tag you back ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I'm going to go through my mentions and tag as many people as I can but i feel like half of my dash has changed their urls recently so if I forget anyone I'd normally tag and you want to be tagged 1) lmk and 2) please consider yourself tagged (and now I've typed "tag" waaaay too many times and it has lost all meaning) (also lmk if you wanna be removed ofc)

@shitouttabuck ❤️❤️❤️❤️, @tizniz, @diazsdimples, @cal-daisies-and-briars, @lover-of-mine,

@try-set-me-on-fire, @acountrygirlsfun, @aroeddiediaz,

@wikiangela, @bucksbignaturals, @buckleyobsessed,

@mistmarauder, @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels, @daffi-990,

@exhuastedpigeon, @glorious-spoon, @rainbow-nerdss,

@devirnis, @renecdote, @thewolvesof1998

@rewritetheending, @chronicowboy, @suavecitodiaz

@eddiediaz420, @captain-hen , @sunshinediaz, @neverevan

So basically what happened here at house of El was a prime example of if you don't give your body a break it will make you take one - after running himself ragged since basically October my husband stepped wrong and broke a bone in his foot and has been stuck on the couch for the last 3 weeks. So for the time being I'm the one doing all the school drop-offs/pick-ups and grocery runs and after-school activities (and most of chores, though to be fair my house has been overrun by kinetic sand since christmas 😅), but also (crucially) it means no editting/recording time for me, because no. I'm trying to edit on my work ipad but it's no audacity, so it's sloooooow going 😅 anyway. How have you all been doing apart from vibrating out of your skins about S07?

[deadboyswalking]

Listened to the song "When All Is Said And Done" (Mamma Mia version where it's a love song and not a breakup song) yesterday and went insane with thoughts of a Shuggy reunion

"Standing calmly at the crossroads

No desire to run

There's no hurry anymore

When all is said and done."

[spacelesbeans]

standing calmly at the crossroads, no desire to run. theres no hurry anymore when all is said and done

[potatoesandsunshine]

STANDING CALMLY AT THE CROSSROADS NO DESIRE TO RUN... THERE'S NO HURRY ANYMORE WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE

[locallyfeared]

listening to abba’s the visitors (deluxe) like I’m young I’m old I’m wise I’m newborn I’m alive I’m dying I’m dancing

[cucumbers-and-olives]

When All Is Said And Done

⚠️stop! have you read part one, the winner takes it all yet? if not, click the link and read it cause idk if this will make much sense!

Summary: You slowly repair you relationship with Reggie as you get closer to the end of the show.

Category: high school au, musical au?

Fandom: JATP

Paring: Reggie x Reader

Word Count: 1.5k

Warnings/Includes: mentions of cheating

A/N: this is for @reggiepetersappreciationweek day 5? whatever yesterday was, i have a trash memory, and i forgot to post this so... whoops!

(also @williexmercer asked to be tagged in this so.... ta da?)

Mandatory Thanking of the Betas: ahhhh ty so so much @wrhen for helping me give this story the ending it deserved, i had no idea how to end it, so thank you!

AO3 link here (nope)

Please don’t repost my work without my permission, in part or whole. My work can also be found on AO3 under the same username. Thank you!

Here's to us

One more toast

And then we'll pay the bill

Closing night was always a sad thing. But after the last three months, all of the drama, and the nightmares… You could tell that the smile on Reggie’s face was his, and he was happy. Truly happy.

Deep inside

Both of us

Can feel the autumn chill

“Y/N, I’m sorry. I’ll be better. I want to explain, so I’ll be at our spot at 7 pm tomorrow.” You listened to his voicemail over and over, trying to decide if you should trust him this time. You got one of these voicemails every week on Monday. It had been a month since “the incident” and he wasn’t giving up.

“Y/N, I’m sorry. I’ll be-” You tossed your phone at the wall as hard as possible, but with your bad luck it landed on the soft white sheets of your bed and you let out a scream. It was loud and heart-wrenching, and you collapsed into the shag carpet. The soft blue carpet he had bought for you when you found out you had landed the role.

And from your spot on the floor, there was the photo of the two of you that you had framed after your second date. When you knew he was the one. He had taken you to the fair, and one of his friends had come over to take a photo of the two of you, but someone had bumped into him, and there was a ton of bright pink cotton candy in his hair. That was your favorite moment with him.

