Origami by Marjorie Evasco

The word unfolds, gathers up wind
To speed the crane’s flight
North of my sun to you.

I am shaping this poem
Out of paper, folding
Distances between our seasons.

This poem is a crane.
When its wings unfold,
The paper will be pure and empty.

- Origami, Marjorie Evasco

Thousand Origami Cranes (千羽鶴 Senbazuru) is a group of one thousand origami paper cranes (折鶴 orizuru) held together by strings. An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane. Some stories believe you are granted eternal good luck, instead of just one wish, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. This makes them popular gifts for special friends and family. The crane in Japan is one of the mystical or holy creatures (others include the dragon and the tortoise) and is said to live for a thousand years: That is why 1000 cranes are made, one for each year. In some stories it is believed that the 1000 cranes must be completed within one year and they must all be made by the person who is to make the wish at the end. Cranes that are made by that person and given away to another aren't included: All cranes must be kept by the person wishing at the end.

Everything College Students Should Know about Staying Safe ...

http://teen.allwomenstalk.com/safety-tips-for-college-students

If you're a college student, you should always keep in mind these safety tips! Even though college should be a safe learning environment for all students, scary #things happen every day. To protect yourself and make the most of your college experience, consider these safety tips for college students.

1. Use the Buddy System

One of the best safety tips for #college students is one you've heard for your whole life. Teachers told you this all throughout your mandatory education for a reason— the buddy system works! Predators #look for easy targets, and the more friends you are with, the less vulnerable you become. This is tip that shouldn't be too hard to follow, since hanging out with friends is fun anyways! Just make sure you're with a buddy more often than you're not.

2. Learn Your Limits

Everyone has their limits, and the sooner you learn yours the better! There are several #things you should learn limits for, including both healthy habits, like exercise, and unhealthy habits, like drinking. Anything in excess isn't good for your body, so learn your limits early on in #college to protect yourself from potential health risks.

 

3. Always Have a DD

Whenever you go out, make sure at least one of your friends agrees to being your designated driver. Driving drunk causes too many deaths each year, but you can protect yourself and other drivers by entrusting a sober friend with your keys.

 

4. Don't Set down Your Drink

Also when you go out partying or clubbing with friends, remember to never set down your drink. If you happen to set it down out of sight, order a new one and don’t drink the other. This is an important precaution to take in order to defend against drugs other #people might slip into your drink. Ideally, this isn’t something you would have to fear, but in reality you need to protect yourself from all invisible threats as best as you can; one simple way to do that is by never setting down your drink out of your sight.

 

5. Keep Your Purse on You

Money becomes infinitely more precious in #college, when suddenly bills and debt actually mean something to you. So, to secure your finances and maintain your usual lifestyle, keep your purse on you at all times. Leaving your purse lying around anywhere, on campus or off campus, is a dangerous choice that can leave you devastated.

 

6. Think before You Act

If you’re a physics major, then you know that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. If you’re a literature major, you know that every hero has a fatal flaw. Both of these theories describe young adults almost perfectly! You have a fatal flaw, maybe it’s gullibility, or maybe it’s greed, or carelessness, or a number of other potential flaws. No matter what your fatal flaw is, at some point it will lead to a regrettable action. This action is regrettable because it will have an equal and opposite reaction, or a consequence that’s just as big as the mistake you made. All in all, it’s important to know yourself; before you act, consider if your decision will have awful consequences, and if it is associated with your fatal flaw.

 

7. Be Skeptical

For some, it’s easy to trust everyone you meet right away. For other #people, it’s almost impossible to trust anyone. You should try to find a happy medium to stay safe in college. Be skeptical of others, not overly judgmental nor too trusting, just a #little bit skeptical.
Your experience at a university should be a fun time in your life, but before you dive right into college parties and Greek life, remember the importance of safety. What safety tips do you have for #college students?

 

 

 

 

 

9 Things I Wish I Could Tell My 15-Year-Old Self ...

http://teen.allwomenstalk.com/things-i-wish-i-could-tell-my-15-year-old-self

I'll never deny that I had a pretty great childhood but puberty was sort of a bitch, and there are especially things I wish I could tell my 15-year-old self. That was a particular hard year because it felt like I hated #everything: school; my parents; my friends; and myself. To me, 15 and 19 seemed like transition years; there's something about those sophomore years, don't you think? Your mileage may vary, but I think this is a hard year for everyone, so see if you agree with my version of the things I wish I could tell my 15-year-old self that might have made the year go by a little smoother.

