There are different kinds of intelligence, all quite impressive:

The ability to memorize information and spit it back out when needed (this is what society generally calls "smart")

The ability to promote creativity and general sophistication to use that in everyday actions (this is what society generally calls "creative")

The ability to see a situation, form a new idea in your head, and use it (this is what society generally calls "innovative")

The ability to access all three of the above and teach that effectively to someone else (this is what society should be calling "wisdom")

True wisdom is a gift that can’t be seen by all.

It’s a special light used to see past the shadow and hallways that appear to be slightly to narrow to walk through.

It’s the sum of a long journey that sometimes leaves permanent scars.

It’s the ending of the story that keeps your heart racing during the whole read.

It’s the reason you walk away from a job that doesn’t pay you what your worth.

It’s the sacrifice that you make that causes you pain so a loved one can shine.

It’s the glasses you put on that finally prompt you to leave your old life behind.

Wisdom is the water you find in the well that never runs out, that will forever satisfy your thirst.

(This can be sung to the tune of Mele Kalikimaka)

Freezing our little toes off is the thing we say

on a cold, depressing winter day.

That's the exclamation that we boo hoo hoo

in a place that's dark and gray.

Here we know the weather will be such a fright.

The cars won't start by day. The pipes will burst at night.

Freezing our little toes off is another way

to say that wool socks won't do.

Freezing our hands and feet off is the thing we say

at the time a blizzard's come our way.

That's a declaration which should be a clue,

it's a place to visit - not stay.

Here we know extremities will get frostbite.

Then we will feel dismay, and things won't be all right.

Freezing our hands and feet off is another way

to say boots and mittens won't do.

Freezing our crazy heads off is the thing we say

on a cruel and icy winter day.

That's the dire warning that we give to you

'cause the chill's no holiday.

Here we know the firewood had better light.

If power goes away we will be dead by night.

Freezing our crazy heads off is another way

to say twenty blankets won't do.

Freezing our little toes off is the thing we say

on a cold, depressing winter day.

That's the exclamation that we boo hoo hoo

in a place that's dark and gray.

Here we know the weather will be such a fright.

The cars won't start by day. The pipes will burst at night.

Freezing our little toes off is another way

to say that wool socks -

that's really, really thick wool socks -

to say that wool socks won't do.

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If you won't be sharing this with small children, you can replace

"Freezing our little toes off"

with

"Freezing our nuts and butts off." :)

I am good at being a sheep,

And they tell me I'll go far.

Now I'm suffocating in college debt

Trying to reach a far-away star.

"Don't let schooling interfere with your education."

-Mark Twain

I’d be slightly awestruck but...

Being as I’m from the future,

I’d fast recoup my sensibilities.

Then...

I’d “cleverly” preempt his next sentence

And act like I’m Nostradamus,

Because,

If you can’t be naturally smart;

Then why not just pretend -

Obviously using a compendium,

The one labelled

“The Complete Works of Shakespeare - unabridged”.

Because hopefully,

I’d remember to bring it

(Along with my keys, purse and phone - the latter evidently for taking snapshots of the guy BECAUSE HE IS SHAKESPEARE AFTER ALL)

Then before zipping back to my own time,

I’d write his FIRST autobiography and copyright it.

Just so wouldn’t have to worry about my family.

And also because I just told you;

I’m pretending to be clever

(And I’d be a legend)

So when people asked what I do for a living I could say

“Oh you know, nothing much. I only wrote the first book about the life and time of Billy Shakes”

Billy Shakes is clearly his tag name!

I mean is it not apparent that quilling was the new graffiti back then?

Besides, you can do ANYTHING when there’s nobody to knock any sense into you.

That said I could tell him about my new invention,

The tablet,

The one made of metals and plastic.

Or the new horseless carriage I created forget Ford.

And how I manage to maintain world peace in such volatile times.

Question is would he believe one person could do all that.

It’s quite possible as one person penned all those plays and odes.

Either way I’d make the most of it!

True Madness,

In it's most unrelenting form,

Is the consequence lurking behind the best moment of your life.

Madness,

Is loving someone unconditionally, obsessively, without reason or origin,

Only to have them resent you, belittle you and refute and deny your feelings,

So much so that they might force you to come to hate them.

Madness is to become the informed and pursued yet passive observer,

To know well the unrest of others, the inner turmoil they face, the hope you can give,

The support,

And to adamantly refuse, no matter the circumstance.

Madness is to omit the pained loved ones from life,

To ask the wellbeing of the less central and the superficial,

Only to reflect silence upon the sullen ghost of a true comrade.

Madness is refusing the heartfelt and passionate requests of the honest,

The hearts half-submerged in despair, trying desperately to find the leverage in you,

To stand up once more,

To change.

Madness is the inexpicable, or senselessly explained, hypocrisy you remain shrouded in,

The question desired in the morning delivered at the latest possible moment,

The love you claim to profess despite all this hate,

And the reciprocation of that in your perspective,

Madness is the clash of perspective,

Madness is miscommunication,

The good I see in you despite all the evil you now commit,

And the evil you see in me after all the good you commit.

So much so, that I lose myself completely,

That which makes me an identity,

All but name and body,

Faceless,

Forgotten,

Unknown,

Nothing.

You want sunshine when it rains. You want to be happy when you are sad. You want life when you see death. You want an adventure when you are bored. You want company when you are lonely. You want to be alone when you are overwhelmed. You want violence when you are angry. You want the cold in the heat and the heat in the cold. You want something to fill the silence. You want something to shut out the noise. You want to be numb when it hurts. Creativity comes from wanting a different reality. From imagining that different reality and making it real in a different way, by using what you have- ink, paint, whatever. When the real world is too painful or too boring or too unbearable you create escape doors to better worlds. Worlds of magic and color and beauty and darkness.

There was a time when humans fought for survival. Every waking moment was spent to sustain life, not to beautify it.

There was no art, and there wouldn’t be for a long time, until there was food on the table every night and we had to search for satisfaction in other ways. Some say this was the awakening of a part of the human brain that had existed from the beginning, but I do not pretend to have that knowledge.

What I do know, however, is that creativity existed far before art. In fact, I credit the brisk evolution of human life, and therefore modern life, to creativity. We’ve come a long way from cavemen, while there are animals who haven’t evolved in millions of years. My point is, the world was, and is, what we make it.

So, I argue that we birthed this unique brand of creativity as it birthed us, and may it remain until the final generation of life on earth.