Why Hello There, 2018!

It's the first week of the new year and already I am inspired by the newness of it all. Typically I shy away from new year resolutions because I feel that I'm just setting myself up for failure. Why admit to the world that I am going to commit to something, only later bailing out, and then feeling down on myself about it for the rest of the year? Yeah, no thanks.

I'm taking a different approach this year by making small changes (eating less sugar, more protein) to eventually add up to a bigger change (a healthier heart & mind). Positivity is a key word I am going to focus on this year. If I can feel more positive about myself, project more positivity into the universe, then perhaps it will create a happier, healthier space for me in this crazy world we live in.

For the first time, in a long time, I've been inspired to write again. Back in 2013 & 2014, I ventured into NaNoWriMo territory and discovered that I really enjoyed writing. But since then, I've also discovered that I only enjoy it when I feel a story needs to be told. I can't just write, because I want to write. It's been a few years, but that passion has slowly seeped its way back in and I've started tinkering with a new story idea. Thanks to my good friend Trish Doller, already the best cheerleader, I've got something brewing. I'm not quite ready to share my words with the world, but when I do, I'll be sure to post snip-its here and there.

Listening to music is never a new thing for me, but creating new playlists is always a fun thing to do. Spotify has been my best friend for quite some time. It's the best source for me to discover new music and build playlists to my liking. I literally listen to the app daily, whether it's through my phone, on my iPad, or sitting at the computer. Music is constantly on in my world. Here's a listen of my top songs from 2017:

As for reading, well we all know THAT is not new for me, either. I just finished my first book of the year & it was FANTASTIC. Seriously, Katie Cotugno is a force in the writing world, one I hope continues to build and build, because damn she shines bright! Her upcoming novel 9 Days & 9 Nights picks up just after her novel 99 Days, and it is... well, a journey, for sure. I read it almost in one sitting (just stopped long enough to go to bed.. because ya know, sleep needs to happen sometimes). It's already a favorite for the year I know and THE YEAR JUST STARTED! I'm scared for whatever I read next. Lots to live up to there.

2018, you are looking promising so far. Here's to a new year of more fabulous books to read, stories to write, and music to be inspired by.

An Open Letter to Jessi Kirby's YA Self

I'm very excited to be featuring a few YA authors on the blog, writing their own Open Letters, through out this month. Not aware of this fab feature? Be sure to check out my introduction post HERE. You can also read my Open Letter To My YA Self post HERE.

Please welcome YA author (and one of my personal faves) Jessi Kirby to the blog! Her novels inspire me as a writer, full of stories that make me feel as a reader, and propels me forward to make an impact with my own words some day. I adore the piece of advice that she gives her teenage self and how influential it will become later in her own life.

Dear Jessi,

If you could please climb down from the roof, or look up from that notebook you’re writing in, I promise this will be worth it. This will be something you’ll want to pay attention to. In fact, it’ll be something that you will probably read over a million times then cut out and paste into that journal with the sunshine on the front. You know the one. It’ll be one of the only journals you keep, and believe it or not, twenty years from now you’ll be showing it to rooms full of teenagers who want to be writers.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s back up.

Do you know that Shelley quote you copied onto the front page? The one you found inside the jacket of your favorite Cure album?

“We look before and after, and pine for what is not; Our sincerest laughter with some pain is fraught;
Our sweetest songs are those that sing of saddest thought.”

You chose that quote to begin that journal because a boy you loved broke your heart, and for a long time it was all you could write about. And so you wrote, and wrote, and wrote. Lots of sweet songs, lots of sad thoughts. You wrote about it until the feeling passed, and you moved on, and the words went from sad to hopeful. It’s what you’ve always done, and I’m pretty sure it’s what you will continue to do. And each time, those words of Shelley’s will ring true because life is made up of the heartbreaking and the beautiful and everything in between.

At sixteen, you’ve got an inkling that this is true. Twenty years later, you’ll know it at your very core.

In your life you will encounter people and situations and moments that’ll send you to your knees wondering how and why; and you’ll be given people and situations and moments more beautiful and dear than you thought was possible.

These things will move and inspire you. They’ll tug at your imagination and breathe life and action into that dream of yours that you keep tucked away and safe.

And one day that dream will come true.

