Sabrina Lu, 13 (Ashburn, VA) How to Live the Life You Dream of Living Sabrina Lu, 13 If you would like to live the life you dream of living, please follow the steps below as a guide. However, there are no right or wrong steps in living the life you desire. It is all about you. This list is simply a reference. Be yourself. It’s that simple and that hard. No one knows who you aren’t. No one knows who you are. Only you do. You can be anyone in the world or be yourself. Remember that there is only one of you and nearly eight billion others. Look at the mirror with confidence. Believe you can, and you’ve done the most challenging part of believing that you can and you will. Your journey may not be exactly as you imagine it, but it will be a great accomplishment to take pride in. Look up to others and yourself. You are one of the most extraordinary people on Earth. You have so much potential and can soar so high. You can inspire future generations and change the world for the better. Take care of yourself. Much like a good book, you need to be cared for. It’s perfectly alright to rest still for days at a time. Don’t forget to dust yourself. Let go of past grudges and think ahead to all the great wonders the future has to offer. The longer you hold on to something, the more tiring it will be to hold on to it. Find the little things that bring you joy. Sometimes it is the smallest things that make all the difference. One genetic mutation can create an entirely new species. One microscopic particle can evolve into a life-changing remedy. There are no limits to this list. If you imagine it, the list is endless. The opportunities are endless. You are limitless. You are empowered. Repeat the following steps above as often as you wish, and if you want to see how far you can stretch your wings, try creating your own list and refer to it often. It will always be there for you. No matter how tough life may seem, if you stick with it, you can’t go wrong. Even in the emptiest and darkest of places, there is always light. You just have to find it.
inspiration
Stone Soup Author Interview: Tristan Hui
Stone Soup contributor Lena Aloise, 12, talks with Stone Soup contributor and winner of the Stone Soup Book Contest 2020 Tristan Hui, 14, about her novel The Other Realm, published on September 1st, 2021. The two also talk about the value of Stone Soup, the nature of inspiration, and the importance of writing as a means of exploring foreign concepts. If you’d prefer a more streamlined video, take a look at Tristan’s book page. 0:20 — How did you first get involved with Stone Soup 1:11 — When submitting to the magazine, would you say you prefer to submit writing, art, or both? 1:57 — What do you feel was the most important skill you learned from the Writing Workshop 2:40 — Where do you get your inspiration, more specifically for your novel The Other Realm? 4:22 — Is there a specific play or theater production from which you draw inspiration? 5:35 — Are characters such as Azalea Morroe inspired by people in your own life? 7:09 — Has writing always been a part of your life/how long have you been writing? 8:39 — Was The Other Realm the first novel/long form fiction piece you’d ever written? 9:28 — What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing The Other Realm? 11:31 — What advice would you give your past self in order to help yourself get through the hard parts? 12:41 — What was your favorite part about writing The Other Realm? 14:01 — Not including your revising processes, how long did it take you to write your novel from start to finish? 15:41 — What would you say is the primary thing you want readers to take away from The Other Realm? 16:48 — If you could tell somebody about Stone Soup, what would you say?
Coming Together
The isolating, eternal chaser, A monotonous virus alarming our world Broke delicate bonds, Relations and connections lost in a dark standstill. The caution we evolved to have, Flexing and bending like a field of wheat in the meandering wind, Adapting and upending the world to a lively place, Protecting us from what is next to come. We will find a way or make one. Ubiquitous, scorching heat: Debilitating droughts, collapsing glaciers, Warming oceans have wrought Global challenge on an infinite scale. Fossil fuels illuminating paths to creativity: Physicists, engineers, mathematicians, To find change, to make change, As problem solvers. We will find a way or make one. Ocean plastics in the depths; microplastics on mountain peaks, Peaks mounded from the unwanted remains of our lives, carelessly discarded; Acidic rain from the infected carbon air, Evidence of our world neglected. Caring for the world by influencing others, Taking action to be responsible to the Earth, Finding ways to use less emissions And to polish our part of the community to revive this world. We will find a way or make one. Stop to lend a hand, Share your humanity, Make the world a better place with your actions, A place where kindness belongs. Compassion builds a stronger community, Uniting us all together, To give sympathy and appreciation, As benevolent world changers. We will find a way or make one. Our diversity centers us: Inclusion, equity, and individuality All befit a solid community, As each bloom shines in a field of wildflowers. The quality of being fair, Treating others in a just way, Building a robust connection With the people around us. We will find a way or make one. The answer in your mind, but hesitation of your hand rising Erodes the confidence you have in yourself, The talents that are unique to you. You have opportunities to advocate, The privilege to speak up, An atmosphere filled with assurance, To show the world what you can accomplish. It is up to us; We must find a way or make one.
