Crystal's Muse

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“A Blot Story Lesson”

REmix by icallringbearer

The Story of Kyle

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, “Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.”

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up, and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.

My heart went out to him. So I jogged over to him, and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, “Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives.” He looked at me and said, “Hey thanks!” There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before, but we talked all the way home, and I carried his books.

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes.

We hung out all weekend, and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. And my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, “Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!” He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn’t me having to get up there and speak.

On graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me and all the girls loved him! Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech, so I smacked him on the back and said, “Hey, big guy, you’ll be great!” He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. “Thanks,” he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. “Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach — but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.” I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his mom wouldn’t have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. “Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.”

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize its depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture, you can change a person’s life.

(Source: denisecua, via christina-r-a-e)

(via tinyfactss)

jtotheizzoe:

Klimt under the neuroscientist’s microscope

I’m amazed by the message above, a neuroscientist’s take on our unconscious responses to viewing art (or at least this art). It suggests that most of our reactions to art are invisible, which is both an obvious idea and one that is difficult to dissect. Many feel that they can deeply, consciously and objectively analyze art, but is our reaction more like an iceberg, mostly beneath surface?

Nobel winner Eric Kandel is not just an eminent neuroscientist, he’s a scholar of art and European culture in the golden age of Vienna. One of Kandel’s favorite subjects is Gustav Klimt, a highly erotic and symbolic painter famous for his golden-hued explorations of the female form. Above, looking at Judith and the Head of Holofernes, Kandel offers a glimpse of the neurotransmitters that silently influence the reaction of our brains, and our bodies, to works of art.

Check out Kandel’s masterful book The Age of Insight for more on how the scientific revolution of 19th century Vienna changed how we look at both the brain and art.

(↬ zenpundit)

paper-aeroplanee:

birdbrainblue:

doov:

veri-pageofknowledge:

landofinkandglass:

lunainvidia:

barnabyqueefs:

pilgrimkitty:

(via imgTumble)

She is running in a long-sleeved black shirt and tights, in the middle of summer, outside.  And she’s still in the lead.

Tell me again how Muslim women aren’t tough?

HOW THE HELL IS SHE DOING THIS WHILE FASTING

EVERYONE PLEASE REMEMBER ITS RAMADAN

GOD BLESS THE MUSLIMS USUALLY I DONT ADD COMMENTARY BUT FRICK

I don’t think I could have reblogged this except…. Ramadan

good lord.

meanwhile I can’t run a mile, derp

BOSS

i feel like we’re reaching a tipping point

i feel like the world is reaching a point of acceptance

i just really want us to push over into that point so badly because this

this stuff right here

this is perfect

holy shit this woman is so boss

Ramadan, tho

FUCK YAH. YOU GO GIRL.

(Source: noyzhiphop, via primalmindset)