Echo

When it becomes comfortable for another human being whom you admire to disregard your presence

Diminish your importance 

Deny your beauty

Disgrace your goodness

Discard your efforts

Overlook your kindness 

Underrate your preciousness 

Offer you nothing while you offer them all you have to give,

Seldom respond, if ever to your gestures of concern, 

Shoot down your expressions of warmth and benevolence, 

When it becomes commonplace for you to reach out yet never find them reaching back...

Then it becomes necessary for you to re-examine the total scenario:

If not for what you give, nothing else is given? 

So, if you withdraw your efforts, nothing is done?

Without your words of concern, none are expressed?

If not for the echo of your own unanswered voice, nothing is heard?

When next-to-nothing is no longer good enough;

When it becomes commonplace that you are reaching out for a human connection, only to find yourself standing in an empty room alone...

It becomes apparent that you can find no heart-to-heart bond, you may need to resolve that the other person does not care. Furthermore, you could conclude that they are unworthy of your love and devotion if they are unable or unwilling to show you a mere reflection of the same.

It becomes imperative that you sow your seeds of love and kindness elsewhere, in fertile ground, where they can be nourished and grow. 

It becomes the backdrop, the scene and the soundtrack for loving out and moving on. 

The Basic Black Dress - An Opportunity to Shine

There's nothing more basic than the "basic black dress".  Simplistic concept - nice "situationally-appropriate" item that you can quickly put on and be ready for any event or outing. 

As simple as it is in concept, the black dress yields much opportunity for individual flare.  

One can dress it up with stunning jewelry, funky shoes, even brightly-colored hair ornaments (i.e. feathers, rhinestones, etc.).  

The important factor is to seize the opportunity and exhibit maximum personal style. 

In the end, that's what life is about - taking the simple, basic concept of living and maximize our individual expression of it. 

Do something you never expected. Don't be afraid to stand out. Grab that brightly-colored feather and throw it in your hair.  Put on the red stilettos and rhinestone belt.  Make your life a shining example of unimaginable possibilities.

Take the basic black dress and turn it into something spectacular!