A Whirlwind..

I’ve done a terrible job following this Trust 30 Challenge (I’m sorry Justine!) but I think Justine and I share some frustrations with the writing prompts, thus making it difficult for me to make myself sit down and do it everyday.  Instead, I’ve just been saving the prompts (and jumping around), to whatever feels fitting on a day that I want to write.  With that, the prompt I chose for today was by Corbett Barr regarding what we’d say to our past and future self.

“There will be an agreement in whatever variety of actions, so they be each honest and natural in their hour.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

5 years ago:  Don’t be so hard on yourself.  Open up and let go.  Breathe.  Things may seem rough soon, but they’re really not all that bad - you’ll move on.  Just keep breathing through all of it.  It will make it go by much easier.  Keep working for your goals and your dreams and things will fall into place.  You work hard and people see that, be ready to keep working hard.  Be ready to deal with ambiguity and adjust your path as needed and continue to as time goes by.  It’s okay, you got this!

5 years from now:  Have I learned to overcome the fear of success?  Have I continued to use my breath as a guide and to let go of the stress and anxiety?  Has all of the hard work, drive and practice continued to pay off?  Have I opened up to finding and falling in love, instead of fearing that pain again?  Am I still feeling like I have no money, ever?

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On another note, yesterday marked the delivery of my first pile of stuff to the new apartment!  Since we were allowed to start moving things in early (free of charge), I decided to take advantage of that extra time and move slowly begin to move my things.  I’m not doing big car-fulls of things, but rather 5 or 6 small (and management) things every to every-other day.  Obviously, at some point I will hit the time when I need a truck and help to move the larger items, but for now, I’m trying to take it easy and not allow this move to stress me out (if I can help it).  

  

But at the same time, my to-do list is rapidly growing, remembering all the things you need to do and change when you move.  And to add to that list, class starts Monday!  It’s an online course, so it’s based on my schedule and when I have time but it will still mean more to do and a big ol’ text book to read!  (And because I’m that much of an over-achiever, I just logged into my class, got my syllabus early and my “assignment” to introduce myself to the class via the discussion board. This just got real! I’m excited but also nervous..)

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So what does my day today look like?

-Lots of coffee, music and relaxing

-Heading off to the gym for a run

-Dropping another pile of things at the new apartment

-Head to West Hollywood to see friends, chill by the pool and relax

Why am I still sitting on the computer? This day is going to be awesome and I better get to it before it flashes before me!

Travel

If we live truly, we shall see truly. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Justine invited me to join her in the Trust30 Challenge and quite honestly, I have failed at the consistency of this challenge.  But I’m enjoying doing a post every couple of days, including today’s post which was fun and all about travel:

Not everyone wants to travel the world, but most people can identify at least one place in the world they’d like to visit before they die.  Where is that place for you, and what will you do to make sure you get there? (Author: Chris Guillebeau)

Italy, South America, Africa, Sweden, Hawaii

I could keep adding to this list.  Quite honestly, it wouldn’t be very hard at all.  And most of the places on this list, wouldn’t be too hard for me to do.

Hawaii wouldn’t be a crazy long flight for me (obviously) though price will still be an issue...But I guess it seems like the easiest option to fill.

My family is from Sweden and we are VERY proud of it!  While I may technically only be about 25% Swedish, I have always felt more Swedish than I have anything else (and I’m 50% German!).

Italy is really just because I want the food and the wine!  I’m sure it’s just gorgeous as well, but could you imagine my ‘Foodie for a Day’ posts?  But really anywhere in Europe is on my list (including Paris again)!

I know my sister is going to hate that I’m putting this on here and in theory, I’ve now had 2 opportunities to go to Africa and have yet to actually go.  But price is an issue and my health was a major issue the first time around and a slight issue this time, though it was mostly time off work (due to a lack of vacation time saved up having just gone full time).  But I would still love to go.  And knowing my sister’s passion and connection to Africa, I know she’ll be back and I would love to go with her some day on one of her visits.

And last but not least on my short list is South America.  Notice I mentioned no place in particular here (or with Africa) because I would love to see as much as I possibly can!  I realize this would potentially mean several trips.  And I’m okay with that. :)

I also have interest in going on a yoga retreat, wherever that may lead me.  Whether it be to India or South America, I don’t care - maybe even both!  But there’s so much to experience and take in and collect from those kinds of trips.  One of my favorite yoga instructors, Gigi Yogini, recently announced her retreat.  She was talking a bit about it after class this week and it just sounded so amazing!  She tried to make it something that was more on the affordable side but with options that could make it more expensive if you so desired those additional perks.  Either way, I still think it falls out of my budget.  But I do hope to make it to one some day.

Source

One Sentence. (Well technically there's more...)

Nothing can beat a good, strong friendship.

I wish I could explain it better in one sentence, but why make something wordier when it doesn’t actually need to be?

There was a level of feeling a bit bummed yesterday afternoon.  And a part of me is hesitant to even mention it for a fear and of not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings as I know my reaction was more emotional than was possibly even necessary, but the truth was that it happened.  So when I received a phone call to hang out with Tracey one-on-one this evening for some frozen yogurt, I jumped at the chance.  I went to the gym for about 30 minutes but wasn’t actually feeling into the exercise.  It was one of those days where I felt like I was going through the motions of hitting the gym, as opposed to having a strong desire and urge to go.  (Yes, unlike most people, I generally WANT to go and CRAVE a good workout).  But today wasn’t going to be the day.  Needless to say, I had no trouble cutting the workout short, making a quick dinner and heading down to Redondo Beach to steal Tracey away from everyone else for a couple hours of best friend bonding time.  And that’s exactly what it was.

I needed this tonight.  Thanks Tracey!

An oldie but a goodie. And one of my favorite pictures of the two of us.

I need to...

We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death and afraid of each other.  Our age yields no great and perfect persons. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think I need to climb more trees.  And go for more walks.  An take more adventures. And let go more. And be free more.  And be more open.  And make more friends.  And take more time for myself.

I need to run more.  And smile more.  And sing more.  And listen to more music.  And find more new music.

I need to “fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; love more.” (Swedish Proverb)