This Year

January 3, 2015 at 4:15 PM

When the goal is to write a blog that goes a little bit beyond just a place for food and lifestyle, it starts to involve sharing details about your life. Some of the blogs I love the very most are the ones where I am brought into the world of the writer and I feel a connection to not only their point of view on the topics being shared but also, their personal life.

But there’s the part where if you really let people into your world (the part that actually might connect with certain people the most) depending on what’s happening in your life, you might have to talk about topics that involve people you know or used to know that aren’t always the happiest things–on a blog. I mean, how complicated is that? You can’t really talk about difficult things that involve other people in public forum. I mean you can but those writers are either fictional (like Carrie Bradshaw), writing under pseudonym (like in an advice column or something), or just one of those brazenly bold chicks who write about all their relationships and work troubles in detail and achieve great success (like Chelsea Handler.) Sharing of oneself in an imperfect light, I mean that’s definitely difficult too but at least it’s just you and you’re the one who is choosing to share whatever it is but other people?

Well, to sum it up, if you’re in any way struggling on the way towards personal goals that involve a third party, no blogging can do, at least for me. So that being said, you’re not really gonna hear about my year or even ever hear fun little stories like how I hid behind a mylar balloon supermarket display recently to avoid seeing and having a conversation with an ex. 

But I will say, that even though this year gave me about a thousand gray hairs and plenty of sleepless nights, it also brought me to fifteen different states, a wonderful new job that I am so lucky to have, moments of love more beautiful than I ever imagined, inspiration that keeps getting better, and about one million and three meals that reminded me over and over again that food really is just everything. 

This year is sure going to be whatever it’s bound to be but I’m going to do my best to make it what I want it to be and that’s all any of us can do. Oh and maybe, just maybe this year, I’ll tell you the full story of that mylar balloon grocery hideout. 

love and happy new year!

+ photos from my christmas road trip stop in big sur | photo credit: a complete stranger.

Filed Under: Thoughts

BEING ALONE

June 21, 2014 at 6:52 PM

Among so many, being alone has a lot of negative associations. We have all felt a little stranded and a little unloved. We have all felt that hollow feeling in our chest when a relationship ends (and then you do that thing where you play sad songs in your car on purpose just to give yourself another excuse to cry–don’t lie–we’ve all done it) and felt that slightly envious pang of others finding the love and companionship that you want in your life.

Whether it’s not being a relationship or simply not having anyone you enjoy to go out to dinner with, sometimes we do whatever we can to avoid those sad feelings. We seek instant solutions to stop the bad feelings as soon as possible, often by filling the empty space with people and things that are of less value than you know you need and want. There is so much we do to avoid feeling any pain at all and by not allowing ourselves to feel any misery, we simply delay growth and further understanding of ourselves.

For a long time, I have tried to grow my relationship with myself. I can now honestly say that I adore being alone. Now, don’t get me wrong–I want more than anything to find the person I am supposed to be with, that I’m crazy for, and continue to build a beautiful life with that person–but why are we sometimes tempted to devalue the time before we have that? I have gained so much strength and vibrance by learning to explore, live, and love all on my own.

Don’t wait for this perfect scenario in your head to do all the things that make life so wonderful. Go to a movie alone, take yourself out to an amazing dinner, and travel to new places as your own companion. Freya Stark, a British explorer and travel writer, once said “To awaken alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” Eagerly await having more but in the meantime, still have it all.

Disclaimer: One more thing–still do things with your family and friends. By no means is this post encouraging complete and utter isolation. Don’t blame me if you become socially inept as a result of my advice.

Filed Under: Thoughts

MORNING TIME

June 17, 2014 at 7:03 AM

I sincerely cannot get enough of the morning time. There is so much possibility and newness. My eagerness to enjoy it, in all its glory, is now internalized to the point where I pop up at around 5:15 am without alarm provocation.

Honestly, I think a big part of it is that nothing that happens during the day can take the morning from me. What a lovely concept. Oh, and it’s much more fun to have the time for a homemade breakfast and cup of coffee instead of eating a drive-thru toaster sandwich with one hand and applying mascara with the other while driving with your knees.

I can’t say morning is the best time to cuddle with your pets, though. That’s always pretty great. Remember when this little whisker-fest was this big?

Filed Under: Thoughts