Kitty!!!

I'm adding some new photos to my MEOW page!  Check them out!  :)

NYC!

I am SO lucky to have the opportunity to travel some with my job. I LOVE my quick NY trips! It's so much fun, so fast paced, so different than the daily life that I'm used to. Although I've been to NYC a few times, I still act like a tourist. :) I was able to capture a few shots from the office!

What was even more awesome was that this was around Christmas! AND it ended up snowing!!!!!!!!!! My best friend came up for the weekend too! See details from our trip in my NYC tab at the top of my blog!



If you've been to NY I'm sure you've received a long list from multiple people on where to eat, what bars to go to, who has the best steaks, etc. Although having that list is nice, I find it more enjoyable to just wander and pop into places.  The night before my best friend arrived I had a free evening on my own.  I was craving Italian and I saw a place called Pasta Lovers.  How perfect!  I ended up sitting at the bar and told the bartender to order me something amazing.  He did!  The bolognese pasta was amazing, and so were the bartender's pours!  :)

Some places may surprise you! Depending on your travel preferences, walk, wander, explore! NYC is a big place and not everyone knows everything! Discover on your own! 

Solo Travel

Traveling solo can seem daunting.  Your first trip could be a little scary, but once you realize how much FREEDOM you have you will quickly fall in love with traveling by yourself.  If you want to eat cookies and ice cream all day - DO IT!  If you want to read in a Starbucks all day - DO IT!  YOU have the freedom to do as you wish, for as long as you wish.  Here are a few tips to keep you comfortable when traveling solo.

Someone once told me money spent on travel is money never wasted, and I could not agree more!

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/07/travel/solo-travel-tips/index.html?hpt=tr_c2 

Know The World?

Take the ignorance test! 

"In the 1990s, a professor at a medical university in Stockholm decided to test his students' knowledge about the progress of global development. He was staggered to discover the class, some of the brightest people in Sweden, scored fewer than two out of five on average.

 

Chimpanzees randomly choosing answers would likely have done better, scoring half right."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/10/world/gapminder-us-ignorance-survey/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Connections & Leave Behind?

Time evolves.  Connections are made.  What will you leave behind?

Today I saw the most amazing movie, The Words.  A movie about an ambitious writer that could never catch a break, until he made a decision that would change his life forever.  The emotions that started to pour out of me shook me to the core.  I immediately reflected on all the amazing moments and connections I've made in my life.  The story line was so real, so relatable.  It created one of those moments where I FELT my outlook on life, and REALITY, change.  A couple hours later I had to watch it again.  

Have you ever met someone and you felt like you've known them forever?  Have you had that friendship or romance that blossomed out of nowhere, took you to places you've never been, then quickly dissipated into thin air?  Where do these people go?  Where do these situations go?  Why were they so short lived?  Why did it end?  How and why did I meet them in the first place? 

These moments ARE amazing.  Some are lucky to have them last longer than others. These "moments" are forever sacred and can never be taken away.  No matter how long or short, each second of ecstasy, of pure bliss, is a blessing.  We must cherish those feelings forever.  Understand that our lives are better for having experienced something so beautiful, even if only for a second. 

I grew up hearing stories that ended with "happily ever after."  I've longed and planned on being married, having that story book life that everyone knows about.  Well, it's not the 1920's anymore.  Think about how people "connect" these days.  Texting.  Emailing.  Snapchatting.  Dancing.  Talking.  Skyping.  Facebooking.  There are more ways to "connect" with others than ever before.  Since the opportunity to connect is so plentiful, do we cherish and appreciate our connections the same way as we did years ago?  Think about it, in the 1920's there was no internet, no texting.  True connections, authentic and long lasting, forever bonded those in that era.  Divorce didn't happen.  Families stayed together.  Why?  Fast forward to today, people rarely talk on the phone anymore.  The US Postal Service could potentially go out of business because people don't write letters or use standard mail as much.  Everything is digital and expedited.  You can book a flight and schedule a dinner reservation by the click of a button.  The divorce rate is also above 50%.  Is there a weird correlation here?  Do exponential opportunities to connect reduce the authenticity and appreciation we have for those associated with these connections?

With all that, we all do our best.  Life is scary, life is beautiful, and life is worth it. 

I never considered myself much of a writer, but this movie inspired me to write this.  What lasts through generations?  What can be passed on forever?  Stories.  Books.  Teachings.  Writing.  My outlook on life is constantly evolving, and I often cant make sense of all the thoughts swirling around in my head.  This blog has been a fun outlet to share MY view of the world and my thoughts.  I do know something that is constant, and what is universal, and that is LOVE.  We all feel it.  We all need it.  Feelings and connections with other people - that is what's real and that's what makes the world go round.  Every interaction, no matter how small or short lived, changes everything.  

Embrace every moment.  Be kind.  Write about it.  How will you change the world for the better?  What will you leave behind?  

I hope to inspire you, challenge you, and put at least one smile on your face.  Never underestimate the power of a smile.