Human Nature

It is my human nature to explore. I found this out during graduate school when I knew I wasn't ready to step foot into a stable career. Unstable is good. Some may think differently, ok, most may believe opposite. But when I decided to branch out and move to Ecuador, it hit me like a snap of a finger. Exploration. New people. New world I was going to be apart of. Being unstable to me is never knowing what is going to happen next. The excitement of your future.

Over a year later, here I am sitting back in the states. Everything is known to me. There are no risks to take because I already know the outcome. When you do not put a limit on acts of your life, you may find out things you never knew you  could do. One step closer to finding out who you are.

Wanderlust: the human nature of not limiting the atmosphere of your life.

One Way or Another

You choose who you want to be and how you want to live each day!

Are you going to laugh? Exercise? Be lazy? Make some money? Volunteer? Travel? What are you going to do today? Who are you today?

As Steve Jobs said, "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma-which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Think mindfully.

I have learned not having a set routine for the past three months have really taught me how to pick and choose my daily activities. And let me tell you, it changes on a regular basis.

For example; I have chosen to volunteer with what is known at the Solas Project. It is an after-school program for lower income students. We foster these children through tutoring and sports. We have learned to play rugby, rock climb, dance, and much more. I am able to fulfill my day by volunteering and contributing my time for others. It is quite rewarding.

On a different note...

Two weeks ago, I walked along the coast in Malahide getting some fresh air.

Sometimes, the weather is so nasty that its nice to put a pizza in the oven, watch movies, listen to music, and enjoy one another's company!

At some point in life there is a stopping and refocus point. Where you have to breathe and change directions. As for me, I had to leave Ireland and move back home. Finding an employer who would sponsor a visa and allow me to work was nearly impossible. But that's okay! I am back home, settled and now working.

I don't understand how it can be so difficult to live outside your own country if you are willing to provide a great wealth of knowledge and share your abilities to a large amount of people. This is how it is. It is important to not let the opinions of others interfere for your future tracks!

Choose which way or another you would like to live each day. But always remember to not lose yourself along the way. Stay focused. Never lose hope. You create who you want to be.

Wanderlust: Exploring the right paths to walk down. It may take a few tries but you are able to choose which fits you best.

Money's A Funny Thing

I had an interesting conversation with some friends while drinking a few pints in a pub. I thought it would be nice to share!

Let's begin with the concept of money. The theory is, we need money to survive. Most people take advantage of how they receive money, many work hard for their money, some people naturally have millions, and then the select few could care less about how much money they have in their pocket.

The general belief is to work hard for your money. Or is it? I have been very lucky growing up the way I did and having all my parents support. If I had to say, 5 years ago I would accept money from anyone, no doubt. Now hitting the age of 25, I hate accepting money! I am an adult. The last thing I want to do is rely on someone else to support me. Is this weird? No, I think its part of growing up. But money's funny, you know?

Money causes arguments, disagreements, people to go insane...

So my question is, how important is money?

Being in Ireland for over 2 months now has been a learning curve. Job searching, applications everyday, and nothing. It has become a bit more difficult than I could imagine to work here in Europe.

Have I tried? Of course. I even was offered multiple jobs. One in which was door-to-door sells. This was a 12 hour position in the cold being humiliated by knocking on residents doors. I have to say it was quite an experience. People opening doors with no pants, doors being shut in your face, stoned-out of your mind Frenchmen inviting you in to have a smoke, foreigners from all over the world...

With that being said, heading home may be my only option. I don't look at this as failure. Fear of failure will ruin your success. I look at this as an attempt of trying. But I can no longer live in a place without an income. So yes, money is important in my situation. But is money going to make me happy once I earn it? Not exactly. Its just like the old saying...there are some things money cannot buy.

I have my personal theory about money. I believe to chase your passions and the money is what follows.