You have always been a writer, but one day you’ll write for more than just yourself. You’ll write with the hope that you can somehow capture the heartbreaking and the beautiful and everything in between in a way that does it justice. And you’ll write with the hope that maybe, just maybe, those words will one day do for another person what Shelley’s words did for you.

That’s where the journal and the teenagers come in. Not only will you write for teens, but you’ll have the chance to talk with them about what you’ve learned and what you know about dreams and broken hearts, and about writing and life. And that will be more amazing than you can imagine right now.

So keep writing. And keep that journal safe. It’s a beginning, and one day it’ll be about more than just that boy who broke your heart.

Jessi Kirby's website | twitter | goodreads 

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Have you entered the GIVEAWAY for this feature? Click the image below!

Introducing: An Open Letter To My YA Self + GIVEAWAY

A few weeks ago, I took to twitter and asked my followers if they were interested in getting involved with a feature on the blog, highlighting YA contemporary reads.  The response I got was overwhelming and so very humbling.  I was ecstatic to learn that so many wanted to be apart of my little project, not even knowing the details just yet.

The idea to write a letter to my young adult self was partly inspired by the Dear Teen Me book (that I helped promote a few years ago), as well as my current profession in teaching middle school students.  Each time I discover a contemporary YA novel, it causes me to reflect back on my own youth and how certain themes played a significant role in my younger years.  I see these same stories, coming alive from the pages of the books, inside my classroom every day.  All of this propelled the idea to write my own letter, and ask others to write a letter to their YA selves as well.   

Over the next month bloggers, readers, and authors will be sharing their open letters to their YA selves.  Please join me as we reflect back on our youths, recommend books to our younger selves, and share personal stories waiting to be told.  Below you will find the schedule of bloggers and readers who will be posting their own letters.  I've also got a handful of YA authors who will be sharing their letters on my blog, as well.  I look forward to reading all the letters and the coming together of a YA community.

(If you would like to participate on your own blog, please feel free to do so! Please link back to this post and let me know in the comments with a link. Thanks!)

Be sure to follow the schedule below to read all the Open Letters:

Tues, March 31 - Dianne @ http://www.oopsireadabookagain.com
Wed, April 1 - Erin @ http://www.thehardcoverlover.blogspot.com
Thurs, April 2 - Gaby + Lisa @ http://www.bookishbroads.com
Fri, April 3 - Hazel @ http://www.staybookish.net
Mon, April 6 - Brittany @ http://www.bookaddictsguide.com
Tues, April 7 - Candice @ http://www.thegrownupya.com
Wed, April 8 - Jordin @ http://www.abottomlessbookbag.com
Thurs, April 9 - Lauren @ http://www.bookmarklit.net
Fri, April 10 - Tiff @ http://www.mostlyyalit.com
Mon, April 13 - Andi @ http://www.andiabcs.com
Tues, April 14 - Willa @ http://www.willasramblings.com
Wed, April 15 - Sarah @ http://www.whatsarahread.com
Thurs, April 16 - Heather @ http://www.theturningpages.com
Fri, April 17 - Alexa @ http://www.alexalovesbooks.com
Mon, April 20 - Joli @ http://www.actinupwithbooks.blogspot.com
Tues, April 21 - Margie @ http://www.bumblesandfairytales.blogspot.com
Wed, April 22 - Jenna @ http://www.bookiemoji.com/
Thurs, April 23 - Carmel @ http://www.carmelandkyla.blogspot.com
Fri, April 24 - Kyla @ http://www.bookbuddiesph.blogspot.com
Tues, April 28 - Christy @ http://www.novel-ink.blogspot.com
Wed, April 29 - Jen @ http://www.jenuinecupcakes.blogspot.com/
Thurs, April 30 - Jaime @ http://www.fictionfare.blogspot.com
Fri, May 1 - Lauren @ http://www.laurenheartsbooks.com

And you don't want to miss this GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway open to international readers (the book depository must be able to ship to you)

Good luck! & stayed tuned for My Open Letter To My YA Self tomorrow on the blog!

Huge thanks to the talented Georgie of What Georgie Did for the beautiful graphic

Camp NaNoWriMo 31 days later...

