I think that if you keep looking for the meaning of life, you'll never find it. For, the meaning is already given by the Bible. You simply just need to open your eyes and see it.

“Ok, I guess we're really doing this?” waking up as some old guy with a a beard, who apparently taught Alexander The Great! Said Raven, waiting to be called out on the stage.

hundreds of people would be looking up to Raven, staring at her like she's some great man… which she is in their eyes. A 20-year-old woman, that goes to a community college, and is a part-time waitress. Now have to go up and pretend to be someone she’s not.

What looks like a confident, strong man, is a small-town girl with just her dreams. A simple girl who also has stage fright…will now have to face her fears.

“Oh my God, they called my name, well my new name. Maybe I should go out there, and picture everyone in their underwear?” Said Raven, hoping it’s not just stage talk.

everyone is standing up and clapping, with excitement. Here is Raven's big change to impress everybody, hell impress herself.

“This beard is itchy, how does they keep it on their face?” said Raven.

“_Good morning ladies, and gentlemen. I thank you all for joining us today, and listening to an old man like me.” _ __ __ The crowd laughed at Raven's light joke to ease the tension.

“Wow, that was pretty funny if I say so myself, I got them right where I want them,” Raven said in her mind.

__ “I don't want to make this too long, but I have some encouraging words, to help you all with your journey through life.”

“I was you once, young, and started at 17 years old. I have experienced a lot in life, things I regret and things I don’t regret. Just do it anyway, but be wise with your next mistake.” __ _“The people that I have known gave me great _ knowledge. everything must be balanced in life.” __

Raven has done something she never thought she would be able to do, and that were to speak and stop caring about criticism. Anybody can motivate anybody. Educating your mind and educating others, can make a mark.

__ “Yes, I'm a Philosopher but I have been in that same chair, so remember this, CHOICE, NOT CHANGE DETERMINES YOUR DESTINY.”

I nervously laughed, standing at the podium that faced hundreds of people. I don't know who I'm supposed to be, but these wrinkles tell me I'm not me. I want to be home, binging Riverdale or something meaningless like that. I don't live a philosopher’s life, that's for sure, so what am I going to tell these people? That I’m a twenty-year-old student in her third year of college? Or maybe that I have no idea what the meaning of life is and/or how to spend it? “Hello, everybody,” I started to speak. Wait, why am I speaking? No, don't speak. Don't you- “I'm here to explain the meaning of life to you, and you're probably super excited to figure out what you should be doing with it. “But I can't do that. I can't tell you what to eat, or how to dress, or who you spend your time with.” _I’m still speaking. WHY AM I STILL SPEAKING?! _“I don't think anyone knows the true meaning of life. Or at least not your life. Maybe you are an aspiring actor who just lost the opportunity to be a star on Broadway. Or maybe you're a doctor and met with someone you couldn't save. But, whether you're an electrician or the President of the United States, you come to learn that life is short. So I guess, maybe, instead of getting down on yourself and wasting your life away, call your mom, go skydiving, form a relationship. Because you only get one chance.” Did I just say all that? Did that come from my brain? Wow. That was deep. “However, like I said, I can’t tell you what to do. I can only offer you advice and hope you take it. Anyway, uh…” _I lost my closing sentence. Crap, I lost my closing sentence! Um… _i thought hard before it came to me. _Wait, I got it. _“Go football!”

The crowd erupted in cheers, the applause warming my heart as I basked in it for a while longer. I then exited the stage, finding myself sitting on my couch, my dog, Milli, asleep on my lap. Was it all a dream? If it was, I’m apparently a very intelligent dreamer. I got the message from my subconscious, calling up my friends to go have some fun. Sure, I was only twenty and not even close to my end, but I couldn’t keep using the excuse to avoid people anymore. I guess I have my subconscious to thank, huh?

