Shine for Yourself

We can’t change how others view us.

But we could change how we view and feel about ourselves.

Keep that inside light bright and let it illuminate outward.

That illumination will set you ablaze and free.

Shine for yourself, not for the world.

Live a life that is worthy with meaning, not engulfed with endless past miseries.

Shine for yourself, not for others.

The light is always within you, keep shining!

By Jazzmin S. Lu

Boxed Memories

Growing up Asian American and as a female is always a constant struggle for me.

Raised by traditional parents, whereas brainwashing is the norm.

Expectations of the ideal good and obedient daughter was the usual in my family.

I had to embrace my Chinese and Vietnamese ancestral heritage, while adopting to the American culture.

My life struggles and happiness, I lived to tell them now.

My sad and negative memories, I learned to box them up and label it “BAD.”

My good and positive memories, I also learned to box them up and label it “GOOD.”

I called these, “Boxed Memories” that is now currently in a storage place inside my brain.

Sometimes my heart will conjure up emotions to open these boxes when life situations become a stimulus.

My “Boxed Memories” are mine’s to keep and to unbox.

By Jazzmin S. Lu

Bubble Girl

When I was an unborn child, I lived in my own bubble world.

A bubble with all things for survival and happiness protected by my mother.

My mother fed me, spoke to me, and sang to me softly each day.

I was in harmony with her sadness and happiness each day, for her anticipation of me being born was slowly and madly driving her to insanity.

She waited patiently and until, “whoosh”… the bubble broke, and water gushed me out!

A flash of bright light stung my eyes and I squinted with agony!

“No…no…I am cold!” “Where am I?”

Seconds became minutes and my little brown eyes stared at this strange woman.

I stared with awe and wonder. Where is my bubble? Who is this strange woman and place?

Then this strange woman spoke to me softly with her gentle voice, “Hi there, bubble girl. I am your mother.”

She welcomed me to this world with her warm embrace and kisses.

I am the bubble girl that now have to face this whole new world.

By Jazzmin S. Lu

Love Our Planet

Love our planet, earth.

A place we call, home.

It provides us with the basic needs of oxygen, water and other necessities to survive.

Take care of our home because with tremendous wear and tear, it will slowly rot to its core.

Love our planet.

Take care of our home.

All plants, animals, and humans will have to bear the unspeakable natural disasters, if we neglect our home.

Beautify our home with more love.

Plant more trees and flowers.

Save and provide more eco-friendly homes to the animals.

Reuse and recycle what we take from the earth.

Give back and volunteer to the communities that gave us hope and joy.

Love our planet.

By Jazzmin S. Lu

Life Cycle

When tree leaves turn into different hues of yellow, orange and brown…it symbolizes changes to the season of Autumn and signs of the upcoming Winter Solstice.

Winter symbolizes dormancy to plants, animals, and humans.

What we don’t realize is that everything and everyone on this earth has a life cycle to complete on its own pace.

When something or someone dies, they are going back to the earth and has new life somewhere.

We can’t always control life and death, but with acceptance and resilience; we can survive.

We as humans, could only control what is within our reach…which is within ourselves.

Stay within course, we all have a purpose on this earth; make it a worthy one.

By Jazzmin S. Lu