Earlier this summer, I shared with you my plans to join Camp NaNoWriMo for another month of writing.  Well, the month of July has come to a close and my results are...

I did it! I completed my goal of writing 30k words towards my new novel.

source

Okay, so I may have shifted my numbers around early on, but once I started writing I found a realistic goal for myself.  I'm still proud of the result.  Even though the story may not have an ending yet, I know where I plan to go with it.  The fun thing about writing is allowing your characters to tell their own stories.  I realized while working on this novel that plot lines can shift, change, or even disappear.  As my characters develop, so do their stories.

Below is a sneak peek at something I wrote.  It's terrifying, yet exciting, to share my words with you.  Maybe one day I'll be sharing more :)  Hope you enjoy!

"Sam!"

In the thick humid air I hear someone calling my name. Spinning in circles I look around, trying to find the source, a familiar voice that will anchor me.

“Sam! Wait up!”

That recognizable sound causes me to stop in my tracks.

“Sam! Jesus, what’s going on? Where are you going?”

I feel a warm hand clasp my bare upper arm, firm but not threatening. As my thoughts begin to slow, I take another deep breath and look back at the figure coming into focus, still holding on to me so I don’t float away.  It’s Will.  He’s the familiar sound, the comforting touch, the one to pull me back before the next wave carries me out.

“I can't be here anymore.” The words tumble from my lips.

“Okay, then let’s go. My jeep is over there.”

I take comfort in Will not asking why I suddenly ran from the bar and why I’m insisting to leave immediately. He just takes my hand, soft and safe, guiding me toward his jeep.

As Will drives down the two lane highway, the warm salty air whips my hair around and I let go of the words Victoria threw in my face like a sharp slap, stinging to the core.  My mother and her cold icy stare slips free from my mind, along with the unforgivable choices she's made. I mentally exhaust myself from the weight of these memories that I've carried around for far too long. It all tumbles behind the jeep, to be washed away by the incoming tide, carried out far to sea.

I lean my head back on the seat and peer up at the blanket of stars cascading down through the open roof jeep. There must be a million of them, full of wishes and hopes and dreams. I used to be the girl who wished on that star, or maybe it was that star over there. My eyes dart back and forth, realizing they all look the same. Maybe that’s how my wishes got lost and never came true. Nothing stays extraordinary in such an ordinary world. When you put your faith in something, there’s always that chance it will let you down.

Will leans forward and turns the volume up, as if he knew I needed the sound to quiet my forever thinking mind. It’s not lost on me that he’s playing a Bon Iver song, rather than something from his usual country playlist. A smile threatens to release itself across my face, but I bite my lip in an attempt to tamper it down.

I realize in this moment you never truly hear a song until you're driving with the windows down on a warm summer night. The sounds of this one melody, one point in time, is all that filters through the speakers reinvigorating an emotion that only music can. It allows me to shut everything else off.

My eyes drift over to Will, who is focused on the road, seeing miles and miles ahead. I wonder what that must be like, to be able to look out and know exactly what comes next. I envy that, really. Will looks away from the highway, turning those all-seeing eyes on me, as if he's found the path that leads to who I am suppose to be.

Going Back to Camp NaNoWriMo!

image source: Camp NaNoWriMo

It's that time again!  I'll be participating in Camp NaNoWriMo again this summer, where I will be challenging myself to write a novel in a month's time.  I did this last year and it was the best source of motivation for me.  You may be familiar with National Novel Writing Month that occurs in November, but for this busy girl, it was way too hard to commit to writing a novel during that time of the year.  Since the summer months are typically a bit slower for me, camp is a great time to sit down and write all the words.

You may be asking, what am I writing?  Is it a continuation of last summer's novel?  Or is it something new?  Well friends, this story is definitely something new.  The idea has been brewing in my head for quite some time, though.  I've always gravitated toward "summer stories"and how the potential to begin again during those months is infinite.  Hot, lazy days that stretch into endless starry nights have the potential to create a backdrop for an enchanting contemporary novel.

My story is set at the beach (very similar to the same beach I just visited not too long ago), and it's written from the point of view of a seventeen year old girl.  Already her voice is screaming in my head, begging to be written.  I'm taking that as a very good sign!  Yes, there's a boy.  A boy with messy hair and always playing that country music a little too loud.  I like him already.  There's a common thread woven throughout this story about broken promises, losing one's innocence, and rediscovering what matters most.

