Florida Keys: Sugarloaf, Key West
| November 21, 2015 |
- Summer is eternal. I’m sorry life-long Floridians, but 75 degrees is not winter, and when you go can go to the beach year-round, there is no change in seasons.
- Daily life feels like a vacation. There’s NEVER nothing to do. I can go downtown Fort Lauderdale on a weekday and see people packing in to listen to live music at Elbo Room (a dive bar that’s been around since 1929). I can hammock between two palm trees, reading a favorite book for ultimate relaxation. I can live it up Miami style at a bar or club. I have access to incredible beaches, sun-kissed skin, salty hair, palm trees, sandy toes, and a free-spirited lifestyle.
It’s secondly a blessing that, despite living in a vacation destination, I also have immediate access to an array of tropical adventure hubs. Upon Talia’s fourth visit to my new home in Florida, we embarked on yet another journey to the Florida Keys. This time, we planned to combine forces with our skydiving friends on Sugarloaf Key. Luckily for me, my skydiving instructor, Braden, from my birthday weekend has grown into someone much more meaningful. Despite living three hours apart, we have established a seamlessly wonderful connection. The ease of our budding bond has left me blissfully at peace for what may come of it. Nonetheless, a weekend away from mainland Florida was in order. Talia, Suzette, and I journeyed toward Key West on a Saturday afternoon.
Exactly Where I’m Supposed To Be
| November 2, 2015 |
Sometimes, we can feel this truth. Recently, I’ve become more aware of the fact that I am exactlywhere I am supposed to be. This does not mean I’ve reached my full potential, nor do I entirely have all I want. Yet, the accumulation of everything up to this point has manifested in the form of joy and love. I can no longer contain the ball of energy building inside of me, and I am bursting with gratitude and love. I’d love to put my joy in a little wicker basket and sprinkle it on everyone that passes me.
Trust me, this has not been an entirely smooth, nor simple, transition. We’ve talked briefly about myjourney to life in a new state, but I have grown in a myriad of ways. Through the process of adjusting to a new location and lifestyle (one in line with my core desired feelings and values), I have reconnected deeply with myself. I have been meandering through this beautiful life solo for some time, and appreciate my ability to grow independently. As mentioned in this entry, happiness is created from within, and we cannot depend on others. I’ve learned to pave a path of bliss, freedom, and love. I have a true love for myself, am comfortable with who I am, and feel entirely myself in all situations. With this self-love, I feel room in my heart for others. I am ready to expand.
I bet you’re wondering: How can we be sure we are where we’re supposed to be? I think…
My Florida Keys Birthday Celebration
When we are entirely immersed in the moment, we are astutely aware of our immediate surroundings and the rest of the world disappears. Our thoughts, confusions, and emotional turmoil are irrelevant. Our attention shifts inward, and awareness of our heart rate and breath are stronger. We sense interconnectedness with the universe, and perhaps a warming sensation of gratitude and love. The concept of time and place, which are measurable in numbers and by various means, seem incomprehensible to us. Everything slips away from us like grains of sand through our fingertips, and appears in front of us as snapshots of ourselves and our essence. We almost experience these moments as an onlooker, and are in awe at our situation. When reflecting on these moments, it’s a whirlwind.
This is how I can summarize my weekend in the Florida Keys.
Defining Home
| September 21, 2015 |
“Home is wherever you are.”
Is it? Just because I am here, does it mean I am home? And what is this location referring to–is it my mental or physical position? By definition, home is a noun–a place you can pin-point on a map, get directions to, and describe in length/width/height. Yet, I undoubtedly feel home is something more. It cannot be measured the number of bedrooms/bathrooms, windows, doors, or square footage. It’s not simply identifiable via coordinates of longitude and latitude. To me, the word “home” is much more of an adjective; a way to describe how we feel. The word “home” elicits feelings of comfort, support, and love. I can feel the word radiating from my heart.
home (noun) \ hōm \
the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.
synonyms: residence, place of residence, house, apartment, flat, bungalow, cottage
