“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” - Mae West

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” Mae West said that, so I wondered if she felt like she had lived a full, inspiring life. She was an actress and screenwriter, very controversial at the time because of things that I don't necessarily admire. But if she could look back and say she did live well, then I wanted to be able to say that about my life, in every aspect.

I like mornings. Everyone else woke up complaining, arguing, and reluctantly, half-heartedly throwing themselves together for the day. That just gave me another reason to get up even earlier. I silently slipped past my older sister's room, then my brother's, and then the room my two other sisters shared. I was holding my shoes in one hand, and my iPod in another. They might all think I'm wierd, but I didn't want to waste my life complaining when there were so many things to enjoy, like the sunrise I was anticipating. 

Today was a morning I wanted to go right, so badly. I sat on the front porch and tied my shoes. This morning would be my first day of high school. "I guess I don't really know what to expect..." I said aloud. I liked to start my days with a short run, so I could think. "God, please show me what to do and say today, as I walk into school - I feel like the next four years of my life depend on what happens today..." I started stretching. Just then the sun brought a little more visibility over the treeline, and I started off to the path to the small lake on our property. I don't know if it was the endorphins from running, or what, but I started to feel really good about the day. Or maybe it was just the song on my ipod, "Red Letter Day" by NewSong...