You rolled over, and like a bad omen, your phone played the voicemail again. “Y/N, I’m sorry. I’ll be better. I want to explain, so I’ll be at our spot at 7 pm tomorrow.” You had crawled onto your bed to turn it off when you heard him whisper something he hadn’t in any of the other voicemails. “I love you.”

As you lay down to sleep that night, your brain looped his words. I love you, I love you, I love you. I. Love. You.

He hadn’t ever said it before.

Birds of passage

You and me

We fly instinctively

The cast all had slight tears in their eyes. Most of them were seniors, including you and Reggie, so this was your last show at a school you had grown to love.

When the summer's over

And the dark clouds hide the sun

Neither you nor I'm to blame

“Y/N and Reggie.” Your science teacher moved on and continued calling out other pairs to work together.

He moved to where you were sitting. It seemed as if his personality had changed. He was no longer the confident, happy boy you knew, but a shy, quiet one. “I- I can ask for a different partner. You probably don’t, don’t want to work with me.” His eyes were transfixed on the desk.

You don’t know what led you to do this, but you slipped a finger under his chin and tilted his face to look at you. “We have 5 minutes left in this period, and then we have rehearsal. You have that long to come up with a convincing argument as to why I should trust you, go it?”

He nodded softly, and you released his face. Now you had that long to figure out if you should trust him again.

As the bell rang you began to pack up your stuff when a note fell out of your bag. You picked it up and began to read it.

“Y/N. I kissed him. I’m not trying to cover for him, it’s the honest truth.” You looked up at your teacher.

“Y/L/N, get to rehearsal, or at least get out of my classroom.”

“Yeah, sorry!” You said, hurrying out of her classroom. You stepped into the hall, and you continued to read the note.

“I know it sounds like I’m covering for him. I’m not. I came into his dressing room, I kissed him. (I’ll spare you the details) But you two are an amazing couple, and he’s been a mess without you. There’s a hole in his heart that only you can fix.”

And just like the “I love you,” those last words rang in your head through rehearsal.

“There’s a hole in his heart that only you can fix.”

When all is said and done

In our lives

We have walked

Some strange and lonely treks

He crossed the stage and looked back at you. The strength it would take the entire cast to not laugh like children would be incredible.

Slightly worn

But dignified

And not too old for sex

We're still striving for the sky

No taste for humble pie

“Thank you.” He said, passing you a coke. “The pie will be out in a second.”

The booth in the back of the diner was a quiet one, but there were so many memories here. Your first date, your first kiss, Reggie asking you to be his girlfriend, and getting cast as Donna and Sam. You had found out sitting in this booth.

The waitress came over. “Two slices of apple pie, enjoy you two,” She said, with a little wink.

You took a fork and stabbed the pie like an enemy. “Talk.”

“I didn’t mean to. She came in, and she started it, I-” You shoved some pie in his mouth. His face was alarmed for a second, and then he smiled.

“Not about that, idiot, about the project. We have to present tomorrow.” You took a bite of your pie.

“I thought…” He was lost in thought for a moment and then he spoke. “I was thinking we could alternate slides? Or if you just want to do the chunks you wrote, that’s cool too!” He said, eating some more of his pie.

“That sounds good, we can alternate slides. Also, could you help me with my math homework? I’m- well, I’ve got a D. Can you help me? I brought it with me if you want to now, I have it with me, or we can do it later?” You rambled off.

“Scooch over,” He said, standing up. As you did, he sat down next to you. “Okay, pull it out, and show me what you’re struggling with. We’re not leaving till you have it down.”

He smiled at you, and you knew you were back to normal now. Or at least, a new normal.

Thanks for all your generous love

And thanks for all the fun

Neither you nor I'm to blame

As he sang that line, you both glanced into the audience where your former-best-friend-now-acquaintance sat. Your relationship had healed over the last month. He and you were clearer, and when/if anything happened, you both gave each other a chance to explain your side of the story. It was better now.

When all is said and done

It's so strange

When you're down

And lying on the floor

“Okay look up when you open your eyes,” He said, removing his hands from your face. You looked out at the beautiful rolling hills and then up. Up to the sky, and the shining stars. You gasped as you saw them, each one more beautiful than the last.

“Woah, Reggie this is so beautiful, I-” You turned around to face him. He had a picnic all laid out. There was a full apple pie and ice cream, along with a bunch of your favorite sweets and some popcorn and pretzels.

