Stay Curious

As I look out my window and watch the wind blow the trees and watch the birds fly over the lake, I wonder. I wonder about so many things- I wonder about what is going on in my neighbor's house as I type, where the birds flying over the lake are going, what my cat is dreaming about as she sleeps on the chair next to me... I wonder about the people living halfway across the world who I will never meet, I wonder about the purpose of everything, and I wonder about so much more. I have always considered myself to be a fairly curious person. As a kid, I would ask my parents all kinds of questions about the world, about their lives... about whatever came to mind. I have always enjoyed reading and learning new things and I have always had a strong desire to travel and see the world.
As I grew older, I realized that while many people are curious to an extent, many people tend to lose their childlike curiosity with age. As "reality" sets in, people don't want to "learn" more than they already have to. I admit that I am often too tired or uninterested in further learning or exploring. However, I think it is  so extremely important to stay curious. Curiosity keeps you stimulated and alive. It forces you to expand your horizons and it will open up your world to endless possibilities. When you lose your curiosity, you lose a piece of life. If something interests you, delve deeper into it. Not only will you gain knowledge, but you will also find an inner happiness and peace as you further explore whatever sparks your interest. Exploring will open up your mind and you will be surprised by how little we really know and by how much more we can continue learning. There is so much going on in this world we live in. Stay curious and allow this world to amaze you.

The Value of Time

Time, often subject to many controversial definitions, is a subject studied by philosophy, science, and religion. Time has been studied continuously throughout the years and many philosophers disagree on how "time" is even defined. Some view time as a sequence of events. Not everything is happening all at once. Thus, time places events in the order that these events occur. Others say that time cannot be measured because it is not a "thing" or "event." While time can be viewed in many different ways, to me, time holds greater value than much else.

How you spend your time is one of the most important things you can focus on. What you do with your time, ultimately, defines who you are. For example, that job you have probably takes up a good portion of your time. Most jobs are not going to be perfect, but spending your time working for a company that betters you- teaches you new skills, keeps you interacting with interesting people, or challenges you in some way, is probably a job worth your time. Even jobs that are not enjoyable, may be worth your time, as long as you can take something away from the experience. Many people choose jobs or career paths solely on monetary value. What these people don't realize is that their time is more valuable than any amount of money they will make. If you work day in and day out at a job you hate, does that mean you are "successful?" Rather, choosing a job based on passion over money, will bring you much more satisfaction. Especially if you work for a company you believe is making the world a better place. You will then feel as if you are spending your time wisely, rather than just passing it away. It is important to note that some jobs may be worth your time, for a time, but may not be worth your time forever. Once something is no longer bringing you value, it is time to move on. The experiences you have from what you spend your time doing, all contribute to how you view the world and how you interact with those around you.

I think that life is all about experiences and it is all about your attitude toward those experiences. You can spend your time worrying about the future or regretting the past. Or you can spend your time focusing on now. A positive outlook will take you far and having a "half-full" mentality is just as important as how you spend your time.

All anyone really has is time. You have a certain amount of time to do everything you want to do and become the person you want to become. While not everyone has the same amount of time on this earth, it is how you spend your time, whatever amount you may have, that matters. 20 fulfilling years is worth more than 100 years of unhappiness. The best thing about the value of time is the fact that the choice is yours. If you enjoy how you spend your time, it won't matter how long you live or how long it takes you to do something.

It is also important to realize that one of the greatest gifts you can give is your time. Because time is so valuable, spending that limited time you have with someone, shows them that you care. Money and gifts don't really mean anything. I guarantee that you will gain someone's love and trust by spending time with them rather than spending money on them. The best parents are those that take their kids out in nature and spend time teaching them that it is the simple things that bring the most happiness; not the parents that buy their kids all the newest toys and technology. The best friends are those that take the time to listen to you and offer you advice or sympathy. The best relationships are those in which each person makes a conscious effort to spend as much time with the other as possible.

Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do." Even spending a small amount of time, everyday, doing something of value, will better you and in turn, make you happier. We can do so much with our lives, or so little. It all depends on what you decide.

What you do with your time is all you have. Go out and do things. Experience life. You only live once, and your time is everything. Fill your time with inspiring people, hard work, interesting books, walks out in nature, good music and whatever else makes you happy. Don't waste the precious time you have.

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In-between

It is kind of funny how time just goes. I don't know where it goes but it goes pretty fast. I am not even 23 yet, but I know that before I know it, I will be an old lady telling my grandkids about my life and the thrilling adventures that I had. Maybe they'll care, maybe they won't but I guess it won't really matter.
It's been a long time since I have written in this blog. So much has happened between then and now. Last I wrote I was planning my trip to Macedonia. The trip was amazing. I will save the details for a different post but I met some great people and gained some unforgettable memories.

Now, back to my current life. I guess being in my early 20's means I have a lot of different choices to make. What kind of life do I want to pursue? Where do I see myself in the next 1, 2, 5, 10 years? Will I have a good job, kids, a stable life? It's hard to know exactly what direction I, or anyone for that matter, wants to take. On one hand, I want to travel the world. I want to volunteer with animals, see as much as possible, meet people from all over, live with just the basics, wake up without knowing where the day will take me, pursue my dreams, and take risks. On the other hand, I want to be realistic. I want to be stable, have a good-paying job, build a support system of friends and family in a set location, and have a good idea of what my future holds. Right now, the former is the most appealing to me. As I sit in my cozy kitchen, I dream about what lies in this amazing world that so many people fail to see. Since I was a kid, I have fantasized about grand adventures on rough seas, through humid, mosquito-filled forests, and across cold, daring mountain ranges. What's the point of this life if not to see and experience it all? But then I go back to here and now. At what age do you forget about these crazy adventures and let reality sink in? Does it ever have to sink in? Can I live an adventurous life forever (and do I even want to)?

