We all live a different life. We all see things differently. We’re all taught to follow a different path by different leaders. It’s finding your way through it all, and what you find along the way, that’s important. It’s how you turn out in the end that matters most, not how people view you, or opinions, or what you “should have” been. Don’t let them break you. Don’t let them destroy all the progress and change you’ve accomplished. Don’t let them stifle your happiness. Stop holding on to past reputations and mistakes and pride yourself on who you are today, right now, in this very moment. Because, like it or not, this is who you are. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again …
To be nobody but yourself in a world that’s doing it’s best to make you somebody else, is to fight the hardest battle you’re ever going to fight.
Never stop fighting.
Dream Girl
She’s the most wonderful thing you’ve yet encountered. You think she has a beautiful exterior with her angel-woven hair. Her dark brown eyes reflect her sincerity and depth with every blink. Her radiant smile brightens the darkest corners of every room. And her laugh? It is the most intricate symphony ever played. You think she is the absolute personification of beauty. In fact, beauty doesn’t even begin to reiterate how lovely she is. And the craziest part? Interiorly, you find her to be equally as gorgeous. The words that escape her mouth are intellectually stimulating. She is open and courageous, always adding onto her list of experiences. If you wanted to take a road trip across the country, she wouldn’t question your actions. She’d probably just pack her bags, count what she has, and jump in the car. To you, she is exciting and free-spirited, throwing herself wherever the wind blows. Not only is she unpredictable in her actions, but in the sense where you weren’t sure what she’s truly thinking. And that makes you all the more curious to know her. Because she is addicting. She is beautiful, and she is different, and she is the closest thing you’ve ever come to truly living.
But her heart is exclusive. She has this tendency to keep herself closed. She’ll never let you in no matter how much you prove yourself to be worthy of her trust. You can spill your soul out to her and you won’t even see a flicker of who she truly is. What she dreams of. What her true desires are. What she wants to be. She’s the girl who you always wish you could capture, but she’s too free to obtain. She’d rather live in the moment than make future plans of what’s not guaranteed. She’s lost hope in people. She’s learned to cut herself off from this heartless world, and that’s what made her different. How easily she can let go of herself, her emotions, her worries. How easily she can forget everything she has been through. And that’s how you know, that no matter how much you’d wish she could be yours, she could never be fully yours. This unreal beauty, will only be a vision for what you’d aspire to have, even when you feel like you have all of her. And no matter how many times you whisper secrets with her, hold her hand, or share a faded and sunbathed memory, no matter how many times you try, she will never be anything more but a dream.
Things have a funny way of working themselves out, at least that’s what my Great Grandmother used to tell me. I’m a firm believer that the people that are in your life are there for a reason. And the people who aren’t in your life aren’t in it for a reason. I feel like that’s not the most important part of finding out what it is YOU want in your life though. Whatever I end up doing, I just hope that I can make some sort of difference, somewhere. Sometimes I feel like I’m walking on the moon with these ideas in my head, or maybe I’m just foreshadowing the future. But at some point, I’ll have to look at my life until now and decide what it is that truly makes me happy. Happiness doesn’t come from any one person or any one amount of money or any one place. It comes from God. It’s a choice made by you. Are you happy? Do you know what you’re going to do with your life?
I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok
I just want to be ok today
I just want to feel today, feel today, feel today
I just want to feel something today
Open me up and you will see
I’m a gallery of broken hearts
I’m beyond repair, let me be
And give me back my broken parts
♥
Do something….big.
Live your life to the absolute max. And just when you think you’re at your max, push harder, go further, dream bigger. Because you’re probably no where near reaching where you want to be, I know I’m not. Go and do things that you wouldn’t normally do, and surprise yourself in the meantime. Shock yourself, and others. Be the best person you can. Just be whoever it is that you are. Don’t try to be anything you’re not, don’t set yourself up for disappointment. Just simply live YOUR life. Why try to live someone else’s? Why try to live in a realm that you don’t belong in? Find your niche, and run with it. Be wild, be spontaneous. Love your life and live it proudly. Be happy with what you have, even if it’s a bar of soap and a pair of ratty old hand me down shoes. Because there ARE people that are perfectly content with just that. Expect nothing and live as a minimalist. Maybe a change of pace is just what you need. Go forth and live the life you have always wanted to live.
Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at will change.
The Flamingos Are Always Pinker on The Other Side
I’m gonna be a heck of a lot stronger than the person who slides on through life, living in a land of butterflies and rainbows. Please. Give me disaster any day… I’ve learned how to push through it and make it something beautiful.
I’d rather live rough, and learn my lessons the hard way. I’d rather get hit hard once, and have to learn how to deal with it and get through it, than to keep making the same mistakes twice. I’d rather live through life’s dirty truth, than live in a lie. I’d rather be knocked around by life’s boxing gloves, walking around humbly, than walking around with my chin so high up, that I’m totally oblivious that there are other human beings on this planet. So teach me a lesson. Let me live the hard way. In the end, I’ll figure it all out.I like to think that the grass is always greener on the other side.
Except on my pleasant, grassy side, there’s pink flamingos all over the lawn.
You will always face in this life, hate and adversaries, friends who won’t act in your interest, but you must be willing to stand. Before you can stand tall you have to understand that you were born as a result of a magical grand conspiracy of love. The world may try to crush you, but even worse they may try to love and seduce you into mediocrity. Stand up from the banquet your ancestors prepared & metabolize your blessings. Don’t accept your existence as it is, but rise above it. We are a result of people who saw the world differently. We are here because of people who had an extraordinary vision, to stand up and do something about this world we have been given.
Your attitude says nothing about the world; it speaks of your character. The world you see outside of you will always be a reflection of what’s inside of you, but if you’re one of those people who sees hope, and love, and the face of God, then you can help people. The only way to make change in this world is to start with ones self, if it is to be; it’s up to me. You know when you are around someone who realizes every moment in their life is a precious gift and they will do everything they can do enjoy it. Right now in this moment, you can change the world.
You can always judge a person based on how peaceful they are in their circumstance. In every moment of your life you have a choice to accept circumstances as they are, or take responsibility to change them, to infuse them with truth. When you look up at the stars, some of them have died and gone out, yet their light still shines. We are stars. We can transform doubt into faith, obstacles into opportunity, hate into love, and trial into triumph. How can we tolerate dozens of people murdered everyday? And yet where were we for those peoples life? For the amount of time we spend watching TV, are we evidencing our truth?
If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains. But sometimes you have to fast and pray. Stand, stand together, and stand in humility. Stand for those who didn’t give up, for it is because of their consistent love that we are here.
This post was inspired by Mayor Cory A. Booker at wcagls.
Run With It
I’m in the best mood, I feel so alive, I feel like I can jump out of my skin. I’m reminded, once again, to let the good and the bad come, because they come with lessons learned. I’m reminded to trust in God, because it’s His will that He is handing me. I’m reminded to stay humble, and then will come peace. I’m reminded that my life is not mine, I have no control, and when I try to take that control, everything falls to pieces. It’s nice to be able to sit back and not have to worry about a thing, because someone else is at the wheel. I’m so excited to see what’s next and what’s in store.
A night and day attitude was just handed to me. I’m going to take this and run with it.
What Counts
- I have a huge heart. I will love you to death, until you give me a reason not to. I will give a person anything they need, talk to them when they need advice, be there for them when everyone else falls though. But come the time where I need that, I can rely on all of one person. One. That's disappointing to me.
