"What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong

With all the stresses and frustrations we experience in life, it is important to occasionally step out and enjoy the miracle that our world is.  The beautiful blue of the sky reflecting in a crisp mountain lake.  The cool, earthy smell of the forest.  The soothing rhythm of the ocean at the shore.

We perhaps feel this awe of nature the most around young children.  If we could all look at the wonderful world around us with the curiosity of an infant, our troubles would all seem much smaller in the context of everything else.  They understand that this world was made for our enjoyment.  They understand that no person is better than any other and we are all meant to love each other.

"What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

"With Arms Wide Open" by Creed

If you sit back and think about it, it's mind-boggling that humans have the power within them to create life.  All of our scientists working for centuries in their billion-dollar laboratories have not been able to animate a single lifeless piece of matter, and yet mothers and fathers have been creating life as long as humans have existed.

There is an aura of magic, divinity around the birth of a child.  A fresh, innocent new soul entering into our presence.  A man and woman who has thus far only concerned themselves with themselves and each other now dedicate their means and energy to raising this bright but helpless little human.  To give them the nourishment and training they need to become strong and eventually self-sufficient.  The best of humanity is there when parents welcome a new child onto earth "with arms wide open."

"With Arms Wide Open" by Creed

Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is going to change
I closed my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open

Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I'll take a breath, I'll take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open

If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope he's not like me
I hope he understands
That he can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And he can greet the world
With arms wide open...

With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open

"100 Years" by Five For Fighting

There is a part of human nature that causes us to always be be pushing and stretching for something more than what we are today. This is what entices us to be continually improving, create new technologies and reach for the stars. It can also, however, hold us back by causing us to remain unsatisfied with our current situations, always hoping to be older, richer, have a better job, more friends or family, or any number of things.

Almost no age group exemplifies this better than the teenager. "Not quite an adult, but no longer a child," the teenager yearns for the independence, respect, income and possessions of an adult. In their wishing to be on to the next stages of their life, they often ignore and trivialize the experiences and growth they can only have in this stage of their lives. Many people look back with fondness on the carefree days of their childhood and wish that they had been able to see their worries as the small things they really were and enjoy that time that will never come again.

There is a saying that goes "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering."

"100 Years" by Five for Fighting

I'm 15 for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

I'm 22 for a moment
She feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live

I'm 33 for a moment
Still the man, but you see I'm a they
A kid on the way
A family on my mind

I'm 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy, Time to lose yourself
Within a morning star

15 I'm all right with you
15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live

Half time goes by
Suddenly you're wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We're moving on...

I'm 99 for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

15 there's still time for you
22 I feel her too
33 you're on your way
Every day's a new day...

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live