What happens after you have money? Well this is where it gets tricky for some people. The feel of having loads of cash in your wallet takes you to the mall, car dealership, vacation...In my opinion, what about all those who helped you become successful? Do they deserve a bit of acknowledgement? Like I said, money's funny. It makes people go wild and forget the importance of actual living.

Anyhow, any who,  think what you would like. But money's funny. I'm not going to deny I am perfect when it comes to saving and spending. I will, though, admit that there are people in front of me that deserve everything I earn.

Wanderlust: The necessities you need in life. Or do you? Finding what exactly it is to continue your life in happiness.

Tradition

New year, fresh start.

New Years Eve, people either relax at home with their loved ones-get fancy and go out-vacay somewhere-watch fireworks-nice dinner with friends and family-and begin the countdown for the next year to come!

 I spent New Years Eve with Mattia and new friends in a coastal town outside of the city called Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Dun Larry). Nice dinner, games, French champagne, and good conversation.

New Years day was a bit different...

Here in Ireland there are many traditions for the New Year. One, of which I did, is to swim in the frigid waters of the Irish Sea. As people gathered around the cliffs, bundled up in their coats, hats, mittens, and scarves...we began to strip down to our bathing suits.

The cold wind stabbing into our bodies...people counted...5-4-3-2...

 I stood there trying to mentally prepare myself to what this water was going to feel like and do to my body. I also began making my resolutions in my head as well.

Finally, took the plunge and jumped. Was it cold? Definitely. Painful? Yes to the point I would never do this again. Any regrets? No.

The water was refreshing and luck for good health to come!

If you are ever in Ireland for the New Year...I recommend trying this tradition.

Wanderlust: Trying to new things to better yourself for what is to come in the future.

Holiday in Dublin & What's Next?

As the New Year is approaching and everyone is writing down their resolutions, I am sitting back and enjoying what a nice Christmas I had here in Dublin. Spent Christmas Eve with new friends and a nice meal and then the special day with someone whom I love! This is what the holiday is about, right? I missed the usual routine with my family but adapting to where I am and trying something new for a change was nice.

Christmas consisted of a nice morning coffee and opening of presents followed by a pleasant "brunch" with wine. Slaving in the kitchen, Mattia made types of bruschetta: pear, walnut & cheese- prawn, parmesan & tomato-fig, ham, walnut & cheese. Went splendid with the bitter red wine from South Africa that we seem to keep buying weekly. Movies filled the rest of the day.

Following Christmas day, we went to the City Centre to find thousands of people, scrambling from store to store, spending hundreds of dollars on top name brands, perfume, clothes, shoes like it was Christmas all over again! The sales...another dollar, another day.

It is bittersweet when Christmas is over and everyone has to go back to work (except me for the moment). There still is the New Year coming up, but it is so hard to believe that 2012 has passed us all by. I know some say that when you get older, time goes faster. I didn't believe it until now. Being 25 years old and about to begin the year 2013. I remember how big the Millennium was...it seems like yesterday.

At this point, I know people like to reflect on good moments and bad from the previous year. What could have I done differently? Oh, that was a fun time we had. I will never do that again.

This is not my intention of mind. Yes, the year 2012 was good, it was bad, it was a learning experience, actually a once in a lifetime adventure. But so is now. I am not going to glance back, I am only going to look forward. This next year. What can it bring? It's exciting, you know? I realized that I have grown up a bit. Sound silly, nerdy, or whatever? A bit, yes. But as Mattia & I, on a Saturday night sitting on our nice, big, red couch watching our 4th Al Pacino movie with a pint and pizza...well...it was nice. It is a good feeling to just relax with someone. Connect with yourself, other people...this is one out of many reasons I found that I belong right where I am in this exact moment. How do you feel in this exact moment?

What's next? What will 2013 bring? Who knows. I do know that if your happy with where you are, what your doing...just continue your life. Its just a new year, nothing new has to change. Let life, naturally bring things to you. Don't search to hard for them.