“Reggie, when did you have the time for this? It’s almost tech week,” You said as you sat down next to him. “Not that I’m ungrateful but seriously, when did you-” He cut you off as he stuck a bit of pie in your mouth.

“Did you?” He nodded. “You bought a full pie from the diner?” You smiled at him so big. And it was a wonderful night.

How you rise

Shake your head

Get up and ask for more

Clear-headed and open-eyed

With nothing left untried

Standing calmly at the crossroads

No desire to run

“I’m scared Alex.” It was Reggie’s voice you heard as you walked up to the garage. Over the past 2 and a half months, your relationship had changed, and now, it was the Saturday before tech week.

You froze outside the garage as you listened to Reggie.

“I- I, I messed it all up before, and I keep feeling like I’m gonna mess up again,” Reggie said. His voice was shaking if it was even possible for a voice to do that.

“Reg,” Alex said. “What happened wasn’t your fault. They came in and kissed you.”

“I should’ve stopped it. I should have stopped them.”

“Reggie, she forgave you. And trust me, Y/N wouldn’t be with you if she thought you had done it on purpose.”

You knocked on the garage door. “Reg, you in there? We’re gonna be late to rehearsal!”

“Yeah- yeah, I’m coming, I’ll meet you in the car babe!” He hollered back.

There's no hurry anymore

When all is said and done

Then he did something unexpected. Something unscripted. You just felt him pulling you in and dipping you down, and for a moment in one amazing kiss, the audience wasn’t there.

You pulled away, smiling and breathless as the audience cheered.

~

Send me an ask or fill out this form to be added to my tag list! Send me an ask to be removed from my tag list!

JATP Tag list: @screwunsaidemily @crybabyddl @n0wornever @crybabyddl @dream-a-little-bigger-x @crybabyddl @badwolf00593

Reggie Tag list: @willex-owns-my-heart

Everything: @funsizearsonist

[thedupshadove]

Good Omens But Instead of Queen It’s ABBA

@genderqueercrowley I know you’ve already done this but I pinky-swear I’ve held off on reading yours until I’ve done mine.

Crowley’s Entrance- “Dancing  Queen” (You can dance/you can jive/having the time of your life/oooo/see that girl/watch that scene/digging the dancing queen)

Driving the Antichrist- “Knowing Me, Knowing You” (There is nothing we can do/knowing me, knowing you/We just have to face it; this time we’re through)

 Hitting Anathema- “Does Your Mother Know” (Take it easy/better slow down, girl/that’s no way to go/does your mother know?/take it easy/try to  cool it, girl/take it nice and slow/does your mother know?)

Driving to the Bookstore- “S.O.S.” (So when you’re near me, darling, can’t you hear me: S.O.S./The love you gave me, nothing else can save me: S.O.S)

Leaving the Bookstore- “One Of Us” (Sorry for herself/feeling stupid, feeling small/swishing she had never left at all)

Stuck In Traffic- “Under Attack” (Under attack/I’m being taken/about to crack/defenses breaking/Won’t somebody see and save a heart/come and rescue me now, cause I’m falling apart)

Enter the Flame- “Mama Mia” (Mama Mia/here I go again/my my/how can I  resist you?)

Entering Tadfield/Horseman Undertones- “Gimme Gimme Gimme” (Just the violins tbh)

Rolling Up to the Airbase- “Voulez-Vous” (Take it now or leave it/now is all we get/nothing promised, no regrets/Voulez-vous/ain’t no big decision/you know what to do/La question c'est voulez-vous)

Bonus!At the Ritz- “When All is Said and Done” (Standing calmly at the crossroads/no desire to run/there’s no hurry anymore/when all is said and done)

[trauma-addict]

“Standing calmly at the crossroads, no desire to run. There’s no hurry anymore when all is said and done.”

~ABBA~

[vonlipvig]

no offence, but......standing calmly at the crossroads, no desire to run...theres no hurry anymore when all is said and done

[haughtbreaker]

Well, this is it guys. Thank you so much for joining us on this journey. We appreciated each and every one of your kudos and comments. Special thanks to @jaybear1701 who agreed to write this with me when I realized how much of a monster this story would be.

"It's so strange, when you're down, and lying on the floor How you rise, shake your head, get up and ask for more Clear-headed and open-eyed, with nothing left untried Standing calmly at the crossroads, no desire to run There's no hurry anymore when all is said and done."

