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I consider myself an observant person, but there have been times when I walk around school and I just know things about people.  It used to scare me sometimes, and the problem always comes back to how that person needs or wants more love.  These are some observations of the people in middle school.

Once I saw one of the girls walking around school who always flirts with the boys and wears the low shirts.  She thinks she knows how it all works, but something is missing in her life.  She doesn’t even know something is missing.  She wants it, and even though the attention she gets from the boys makes her feel good, the emptiness of the place that’s not filled always returns.  But this is the only way she knows how to get the love that satisfies her, so she keeps going after the attention from boys, to somehow try and fill it.  But what she needs is real love.

I pass another girl in the hall.  She always wears pretty things, and her fashion style is unique, but something is still missing.  She is alone this time going from class to class.  She has her books hugged to her chest and her smile is gone.  I see that when she passes a group in the hall, who are laughing and smiling, she is not with them.  She wants to be popular like that, because she only has a few friends.  She wants more out of the social side in school, but doesn’t know how to get there.  I can tell in her walk that her opinion of herself is one that those popular people wouldn’t want to know her, and if she had to get their attention, it would be with someone who is not her.  That’s why she doesn’t talk to those outside her group, and just freezes up, not saying a word.  She doesn’t know who to be.  She needs someone who really loves her to come in and tell her that she is beautiful, and she should believe it.  That their opinion doesn’t matter, and when she achieves that view of herself, their interest in her and her life will come naturally.  She needs real love.

Another kid, a boy this time, passes me at another part of the day.  He thinks he knows it all and wears that.  He always makes sure he has a girlfriend.  Not for her sake, but for his status.  His social life at school is going great, but he doesn’t know what life is about, not really.  To him and his circle, its all about how everything will benefit them.  He doesn’t think he needs anything else right now and isn’t looking for it.  But I bet when he graduates from college and gets out of school, life will hit him hard.  Then he will be looking for that thing that life is about, and I hope he finds the answer, because the answer is love.

Then in gym we are playing a game, and I notice a girl for different reasons than all these others.  She is clean.  No problems are hanging off her in her walk, or her laugh, or anything about her.  I start observing her even more, because I’ve never seen someone so clean as she is.  She is totally, 100% herself.  Every little thing about her is hers, and she doesn’t hide it.  Sure, there are things about herself that she doesn’t like, but this girl knows one crucial thing that all the others don’t. 

She has discovered love.  In some way, form or fashion, she had discovered what real love is.  She knows she is beautiful, smart, worth it, and most importantly knows who she is, because love has taught her to embrace herself and everything about herself.  And because someone showed her real love she now loves herself, and because she has love living on the inside of her, she can let it come out to others.  People are attracted to her.  People want to be around her and they just don’t know why, like I didn’t in the beginning.  They subconsciously feel the love in her and want that for themselves, or at least to figure what she is doing and what she has grabbed onto to make herself so… so… different.  Now I know the answer, and the answer is love. 

I can only hope I am a light like she is to others, and I do my best to remember that the answer is love.

Dakota Lee will be teaching kids how to write at the Barnes & Noble on May 30th from 11-Noon. She will be sellling and signing her new book Flash of Freedom. If you’ve read FOF come on out, if you haven’t read FOF come on out, invite your friends. Dakota will share the secrets to writing and finishing your own book. There will be Flash of Freedom face painting (if Barnes & Noble will allow it)!! Read the rest of this entry »