My blog, first and foremost, will always remain my home. It’s a messy home, meant for me. If you’ve dropped by, Hi. If you’re a friend, welcome.

From My Journal on Writing.Com, to Ramblings at Blogspot, to Broken Shield and Sword on WordPress and finally my own domain, my blog has changed many names, but it has remained quintessentially, me. Like me, it’s a whimsical thing, with various attempts to keep focus and purposeful.

More than anything, it reminds me there are things to live for. It is a recorder of my days. A snapshot of my life. Origins will tell you part of the story.

Which is why, today, on a whim, this early morning of 3 August 2009, I decided to change the name of this blog. It’s a timely reminder, one that should have come earlier. I’d forgotten this song existed.

Reach into your soul ashita ga mienakute mo
Yes ikiru tsuyosa ga areba
You can take another look from the other side
ai no subete ni deau made

Reach into your soul, even if you cannot see tomorrow
Yes, if you have the strength to live
You can take another look from the other side
Until all you see, is love. (my translation)

Song: Open Up Your Mind
Performed by: Mirai
Original lyrics and translation here.

moshimo ima subete ga umaku nante ikanai
makesou ni naru toki datte
hitomi wo tojireba kokoro kara
sekai ga miete kuru

In this world when life can be so tough
You must be strong
Just believe in yourself and don’t you fear
So open up your mind and close your eyes
Take another look from the other side

kodoku na yoru demo mayoi osoreru toki mo
ima wa hitori demo kono ashi de doko made mo
aruite ikeru hazu dakara

Just hold on tight hitomi tojita nara
Look inside yourself kagayaki ga aru kara
Yes subete shinjite hoshii
You can take another look from the other side

Just hold on tight kokoro kujikete mo
Reach into your soul ashita ga mienakute mo
Yes ikiru tsuyosa ga areba
You can take another look from the other side
ai no subete ni deau made

kono sekai de ikinuiteiku tame no tsuyosa wo
anata ni negatteiru kara
kokoro no tobira wo hiraitara
nanika ga miete kuru

Just remember you are not alone
So don’t you fear
Even though you’re miles away
I’m by your side
So open up your mind and close your eyes
I’ll be there for you no matter where you are

hoshi no inochi nara nagai kedo itsu made mo
onaji kono hibi ga kurikaesu wake ja nai
ashita wa dare ni mo mienai

Just hold on tight hitomi tojita nara
Look inside yourself kodou kanjiru kara
Yes MIRAI shinjite hoshii
You can take another look from the other side

Just hold on tight kokoro kujikete mo
Reach into your soul ashita ga mienakute mo
Yes chigau sekai ga atte
You can take another look from the other side
ai no subete ni deaeru yo

Just hold on tight hitomi tojita nara
Look inside yourself kodou kanjiru kara
Yes MIRAI shinjite hoshii
You can take another look from the other side

Just hold on tight kokoro kujikete mo
Reach into your soul ashita ga mienakute mo
Yes chigau sekai ga atte
You can take another look from the other side
ai no subete ni deau made

Even when it seems that nothing can go right
and you want to just give up,
if you close your eyes,
you can see the world from your heart.

In this world when life can be so tough
You must be strong
Just believe in yourself and don’t you fear
So open up your mind and close your eyes
Take another look from the other side

Even on a lonely night, when you wander afraid,
you may be alone now, but
your feet can take you however far you want to go, so

Just hold on tight, because if you close your eyes,
look inside yourself, there’s a shining light there.
Yes, I want you to believe in everything.
You can take another look from the other side

Just hold on tight, even if your heart is breaking.
Reach into your soul, even if you can’t see tomorrow.
Yes, if you have the strength to live,
You can take another look from the other side,
until you find all that is love…

I wish for you to have the strength
to make it through this world,
so open up your mind, [1]
and you’ll be able to see…

Just remember you are not alone
So don’t you fear
Even though you’re miles away
I’m by your side
So open up your mind and close your eyes
I’ll be there for you no matter where you are

The stars may live for a long time, but that doesn’t mean
that the same days will repeat over and over forever.
Noone can see into tomorrow.

Just hold on tight, because if you close your eyes,
look inside yourself, you’ll feel a heartbeat.
Yes, I want you to believe in the future.
You can take another look from the other side.

Just hold on tight, even if your heart is breaking.
Reach into your soul, even if you can’t see tomorrow.
Yes, there’s another world out there.
You can take another look from the other side,
and you’ll be able to find all that is love…

Just hold on tight, because if you close your eyes,
look inside yourself, you’ll feel a heartbeat.
Yes, I want you to believe in the “future.”
You can take another look from the other side

Just hold on tight, even if your heart is breaking.
Reach into your soul, even if you can’t see tomorrow.
Yes, there’s another world out there.
You can take another look from the other side,
until you find all that is love…

Edit 2 December 2009: This entry was submitted to Confident Writing as part of the Essential Writing round-up.