Fuck ofd, write yor own damn speech

How do you tell some one you are not who you are? I don’t know and you probably don’t either. So how do I tell the man in fornt me that no I am not some French Philosopher because I still don’t know his name.
Don’t even ask me the date because no I don’t know the day or the month or even the year because I don’t belong here. I don’t even know what I call what happen?? Channing bodies? Time travel? I don’t know I am supposed to be a 13 year old girl with curly blond hair and my biggest worry is if I finished my Homework. Not a 70 something man with graying hair and a bald spot. I tune back in to the man next to me. He’s saying “You go on in ten minutes.” “Wait…what,” is all I say. But the man is already gone. I looked around and find a man in a gray overcoat near the stairs. “Excuse me, what I am doing here.” “Why you are the main attraction” at my questioning look. “ Your speech on life.” I want to ask more questions but he is called away and I turn back to the curtain. I am 13. What do I know of life?! Suddenly I feel the sun on my face and my limbs are becoming smaller and more tan. I am back.

It’s my turn to talk next, as the young lady asks her question stating how it’s to me. I must portray this philosopher so I am to dig deep. Since our body swap some of his morals have merged with mine.. I’ve learned since the beginning of it all.

Sitting in my chair with the microphone I pull it up to my lips as the crowd stares awaiting excitement. Something tells me to relax continuing “everything is perfect the way it is”.

I have the urge to speak, and so my voice begins to sound.

“ The meaning of life.. If you pay attention to people, the majority have something they believe in. They rely on a god or multiple gods or science only believing in facts. However regardless of your beliefs, you still have questions. Questions that keep ringing in your head to your heart with a base core of not understanding anything. The questions keep coming when you look at any intricate piece of the world such as a leaf of a tree. Why does it have lines that look like my veins? Why does the inside of every living thing, plant or fruit have two sides that are opposite yet symmetrical? A body system appearing like mine, as if I’m looking at my organs through such a fruit? But as these questions call, we start to think more, in search of answers to all. We know we have them inside us, due to the fact of being part of this creation.”

As I speak, I realize the crowd is lost in the deepest rabbit hole in the world. Each of them are confused on the purpose of their existence, but when I spot the children and I spot a young woman who smiles.. this is what life is about. I begin to have a gratitude for their precense in helping me with this speech. I have the urge to “help”.

“ Look at these children, look at this beautiful young lady here.. these smiles, these emotions, all of this is pure life! Life is to be taken as it comes. Release your control over everything that happens, and learn to flow with all situations. When you look at the negative as a challenge to build you and the positive as a reward, when you look at what you have and listen to your inner gratitude understanding all of the rewards you’ve attained, you’ll see both the positives and negatives about such rewards as well. Don’t push and don’t pull. If a challenging situation arises, don’t complain, you always have the tools to make all better and this challenge is here to build you. Work with every single obstacle life gives you. However control your pulling as well. This is your means to get attracted to things. Too much of anything isn’t good for you as we know. So.. relax. Take in life as it comes, know that there is a greater purpose to these things. The meaning of life is simply to live. We each have different paths designed specifically for each of us, no one can tell you what you’re supposed to be and what you’re supposed to do.

You’re here to experience.

And so you may wonder why you’re here to experience.. Well you came here for a reason, how could I tell you?” I chuckle. “ For the growth of your soul, you came down to the 3rd dimension of Earth, which is in a much lower density compared to where you’ve come from, to experience the restrictions of existence in the 3D. You are bound by physics though you are not your body. So even if you can’t see what’s actually happening, have faith and trust not hope. Have confidence and experience your life the way your heart calls.”

Well, fuck.

This is decidedly not how Mave wanted his day to go. He could be at home, cuddling with Genesis. But alas, the world wouldn’t be right if it didnt screw him over.

So here he is, standing in front of hundreds. Thousands more are watching on screens at home. That’s were Mave like to be. At home. Y’know, comfy in bed with the love of his life.

Giving a world wide speech was not in his bucket list. Did he mention he hates public speaking? ‘Cause he does. Despises it, really.

The echoes of people whispering around him pulls Mave back into reality. He coughs quietly off too the side, where the mic in front of him can’t pick up the sound. It’s a bit of a struggle to get used to the new body. The height, the limbs, the voice.

He feels fuzzy. Cotton in the brain kind of fuzzy, and a slight blur in his vision. Mave is _not _getting used to this.

With a sigh, he starts, “The meaning of life-” Mave chokes, bloody hell his voice sounds weird. His accent is all off. This is about to be the worst speech he’s ever given in his entire life.

