The Walk of All Walks

Currently, I am a college drop out. I am working two jobs. I pay my student loans on time, and rarely go out.

I am training to be a naturalist. I see many paths ahead of me, and all my goals upon paper.

Being 20 scares me. Being 20 in 2012, whatever may or may not happen, brings a sense of urgency.

So what do I do? Today at work, I was silently contemplating, and "Would you rather stay in comfort with a steady job and a guaranteed place to live, or risk going elsewhere, where it is all uncertain, to do something you dream of doing?" Phrasing it as if asking another 9-year-old at a sleepover helped me look at my decision outside of the cubic box I've thought myself into.

It all seems so clear, doesn't it?

...While synchronistic events and meetings verify the fact...

Burst out of the cushy comfort zone I have made for myself, and pursue dreams! Finish certifications and classes, move to colorado for a job, move to virginia for another, then move back in with the parents for a few months to prepare to hike the Appalachian Trail.

It's almost too easy.

Now we'll just have to see if I can do it. Hippiecrite vs. Accomplished person with radical ideals?

p.s. synchronistic events include: random calls from old friends, conversations with strangers, the happenstance of uncovering job opportunities when I'm not even looking.

p.p.s. photo1: http://www.purplemirage.net/blog_files/ChimneyRockJuly06.html

photo2: http://onestep2010.com/expedition/the-appalachian-trail/

Repression Or Liberation

"We're not the kind of hippies that sit around and play guitar all day"

This makes perfect sense to be a line from the latest movie.

Of course the social imperative is to respect comedy, resulting in some sort of acceptance of what its saying. Of course it would one of those rare times I'm watching TV, completely mesmerized and dumbfounded--finding ignorance on my part, as well as the "ideas" of the dumb sheep-herded--at the same moment they chose to portray hippies, musicians, and yes..hippiecrites.

Being a part of a family of musicians has brought me up to believe music can be the catalyst for change. It sets ambiances, moods, it can communicate things indescribable in words. Take a look at the '60s and a whole revolution personified in sound. Creating one's own music is like nothing of this world. Even if you don't consider yourself a musician the humming you do as you drive or wash dishes, the pace at which you walk, or even the tone in which you speak-you are a musician. That rhythm keeps the world spinning; you can even find a momentary hum can keep your world spinning. To take that spinning and form melodies-harmonies-syncopation- its almost if you have the whole world in your hands. Now it might be hippie paranoia, but a part of me believes, 'Of Course there would be a force -satire or not- trying to stifle that'.

But ohh wow, there comes a rare comedy that in the disguise of satire, can open someone's eyes. Eyes who never saw or knew of something like intentional communities as an option. (I honestly didn't get the gist of the plot the first time around) All that ranting aside, this might be a movie worth seeing.

p.s. Working on learning "Wanderlust" by Paul McCartney on guitar for a few weeks now, crazy how most everything comes into a full circle !

My Blogging Doppelganger?

congruent

parallel

similar

coexistent

http://hippiecrite.wordpress.com/about/

Instead of frustration caused by realizing the absurdity of originality amidst the dense seven billion, I feel relief when stumbling upon like-minded individuals.

Raise it up! This man has quite a voice.

photo credit: from the article "China delays 7 billion day for 5 years"

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-10/27/content_13985844.htm

Can't See the Forest for the Trees

Maybe the idea of deleting my Facebook is a part of a larger picture. Perhaps all the reasons I want to do this-to reconnect, to build friendships organically, to savor time- will actually open up more than I thought. If only people could see this shedding chrysalis, and it will be a catalyst for some. For the attention to detail-who's going where when, how attractive one looks in pictures, the mirroring interaction after life's actions-can all fade into the other thoughts of that day, instead of a diligent investigation and analysis.

And I've thought these thoughts before. Acted upon them too (deactivated my account for about six months). Yet the yearning for an easy way out of loneliness was my downfall. Now I see that I really must write those letters, make the phone calls, and spend that money on visits! Maybe I'll also dig up my film camera :]

http://rachelsstudio.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-landscape-forest-painting-and-story.html

http://thestorydepartment.com/mental-spackle/

I love what searching for images can bring me to find--a great blog by a watercolor artist and a thought provoking article called "mental spackle" about revision and how not to "get lost 'too inside your own head'".

Brilliant.

Freedom from Facebook

In search of a life with more place-based compassion

a simpler, more connected space.

where pictures are

.....beautiful,

.........tangible,

..............scraps of paper

representing a moment shared.

where sentences are

.....thoughts spoken

..........words written by pen.

where you use all you have

and all of that moment

to get what you want.

And if you don't

...

you learn

.