1. This Too Shall Pass

This is such a simple idea, but it can get you through so many rough patches. It's one of the most fundamental things I wish I could tell my 15-year-old self because it holds true for so many of the hard #things you go through during those transitional ages. I'd love to tell myself that puberty will pass, that sophomore year will definitely pass, and that #high school itself will pass. It's all transitory, mere moments in #time that seem horrible, yes, but also have the power to make you stronger – even if you're dealing with bullies, the mean girls, or the feeling of being an outsider, peering in from the fringe.

2. It's Not Them, It's You

I fought with everyone when I was 15. I have an excellent relationship with my parents, for instance; I had a great #relationship with them when I was 14 and things went more or less back to normal when I turned 16, but at 15, they could do no right. The same was true for my teachers, a big deal when you consider that I tended to get along better with my favorite teachers than I did with some of my peers. Everyone rubs you the wrong way at this stage in your life, but guess what? It's not them. It's you. It's not necessarily your fault, but it is your issue. It's hard to realize that at the #time, but once you have some perspective, you'll notice that your parents, teachers, and friends weren't changing. You were.

3. It's Not You, It's Him

What is it about puppy love at 15? Maybe it's all the Shakespeare you end up reading in your English classes. Maybe it's those god awful hormones. It's the agony and the ecstasy of love that isn't really love, and it's the one #time in your life when you're more apt to fall for exactly the wrong guy. At 15 I had an incredible circle of friends, consisting of two boys and one girl, but #things began to change. I was still struggling hardcore with my sexuality and natural inclinations, and naturally fell for the bad boy, mainly because he knew exactly how to prey on my vulnerabilities. The nice guy in my circle, of course, was crazy about me – and my bad #boy fed on that too. If you found yourself in some up-and-down, topsy-turvy situation at 15 too, it very likely wasn't you. It was him.

4. Everybody Fails Sometimes

Your sophomore year is when you'll really start to hear about how everything counts now. Your grades, your extracurricular activities, your charity work – it all shows up on your #college transcripts. It's important to do well in school and to broaden your horizons beyond the classroom, but that's a lot of pressure – especially for the straight A students who find they rarely have to study because #everything has been easy up to that point. For me, Algebra II took me down – hard. I faced a D for the first #time in my life and almost lost my mind. For that reason, and for all the other math classes that gave my the business, I'd love to tell my younger self that failure is just an opportunity to learn something else.

5. You Are Beautiful

I was incredibly down on myself at 15, and I bet a lot of you were as well – or maybe you are still, right at this moment. You are beautiful. I was #beautiful too, and I couldn't see it. I wasn't even willing to entertain the notion. It doesn't matter what you weigh, how you dress, if you're wearing the same Birkenstocks as all the cool girls, how tall you are – none of it matters. You're gorgeous. You're a goddess. At 15, 20, 25, 30, and 50, you are stunning. Please know that. Please believe it.

6. Real Friends Reveal Themselves

As I briefly mentioned, some friendships go through strange transitions themselves around this point in your life. Some BFFs will stay thick as thieves, and that's how you know you've found a winner. Other friendships lose some of their dynamic. There might be ill-fated crushes involved, a friend might get interested in relationships while you get interested in something else, you might get “popular” while your friend remains an avid fan of drama or band. Rest assured that no matter what happens, your real friends will reveal themselves. They might be friends you've had for years or brand new relationships, but if they stick with you through all the moods and the turmoil, you know you've found someone worthwhile. The ones who desert you can kind of make like a tree.

7. Life Gets Harder, but Better

I would love to be able to tell my 15-year-old self that #everything gets easier, but it doesn't. My 15th year was not the hardest year of my life. With some exceptions, it's not the hardest year of anyone's life. The lesson I would share is this: life gets more difficult, but it also becomes richer than you could ever imagine.

8. Your Weirdness is Your Salvation

I fought so hard to fit in at 15. I wanted the popular girls to invite me to their large, sprawling houses or their fun parties. I wanted them to see that I was smart and funny and a good person, worthy of friendship. At that stage, however, and although most of these girls have grown into lovely young women who no longer resemble the cliques they formed in #high school, fitting in would have meant changing myself entirely. I would have needed to trade in my Dr. Martens for those Birkenstocks. It would have meant listening to #boy bands instead of Eminem, Placebo, and Tori Amos. It would have meant riding horses instead of writing stories. I wish I could tell myself that someday my weirdness would fit me better – that it would define me, even. And your weirdness will define you, too.