My want to tell this story is burning through my fingertips.  I hope you'll cheer me on as I embark on another summer at camp and hopefully meet my goal of 50,000 words by July 31st.  If you'd like to know more about my novel and see my progress, check out my Camper Page here.

GReads! Interrupted. A little of this. A little of that.

Sometimes I want to share things with my followers that aren't necessarily a book review, so I thought I'd create a sporadic feature on my blog to do just that.  GReads! Interrupted. is a personal reflection of me -- music I'm listening to, something I recently purchased & want to show off, or even just a random thought that I feel is worthy of sharing.  This is meant to be a fun break from the usual reviews + a chance for my followers to get to know me a bit more.  Hope you enjoy!

As most of you know, music is something I hold close to my heart (right next to my books of course).  I'm constantly listening to it; whether it be on my iPod dock at work, in the car as I drive to & from class, or just around the house.  It's constantly on!  Here are some tunes that have gotten some much needed action on my playlists lately:

(If you can't listen to the embedded playlist below, here's a link to it on spotify)



I'm a HUGE fan of The Boxer Rebellion. They've been around for a bit, but their latest album Promises is probably my favorite. It's the type of album you can listen to from start to finish, and then repeat all over again! If you like what you hear, buy yourself a copy on iTunes.

 (If you can't listen to the embedded playlist below, here's a link to it on spotify)

Even though it's still pushing 100 degrees here, I am pretending that summer is over & fall is on its way.  When I think of fall, I think of PUMPKIN. It's not only my favorite scent & a favorite color, but I love the flavor too.  You best believe I went to Starbucks & got my pumpkin spice latte!

Because I don't have enough on my plate, I thought up a new story to write!  With school, work & everything else in between, my days are quite full -- but when you have the urge to write a story, you can't ignore it, am I right?!

I recently watched a movie on Netflix called Tonight You're Mine (original title You Instead), about two musicians who get hand-cuffed together for the duration of a music festival. Though their story is centered around them, their music, and falling in love; it gave me inspiration to write my own story set at a music festival.

So far I've been doing lots of plotting and I've written 1200 words.  It's not a lot, but it's a great starting point.  I even started a fictional set list of bands that would play at my music fest.  So fun, right?!  Anyway.. who knows how far I'll take this, or if I'll have the time to devote to it right now, regardless it's a fun creative outlet for me.

Ginger's Shelve It

I've been a big fan of Magan & Estelle's [Rather Be Reading] Shelve It feature for quite some time, so I thought I'd extend my own version here at GReads!  It's a post to feature the books I received recently, re-post links to what's happened on the blog, and share any other bookish news.  Thank you Magan & Estelle for allowing me to tag-along with this feature!

The Books:

I wanted to do a Shelve It this week so I could feature some of the books I've received recently because I am SO DANG EXCITED ABOUT THEM!  A few I've already read (literally started as soon as they were in my hands), and others are up very very soon to read!  I'm always humbled  by those who share their books with me, and thankful for the publishers who consider me and my blog to read their titles for review.  Yay books!

Purchased:
The Sound by Sarah Alderson - review coming this week! [add to goodreads]
Sugar Daddy (Travises, #1) by Lisa Kleypas - already read & loved! [add to goodreads]
God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo - came highly recommended! [add to goodreads]

From Publishers:
Noggin by John Corey Whaley - !!!!!!!!!! [add to goodreads]
The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine [add to goodreads]

On Loan:
Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy - !!!!!!!!!! [add to goodreads]
Blue-Eyed Devil (Travises, #2) by Lisa Kleypas - LOVED IT!! from the library! [add to goodreads]
Smooth Talking Stranger (Travises, #3) by Lisa Kleypas - from the library! [add to goodreads]

The Links:

Sweet Summertime Reads:

Road Trippin' Down California's Pacific Coast Highway

My 2013 Summer Jams

Oh Hello Chicago!