I don't have the answers to any of these questions. These questions (and many more) just seem to pop into my head a little too frequently.

So, here I am with no answers but with some big decisions to make. My latest decision consists of this: While I want to settle down at some point (and no, I do not know when that point will be), I know that if I don't follow my heart and see the world, I will regret it more than anything. That is why I decided to book one of the biggest trips I have booked to date. On January 21st I will be flying into Nicaragua to start a 5-month tour of Central and South America. This will be the longest amount of time I have ever traveled and while I am a little bit nervous, I am also extremely excited. That's not all though. I will be traveling with someone I barely know. I hope this trip not only brings me closer to this person, but also brings me closer to myself, to the amazing nature that surrounds us, and to the people living in the places I will visit.

Because I am leaving in January (4 months from now), I am in a strange in-between phase. I am currently only working at Ale House, saving money, painting, writing, etc. It's a weird feeling to be in this in-between stage. While I know the future holds a great journey, I still question what it is that I am doing with my time. The frequent question of "Oh you graduated? What are you doing?" doesn't help, especially because I have a degree from an above average University and am working in a restaurant, which does not require a degree. However, as much as I question this life, the meaning of it all, and where my place is on this planet, I know that I have to follow my heart. If nothing else, do what brings happiness. Being young, and only being responsible for myself, puts me in a position to do anything in the world. Maybe I will travel and spend every penny I have saved and then come back get a job and do it all over again (this scares my mom to death). Or maybe I will travel now, settle down, and then travel again later on in life. Or maybe I will figure out a way to continuously travel and work at the same time. Whatever it is is, it doesn't really matter. All that matters is to live a life one is proud of and excited about. I am sure the rest will fall into place one way or another.

Writing

Lately I have been spending a lot of time writing. Whenever I am not working at Socially Engaged or at Ale House, I am either writing, running, or watching Breaking Bad!

The writing I am doing is for a short book that I don't have an exact plan for yet. Maybe, one day I will publish it. People always say write about what you know, and I am doing just that. I am writing about relationships with people, happiness, and more specifically, kissing. I am excited to see where this book takes me and am having fun reliving some of what I am putting on paper.

Stay tuned for more on this book. On another note, my trip to Macedonia is booked! I will be there for 2 weeks in April and will be able to venture to Turkey as well. I know I will be changed by this trip and am really looking forward to the unknown- who I will meet, the places I'll see, the long philosophical conversations I'll have with my friend Malvina over coffee, and how my eyes will be opened to another part of the world.

New Year

It is the end of 2012 and I had an amazing year. I graduated from UF, spent 5 weeks traveling Hawaii, got a job doing social media marketing, and I have been painting/selling my art work. A long the way, I met truly inspirational people. I think it is amazing how much you can accomplish in one year. Actually, it is amazing how much you can accomplish in just one day. If you really want something, you can make it happen. I feel so lucky for everything I have today- an incredible family, 3 good jobs, opportunities for travel, and most importantly, happiness.

I am so excited to see what 2013 will bring. There are a few goals I have for this year and I know I will think up more short-term goals as the year progresses. For one, I want to make sure I make it over to Macedonia to stay with my friend Malvina. I actually plan on booking my flight today or tomorrow! Some smaller things I want to do are spend more time outside, look into publishing my children's book, continue painting, and keep saving as much money as I can to open up an art gallery/coffee shop. I know I will meet plenty of interesting people this year and go on many adventures. I want to keep pushing myself to be a better and better person and I want to stay open-minded and positive.

Tomorrow marks the start of yet another year. Don't waste it.

My Life Right Now

It's been a while since I've posted in here, mainly because I have been very busy with a lot of different things.  I just got a social media job in Fort Lauderdale and I am loving it. I can't imagine myself being any luckier with regards to jobs. This is only a part time job for now which also allows me to focus on selling my art (which I have also been pretty busy with). And on top of those two jobs, I also work at an ale house nearby on weekends!

Some exciting stuff that has recently been happening with regards to art is that art basel was a week ago! My dad, Murf, exhibited his work in Gallery 212 in Wynwood, Miami. This opened up a door for me to show some of my prints in the gallery as well. My sister Tyler has also been motivated with art so we both have been showing our work as often as possible. Through the gallery, my family met Wes, owner of Todd Barrett Swimwear and he invited us to a rooftop party at the Catalina Hotel in Miami! This was an awesome way to spend our Saturday night. We got to meet a lot of people, sell some art, and drink on top of a beautiful hotel.

I am really excited to see where all of these jobs take me and it's nice not having one set schedule every day. The social media job gives me a lot of free time, because I don't always have to be in the office- even though the office is great. It's in the art district of Fort Lauderdale! 

I also plan on traveling sometime in the next few months. One of my best friends is living in Macedonia so I am trying to plan a trip over there. Stay tuned for my next adventures..

New Paintings

Just finished some new paintings...

Communicate:

Heartfelt:

Cerveza:

Color Vibes:

Expanding Horizons: