Decay

This is what I used to be able to do:

I'm in the white jersey!

I struggle with the fact that I no longer play volleyball every day. The sport used to take up hours and hours of my week, and leave bloody bruises on my hips, but you know what? Four years later, there's still no feeling in the world like scoring a crucial point or making an unbelievable save. 

I miss being part of a team. I miss pushing myself beyond my limits. I miss struggling, gasping for air, telling myself "I'm almost there." I miss the physical challenge with which volleyball provided me. I miss the pride associated with being a player for a national team, and the rush that came from wearing my team's colors and logo in front of the competition. I miss knowing that I killed myself to get somewhere. I crave that feeling.

Not About Me

Not about me?
What a question to ask,
In this day and age,
Selflessness is not a common task.

Why not open a door?
Donate a book to the poor?
Do something for someone else today.

Say hi to a stranger,
Protect someone from danger,
Do something for someone else today.


Make someone smile,
Pick up a garbage pile,
Do something for someone else today.


Not about me?
A puzzling concept it can be.
But it's not rocket science,
So join the feel good alliance!


DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TODAY : )


-Jess Johnson

Myself, Sr. Judy, and the 6th grade volleyball team we coached together. Some of my favorite memories come from this team!

Nunca se olvide de tener pasión... Never forget to have passion

When I think of passion, I think of Cuban dancing, specifically the dancing that goes on at La Rosa Negra in the movie Dirty Dancing Havana Nights. Unfortunately, I couldn't obtain the clip I wanted, but I think this one should do the trick:

Look at them dancing... pulses racing, dresses spinning, bodies dripping with sweat... these people are passion.

Passion is often portrayed through sex in movies, and Dirty Dancing Havana Nights is no different.

But what about portrayals of passion other than sex?

What about musicians practicing their instruments? Or artists working with their preferred media? Or teachers helping their students? Mothers nursing their baby? Athletes playing their sport?

The potential to find passion exists everywhere.

In high school, I called volleyball my passion.

Now, art and people are my passions. I love to study both, and find no greater solace than interacting with either the right medium or the right person at just the right time.