I play handbells, and for those of you who don't know what that means, handbells are basically what they sound like. Bells that you ring with your hands. I know. Tough concept. Anyhow, there are thirteen people in my handbell choir, none of which are amazing at playing handbells; none of which are stellar musicians. So occasionally we screw up. And it's fine. We move on. Along with this, none of us could play any of this music on our own, considering that there are normally from four to thirteen plus notes playing at the same time. None of us could make the music that we do without the other players. I have decided handbell playing is like life. Occasionally we screw up. We need to move on, and not dwell on what mistakes we have made. With that said, though, we cannot forget those mistakes. If we forget, we are subject to make similar mistakes in the future. Also, as humans, we are not perfect, and we can not expect ourselves to be such. We must live with err and understand that it is natural, and then work to fix it. Humans are also not capable of doing everything on their own. This coming from someone who has a hard time saying no, or asking for other's help, I hope you see that it's true. We so often try to take everything and do it ourselves, not wanting to burden others, when there are others standing willingly by to help out. We were not meant to carry everything on our own. Humans do not function as well when we attempt to do everything on our own, and just like playing handbells, we need to let others do their part in "creating the music". I don't know if this made any sense to anyone else, but here is the point. Life is too short to hold on to your mistakes and push everyone away because of the past. Learn to let go, and let others help you out now and then.

My neighborhood is possibly the best one ever. Or at least the street that I live on. My neighbors are like my family. One of my neighbors says that if I am ever in trouble and need her, to not be afraid to call her at whatever time. Another just altered a choir dress for me. I have grown up with these neighbors, been loved by and nurtured by these people. This is my ideal; this is my good neighborhood. 

I wish I were a plane

My trust is easily gained, but also easily broken. To hold on to it is more of a challenge. I trust as soon as I meet someone, but I guess we all do that. We trust people as soon as we tell them our names. Some of us have a more reserved trust, and others are more open about it, but the fact that we trust is irreplaceable. Maybe it's human nature. Maybe it's courtesy. But we all do it at some point. My trust is open, and maybe a little blemished when I first give it to someone. But it is cautious. If my trust is broken, I am easily hurt. The good thing though is that I am easily healed and I trust easily again. I am not one to hold on to grudges. So for someone to gain my trust, I guess it just takes patience. As does everyone else.

Where I belong isn't a place; it isn't a physical area. I feel I belong where there are friends and family who care, and who are willing to share their time with me. I belong where there are hearts who love, and minds willing and open to what I believe and think. I belong where I can be who I am, and not be thought of badly because of it. I belong most where I can laugh and cry and live, and be supported through it all. Where I belong isn't a place, or somewhere you can go. It isn't somewhere you can find, or at least in the physical sense. Where I belong is amidst those who will stand with me even in my hardest times. Where I belong the most is surrounded by love.