Back to School

Reviews:

The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Losing It by Cora Carmack

On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

The Bookish News:

I participated in Camp NaNoWriMo during the month of July, setting a goal to write 30k words towards my new novel.  And guess what?! I did it!  I knew if I were vocal about it (meaning posting my participation & progress online), then I would have to hold myself accountable for it.  I had an amazing cheering squad of writer friends who continuously encouraged me to keep writing.  I'm proud of myself for the words I wrote and hope to continue on with this story.  Who knows what will come of it, if anything, but writing is something I've come to enjoy and hope to do more of.

As summer comes to a close, so does our Sweet Summertime Reads feature.  I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Estelle, Magan, & Tara all summer long with this feature.  I hope you've enjoyed the weekly posts from us!  A new semester of classes begins for me in just another week, which is both exciting and scary!  I can see the finish line.. 2 more semesters of classes + a full semester of student teaching & I will have my very own classroom :)  Hard to believe it's happening so fast.

Happy reading friends! xoxo

Update: Camp NaNoWriMo 2013

In just a few hours the bull horn will sound (ok, not really, but that sounds like something that would happen at a camp, right?) signaling the finale of Camp NaNoWriMo 2013!  I am pleased (& very proud) to say that I have met my word count goal of 30k words!!! And I did it with a day to spare.

So let's recap my writing adventure over the last month...

I started off strong on the first day, writing a little over 4k words.  Crazy right?! When I get in the zone, there's no stopping me.  I just write.. and write.. and write.... and well, you get the idea.  I'll be honest though, there were days where the zone was lacking and my story just wasn't coming to me.  And that's OK, because that just meant I needed to step back from it a bit.  Let it simmer awhile.  I knew I'd jump back in when the time was right.  Sure enough, the right time did come back around, and words started flowing again.

My story is nowhere near finish, but 30k words is a good solid foundation for me.  It's kind of funny because the point I left off at, is just where things really start happening.. lots of conflict! and oh my, did that really just happen?!  I know I can't walk away now.  My story needs me.  I must finish it out to the end.  But I'm happy with what I accomplished this month.  Yay writing!

Here's a sneak peek at a fun scene I wrote...

Grant slides a finger under my chin and raises my head. I know what's about to happen and suddenly I can't breathe. With the softest gesture, Grant's lips are on mine, coaxing my own open. I move my hands to the back of his neck, pulling him closer against me. The kiss intensifies, and his hands find the back of my shirt, sliding just under the bottom hem.

I've kissed boys before, but nothing compares to this kiss. Every single cell in my body is on alert, tingling from the sensations that are coursing through me. The rest of the world falls away, and it's just his hands, my lips, our breath, in this space.

"Oh, sorry."

I break away from Grant's lips and take a wobbly step back, as the voice from an older woman who is standing there pulls me back to reality.

Grant stammers, "Um, hey Mom."

Mom?

Camp NaNoWriMo 2013

I decided to join Camp NaNoWriMo this year to write my novel -- well, to put a good dent in it at least.  I started a new writing project at the beginning of the summer [that I shared a bit of in this blog post], so this will be a huge push to get my words flowing daily and really write this thing.

What is Camp NaNoWriMo you may be asking?

"Based on November’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), Camp NaNoWriMo provides the online support, tracking tools, and hard deadline to help you write the rough draft of your novel in a month… other than November!" [quote taken from the website]

My goal is to write 30,000 words beginning July 1st and ending on July 31st.  I feel that it's a very successful goal to meet, and even allows me room to go further.  I'm excited that camp is during the month of July because it's also a break from school for me, which means.. lots of writing time!

Are you a writer too and need motivation to get that novel of yours flowing?  Then join me (and thousands of others) at Camp NaNoWriMo!  Don't forget your bug spray -- and I'll bring the s'mores!

Visit their website to get all the details & to sign up: www.campnanowrimo.org

In This Reader, There is a Writer: Settings

Last year I opened up and shared a bit of my writing.  Since then I've gotten more brave in wanting to talk about my writing, and not just keep it to myself.  Am I throwing my words around for everyone to read?  Not quite, but it is something I am becoming more comfortable talking about.  Sometimes I need that feedback from my peers, and other times I love to listen to those who do write, what their struggles may be and how they work through them.

I go through spurts where all I want to do is write, and other times writing feels like the furthest thing from my mind.  During those moments when I do feel like writing, I don't shy away from it.  I'll open my current writing project, or perhaps dabble with a new idea, and just let my thoughts and imagination run wild.  It's quite fun, actually.