- It amazes me how I meet SO many new people on a daily basis, yet when you need one person to talk to, or one person to hang out with, nobody's there. Should they be renamed "fake friends", or is the Lord showing me that those are the people that I don't actually need in my life. I'm pretty confident that it's the second one, that He is filtering the unneeded out of my life. Bottom line, you just can not rely on people, but God only. I can admit that I'm not 100% reliable all the time, but I definitely do my best. I feel like my "friends" don't even put in the effort. They're there for you on their time. That's fine, just don't bother with me then. Who has time for fake friends? In reality, I'd rather have one real friend, than a hundred fake ones. But it'd be nice to know you have at least a couple people in your life that want to be involved in your life on more than an acquaintance level.
- So, thank you to the ones, or one that has been there, and no thanks to the ones that pretend. I know I have a big heart, but don't abuse it. That heart will only close itself to you. Maybe what they say isn't true, "Treat others how you want to be treated." Because there's some people's selfish shells that you just can't break, unfortunately.
- Instead of counting your friends, count your blessings. God is more important than worldly people anyways.
Urbane Inquiry presents…
Chase Akers, blogger & musician
Photography by Camille BlinnNashville native Chase Akers is redefining what it means to dress like a teenager. The 17-year-old opts for ties instead of T-shirts and tailored trousers instead of torn jeans. Behind a love for all things old and classic, Akers talks to Urbane about American work wear and why caring about how you dress is important.
How has living in Nashville influenced your style?
Living in Nashville all my life, I absorb many different ideals of style every day. Nashville is full of culture – it’s not the horses, cows, and country dives that the media has made it out to be. It has a strong emphasis on work wear and the hunt for vintage gems. I have grown to love what has been pre-loved: those beat up jeans or that pair of perfectly destroyed wingtips. Though my style has changed over the years, I will always learn and interpret what Nashville has to offer: timeless, yet ever-changing, style and culture
What are some difficulties you’ve encountered with finding clothes since you said you have a smaller frame? How do you overcome those difficulties?
To begin, I love thrifting - I usually never buy my clothes new unless I absolutely have to. In the event that I don’t find anything my size at a thrift store, I move to the kid’s section. You would be surprised what kind of great finds there are in the kid’s section. I do, indeed, have a very small frame. So, if I need basics that fit me well, I will go buy new pieces. My basics include white V-neck tees, white oxfords and gray or black suit pants. I feel as if these basics are always worth the money, so I will always go digging for my perfect size. Or if I must, I will have them tailored. Honestly, the biggest difficulty is finding pieces (shirts and pants) that fit out the door of the store. I’ve learned to focus on what will not shrink and on the other hand, what I can grow into if need be.
How do you stand out with the way you dress, especially for your age?
I have found that many kids my age have simply stopped caring about how they dress. I go to the movies, a concert or a club and see guys dressed in cargo shorts, tennis shoes, and ribbed tanks tops that are too tight. I’ve been taught to pay attention to detail, to keep myself clean and put-together. So, my two pence is that instead of slapping on whatever band T-shirt is lying on the floor the next morning, put on a button-up instead. Maybe next time, try warm ironing your jeans or wearing a pair of lace up brogues instead of New Balance. I stand out by focusing on detail and making sure everything fits. It’s that easy.
What draws you to military-inspired clothing & décor?
Military-inspired clothing, culture, and décor remind me that the American man was born with an innate work ethic – a drive to succeed and prosper. Military-inspired clothing, for me, offers a sense of pride, a sense of a hard day’s work as it is finished. Military décor, on the other hand, reminds of a time when things were made with love, with extreme attention to detail. I love how the 1940s era military décor is simple and streamlined – designed to do what it is made for. Nothing else. Anything inspired by the men who worked with their hands and wiped sweat off their brows is good in my book.
What is your most cherished piece of clothing or accessory?
Oh. That’s quite a tough question. If something is to be my favorite piece or accessory, it must be durable, it must fit well, and it must last a long time. First, I have 4 or 5 button up oxfords from my favorite clothing boutique in Nashville called Tidwell and Perryman . I love absolutely everything that T&P produces – from homemade tank tops, to classic Ivy ties and oxfords shirts. Second, I have a favorite pair of jeans. Now, jeans must fit perfectly for me to purchase them. And I believe I have found my winner – my Barton rigids from Nashville’s own Imogene and Willie. These jeans can withstand anything, and I mean anything. My favorite accessories would have to be my gold Timex from ca. 1955, my black Zippo, and my classic Ivy striped ties.