Well, for those who are not happy with where you are or what your doing...change it. Find a new job. Quit your old one. Find those people who make you laugh constantly and surround yourself of them. Eat good food. Exercise. Have a nice cocktail once in a while. Hobby it up! Plan a vacation... Do what it is that will make you happy, even if it is just for a split second. As I have been saying, as you get older the time speeds up.

Wanderlust: Patient with what will come next and find what it is that makes you smile.

Christmas is Creeping

A few days have passed since Caged In. To be honest, I have been quite busy this week figuring out options to stay here in Ireland, finishing up some Christmas shopping, and motivating my mind to write has been difficult. I mean, this is true for most people around the busy holidays. Your mind is elsewhere! Thinking...I have to do this...I have to do that...

My advice. Slow down. Relax. Remember what this holiday is truly about.

Five days until Christmas! How time flies by. This time last year I was on my way back to Virginia from Ecuador to spend Christmas with my family and friends. This year is a bit different...

I am spending the holidays in Ireland with Mattia. This will be the first time in 25 years I have ever missed Christmas with my family. Mattia as well. Time continues and things change. I have been having a bit of trouble getting into the jingle bell spirit. Well, I am here, happy, therefore have to do something about this spirit I am missing! 

First step: Finish my Christmas post cards and shopping. Check.

We already have gotten a tree. Its a bit small but fits perfectly on our window seal. Shiny silver, red, green, golden bulbs and white lights. It stands about 4 feet tall. I could say it enjoys the sunlight everyday but 1. It is an artificial tree and 2. It is a rare occasion to get sunlight here in the winter!

Next, its time to begin baking! Theres nothing like baking nice sweets to enjoy around the holidays. I have quite a list of things going...but will let Mattia decide which are the best to have. I am thinking...a banana coconut loaf, chocolate crepes, a blueberry crumble, maybe some type of cookies, and apple oatmeal bars. What do you think? Well we will surely find out. I am kind of a disaster when it comes spending time in the kitchen...so this should be a fun ride.

After some baking and relaxing with a glass of wine. Christmas day will be here before I know it! I have walked around the city. Taking in the beautiful lights. Watching people scramble from store to store with hundreds of bags. I have even been to Christchurch. An old cathedral down the road of where we live. If walking into an ancient, Christmas decorated church doesn't get you in the holiday spirit, I am not sure what will!?! 

Ah...deep breath. It's Christmas time. Enjoy the people you will be around, be thankful for the people who love you regardless of distance, and be happy yourself. You have just gotten through another year of your life! The best has yet to come...

Merry Christmas!

Wanderlust: Adapting to change, believing in yourself to try new things, and be thrilled for finding more reasons of why you are where you are in life!

Caged In

We were walking through Phoenix Park located here in Dublin. It was a sunny, blue sky, no clouds kind of day. We had to take advantage of the weather and stay outside. As we crossed the street, there it was "Dublin Zoo." Being the nerdy tourist I can be, we went!

Through the Asian Forests, Fringes of the Arctic, African Savanna and Plains, Gorilla Rainforest, Chimpanzee Island, Kaziranga Forest Trail, Reptile House, Family Farm, and back out the exit. I would say it was a successful zoo visit. How endangered, scientific, or educational zoo's may be, these animals were locked up. You have to wonder what it may be like to have a fake environment to live in or be caged for most of your life. Well hopefully, speaking realistically, many of you won't know or have to find out. 

Speaking from the outside of the box and thinking about the world we live in, do we live in a fake environment? Are some of us caged in? Maybe so. Maybe not literally caged in but having that feeling...definitely. I guess we just have to get through it and be patient before getting placed back into our "natural habitat." Do the best you can with what you have and where you are. Just like the monkeys from the zoo. Take a look at the picture! Surround yourself with people that love you and that you care about as well. Stick together!

Wanderlust: Doing the best you can with what you have and where you are.