It has nothing on those school presentations he totally didn’t fail.

“The meaning of life,” he repeats, voice cracking in all the wrong spots, “is that-“ This is a terrible experience, and he wishes he was dreaming.

“Oh, fuck this,” Mave mutters right into the mic. His words ring in his own head loudly. He blinks. Well, that was _not _the intention. In his defense, he’s not used to his words be amplified. Might as well play into it though. He’s already fucked it up for this guy.

“I quit!” He shouts, grinning widely as if he isn’t ruining some poor man’s career. Who knows, maybe the guy deserves it. And at this point? Anything to get home quicker. Which means getting off this damn stage.

Which is exactly what Mave goes to do. Somehow, that manages to be the easy part. Everyone around is too shocked to stop him. It’s a small mercy in a situation like this.

Mave still has to figure out how to get himself back into his own body. Hopefully it’ll be a little easier than the last time this went down. Because unfortunately, this is not the first time a body swap has occurred.

Like he said, the world wouldnt be right if it didn’t screw him over.

He soon finds himself in an alley, his head resting against a brick wall. None of his attempts to call Genesis on a random pay phone work. They don’t go through.

Dammit, is asking for one reasonably chill day too much?

Apparently it is for the likes of Mave. So much for his cuddling plans. Quality time with Genesis has been completely torn from his schedule.

Truly, today is a terrible day.

You begin your journey at the place your roots were planted. Not by your own volition, but by the choices of your ancestors. You are fertilized by their love and watered by their affection. They protect you from creatures that may mean you harm. Your trunk begins to rise with nutrients from the soil your ancestors planted you in. Unknowingly predestining where your branches will seek sunlight from. Your ancestors teach you valuable lessons learned from their roots. Perhaps not seeing how different their soil was from the one you now reside. Your branches expand and your trunk ascends higher. Morals and ethics are bestowed upon you by the soil and creatures that surround your deepening roots. Yet as your trunk rises up and your branches even higher, you start to see other branches upon your horizon. Fuel from the creatures discarded and used, lessons disguised as foul excrement unwanted. Disgusting behavior and cruelty unwarranted, creates twisted roots sunken below. Your canopy grows many skills contained within your leaves. Branches forgotten grow beyond your control. Growth unguided has hindered the branches seeking the sun. Your ancestors gone no longer able to help, you follow the stars to find your golden path. Creatures surround you defenseless and alone. You lash out feeling fear and anger wanting only to be safe. Not knowing your ancestors should have guided your growth. Unprepared and afraid your growth becomes stunted. As creatures abuse you and rob you of your leaves, you become isolated and turn inward. You find solace in darkness and turning inward to find peace. Roots growing deep in soil unfamiliar, praying for water even salty shall do. Years pass unnoticed, many branches abandoned, roots have grown rotten while waiting for water and fertilizer that never comes. Your roots grow stronger from hatred and neglect, only to find new strength required to be transplanted. New soil has been found and your branches are pruned. New growth flows through you as though you’d never seen the sun. Your roots untwist and the rot sheds away. More branches sprout from your trunk in places you never imagined you’d have before. Leaves of warm colors shine brightly above. You must reach higher to see why they glow red hot. Trunk grown anew to heights previously unfathomable. Those same creatures below devouring one another while spewing the same bile they consume. Stuck in a cycle that blinds and maims. Guided by corrupt morals devoid of all ethics. Without ears, without eyes, how can they possibly learn? You avert your own eyes and feel only pity, no longer hatred nor contempt. Perhaps those embers above can save those sad creatures below. Finally within reach the heat overwhelming. Not mere embers, but great blazes that scorch all they touch. Your branches are full of old leaves that are brittle, ready to catch flame and become ash to enstill rebirth below. Pain and sorrow greet your branches without mercy, expecting resistance but finding the opposite. Willingly sacrificing leaves and branches alike, the ultimate pruning of oneself to lift even your roots to these pillars of flame. The process complete, decades spent in great service to something higher than your own. Worth every second to feel what you always craved from creatures and ancestors alike. Never knowing it was within your own grasp below your canopy all along.

