Never let the sadness of your past and the fear of your future ruin the happiness of your present.  Beauty comes in many forms, it’s up to us to find the beauty in the darkness.

Written & Photography By:  JCW

Copyright October 2016

The Secret to Happiness

The secret to being happy is accepting where you are in life and making the most out of everyday – JCW 11.26.2016

Written By:  JCW

Photography By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Copyright:  03.11.2018

Quickly, she turned on her heels, grabbing her purse while proceeding to slam the door harshly behind her on her way out and down the stairs.  Large crocodile tears spilled down her checks as she ran through the apartment complex desperately searching for her car.  She needed to get away, as for away as she could.  She knew he could find her if he wanted to and this she did not want.

He had crushed her heart beyond repair now.  Not only had he turned his back on her, but he had also turned his back on his own flesh and blood.  She loved this baby growing inside of her, but she knew she couldn’t raise it on her own.  She knew what she had to do, it wasn’t going to be easy, but she no longer had a choice of what she wanted anymore.  She had tried, fighting for her baby with all her might, but she had lost the battle.

Written By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Copyright 2002

DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS

This once million dollar home was destroyed in a storm.  Although we don’t always see the effects left behind by depression, this is what we look like on the inside of our minds.

We may not show our pain on the outside, but inside we are a mass of destruction, ready to crumple to the ground at any moment.  However, we are strong because we hold on for another day and another and another.

Just like this house.  We continue to stand strong; although, we are damaged.

NEVER GIVE UP!

Written By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Photography By:  JMW

Copyright January 20, 2018

SNOW

“Oh my God, Jack. I am so sorry.” January had no words.

“It’s okay. I’m over it now.”

“Over it! How can you say such a thing. What happened is just terribly horrible. I don’t know what I would do, if that happened to me.”

“January, you are a strong girl. You would get over it and move on.”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes, you would and just like me. I know I sound heartless, but there are only two ways to go in a situation like this, you can either not accept it and go insane or you can accept it and move on. I am not the insane one, he was. I can’t beat up on myself for his poor choices and his insanity.”

“Gosh Jack…I don’t know if I could be as brave as you. That’s a lot of stress for a kid, you know.”

“January, we are not kids. We may be only 17 years old, but we are both much older than our years and very wise.” He reached down, pulling her face up to his, softly kissing her sultry lips.

“I love you, do you know that…do you Jack?” At that moment, she realized actually how much she really loved this man.

“I know that, silly girl. I love you too. You are my hero!”

She smiled sadly, knowing she would always love him and would do anything for him… she knew she would even die for him, but she hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: JMW
Copyright August 24, 2016

THE JOURNEY

The journey is always more important than the destination.

As humans, we rush to get here and there, but we need to slow down and enjoy the present moment.

However, sometimes the present moment is where our pain and suffering exists and therefore; we seek a future moment when we will be “happy”.

I guess the truth is in the belief that we can only truly be happy within ourselves.  We can not seek happiness from external circumstances, but from within.

How do we accomplish this “happiness”?

By adjusting our thought process and our view of our world.  Sometimes our perspective is distorted and we need to re-teach our minds to be less critical, especially to ourselves.

We are all beautiful in our own way…how boring would it be if we were all the same.

Written By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Photograph By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Copyright:  July 29, 2017

Excerpt from Dear Paxton

The cold, long corridors, leading into the intensive care unit, smelled of death, deeply depressing Cole, as he silently fought the demons within himself. He stared, hopelessly down at her lifeless body. She lay there too peacefully, while tightly secured underneath the sterile, white hospital sheets.

He hadn’t slept since the ambulance had arrived days before, frantically working to keep her fragile body alive. Cole had been informed that she had almost died, leaving him alone to raise their daughter, but miraculously, she had come through. She was stabilized for now, but still in critical condition.

Cole got down on his hands and knees, saying a quick prayer, as the tears streamed down his face, wondering why she had done it.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi

WILL WE EVER FIND WORLD PEACE?

Youth is symmetrical to innocence.
Therefore, hate is a simile of violence.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright September 12, 1995

Why are our Children Cutting?

Any parent’s worst nightmare is finding out your child is cutting themselves. I say child and not teenager. Cutting is not just a teenage problem, but younger and younger children are starting the craze. How young? I know ten-year old girls that have been cutting themselves.

Parents….we must be aware that this may be happening in your home and with your own children. No child is protected from this horrible situation. It happens to children from poor family environments to affluent families. The epidemic does not discriminate. It has no prejudice. It is happening more and more each day.

Ten years old is about 5th grade – 6th grade aged peers. Seriously? What does a 10-year-old have to stress about, you ask? But they do. It is sad, but real. Peer pressure plays a heavy part in it. Other factors may apply; such as a sense of social media, isolation, pressures to be perfect, and depression.

Parents….read and look at your children’s text messages, e-mails, SnapChats, InstaGram, Kik, ect. Don’t think that your child does not fall into this category of “cutting”. It is happening and in our media. Children have too many resources to connect with people who they think “care” and are there to listen to their insecurities and fears. When you are 10 years old or 11 years old, you trust people who seem to care. But in reality , who are these people our children our connecting with and talking to about their utmost secrets and insecurities? They pretend to be their friends, their peers, their same age groups, but really? Who really knows who is sitting behind that text message or computer typing words of endearments and concern….it may be the pedophile on the Amber Alert.

It is wrong to say the least, but we as parents, can not pretend it doesn’t exist…it does exist and we must put a stop to it. Parents…if you find that your child is using their phones, computers, and iPods inappropriately…take them away. We lived without this technology and they can live without it too. It isn’t worth the price of losing our children to this epidemic of cutting to “technology”, or even worst, suicide.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi

Copyright:  September 23, 2017

Excerpt from Manuscript – Snow

The girl who was wearing all black was staring at her. She didn’t want to look over at her, but she could feel the heaviness of her glare boring down on her. She sensed the girl was trying to get her attention, but January was lost in between the lyrics of the band screaming from the radio and the shouting she heard in the other room.

She decided to look her way, “Do you know when they will be out of the bedroom?”

“Who knows. They made a big score tonight…could be a while.”

“A score?” January didn’t know what this girl was talking about.

“Speed, of course.” The girl casually replied.

January was shocked. “Did you see Jack go into the room. He must have gone out for more beer.”

“Jack is the cute guy with longish, shoulder length hair and black eye-liner?”

“Yes, he’s my boyfriend, but he doesn’t use drugs, so I’m sure he must have slipped out when I didn’t notice.”

“No, he’s in there. I saw him and the tall, skinny guy go in together.”

The room started to spin…January wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or the loud music or the distaste of her dinner rising up and into her throat, but she felt as if she was going to be sick.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright June 1, 2016