What do you think you’ll dress like in 10 years?
10 years from now. 27 years old. Classic style has and always will influence me. So, I see myself focusing on classic menswear, while still adding my own subtleties and details to give the looks individual character. Classic meets modern. The rules can be broken once you learn them.
What did you wear today?
I dressed down today, to be honest. I wore a vintage gym t-shirt from school in Nashville, my favorite pair of jeans from Imogene + Willie, Polo canvas lace-ups boots – along with my favorite Timex I got from the Nashville flea market with my girlfriend.
(via chaseakers)
Carpe Diem
I desire intimacy with the outdoors. An intimacy unscarred by sparkle and glam. I want to stand in wonder of the birds and the rivers and the mountains that are so much more amazing and yet so much more overlooked than any Ipod or computer system will ever be. I want the stars and the sun and the clouds to be what make me marvel. I want to sink beneath the ocean to watch the sunlight dance upon the surface so that when I feel like I’m drowning in my own jealousy, I could remind myself that light isn’t quite as beautiful without the bending and breaking of waves. I want so badly to get my hands dirty in the soil that gives life to everything around me so that when I feel like dirt, I could remind myself that dirt makes trees stand taller and leaves grow bigger. We seem to forget that where we are right now doesn’t mean that it’s where we’ll always be, but that it’s just a rock in the road to where we want to be. We focus so much on who we want to become or where we want to end up in life that we miss opportunities to grow and we lose sight of what we could be right now. Don’t get distracted by wishing you were better known or wildly envied, instead use the time you have now to learn and work towards the place you want to be. Stop over analyzing. All emotions are beautiful. Life is simple. When you eat, appreciate every last bite. Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and people. We are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is, and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often, because getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once, so seize them. Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them, so go out and start creating. Live your dream, and wear your passion.
Life’s just too short to waste it wishing you were someone else.
We went to Disney. Here is what we made.
In our daily lives, lying is so common that people don’t even think about it. There are tons of situations that can be told of this very thing happening in the lives of everyone. A dear friend has a stain on the back of their pants but doesn’t know it, so we tell them that they look great so that they feel better about them selves. We exaggerate qualifications and experience on a job application. We deny our actual speed when a policeman pulls us over and writes us a ticket. We make up phony excuses for commitments we fail to keep or to do things we feel we must hide. Rarely do we give any of these daily lies a second thought. The worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves. We live in denial of what we do, even what we think. We do this because we’re afraid. We fear we will not find love, and when we find it we fear that we’ll lose it. We fear that if we don’t have love we’ll be unhappy. But, a single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity, it breaks all trust with people that care about us or that we care about, we lose more than we gain. Is it really worth it?
Honest Thoughts on Lying.
Perhaps when we find ourselves wanting everything, it’s because we are dangerously close to wanting nothing.
—Sylvia Plath
I owe you twenty days of apologies for not posting anything. So here we go.
Being yourself and standing by it is one of the hardest things you can do in the world we live in today. I can’t imagine living my life without doing what I’m passionate about, every single day. I can’t imagine not going to bed at night and thinking to myself, that was one of the best days I’ve ever had, every single night. I can’t imagine not waking up, and being excited to see what’s going to happen today. Maybe our favorite quotations say more about us than the stories and people we’re quoting. Whoever you are, be it, and you’ll notice an instant change - a new person that’s happy, passionate, and excited about life. Life is too short to spend wasted on silly little things. Everything matters. And no matter what happens, everything is happening for a reason, as impossible as it may seem. Just because you fail once doesn’t mean you’re going to fail at everything. Start a revolution, stop hating yourself. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don’t, then who will?
