Living in color, part huit.

Living in Color.  If you missed the first seven of this theme, 

click on the label "Living in Color" at the bottom of this post 

to see all of them or simply go here.

Hopefully these posts offer some insight and inspiration as sometimes in our everyday lives, we unfortunately forget to remember the magnificence and miracle of life and the universe. This post is actually still in progress but I wanted to get it out there... so check back later. ;)

 Have a great night.

"Ten times a day something happens to me like this- 

some strengthening throb of amazement- 

some good, sweet, empathic ping and swell.  

This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: 

that the soul is built entirely out of attentiveness."

-Mary Oliver

"Be content with what you have;

rejoice in the way things are.

When you realize there is nothing lacking,

the whole world belongs to you."

-Lao Tzu

"I am only one, but I am one.  

I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

And I will not let what I cannot do 

interfere with what I can do."

-Edward Hale

"Happiness radiates like a fragrance to a flower,

and draws all good things towards you.

Allow your love to nourish yourself as well as others.

Do not strain after the needs of life.

It is sufficient to be quietly alert and aware of them.

In this way life proceeds more effortlessly and gracefully."

-Maharshi Yogi

"Do not part with your illusions.

When they are gone, you may still exist

but you have ceased to live."

-Mark Twain

"In the midst of movement and chaos,

keep stillness inside you.

Nothing is more important than 

connecting with your bliss.

Nothing is as rich.

Nothing is more real."

-Deepak Chropa

"We should meet in another life.

we should meet in air.

Me and you."

-unknown

"Hot sun, clear water,

fresh wind,

let me be free of pavements."

-Ezra Pound

"The most exquisite paradox...

as soon as you give it all up,

you can have it all.  

As long as you want power, you can't have it.

The minute you don't want power,

you'll have more than you ever dreamed possible."

-Ram Dass

"I grew up in this town, 

my poetry was born between the hill and the river,

it took its voice from the rain, and like timber,

it steeped itself in the forests."

-Pablo Neruda

"Forever is composed of nows."

-unknown

"We laugh and laugh, and nothing can ever be sad, 

no one can be lost, or dead, or far away:

right now, we are here, and nothing can mar our perfection,

or steal the joy of this perfect moment."

-Audrey Niffenegger

"There is a gypsy in me who wants to run

with all these oranges in a bag

and trade them for the sun."

-Diane Wakoski

"Desire, like the atom, is
explosive with 
creative force."
-unknown

"Our eyelashes brushed 

like they would weave together by themselves,

turning us into one wild thing.

I say "I think I missed you before

I met you even."

-Francesca Lia Black

"Forget what we're told

before we get too old

just show me your garden 

that's bursting into life.

All that I am

All that I ever was

is here in your perfect eyes

they're all I can see."

-Snow Patrol

"They were setting off fireworks down at the waterfront, 

the sky exploding into grenades of colour.  
Whatever it is that pulls the pin,

that hurls you past the boundaries of your own life 
into a brief and total beauty, 

even for a moment, it is enough."

-Jeanette Winterson

Hold on to what you believe.

Wednesday.  So.  Sleepy.   But life is really good right now.... 

and I hope the same for you all. :)

 A little inspiration on this rainy day in New England (yes I'm finally here!!):

"You can feel the whole world and still feel lost in it.  So many people are in pain- no matter how smart or accomplished- they cry, they yearn, they hurt.  But instead of looking down on things, they look up, which is where you should be looking too.  Because when the world quiets to the sound of your own breathing, we all want the same things: comfort, love, and a peaceful heart."

-Mitch Albom

Here's a little gem by Mumford and Sons.  

I think this band is not only poetic but also completely inspirational.

Have a great night. :)

"Hold on to what you believe in the light

when the darkness has robbed you of all your sight."

And I'd go somewhere with you.

"I felt myself a pure part 
of the abyss,
I wheeled with the stars,
my heart broke loose on the wind."
-Pablo Neruda

So I packed up everything I own on Monday, either shipped it or filled my car, threw away anything that is no longer useful and picked up my father from SFO to start the drive from San Francisco to Austin... the first leg of the trip.  Why did I drive?  The main reason (in the beginning) was because I couldn't put my dog on a plane to Boston as it just seemed cruel.  As the weeks went on leading up to the move however, I began to love the idea (even daydream) of seeing the southwest by car.  My father would do the first half of the trip with me, I'd stop in Austin for awhile so I could recover at my parents', then my friend would fly to Austin and drive the second half with me up the east coast to Massachusetts.

So here I am finally in Austin, filled with inspiration after the last few days.  There was something so liberating about cutting back on "stuff", then taking off in my car with one of my favorite people and my dog for the open road, my mind filled with overwhelming yet thrilling uncertainty, yet my soul knowing it was the absolutely the right thing.  Something about the trip made me so alive again... able to really feel each moment without the usual schedule and hyper focus on the usual day to day tasks.  The less routine the more life rings true, and as much as the lack of control is nerve-wracking, is propels you to know yourself more than ever before.  My father and I not only bonded, but witnessed snow-capped mountains near Palm Springs, a mind-blowing sunset over Arizona's dramatic red landscape, and towns so small I felt like I was on an old western movie set along with railroads, oil rigs, coyotes, saloons and jack rabbits.  

There was once a time when I never thought I'd leave California and it's glorious gorgeousness at every turn, but there are so many other beautiful places with character  and I've grown to appreciate their individuality; each state, each city and each town has something to offer, something to learn from and an energy all its' own that should be both embraced and appreciated as it gives to you things that you may have never known had you not given it a chance.  Packing, moving, and driving in a cramped car for thirty hours was (without a doubt) one of the most difficult things emotionally and physically I've ever had to do but as I grow older, I find that the things that are worth doing are generally the toughest to get through.  I know I'll one day look back on these moments, when all I had was simply the two lane american highway and a new life awaiting right in front of me.  Change, my friends, is the only certainty.

So I'm not one to like country music but I think this song by Kenny Chesney is an absolute gem. I think we've all been there at one point or another. Sweet dreams. :)