First Steps into Dreamland

I suppose a blog should often start off with a self-introductory post that functions as a compass to what the creator is like in greater detail. It's a good way to start the ball rolling, right?

No.

At least, that's what Voice in Head says. "Let's move along and see how it goes," it adds.

It tells me something else too. "Life is like a story," it insists, "You are the author of your own life, writing and creating the world you live in and the characters that are in your life; You are the reader, flipping back the pages to read through the (mis)adventures you experienced; You are the editor, looking through the mistakes you have made before in the past chapters and making sure they will/will not appear again."

I would add that we become the publishers too, deciding whether to tell our own story to others on blogs like these and autobiographies, but it told me to shut up. XD

Do you think it weird? If you did, then I am a very satisfied man. This was meant, in a roundabout way, to throw you off-track and confuse you about what this online diary was supposed to do for me.

Still hanging on with feet firmly planted on the ground? If so, I hope you read on.

I would think that my intentions are clear about what I'm using this blog for. In the simplest terms I can manage, it is meant as a platform for my myriad of iridescent thoughts to form a proper structure, a place where I can freely express what I want to in-Well, in the medium that Voice in Head wants me to.

It's been too long, of course, since I've sat down and thought about what I wanted to write. My creative engines have stopped and the juices have dried up, but the interior still hums with life.

And I do not intend to see it die out again.

On a lighter note, it's nice to start doing things I love and have been wanting to do. Maybe I'll mention that somewhere. Maybe, when I'm comfortable with sharing. Exel can be really selfish sometimes....

For starters, a little warming up before I get into the groove (hopefully.) A short story of some sorts that crossed my mind. Do enjoy.

* * *

There was once a family of eagles which resided at one of the many crevices in a cliff. There was plenty of food and drink around, but the area was treacherous even to the hardiest of mountain goats. The cliff faces were a favorite haunt of squalls as well, which hung out around the most precarious parts, sometimes adding a scar or two into the face of the cliff by chipping rock off.

One day, one such gust of wind loosened a rock above the nest, killing the two parents. Protected by them, the fledglings were unharmed, but the nest fell onto a rocky pocket that jutted out, its surface barely having sufficient area to support the nest.

The four fledglings cried over the deaths of their parents. They were almost ready to fly, but still needed sustenance and a place to live. Where could they go? What could they do?

Being the eldest, the first fledgling spoke: "Dad and Mom are gone. There's not use crying over them for too long. We need to survive first. Who wants to look for food?"

"Let's wait and see what happens." The second put in sullenly.

"But it's so scary..." The third sniffled.

"Let's do it in pairs." The fourth squawked.

"WAHH!" The fifth was still crying.

Left with little choice, the eldest wandered with the fourth into one of the tiny tunnels at the side of the cliff. They came back with food to share amongst their siblings, and all was well.

It was after some time that the grief finally subsided completely, and the young eaglets were ready to fly. Being the oldest sibling, the eldest took to the skies first. Flapping awkwardly and uncertain of how to control his own body, it took some time before he could find the stability he wanted and he soared into the skies, crying out with joy. It was several moments before he came back to his siblings, who had looked on with trepidation.

"Who wants to go next?" He chirped, obviously in a buoyant mood.

"Let me!" The second cried. Without checking his bearings, he flapped his wings. He quickly tired out.

"Come back, brother, before you wear yourself out!" The fourth cried.

"What do you know? You're still younger than me!" The second retorted.

Moments later, the second did tire out and unable to gather enough strength to make it back to the nest, he plummeted to his death.

The siblings screeched in sorrow, but the eldest still continued. "Who wants to go next?"

The third shook his head violently. "But it's so scary..."

The fourth stepped up. "I'll do it." Being younger and less stronger than his three elder brothers, the eaglet tired quickly, but made it back to the nest after a short distance of flight. He kept trying and trying until he could finally fly as far as his eldest. Screeching with delight, he returned.

The eldest nodded approvingly and turned to the third and fifth. "Who wants to go next?"

The third's beak quivered. "But it's still so scary..."

The fifth stood up timidly. "I'm not sure I can make it, but I'll try."

Still uncertain, the fifth eaglet spread his wings. Hesitating for a moment, he thought back to how his eldest spreaded his wings and took courage. Following his example, the youngest fledgling took flight. Being the youngest and least strongest, he tired quickly, but made it back to the nest after a short distance. Following the fourth's example, he kept trying and trying until he could finally fly as far as the fourth and the eldest. Squawking with delight, he made his way back to the nest.

Suddenly, an eddy rose, causing the eldest and the fourth to take flight in panic. The airborne eaglets desperately called out to their brother still quavering in the nest, which threatened to fall off the edge.

"Come, brother, come! Come before it's too late!"

"But...But the wind..." The third quavered, too afraid to move even in the slightest. The eddy grew and the nest fell into the seemingly endless crevasse, taking the third eaglet with it.

With nothing they could do, the three eaglets mourned for their brother and took to the skies, ready to explore new horizons.

* * *

I hope you enjoyed it. More importantly, I hope you understood some of the principles I wanted to bring across.

-When you are pulled out of your comfort zone suddenly, it is fine to cry. There is always a time to mourn, but there is also a time to take action.
Will you be the eldest eaglet and take charge, or be like the second who sits by and does nothing, despite his position as a senior?

-Being younger does not mean you cannot ask to help. So what if you are the weakest? The fourth had a heart of willingness and he followed.

-Being younger does not mean you cannot offer help or advice, especially out of love. The fourth did not urge the second to return because he himself wanted to try, but because he saw that his brother was tired.
Will you be active in showing concern for friends and family when you believe they need it, or will you dismiss it as 'it's his/her own business'?

-Being younger or less capable does not mean you can't make it. It just means you have to keep trying. The fourth and fifth did it with many tries, with the failures being unable to fly well.
How much effort are you putting in? Are you going to give up because you keep seeing failure as a deterrent, or are you going to keep failure as a constant partner and reminder to spur yourself on?

-Being in treacherous and unfamiliar situations can cause fear to well up in your heart, barricading your own desires to do something.
Will you be like the third, that despite having seniority over a few, remind the same and be afraid of trying, or rise up to the challenge?

Will you write a Shakespearian tragedy for your life or create your own happy ending as best as you can?

And with that thought I shall end, only for me to begin my welcome.

A welcome to Dreamland.