What is hope without hopelessness? What is light without darkness? What is happiness without sadness? Without both sides of extreme nothing can be felt. It will feel like we are living in a periless state, with nothing, and no one changing. Although the heart may yearn for one thing, the mind tends to override its actions. The mind has been driven by success, what our society calls it at least. Success is supposed to be based upon happiness, the things that truly make you happy; however, today, success is nothing more than the money it earns you—the mere monetary value of things. Everything is placed on a value. People’s jobs dictate their overall worth. The amount you pay for an item at the local store is nothing more than the amount it costs to produce it, sell it, and make a profit on it; yet, does this really contribute anything to happiness? Items may buy happiness, but is this the true happiness—the one we should be proud of? It is times like these that I wish I could be young again. I wish I could be happy with the simple things, the little things that made me smile like this.

I'm not known as a person with such over-whelming emotions. I'm actually sometimes called a robot due to my lack of feelings. However, right now, I have a wave of ..some sort of emotion. This girl.. in the picture with me, has just moved abrutly today. Not to another city, but to another state. A state 14 hours away. For some reason, this move has been so unbareable. She wasn't supposed to go today. At the last minute, I get a text while driving, saying she was leaving in twenty minutes. Of course I told all our closest friends and we managed to get together at church to say our final goodbye. It was weird how our friendships started at church and we were saying our goodbye there. It was ironic how the youngest of us was leaving before the older ones.

Reality of her moving has hit me, but the emotional effect has not. I'm simply waiting for the day I finally realize that she's left. People have said to not worry. Now-a-days communication is not a problem at all. Communication is not a problem for me, it's the fact that I simply cannot see her. She is my best friend. My only friend I could simply make music with, toss a football with, or play basketball with. There's a certain happiness when seeing your best friend; there's also a certain misery knowing you can't.

Ten years of friendship seems long, but in this moment it does not seem long enough. This over-whelming out pour of emotions is completely unnatural for me. I think you shouldn't keep your enemies closer than your friends. Keep your friends closer than you keep your heart. Keep your friends in a place that isn't at risk to the forces of this god-forsaken world.

Friends come and go like the seasons. I've always wanted summer to last forever. I don't believe in good-byes anymore, I believe in the "see you later."

A long time ago when I was six, my family went to Israel. My parents have both always loved Israel and the Jewish people. This picture is really special to me because even though we both aren't dressed up and looking our best in that sense, you can see how close we were. Also, since my mom died there's obviously no way to get a picture together with her, so I can look back and think that my mom was with me then.

We aren't dressed up in fancy attire or pretending to be who we are not; we're just dressed casually and maybe even look a little goofy, but then you'll just find a loving family who likes to take things easy.

In the background is Jesus's tomb which is really significant too; he is our savior and he now has my mother's soul. Most people would find this pretty amazing even if they didn't believe in Jesus, and if you do then it's even more special.

Time flies by so quickly and special moments like this - that you might not be able to see a person again or be in the same place - capture these moments and freeze them so that you can always keep them and remember that there was a time when there was this special moment and you can keep it forever.

How this all began:
Let me introduce this site that I created. First off, I am extremely glad that you are reading this blog right now. I had an idea to create a site that incorporated two things I love, photography and stories, at the same time. It'd be interesting for people to share their little entries that mean a lot to them, whether they be joyful or painful. A place to be an artist and present a whole new perspective. Through this, I hope that people will find hope, inspiration, and compassion, and also be able to spread the love of God. The idea is based in gathering aspects from websites that are already running, such as Postsecret and Gives Me Hope (GMH), but creating something a bit different. By reading these entries, we can see the many different sides of life and all the happiness and struggles that come with it.

My photo I posted here is the oldest one I can find on my computer that is somewhat creative and artistic. I started being interested in photography around the age I took this picture, which was eighth grade. It's been my passion ever since. An escape, an inspiration, and just plain fun.

Remember: a picture is worth a thousand words. But sometimes those who see it will not know your one thousand words. Share your photo, write your story. Be creative. Be real. Have fun.