So go on shout, loud and proud,
Spreading our message toward the clouds.
Let them rise like smoke signals,
Strong and uplifting like hymnals,
Onward and upward – Don’t stay stuck on the ground.

Every message needs a voice,
And every person has a choice –
Linger in your pain and pessimism,
Or follow the heat and passion as it’s risen:
The fire wood of hope burns and we rejoice.

Find your reason and follow it to the edge.
Dive over and give faith this pledge:
To leap into the unknown, to not just wait,
But to do, to give your all, to be someone great.
To make. To create. To build. To not standstill. To not fear the ledge.

So write a story. Bake a cake. Build furniture.
Be the biggest mascot and fan of your future.
Fear not and be brave.
Work hard and go insane.
A little crazy makes the world turn.

Remember to be both patient and grateful.
Art takes time – there is push and there is pull –
You’ll never discover until you try,
Creation can be its own reason why,
Stonehenge to sewing threads, you define successful.

Jessie Gutierrez

PS: I know I wrote this to Stevie many moons ago when we were exchanging mix tapes and letters, but I have no recollection of if this was a shared theme or not. Either way, I didn’t want it to get lost in the abyss, so I’m sharing it with you folks today! 😉 It also seems like a good way to announce the beginning of the editing process of my first book. Expect more posts about that in the future…. well….more than none, less than a lot.

“Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it, sauté it, whatever. MAKE.” – Joss Whedon