 "Shit." Nicole cursed under her breath as she dove to the ground, taking up the space beside Waverly. She was feeling a little winded but still she smiled. The overturned table kept them protected from the chaos behind them. "You still armed?"

Waverly nodded. "Just barely." She couldn't help but smile, her eyes drifting over Nicole's form, the casual yet still elegant wedding dress she wore split up the side, revealing a very long leg that brought a flush to Waverly's cheeks. "If I don't get another chance, I wanted to say I really love you." She spoke wistfully, watching caramel eyes lighting up in delight.

"You are the love of my life, Mrs. Haught." Nicole smirked, leaning towards her new wife for a kiss.

"Earp-Haught." Waverly corrected her with a chuckle before returning the kiss in earnest. A loud crash sounded and Waverly pushed Nicole away. "Let's continue this later when stakes are a teeny bit less dire."

"You bet your ass we will." Nicole lifted her gun. "On 3?"

Waverly nodded. "3…"

"2…"

"1!" They shouted together as they popped up from behind the table together, only to find themselves staring down the barrels of two guns pointed directly at them.

Brown eyes narrowed at them, turning a lighter shade of caramel in the sunlight, blazing red hair tucked under a black stetson. "Make your peace." The 2-year-old spoke with as menacing a voice as he could before pulling the triggers, dousing the chests of both women with a fair amount of water.

"Ahhh!" Nicole yelled. "I'm hit! I'm hit!" She crumbled to the ground, holding her chest as the boy squealed in delight.

"Noooo…" Waverly crumbled beside Nicole. "We never should have taken on the infamous Billy the Kid!"

"At least we'll die together." Nicole groaned, pulling Waverly to her.

The boy laughed louder, throwing both hands up in victory until a surprising yell caused all three to jump.

"William Henry James! What did I tell you?"

Whitney stalked over with intent, taking the guns away from him. "For the hundredth time," with a smirk she aimed the guns at her mothers, "right between the eyes, Honey." She told him before pulling the triggers, hitting both Nicole and Waverly right in the foreheads just before a water balloon burst against her shoulder, dousing her completely. "Oh my god!" She turned. "Aunt Wyn... You're so dead!"

Pushing herself up to her elbows, Nicole watched as her daughter took off after Wynonna. Around them, kids were running about, shooting each other with water guns in the corralled area. On the other side of the fence, however, the adults were in varying stages of inebriation. "You think anyone would notice if we snuck off?"

Waverly laughed at the prospect, standing up and trying to dust off the dress she wore. "Sweetie, I don't think we can escape the Kiddie Corral without someone noticing." She offered her hand down to Nicole who took it more for the gesture than actually needing help up.

As if on queue, their tiny assailant ran straight into Nicole's leg with a grunt before he looked up, a huge smile on his face as his arms reached towards her. "Grandma, up?"

Nicole laughed, picking him up easily and settling him on her hip. "Kid, you are gonna be too heavy to carry soon." She kissed him on the cheek. "You wanna go get some cake?"

"Yes!" He yelled happily.

"Like he needs more sugar." Waverly commented as she followed Nicole, barely avoiding a crowd of running kids.

Nicole smirked, leading the way out of the area and over to the food tent. "You know what the best thing about being a grandma is?" She asked as Waverly's hand slipped into her own, their fingers intertwining.

"That we don't have to worry about him not going to sleep?"

"Exactly." Nicole headed straight for the dessert table, smiling at Jeremy who was expertly dishing out slices of the brightly colored wedding cake.

"Hello ladies… and gentleman."

"Jeremy, could we have the largest slice of cake you have that also has the most frosting?" Nicole asked specifically.

"I might have kept a corner piece for you specifically." Jeremy winked as he pulled out a plate already loaded with a large piece of cake. "Only the best for my special guy." He leaned forward, offering his palm to Billy.

"High five!" Billy yelled as he slapped Jeremy's hand.

"Yes!" Jeremy handed the cake out. "At least someone around here loves me."

"Awww. We love you." Waverly took the plate. "Thanks, Jer." She followed Nicole and Billy to their table, enjoying the moment to sit down and just take a minute to be calm.

"Hey Kid. Use your fork." Nicole scolded their grandson, handing him the plastic utensil. Her eyes tilting up to look at Waverly, she found her wife watching her with a sappy smile. "What?"

"You're beautiful." Waverly reached up to remove a blade of grass from auburn hair.

