The teacher isn't always right.

For starters, one of my teachers made a comment that I just cannot wrap my head around. She said and I quote: "You cannot write a good story unless you have it outlined and know where the story is going." 
I disagree.
If every time you sat down to write, or picked up a guitar, or started to paint, you knew the end result would you do it? Isn't half the beauty to discover and find out where your talent can take you? I do not always know the ending to my stories or poems and I think that is the point. I may know the road map occasionally, but that does not distinguish whether my writing is good or not. I believe that you start your masterpiece (whatever that may be) and you just go. You don't always think of the beginning, middle and end right away. People always say the best road trips are when you get lost and find a hidden gem or whole-in-the-wall restaurant. 
So I say...forget the organized outlines, story webs, road maps and whatever other guide there is and write, create, sing, paint and draw wherever it may take you!

My last rant,
I recently went to the store to get a card for a dear friend. I was shocked to see that for Veteran's Day the store had an overall collection of six cards. Yes, you read that right. SIX cards to choose from to honor the people that honor us the most. Pitiful. Offensive. In my opinion there should have been an entire wall to choose from. It's amazing to me that the Hallmark company or whoever is the head of this thinks that all the Veteran's deserve is six measly cards on the bottom of the shelf. 

Thank you to every Veteran and Active Duty Soldier for all that you do. Also thank you to their families for keeping them strong. :)