One thing I've found to be true about my writing (and also about what I read), is my connection to the setting.  When I can visualize a scene, right down to the temperature of the air and the smells that float by, it sparks something in me and I can place myself inside the story.  If you know me, then you know how much I adore a story set during the summer months.  There's just something about it that has always played up my imagination.  So I thought, why not write a story set during the summer?  And so, that's become my latest project.  It's still very, very new, but I am having fun with where it's going so far.

And yes, it's a summer romance.  Would you expect something different? haha

I recently heard a published author speak about their settings, and whether they use real places, or make up their own.  I found this interesting because there are pros & cons to using both.  I write contemporary stories, so the places I think up could be real.  Are they actual destinations on a map?  Not exactly.  I like the idea of my settings to be inspired by places I've been to, but not necessarily be that exact place.  It's more fun to tweak it and make it my own.

Here's a tiny excerpt of what I'm working on currently:

Stepping out onto the deck, I glance around at the familiar surroundings. Weathered planks stretch out under my feet, beckoning me forward. I walk across the deck and down the few steps that open up to a small patch of grass. It definitely needs to be mowed, so I make a mental note to grab some gasoline for the lawn mower while I'm in town tomorrow.

The air hangs loose just over my head, slowly drifting downward to settle in the tall grasses around my bare legs. I imagine snakes wrapping themselves around my ankles and paranoia sends me briskly to the boat dock just ahead. The water laps against the pilings, another familiar sound that I associate with summer spent here. Slipping out of my flip flops, I take a seat on the edge of the dock, letting my legs dangle over. The sun is setting just over the horizon in a burst of oranges and golds, creating shimmers of light as the sun touches the water's surface. As I take in the beauty around me, I let out a sigh. Finally, it feels like home.

In this reader, there is a writer.

Somewhere along the way, I discovered my passion for writing.  It may have been in the innocent diary entries I wrote as a pre-teen, or perhaps the  gossipy letters written to my friends and passed within the halls at school.  I don't know if my passion began when I was younger, or as I matured.  But what I do know now is that writing has given me a purpose.

It's become this release of thoughts and emotions that I've held inside.  Am I writing 600 page novels? Not hardly.  But I have been journaling my thoughts (very random thoughts, I might add) almost daily.  Sometimes they evolve into a section of a story I have yet to write, or maybe it's a poem that I've conjured up based on a few words that refuse to leave my mind.  Whatever the reasons, or the products for my writing - it's there, it's happening.  I am writing.

As I continue my education in becoming a teacher (Middle School Language Arts, to be exact), I am realizing more and more the power a pen holds -- or keyboard depending on which medium your writing is taking place.  I hope to instill this release into my future students and show them how therapeutic writing can be.  Or how silly, amazing, hysterical, purposeful and random it can be as well.

Do yourself a favor and write something today.  It can be anything, or nothing at all.  Who knows - you may have that next best-seller just waiting to be told.  Or, you may find peace to write that letter to someone you've been meaning to for far too long.  Whatever the reason, just write.

This is a very tiny excerpt from the story I've been writing. It may never be anything but a mess of words I wrote down, but they're still my words - words I am proud of.

While Max shuts off the coffee maker and washes the used dishes, I walk around the coffee shop wiping down tables and sweeping the floor. Somewhere in the back I notice the music has turned up louder than normal and a familiar song echos through the speakers.

Max walks over to the front door, locking it and turning off the inside lights. The glow from the neighboring lamp posts outside filter in through the front windows. I'm about to unplug the twinkling Christmas lights that are decorated throughout, when Max stops me.

"Leave those on."

He grabs the broom from me, placing it against the wall. While moving in closer, he takes my right hand, cupping it in his, and places it against his chest. With his other hand, he grabs my hip and pulls me in to his warm, personal space. Suddenly, our bodies are slowly swaying back and forth to the music that is seeping out, blanketing the tiny coffee shop with a beautiful melody.

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain, there is healing
In your name, I find meaning*

The lyrics wash over me and I am reminded of what I have right here in front of me; a boy who sincerely cares about me. I may be broken, but I'm still breathing.

*lyrics from Lifehouse's song Broken.