Help or Win?

http://www.cnn.com/video/

First, imagine running in a race. You’re breathing heavy, moving your legs as fast as you can, trying to win this race for your school’s track team. Nothing else is on your mind except for the ground in front of you and the finish line up ahead of you.

            Now, picture one of your competitors up ahead of you, falling. Clearly writhing in pain, covered in blood and no longer in competition with you. Do you stop and help him? Or do you continue on with the race and finish in a better position?

            There was clearly no other option for runner, Josh Ripley.  Josh is an athlete who saw no other choice but to help his fellow competitor, Mark. Although, the two were competing against each other, Josh saw it in his heart to extend his hand to Mark and ask if he was all right. Josh clearly saw that Mark needed medical attention and with no hesitation picked up Mark and continued running with him until he could place somewhere, where he could receive medical attention immediately.

            Covered in Mark’s blood, Josh continued on and finished the race. He hadn’t helped his competitor for a reward just simply it was the right thing to do. If you were faced with this decision how would you react? Help the person in need or continue on in the race and win for your team?

Popcorn

 In the most graphic detail you can imagine, describe a seemingly mundane act like drinking a cup of water, or being stuck in traffic. Tune in to all your senses, to every sight, sound, texture, taste and emotion you can muster. 


Pop! The first of many explosions coming out of my microwave as I wait for my tasty treat to finally be ready. And then another two "Pops!" and that delicious scent of butter is drifting into my nose and can feel my mouth start to water. 
I sit there staring at the bag spin within, hoping, praying that it doesn't burn. In my head I say to myself, "I hope it doesn't burn, it's gross when it's burnt.". The scent is getting stronger and seconds seem to be ticking slower and slower. 
Finally, I hear the "Beep! Beep! Beep!." and I know my snack is ready. Every rugged yet soft piece, covered in melted butter, more satisfying than the last. The salty, sweet taste is too much. I grab handful after handful trying not to think about when the time comes when my hand will come up empty and I won't be able to enjoy any more. Until then, I sit back and enjoy whatever is currently playing on the television, although it doesn't matter, I'll enjoy anything if I have some freshly popped popcorn.
To my dismay, the time comes and all that remains are the, ever so hard, kernels. Am I still hungry? No, but I'm going to try and eat them without cracking my teeth anyway. They're not nearly as satisfying... or soft... or delicious, but I continue to inhale every last kernel until the bag is entirely empty. 

When do I write best?

When do I find myself feeling free enough to write anything that’s on my mind? I guess the best way to answer this question is to describe how I set everything up in order to right this very piece. First, I made sure there was a good song playing, typically a soothing one. I find it easier to think and hear my thoughts when there’s some type of noise in the background. Even if it’s the sound of people talking, I find it relaxing to hear the murmurs of their voices.
I usually write when I’m told to do so for class, but my best writing is when there’s something on my mind that makes me think. The lines come out in bursts and every few sentences I find myself reading them out loud to make sure they make sense. That’s when I end up revising my work. If I wait until the end, the resulting work isn’t as satisfying.
That’s how I wrote this paragraph; a good song playing in the background while I re-read the words I had written on the page to myself. That’s not the only way to go about writing though. My mind often wanders to different, random topics and I don’t want to forget them so I take out my phone and write them down. Those are usually my favorite.