9. Your Feelings Are Not Wrong

As I also mentioned, I struggled with my sexuality as a teen, especially at 15. Some of you may struggle with the same thing; some of you will have different struggles. Whatever they are, you're not wrong. Your natural feelings or affinities are not wrong. Don't let your peers make you feel wrong; you're simply you, and you're #beautiful – flawlessly imperfect and perfectly flawed.
I can safely say that I have few regrets in my life, not because I've never done anything I regretted but because I've come to turns with them. Still, part of me dreams of a do-over, just for the year I spent as a miserable 15-year-old. Are there any years you wish you could repeat? What lessons or #words of wisdom would you share with your younger self?

7 Tips for Being Happy with What You've Got ...

http://inspiration.allwomenstalk.com/tips-for-being-happy-with-what-youve-got

Do you find it difficult being happy with what you've got? Are you always wishing that your life was different or that you had more material things? While it's good to have ambitions, we can easily become focused on longing for unachievable #things or obsessed with money and spending. Here are some ways to focus on being happy with what you've got …

1. Having More Doesn't Make You Happy

One of the ways for being happy with what you've got is to realise that having it all doesn't automatically make your life perfect. The word affluenza was coined to describe people who can never have enough; they always feel that they have to acquire more #money and possessions. Money may make you more comfortable, but rich #people have problems too …

2. Need Vs Want

These days we think that we're deprived if we don't have a smart phone, computer and flat screen TV. Admittedly it's difficult to live modern #life without access to the Internet. But a lot of what we think we need is actually what we want. Learn to appreciate the difference between needing and wanting something.

3. Retrain Your Focus

Sometimes you just need to retrain your focus and appreciate what you do have in your life. Maybe you don't have a big house and lots of cash, but you are raising awesome kids and have a #partner who adores you. Your neighbors with a brand new car may have massive debts, and your sister's well-paying job could be stressing her. So you could be better off in some ways.

4. Look at Positives

What are the positives in your life? We all have some if we #look hard enough. And by focusing on those positives, we spend less time thinking about what we wish we had. Why waste #time thinking about what you don't have? The #things that you do have are there all around you.

5. Live in the Present

While it's smart to think of the future, there's also a lot to be said for focusing on the present. Wishing that you had more #money or a palatial mansion gets you nowhere; it's nice to dream, but it's also not realistic. #People who live in the present are happier than those who are always living in the past or wishing that they had more.

6. Simplicity

Think about the simple #things that you can enjoy. Do you love books? Spend an afternoon in the library or curled up in an armchair with a fantastic novel. Are there #beautiful flowers in your garden, or does your child give you lovely smiles? There really are so many things that #money can't buy.

7. Be Grateful

You don't have to be grateful that you're in a better position than people in other countries. That's not your fault. But we do all have many things to be grateful for. Think about what those #things are - if you've got your health, that's an amazing asset. Other things, like a support network of family and friends, make a great difference to our lives and well-being.
Money and possessions aren't the only things in life. We need a certain amount of #money to survive, but once our needs are met there are other things that should matter more. Do you know any materialistic #people, and are they really happy?

Japanese Drama / Movies

K O I Z O R A 
(Japanese Movie)

High school student Mika (Yui Aragaki) has yet to encounter true love. One day, she runs meets Hiro (Haruma Miura), a rebellious young man with white hair, during class break, but is of put off by his unusual demeanor. Mika then loses her cellphone only to find it again with all her contacts deleted. Then a mysterious person calls her daily, leaving memorable remarks for her. Mika becomes interested in this mysterious person. Finally, the person on the other end of the phone asks to meet Mika in person.
The next day, Mika is shocked to learn the person calling her is Hiro. They soon become a couple despite their differences. Mika then becomes the target of a horrific act, when Hiro's ex-girlfriend hires three guys to rape Mika. The tragedy serves to only strengthen Mika and Hiro's relationship. A few months later, Mika becomes pregnant with Hiro's baby and the couple ask their parents to accept their marriage. Tragedy again strikes when Mika has a miscarriage.
The next semester, Hiro, inexplicably, gives the cold shoulder to Mika. Mika even finds Hiro kissing another girl at a house party which she only learned about through a third party. When Mika confronts Hiro about his recent behavior, Hiro tells her that he wants to break up. Mika, completely devastated, shuts herself off from others until she meets sweet natured Yu Fukuhara (Keisuke Koide). Mika slowly opens up to Yu as they become closer. Mika then uncovers a shocking secret about her first boyfriend Hiro.






