Extremely rare white zebra, named Zoe, captured by photographer Bill Adams, found here.
Nature astounds and inspires me sometimes always, just beautiful.
On Taking Vacation…
I am really bad at taking vacation. I have 15 days a year, and I’m always just so anxious about running out that I never want to take a day unless I have something seriously planned.
I’m also really bad at spending money and the other day one of my close friends said to me “you need to learn how to spend money - you know how to save it and that’s great, but you should also spend money every now and then on yourself and not feel guilty - you work hard.”
This really stuck with me and I’ve been thinking about vacations and money a lot. Thus, I decided to take today off of work. I have 4 college friends coming into town late tonight and I just needed a day to regroup: go to the grocery store, clean, do laundry, sleep in, and rest up for what is surely to be a crazy non-stop weekend.
Thank you, said friend, for encouraging me to learn how to do things for myself and not feel guilty! What a great life lesson…you have to plan for the future but not at the cost of the present.
Now about that cleaning/laundry, one must actually DO these things, correct? They won’t just magically complete themselves?…
Warrior Dash 2012: Atlanta, GA.
Easily one of the coolest/most fun races I have ever done. I would highly reccomend to anyone who doesn’t mind a little dirt and is ready to challenge his/her body!
“Lost in My Mind” by The Head and the Heart.
Just. Can’t. Get. Enough.
Thankful!
Today I am thankful for: quick phone call with my lil sister, having a washer/dryer in my apartment, having a job that challenges me every single day, being gifted (free!) tickets to the Dave Matthews Band concert tomorrow night, an evening summer thunderstorm rolling in, a voicemail from my dad, and a night to curl up in bed and read a good book.
Warrior Dash 2012 - COMPLETE!
I will be posting a full recap once I get all the pictures (one of my friends brought her waterproof/shockproof camera with us for the entire race!).
Hope everyone’s Monday is off to a great start…I’m still digging mud out from under my fingernails (after two showers!) and trying to focus on my never ending to-do list.
(Source: accuratelyawesome, via buildingforemily)
I think I said this to the same person (who is definitely going through it) at least three times this past week…all the while not living true to those words myself.
So, I woke up this morning, looked in the mirror and said…I DESERVE TO BE HAPPY, I DESERVE TO BE HAPPY, I DESERVE TO BE HAPPY.
Sometimes you just need to get right with yourself.
THIS song, you guys…gets me everytime!
as i began to love myself
as i began to love myself i found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that i was living against my own truth. Today, i know, this is “authenticity”.
as i began to love myself i understood how much it can offend somebody. as i try to force my desires on this person, even though i knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. today i call it “respect”.
as i began to love myself i stopped craving for a different life, and i could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow. today i call it “maturity”.
as i began to love myself i understood that at any circumstance, i am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment. so i could be calm. today i call it “self-confidence”.
as i began to love myself i quit stealing my own time, and i stopped designing huge projects for the future. today, i only do what brings me joy and happiness, things i love to do and that make my heart cheer, and i do them in my own way and in my own rhythm. today i call it “simplicity”.
as i began to love myself i freed myself of anything that is no good for my health - food, people, things, situations, and everything the drew me down and away from myself. at first i called this attitude a healthy egoism. today i know it is “love of oneself”.
as i began to love myself i quit trying to always be right, and ever since i was wrong less of the time. today i discovered that is “modesty”.
as i began to love myself i refused to go on living in the past and worry about the future. Now, i only live for the moment, where everything is happening. today i live each day, day by day, and i call it “fulfillment”.
as i began to love myself i recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. but as i connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally. today i call this connection “wisdom of the heart”.
we no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others. even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born. today i know that is “life”!
- charlie chaplin
(thank you, meg for sharing!)
Separation Creek House / Jackson Clements Burrows, picture found here.
I think I could live here, yep.
Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
—
Some of my friends like to joke with me by comparing me to sharks. Like a shark, they say, that I can’t stop moving or I will die. I’ve always laughed the comparison off, but as of late I’ve really started to think that these friends (as often is the case) saw something in me before I even did.
When I look at my life in 2012 so far, it’s safe to say that I’ve been a total shark. From work to spending time with friends, to kickball games in piedmont park to traveling…I never stop moving. I would like to think that in addition to never stopping, my likeness to sharks also spreads to other attributes, such as being strong, going after what I want, and being independent.
But, at the end if the day all I can say with certainty is that I’m growing, learning and constantly striving to be the best I can be…so I’ll take that any day. And here’s to hoping that I can stop slow down every now and then to just be…because true life is in the details.
Lake Louise — Canada’s “Diamond in the Wilderness,” and the “Hiking Capital of Canada”. This area offers a tremendous diversity of recreational and sightseeing opportunities. Lake Louise is home to one of North America’s finest downhill ski areas, and has numerous hiking and walking trails. The region abounds with spectacular scenery, from glaciers to waterfalls.
…travel lust. <3
The way Thursday nights should always be…
Barcelona Wine Bar in Inman Park (Atlanta). Sometimes you just need a glass of wine, good conversation and beautiful weather to wind down your week. And last night was one of those times. This week has been one full of productive work, running and spending time catching up with friends. Perfect all around.
I really loved Barcelona Wine Bar and would highly reccomend it to anyone looking for good ambiance and great tapas. Cheers to a great start to the weekend!
This goes out to one of the most loyal, most intelligent, and most fun people I know…Miss Katie P. Wishing you a bottle of Captain Morgan (Bahamas Style) and a fun night out (Ireland Style).
Congratulations on finishing law school!! What an accomplishment, I am SO proud of you and I can’t wait to see where this next chapter in life takes you.
Whether we’re kickin it in Ireland or Chapel Hill-and everywhere inbetween, to have you as a best friend is one of life’s greatest gifts. I love you!
