Why Ryland Grace wanted to stay on earth
everyone always talks about why he wanted to leave earth, but I wanted to think about some reasons he wanted to stay.
because he loved his bike rides to and from work. he loved the cool wind blowing through his helmet, he loved the warm, pinkish orange sunset that glowed above, because he loves the sound of life around him. all around him. and he is a little blip in that sound, but he is a part of it as well and he loves it.
his stupid microwave meals. stouffers, marie calendars, you name it. the little crinkly film, the too hot cheese, the quick mixing of the middle part so that the too cold middle part warms up and the too hot edge parts cool down to the perfect temperature.
because he loved learning. loved it so much. there was so much to learn, so much joy to be found in the simple act of learning. reading books on what hes interested in. loving the feel of a book in his hands, inhaling videos he sees online, finding course after course to take, his brain a sponge for new information
because he found no little amount of joy in ragebaiting people on twitter and reddit. he would instigate so many different arguments just for fun, he loves typing out his little arguments, watching as theirs become riddled with typos and fallacies, as he continues to ragebait like he lives in his mothers basement (he doesnt. he lives in his own basement, thank you very much)
because he would go and find places to thrift punny clothes to wear to work and make his students groan out of embarassement at their teacher. flipping through the different shirts on the wire rack and laughing too hard at the jokes.
because his students come to him when they're going through hard times, knowing that he will listen, knowing that they will be heard, knowing that their teacher will do the best he can to help them. in whatever way he can. by just being there. by making them laugh. by letting them cry. by giving them his lunch. by calling a counsler
because of the fresh breath of air he takes in the mornings when he leaves his apartment, the way the coolness breathes new life into him. becasue of the way the world seems so sleepy in the morning, and makes him so alert
because he gets to share new scientific discoveries with students who he gets to see fall in love with the very concepts hes been teaching them, the simple, awed joy so lost in adults.
because he believed that one day people would see his work and believe in it. because he wanted to be around when people believed in his work
because he got to eat *three* square meals a day, and more than that if he snacks.
because he gets to drink clean, clear glasses of water
because he can create new things. whether its new ways of explaining complex scientific concepts to his students or other things, he finds joy in the simple act of creation, whether it be a new scientific article, or a
because he loves the smell of coffee in the morning, the crusty crunch of french bread, the chewy meaty goodness that is steak
because of the beauty of nature. the gurgling rush of the streams, the whistling chirps of the birds, the smell of petrichor wafting off the pavement, the heat of the sun beating down, the shiny slick gleam of the dolphins jumping, the towering tallness of the redwoods, with their mahogany bark, the snow that falls and melts on a human hand, mixing in with the skin and the complex patterns that swirl in the flesh
because he loves crying his eyes out at a sad movie, feeling that old familar sadness creep into his bones, the kind that gets sadder the longer you sit with it, the kind so cathartic he looks at himself in the mirror afterwards and goes, why'd that crying make my face look so good though?
because of the sound a record makes when it crackles to life. because of the good songs, and the bad ones, and the ones that make you go, who on earth gave this person a record deal?! (looking at you, bts's new album i was so sad)
because he loves living, and all that may come with it.
I feel like i haven't posted on tumblr in forever. Im getting busier and I fear Ill only get busier. woof buddy my plan for the next year is- straining. But I will try! Expect star wars content soon too lol.
this is a tiny post to try and motivate myself :d