O N E   L I T E R   O F   T E A R S
(Japanese Movie)

After the tears are shed, a new day begins... Adapted from the same-titled novel, 1 Litre of Tears is based on the true story about a girl's long fight with an incurable disease. A collection of her diary entries, chronicling her experiences and passion and perseverance for life, were published in 1986, and the book immediately became a bestseller. Her inspiring story was adapted into both a hit TV series starring Sawajiri Erika and a moving film directed by Okamura Riki. Promising new actress Asae Onishi stars as the film's tragic heroine, while Kazuko Kato portrays her supportive mother. Keep the tissue box near, as 1 Litre of Tears promises to touch the hearts of viewers with its tragic story and universal sentiments. One day on her way to school, middle school student Aya (Asae Onishi) suddenly falls to the ground. The doctor diagnoses her with spinocerebellar degeneration, a rare and incurable neurological disease. Entering high school, Aya's condition continues to worsen as physical movements become more difficult. Forced to attend a special boarding school, she nonetheless finds hope and happiness through the support of her new friends and family. Working hard, she completes her high school education and bravely begins a new stage in her life, despite her weak health and continuous trips to the hospital. Aya never gives up, living each day of her life to the fullest until the very end.





 L - DK
(Japanese Movie)

Aoi Nishimori's (Ayame Gouriki) parents moved to another city for work, but Aoi didn't want to transfer to a new high school. She stays behind and lives in an apartment by herself. Shusei Kugayama (Kento Yamazaki) moves in next to Aoi's apartment. Shusei is a very popular student at their high school. Due to a mistake, Aoi makes the sprinkler go off in his room. Until Shusei's room is fixed, he stays with Aoi.
















B O K U R A   G A   I T A
(Japanese Movie)

"We Were There" follows the 10 year romance between Motoharu Yano (Toma Ikuta) & Nanami Takahashi (Yuriko Yoshitaka). During their high school days, Motoharu Yano was the most popular boy in school, but can't get over the death of his girlfriend from a car crash. Nanami Takahashi falls in love with Motoharu Yano and must deals with his inability to let go of the past.
















M E M O I R S   O F   G E I S H A
(Japanese Movie)

Nitta Sayuri reveals how she transcended her fishing-village roots and became one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.


























H A N A   K I M I
(Japanese Drama)

Japanese-American track star Mizuki Ashiya (Maki Horikita) transfers from a school in California to Japan, but not to just any old school. The school is Osaka High School - an all male high school! Mizuki Ashiya must disguise herself as a boy, all to get closer to her hero Izumi Sano (Shun Oguri), a high jump athlete who attends Osaka High.
Now with short hair, flattened chest and deeper voice, Mizuki becomes roommates with Izumi Sano, but trouble soon starts to brew. Izumi Sano discovers by accident that Mizuki is a girl and falls in love with her, but Mizuki is unaware of the fact. Complicating things, fellow classmate Shuichi Nakatsu (Toma Ikuta) starts to develop feelings for Mizuki, unaware that she is a girl!






A B S O L U T E    B O Y F R I E N D
(Japanese Drama)

Robot maker, Kronos Heaven, finally develops "Night Tenjo", the perfect male humanoid programmed to be devoted and completely loyal to his lover. The company chooses temp worker Riiko Izawa to take part in a 5-day free trial. At first, Riiko only sees Night as a household appliance. But when she finds out how deep Night's devotion to herself is, Riiko finds herself falling in love with him.
Joining the "love triangle" is Soshi Asamoto, an executive of Riiko's company. Other characters surrounding Riiko are Gaku Namikiri, the sales representative of Kronos Heaven, and Fujiko Wakabayashi, a cafe owner who gives romance-related advices to Riiko.

The Harsh Truths about College

© buzzfeed.com

You get into your dream school, and you and your family are so excited. Go to college, they said. It will be fun, they said.

You roll up on move in day and you see your dorm room for the first time…

Soon you discover the horror of 8 a.m. classes…

You show up to math class and you can’t understand your professor.

 

 

And all of the sudden it’s time for your first exam. So you study really hard, but still feel unprepared.

 

And then you see the test.

 

You were so busy preparing for the exam that you fell behind on all your other homework

 

But instead, you decide to go out…

 

When your parents call to check in and ask how school is going, you’re like:

 

 

Then your classes seem to get even more pointless, and you wonder how this information will help your future.

 

And then finals week starts approaching.

 

You begin preparing for the week of hell.

 

But instead of studying, you procrastinate

 

You force yourself to study, drink too much caffeine, and sleep for five hours over a five-day period.

 

After each semester ends, you wonder what fresh hell the next semester will bring.

 

You come to the realization that everything you learned from movies and television about college was a total and complete lie.

 

 

 

College

People think being alone makes you lonely, but I don't think it's true. Being surrounded by the wrong person is the loneliest thing in the world.









The Best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own.

No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on or blame. The gift is yours. It is an amazing journey- and you alone are responsible for the quality of it.


This is the day your life really begins.