"Neme lazım yardım etmeyi seven, hayır demeyi bilmeyen, oldukça hızlı, dikkatsiz ve sakar bir kadındır. O gün hem komşusu hem de samimi olduğu yakın arkadaşı, kendisi ile kuaföre gelip gelemeyeceğini sorar. Neme lazım, kabul eder. Arkadaşının bebeğini de arabasına bindirerek yola çıkarlar. Kuaföre girdiklerinde içerisi oldukça kalabalıktır. Bir müddet otururlar, bakarlar ki kuaförün işi uzun sürecek, "Biz en iyisi başka bir kuaföre gidelim" derler. Arkadaşı önden bebek arabasıyla çıkarken, yanında olan çantayı fark eden neme lazım içinden yardımseverlik aşkı belirdiği için, "Görüyor musun, bebeği olunca çantasını unuttu" deyip koluna takar ve arkadaşıyla beraber başka bir kuaföre giderler.

Orada bir müddet vakit geçirip işlerini bitirdikten sonra evlerine gitmek için dükkandan çıkarlarken arkadaşının yine bebek arabasını sürdüğü için unuttuğu sandığı çantasını tekrar omzuna alır. Bir müddet ilerledikten sonra arkadaşının kayıtsız hareketine kızan neme lazım, hafif sitemli bir şekilde gülerek şaka yollu, "Yahu anladık, bebek arabası sürüyorsun, yanına bir de çanta alıyorsun ama çantana sahip çıkmıyorsun, iki seferdir unuttun çantayı, ben taşıyorum" dediğinde, arkadaşı neme lazımın yüzüne soran gözlerle bakarak, "Ne çantası?" der. neme lazım elindeki çantayı gösterip, "İşte bu senin çantan değil mi?" der. Arkadaşı hala şaşkın şaşkın bakıp, "O benim çantam değil ki" der. Şaşıran Pakize, "Aman Allah'ım, o zaman bu kimin çantası?" der. Arkadaşı, "Ne biliyim ben, nereden aldın, kimin çantası olduğunu?" der. O anda neme lazımmı bir ateş alır. "Ya bu kimin çantası, ben bunu nereden almış olabilirim?" diye düşünüp ilk uğradıkları kuaförü hatırlar. Hızlı bir şekilde oraya yönelirler. Sağ olsun arkadaşı vukat olan yere girmek istemez ve neme lazım elindeki çantayla içinden bildik bilmedik bütün duaları okuyarak kuaföre girer. O an koşturarak üzerine gelen bir kadın, elindeki çantayı hızla çekip alarak hemen içine bakar. Neme lazım korkudan ne yapacağını bilmez durumda çantayı yanlışlıkla arkadaşının zannettiğini olayı yeni fark ettiğini ve hemen getirdiğini ifade eder. O anda çantayı elinden alıp içine bakan kadın, "İyi, içinden hiçbir şey alınmamış" diye söylenerek sinirli ve şüpheli gözlerle bakar. Kötü bir şey olduğunu anlayan neme lazım gerçekten yanlışlıkla aldım, ne olduğunu bilmiyorum, içine de bakmadım, zaten hırsız olsam çantayı getirir miyim?" diyerek kendini savunmaya çalışırken çantayı elinden hızlı alan kadın, "Götürdünüz, çantanın içinde altınların vardı, buraya iki kadın geldi ve çantamı çaldılar" diyerek, "Sizin eşgalinizi polise verdik" der. Demez neme lazım, bayılacak hale gelir. Meğerse o gün düğünü olacak olan yeni gelinin içinde altınları olan çantayı almış. Neme lazım içinden, "Allah senin belanı vermesin, elin ayağın tek dursun, sen kendi çantana sahip çık geri zekalı" diye kendisine saydıra saydıra tekrar özürler dileyip geri geri kapıya yönelip bir an önce bu kaostan kurtulmak için kendisini dışarı atar. Kuaförden çıktığı andan itibaren dörtnala İngiliz atı gibi koşturarak mahalden uzaklaşır ve bir daha hiç kimsenin çantasını taşımak için yardım etmez.",

Before I was a little girl wishing apron a star, I waited for the town bells to ring of my awakening, and for the city birds to chirp to the sounds.