It was the day after Nationals, and everyone congratulated them for winning 3rd place. They were happy and proud of themselves. Yasmeen and I hugged, I was so proud of her, proud of all of them. Then, she asked me “what now?.” We looked at each other and laughed. That was the moment I realized, that winning didn’t really change anything. So I reflected from that point on until the end of the year and after I walked across the stage at Graduation, I decided that I wouldn’t let work take over my life again. We sacrificed so much time, energy, and even our health to work toward winning, but in the end we realized that wasn’t the ultimate goal. The goal was to transform the people we were, into sophisticated and mature adults. My decision has guided me to the path of searching for a balance, which is a path where I haven’t yet found my destination. I have stuck with my decision, and I’m happier because of it.
Charlotte Bronte Imitation
Reader, we all yelled at him. A quiet Christmas we had: my mom, dad, sister, and I, every year when my aunt and the family didn’t come down from Georgia. The Christmas tree was lit, decorations were hung, and packages filled with gifts were being delivered day by day. All was done to put everyone, including dad, into the Christmas cheer. Dad did change his attitude when we continued to ask him: his eyes stared at the tv with which he tried to use as a diversion but even though he was almost near saying yes to going, he found a way to make an excuse. Reader, he still hasn’t said yes.
Reader, I married him. A quiet wedding we had: he and I, the
parson and clerk, were alone present. When we got back from church,
I went into the kitchen of the manor-house, where Mary was cooking
the dinner and John cleaning the knives, and I said –
“Mary, I have been married to Mr. Rochester this morning.” The
housekeeper and her husband were both of that decent phlegmatic
order of people, to whom one may at any time safely communicate a
remarkable piece of news without incurring the danger of having
one’s ears pierced by some shrill ejaculation, and subsequently
stunned by a torrent of wordy wonderment.