daily life and a million moments

hey! i have a brand new blog! hope you love it. go on and check it out!

I woke up this morning...feeling cozy under my covers, excited because it's Monday and I have the day off, listening to the purr of our new cat, Zola, and looking forward to some fun family time this afternoon. And then I wondered, how could this be considered failing?

sometimes you just can't get in touch with the people you love. sometimes things don't go the way you planned. sometimes you don't even have a plan. sometimes you are disappointed. sometimes you are scared.

but, never give up. never lose sight of your goal. keep trying. keep being faithful to your dream/idea/goal. in The Alchemist, the wise old man tells the boy to "keep searching for his Personal Legend". so many people get caught up in practical things, or in fear of the unknown and give up. you may not make it to the place you intended to go or be. thnigs may not turn out the way you expected (and they usually don't). but, whatever happens, do not give up. do not give in. keep living. keep searching. keep believing.

last night i went to see the movie "Julie & Julia". and it got me thinking... without giving away any of the plot, let me tell you how i was inspired. i woke up this morning pondering the possibility of starting a new focus on my blog, or even starting a new blog. so, i'm gonna give myself today to think a little about it. and then, i'm gonna do it. i wanna record everyday things in images and words, and remind myself (and anyone who reads) that the sacred is very close. everything is holy. what is spiritual is with us, in our everyday lives. it's not way up in the sky somewhere. it's part of us and part of everything we do and see.

so, today, i'm gonna consider this. and i'm gonna keep thinking about never giving up. never. because sometimes it may feel like i am dying inside. but from death, there always comes new life.

It's just after 8 pm. I'm watching the sunset. I have been doing nothing but sipping on my coffee and staring out my apartment window...the sky is becoming more and more orange, the big ball of fire is sinking lower and lower in the sky, the light in the apartment is becoming warm and dim. I decide to light some candles. There is no sound, except the comforting click of nearby computer keyboard and a voice quietly singing every now and then, reminding me that I am not alone. It is a peaceful moment.

And I'm letting my thoughts wander...

Today was the first day back to school for students. I replay the day in my head. The new students discovering what it is like to be in high school. The returning students adjusting to new teachers or reaquainting themselves with previous ones. I think of my students and the lives that I know that they live. I have students who have been in jail, who are pregnant, who have moved back, who have suffered the death of a parent, who have no family at all, who are picked on by other students, who struggle to read a sentence. I have students that I didn't want to see today, but did anyway. And ones that I couldn't wait to see today, and didn't. But, as I think about all these teenagers, I am reminded of my life... the amazing life that I have which allows me the chance to peacefully ponder and reflect on my day. I am aware that I have a chance every night to renew myself, so that I can be ready to face another tomorrow. So many in this world do not have that luxury. So, I am not squandering it tonight.

Tonight, I am just being. And I am looking at the beauty all around me and feeling the love that surrounds me. And I am enjoying every single bit of this cozy time.

A cozy time from my room when I lived in Denmark.

Is there ever enough?

I want to write on so many things, but I just can't find the time. Or I just don't make the time. So here is a list of the things rolling around in my head, that I can't seem to get down on "paper"..

1. Moving - changes in life

2. Seasons of life - a new school year

3. Love - the depth and meaning of committment

4. Living life - in the moment

5. "Light comes from up there" Carlo Carretto

6. The drum circle in downtown Asheville - the Body of Christ?

Since I have no time to write today, and my thoughts on all these things are so big, I leave them here for you to ponder, if you wish. Perhaps soon I will write. And when I do, I feel sure that it will be exactly what I am supposed to write.

Peace

the blank spaces are there in every life. but, if you just keep holding on, keep believing, keep hoping, and never ever give up...then you never know what might happen. and what i have always experienced is that it is always better than you had ever imagined!!

HOME, HERE I COME!!!

After all the troubles..I've decided to go to the States on a tourist visa and stay there for almost 3 months. AND I will be able to apply for a work visa after my graduation from collage (which I could not do during a period of two years if I've gotten the visa now). So I am happy and we are heading back home tomorrow!!! First Asheville for a night and then we are heading to the beach for some really necessary rest and relaxing time with my love's family and relatives. I haven't been able to relax for so many months now so it's gonna be awesome. Beach life, beer, boat rides, restaurants, shopping, plenty of chat time and just hanging out. YAY.

Asheville, NC, with the amazing Blue Ridge Mountains in the background.

Atlantic Beach, NC

Our favorite restaurant at the beach

the blank spaces scare me. i have been staring at the blank screen on my computer, wanting to write, but not knowing what to say. i had just finished a writing a blog, one that i liked, and it vanished. a blank screen appeared. i'm still feeling angry. but, more than that, i am feeling scared. frightened by the blank, white screen in front of my eyes. 

I just spent an HOUR working on my last post, and just when I got to the very end, it WENT AWAY!!!! Not what I needed to happen right now.

Last night I went to the archipelago to hang out on a boat and eat dinner at a pub. Good times! We ended up staying the night on the boat, and woke to a beautiful day this morning. Here's a short video from our morning walk at the harbor where we stayed. 

some days it seems that all is right with the world. everything is peace, love, understanding, and rainbows. or whatever you like. the swedes use the word "lagom", which cannot be translated. the best i can tell you is that it means, "perfect, just what you wanted and/or needed." some days, are just lagom.