"You're not so bad yourself." Nicole laughed. "Actually you're gorgeous." She corrected herself, leaning towards Waverly for a kiss.

"Ewww. No!" Billy pushed them apart. "My Grandma." He told Waverly with a scowl, waving his frosting-covered fork in her direction..

"What?" Waverly laughed, grabbing the fork from him. "Don't you threaten me, Kiddo. She was mine first." Looking up at Nicole, she rolled her eyes. "This is what happens when you spoil him."

"What?" Nicole gave her a mock surprised look. "You're not spoiled, are you Billy?"

"No!" He laughed, his mouth covered in frosting.

"You spoilin' my kid?" Whitney asked with a huff, plopping down on a chair. "Oh man, how much cake has he eaten?"

Knowing exactly how much, Nicole shrugged. "We lost track."

"You're doing this on purpose," Whitney complained. "I don't know why I ever brought you two back together." She joked. "You're lucky I love the both of you. I should make you watch him so I can study for my finals."

"Oh no." Nicole laughed as she wiped a bit of frosting from Billy's cheek. "Tonight is my wedding night and it is my sworn duty to deflower your mother."

"Mom!"

"Awww, Sweetie." Waverly gave Nicole a sympathetic look, reaching up to cup her cheek. "You were too late the first time, but we can pretend if you want."

"You guys are so gross." Whitney covered her eyes.

"What's gross?"

Nicole looked up with a smile at her mother who sat down at the table with a newly filled glass of champagne. "Hey, where's Dad?"

"I don't know. Talking about hockey or politics or something with Jesse." Her mother took a sip of her drink before clearing her throat. "What's gross again?"

Nicole smirked. "Premarital sex." She answered before taking a sip from her own glass.

"Oh." Mrs. Haught sniffled. "Well, that hasn't really been a concern of yours since you were 15 now has it?"

"Wait… 15?" Whitney's eyes grew in size.

Nicole choked on her drink. "What? How the…"

"You always were as subtle as a freight train, Nicole." Alexandria gave her a straightforward look, daring her to argue.

"Ok can we not talk about this in front of my grandson?" Nicole gestured to Billy who seemed only interested in shoving fistfuls of cake into his mouth.

"Oh like you were talking about deflowering my mother on her wedding night?" Whitney laughed. "I'm sure my mother wouldn't mind hearing about your teenage conquests."

Waverly snorted. "Oh I know every single name on that list."

"Ok can we not?" Nicole felt her cheeks burning a bright red before Waverly leaned over and pressed a kiss to one of said cheeks. "Thanks, Mom." She glared at the oldest Haught.

A loud commotion from the the grilling area got everyone's attention and Nicole was surprised to see Wynonna in what looked like a heated debate with both her father and Jesse.

"Oh no." Mrs. Haught stood up, dusting her slacks off. "I should go calm your father."

"Oh boy…" Whitney stood up. "I better go too…"

"Hey." Nicole thought quickly, lifting up Billy with a huff. "Go hand him to Wynonna. She'll calm down quickly."

"Good idea." Whitney commented, grabbing her son and rushing off after Nicole's mother.

Nicole shook her head, wiping the frosting off her hands on the only clean napkin she could find. She looked up to find Waverly watching her with a soft look. "I love you."

"I love you too." Waverly moved right next to her, bumping her gently with a loving smile. "Thank you."

Raising her eyebrows, Nicole returned the smile with a slightly more bewildered one. "For what?"

"Coming back to Purgatory."

Nicole's smile softened. "Where else would I be?" Leaning forward, she pressed a soft kiss to Waverly's lips, feeling a love that had grown between them the past few years. She'd thought it was impossible to love Waverly any more than she had 25 years ago, but everyday she found that love growing just a bit more.

"I can think of somewhere else we could be." Waverly wiggled her eyebrows.

"So can I," Nicole laughed, leaning forward for another kiss just before something hit Waverly and a cold rush of water splashed over the both of them. Looking up in shock, Nicole was surprised to see Wynonna standing in shock behind a laughing Billy, another water balloon in his hands.

"My grandma!" He yelled.

"He's gonna get it." Waverly finally growled, pecking a quick kiss on Nicole's lips before she took off after the now running toddler.

Nicole could only laugh as she pushed off the seat and followed.

