How's everyone doing? To be honest, I don't even know if a lot of the older members are on here. All that time ago it started on a WingFeatherSaga page, and has evolved to this. I'm thankful for everyone who commented on my posts and fan-fictions. It made me feel like my old, terrible, repulsive writing was good. Anytime I needed something to do all that time ago, I would come here and do something, weather looking at the art that I could never come close to creating, or the awesome fan-fics, or if it was a debate over Weezie of Emma. It was all great.

Now in my life, I want to believe that I have out-grown the books, but I always come to the conclusion that you can't grow out of a series like this. Even though I may not be up to date with all the work S.D.Smith is doing, I will always be grateful for how the series had an impact on me. Meeting Smith at the time I did was really special, because that wasn't the best few years of my life. Just reading an S.D.Smith book took my mind off many things, picked me out of my reading place, and planted me in Natalia. Although I have moved on to bigger things in literature, S.D.Smith will always have a special place in my heart.

Lately, I've been reading Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series. I am having an incredibly hard time putting them down. The way he threads the mystery with facts and suspense is on a different level of literature. If anybody has any recemdations for good books, I would be glad to receive them.

After saying all that, I wanted to let you guys know that I am really happy with my life right now. My church recently had a pastoral shift and God has been doing marvelous things. I've recently started playing the guitar, and it is a great way to spend time. The other way I spend my time is playing chess, a newfound interest. Academically, I am feeling the best I ever have. Saying that, I would like to share with you an piece I wrote as an entry for a young writers contest. One of my classes had us focus on this for a while, and it was picked to represent the school. Just a heads up, the word limit could not exceed over 800 words, so therefore it it not to long. I really hope you all enjoy! My place beside you, my blood for yours, 'till the end of the world.

The Double-Edged Sword

Fame. It’s not for everyone. If I could take dominion over one singular thing, it would be my peace of mind. Many think that they want fame because they unknowingly believe that everybody that sees your posts or videos is a fan. Don’t be foolish. You don’t see my emails. 

    If you only knew the death threats and emails I read everyday, you would dislike, no, hate fame. With fame, fortune comes, but although fortune looks good in your bank account, it can corrupt your heart and your mind. It can make you lie and abuse the tools you have to gain fame and fortune. 

It’s even difficult to  go to a local restaurant without the whole building wanting a photo, selfie, or autograph. People I know nothing about want a photo taken with me. This may seem harmless to the average person, but fame has made me imagine terrible things. 

I worry about wicked men doing terrible things to me if they were given the opportunity. I worry that my life is in extreme danger. I never should’ve signed myself up for this catastrophe.

The scourge of fame is worse than that of a pandemic, and I believe it has overtaken many. Although I give a great deal of my fortune to charities that are worthwhile, I have yet to find a way to forfeit my fame. If I could, believe me, I would trade everything to live a happy, simple life. You all have no idea the freedoms you have. 

At the beginning, I never ceased to want this life. It was my dream to have people praise my work and desire to be like me. I wanted so terribly to be a role model for young men. Is there any fault in that? I would suppose not then. But I was young and innocent then. If every successful man had to feel like this, I would tell him he should give up if he can’t handle the weight of the world. 

It’s really not hard; if you're not cut out for the job, you’re not gonna make it. Bodybuilders, prepare yourself for a greater weight. If your mind is overtaken, it is just as likely for one man to battle a militia of men while only having a donkey's jawbone as a weapon than to regain control of your mind. Even now in my life, I don’t know if this is my purpose and destiny.   

Why am I telling my fears and insecurities to a group of people who are most likely oblivious to my words? Unless you have gone through it, you truly lack the understanding of what one like myself is facing. You may sympathize with my words, but I pray you never have to empathize with them. Don’t gain fame. It is a long way down, and I’m falling faster than my terminal velocity, just waiting to faceplant on the ground. 

When I fall, who will care? Will my fans care? Why, so they can’t waste away and rot viewing and criticizing everything I say? Or rather, will it be those who try to cancel me that will care, because they’ll have to find a new scapegoat? Will it be my family, the beneficiaries of my fortune? Shall I die without cause? In vain? The answers to these questions will never be revealed to me. Everyone else will know, but not me.

But fame is not all so unpleasant. It has given me access to things that the majority of people never get to experience. The places I've visited, the fancy cuisines I experience regularly, the celebrities I have formed relationships with, the vehicles, the jewelry, the houses, all of it.

Fame has empowered me to experience these pleasures. And the lives I have changed with my fame! The lives I have completely turned around and changed for the better. The children and veterans that I have donated to and have positively impacted. 

When you pick up a man with an old, dirty, wet gray coat, and he has holes in his pants, and you show him grace and take him to a steakhouse, and tell him to order whatever he wants, the joy is truly overwhelming. Over an hour we would spend there, the old man devouring everything on the table. The sight may be quite repulsive to some, but I don't mind. This man may never have this pleasure again… the pleasure that I have whenever I desire it. 

Reflecting back on my choices, I realize that early on in my days, I had the choice to take two roads. I am filled with gratitude for everyone who has led me into the direction of that road less taken. This thing called fame really is a double-edged sword, though.