[arospecsyourblockdudes]

∞

ABBA’s When All Is Said And Done

“Standing calmly at the crossroads, no desire to run/There’s no hurry anymore when all is said and done” 

[twitchexrs-archive]

It’s so strange, when you’re down, and lying on the floor                        How you rise, shake your head, get up and ask for more Clear-headed and open-eyed, with nothing left untried                         Standing calmly at the crossroads, no desire to run There’s no hurry anymore when all is said and done

                                            (Indie & Semi-Selective Harry Potter OC)

[shernabhumgara]

    “When All Is Said And Done” by ABBA

  Here’s to us. One more toast, and then we’ll pay the bill Deep inside, both of us can feel the autumn chill Birds of passage, you and me We fly instinctively When the summer’s over and the dark clouds hide the sun Neither You nor I’m to blame when all is said and done

In our lives, we have walked some strange and lonely treks Slightly worn, but dignified, and not too old for sex We’re still striving for the sky No taste for humble pie Thanks for all your generous love and thanks for all the fun Neither you nor I’m to blame when all is said and done

It’s so strange, when you’re down, and lying on the floor How you rise, shake your head, get up and ask for more Clear-headed and open-eyed, with nothing left untried Standing calmly at the crossroads, no desire to run There’s no hurry anymore when all is said and done Standing calmly at the crossroads, no desire to run There’s no hurry anymore when all is said and done

    ————————————————————————————————————

    “Hooked on Inspiration’s Blog” is a blog site consisting of more than 100 blog posts – the vast majority of blogs concern self-improvement and are devoted to a single and profound tagline – “A Better Tomorrow; A Better Future and A Better World.” Each and every blog post has been published to the general public of the world.

  While such lofty ideals may seem ridiculous and the height of arrogance on my part to some people, the simple truth (that isn’t ridiculous at all) is that WHAT YOU DO FOR YOURSELF DIES WITH YOU; BUT WHAT YOU DO FOR OTHER PEOPLE BECOMES YOUR LEGACY TO THE WORLD. Such an act is, for all intents and purposes, a true act of selflessness and in every sense of the word, an act of absolute love. It is an act of sharing, caring and giving. GIVE MORE IN YOUR LIFE THAN WHAT YOU SHALL EVER TAKE AND YOU SHALL FIND YOURSELF A HAPPY AND CONTENTED PERSON.

  I have been a Teacher all my life – in real life and in my advice and teachings to you in these various blog posts. The implied statement for any teacher is that he/she already has good knowledge of their subject matter; they are largely Subject Matter Experts and actively practice, for their own betterment, what they preach. Any good teacher who is worth his/her own weight in salt will inform you that it’s as much their job to teach, as it is to achieve successful results. No student ever learned well with mollycoddling, fussing and pampering – though kindness does go a long way in doing the trick too. Sometimes, a teacher’s anger is needed for getting the job done – it’s as simple that. Anger is a means to an end. So, if I seem to be sermonizing, patronizing or lecturing you, you need to believe that it’s not for some obtuse pleasure on my part; it’s because I want to see others rise to the greatest heights of success in their lives. It’s more an act of selflessness and love than you can ever imagine. Everyone knows that I need not be penning these blogs at all – after all, I owe nothing to the world and the world owes nothing to me. We are nothing but Dust and to Dust shall we all return. However, I  DO care and for this reason, I shall forever keep teaching the world with the sincere hope that someday, my teaching will make a lasting difference for the betterment of others.

  Sometimes, I have to honestly wonder if I am ON A FOOL’S ERRAND HERE. I am, most of the time, teaching adults because even though many teenagers and adolescents might be reading these blog posts, they inevitably look up to adults for advice. The youth learns, more often than not, by a simple act of Imitation from the attitudes, attributes, thoughts, beliefs, morality, acts and behavior of an adult. If the behavior of an adult is not exemplary, these youth of today are unconsciously imbibing the wrong attitudes and behavior. It’s an adult’s undisputed responsibility and duty to set the best possible examples of themselves for others, especially youngsters, to imbibe and inculcate in their own lives.

  IT IS AN ACT OF THE UTMOST ARROGANCE FOR ANYONE TO ASSUME THAT THE WORLD SHOULD CHANGE FOR THEM. CHANGE HAS TO COME, FIRST AND FOREMOST, FROM WITHIN. IT’S AN ACT OF SELF-PURIFICATION AND SELF-CLEANSING. NEVER EXPECT OTHER PEOPLE TO CHANGE FOR YOU; CHANGES FOR THE BETTER NEED TO COME FROM WITHIN YOURSELVES FIRST.

  EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS NOT ABOUT YOU AND WHAT YOU WANT; OTHER PEOPLE AND THEIR FEELINGS MATTER TOO. IF YOU CANNOT – OR WILL NOT – ACCEPT THIS SIMPLE FACT, THEN NO AMOUNT OF TEACHING CAN HELP YOU.

  CHANGE FOR THE BETTER CAN (AND WILL) OCCUR WHEN YOU ACCEPT WHOLEHEARTEDLY THE FACT THAT CHANGE IS NECESSARY.  It’s very similar to illness – no doctor can ever help you if you don’t accept for yourself that help is needed.

  At the end of the day, there is only so much that any teacher can do; I can keep teaching endlessly but if you don’t make your own efforts, with single-minded discipline and determination, there’s not much that I can do to help you, or anyone else for that matter. It all depends finally upon you and your attitude towards Life.  It’s like saying that a shepherd can lead his flock of sheep to green pastures for feeding but he cannot make them graze if they don’t want to do so.

  I recall a Biblical story from my  childhood days and it goes something like this: allow me to share it with you all today; I find it extremely pertinent and important. Once, several eons ago, after a dreadful storm, a torrent of water flooded a small town, with catastrophic results. In the ensuing chaos, a lot of people perished; homes were pulled down and washed away by the wrath of Nature. However, some brave souls found for themselves (and others in the same terrible situation) small boats and dinghies and made for an arduous journey to safer climes. One youth had managed through the greatest of difficulty to find safety on a roof high above the raging and rising flood of water. This youth prayed very earnestly to God to save him. As he prayed, the youth saw a single dinghy with people aboard it sail pass. But somehow, he did nothing and the boat passed by on its way to safer ground. After just a little while, another tiny boat with saved sailors on board came by and then yet another one. Yet, the boy did nothing to help himself.  Finally, after several such boats passed by, the youth lamented to God stating that I asked for your help but you failed me. To this God replied sadly, “I sent so many boats your way and I expected you to do something to help yourself out of this current difficult situation, yet you did absolutely nothing.  I CANNOT HELP THOSE WHO WILL NOT HELP THEMSELVES.”

  Very profound indeed, don’t you agree?

  If you think that this author imagines herself to be better or superior than any of you, please think again. That’s not the case at all. I am a humble and simple person, well aware of the fact that no one is indispensable on this Earth. If I am no longer there to give you advice, inevitably someone else will do so and most probably might even manage to do a better and more successful job of the current sad state of affairs in the world today than what I am trying to do. The important thing to remember here is that – I TALK LESS AND OBSERVE MORE. I KEEP AND GUARD IN MY LONG-TERM MEMORY STORE WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE OF THE MOST VALUE AND OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANCE. I MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO IMBIBE THESE PRINCIPLES IN MY OWN LIFE BEFORE I GO FORWARD TO TEACH THE WORLD ABOUT IT ALL.

  The problem starts from a tragic truth – there are more insincere, fickle-minded, superficial and fake people surrounding us daily, than sincere ones. Then, of course, the problem escalates to greater sins and all manner of wrong-doings, ranging from misdemeanors, to felonies  and finally  to the most horrendous crimes,  filled with  all the manifestations of cruelty and  the most undue violence imaginable. It’s a daunting and frightening state of affairs, to say the very least.

  I, ONCE AGAIN, THANK ALL MY SOCIAL NETWORKING FRIENDS FOR SHARING THESE WONDERFUL POSTS WITH ME. I FIND IT VERY PERTINENT TO SHARE THEM WITH THE WORLD TODAY.

  IN THE END, IT’S ALL ABOUT TAKING ONE TINY STEP AT A TIME – START WITH YOUR OWN SELF-BETTERMENT BEFORE YOU MOVE ON TO THE SELF-IMPROVEMENT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

  AS THE SAYING GOES – “Try and try till you succeed.”

  And if you don’t succeed, at least, you will have the ultimate satisfaction  of knowing that such an attempt was made but that certain things and behavior are beyond a simple person’s capacity to change.

  Just keep trying and trying …….hope for the best, is all  that I can sincerely say.

      After All is Said and Done   "When All Is Said And Done" by ABBA Here's to us. One more toast, and then we'll pay the bill…