Travel Blog In the Works

Hey beautifuls!
Big news! I’m starting a travel blog! Keep posted for links, videos, and more information!

Why exactly do I want to start a travel blog when I’m not even traveling yet?
~ Because I want to share with you guys my WHOLE processes!  By doing so, I also hope to inspire and help advocate to other potential travelers while they’re going through their own preparation processes! I don’t plan to travel again until Spring of 2017, but I’ve already been making a lot of drastic changes in my life in order to prepare.
For example: I’ve been minimizing like crazy. Getting rid of things left and right! It’s feels so wild, and foreign, and scary…. but ever so sweet..
Not only have I been thinning out my belongings, but I’ve also been striving to minimize my life in all aspects. I’ve been very precatious with my spending. I haven’t gone shopping in almost a month! I’ve been straying away from accumulating unnecessary items so that I can clear out the space in my life for growth, change and renewal. It’s wild, and very difficult to say goodbye to certain things.. But I’ve realized that those items that I hold onto the tightest, are the ones that I am most needing to let go.. There’s been such a release in my life lately… and a lot of stress has melted off of my shoulders like butter.
I encourage everyone to give it a try some day. It’s rather life changing, and you don’t even know it.

I’ve also been following quite a few travel blogs and vlogs myself… Everyone who has poured their heart into sharing their experiences has inspired me in such a way that words can’t even express my gratitude. I only wish to inspire to inspire as well.

Things I plan to include in my blog:
– Travel plans and preparations
– Minimalistic and conscious living
– Health awareness, practices and recipes
– Yoga and spiritual awakening
– Sustainable and self-reliant practices
– All-Natural remedies, medicines, and personal care.
– Random information
– Experiences, stories and poems
– Music/Music videos
– Interviews and interactive posts/videos
– Artistic videos and photos
– Whatever else my heart desires!

So stay in touch! Stay tuned! LOTS more will be coming very soon.

Blessings, my friends.

 

A Time for Understanding

We all have spouts of intensity in our life, that’s just the rollercoaster we signed up to ride… and right now I just so happen to be experiencing one of those insane upside down and backwards loopy loops. So I guess you could say that I’ve been struggling with a lot lately… which is why I haven’t posted anything new in quite some time.

I’ve been dealing with  various issues ranging all the way from serious friend problems to mind-boggling car shopping. The stress….. tell me about it.
But I will say that even though there have been a lot of obstacles that I’ve been facing.. I’ve been learning a lot about myself and my habits, and with that I’ve been given more opportunities to change myself for the better. I’ve had so many little, yet profound understandings recently, in which I would like to share with you today.

First of all, just to clarify because I don’t believe I ever have… when I mention these ‘simple understandings’, what I mean by that term (incase you’re confused), are those small epiphanies that we experience as a result from maturing intellectually and spiritually. In other words, I’m relating to the moments when a deeper knowledge or ‘understanding’ encompasses our thought process, bringing forth a new perspective, or reasoning as to why things are the way they are. Basically, those moments when you’re just like “Oh.. Thaaaaaat’s why……”and everything just makes so much more sense.

Yea, I’ve been having a lot of those moments. So please, bare with me.
I love writing, and I very much desire to be a consistent publisher. But when life throws you lemons, sometimes there’s too many for one person to carry. That’s a lot of citrus.. and man it can sting, especially when there’s already open wounds in the mix. OUCH!

UNDERSTANDING # 1:
It’s up to you to teach people how to treat you.

There was once a quote I came across, the author unknown: “One only accepts the amount of love they believe that they deserve.”
Recently quite a few people in my life have been disrespecting me… Like c’mon… WTF is in the water that’s making this an Ashe-Bash time of the year?
After becoming so sick of experiencing such disregard…I made the decision to let people know how their actions are effecting me, and to make them well aware that I do not accept being treated as such. Just getting my word out and my point across makes me feel SO much better inside… and simply communicating our differences, has made our relationships grow stronger and healthier. Instead of me just stewing on how other’s are treating me and letting it go on, I took action, so that hopefully it doesn’t happen again. And at the same time, it’s helping me be more aware of my actions towards other people.. because I don’t want to make anyone else feel as disregarded or disrespected.. it just feels yucky.
A little piece of advice: Remember that everyone is usually caught up in their own realities, and sometimes we don’t realize the effect we may have on another individual. So try placing yourself in someone else’s shoes.. take people into consideration.. and communicate effectively so that you’re always on the same page.

UNDERSTANDING #2:
Positive self-talk goes a long way.

We only have enough room in our minds to think either pessimistically or optimistically about a situation or about ourselves.. There just can’t be both.
Our thoughts create our feelings and emotions. We cannot be thinking happy thoughts, and feel sad. And vise versa.. we cannot be thinking sad thoughts, and feel happy. Over time we create habits in our thinking processes. The way that we think today is the result of everything that we have ever experienced and have had to process in order to understand. Take that one in for a second… So, if overtime we have been conditioned to think down upon ourselves, we’re most likely going to wind up feeling depressed, or resentful. But if we choose to rewire our thought waves and instead we constantly support ourselves with loving thoughts, then we have no choice but to feel happy and uplifted. Give it a shot, I dare you to be happy.

UNDERSTANDING #3:
Your intuition is valid, and will not lead you astray. 

This one I have to thank my best friend for slapping into me.. I realize that I have been seeking out more validation from other people rather than from myself.. and that seems backwards. I have to remind myself that my intuition is on point, and that I can trust it. I know what’s good for me, and what’s not; what sits right in my heart, and what doesn’t.
That ‘gut’ feeling that tends to take over when we don’t know where to turn, is usually a signal from our higher selves. Hone into that sensation and truly feel it.. because more often than not, you already know the answer. Trust it. See what happens. Form a relationship with your intuition, and be on your merry way.

That’s all for now. Hopefully my experience gathering these understandings for myself helps you in one way or another.
Best of luck in whatever may be troubling you.
Just remember that we are never going to be perfect. Nobody is perfect, and it seems as though everyone’s trying to be ‘nobody’s’ friend. 😉 Be your own friend, my friends. And love every second of it.

 

Best friends

Forewarning, I don’t quite know how to word this properly…. but I’m going to try so that I can better understand it myself….

On the topic of Best Friends:

I’ve had quite a handful of friends in my life.. and many more acquaintances to count.. but when it comes to Best Friends, have I ever had one? What does the term ‘best friend’ even mean exactly?
Is it just another label to define another person who becomes close in your life?
Is it the peer you spend the most time with?
Is it someone who shares a similar sense of humor?
Is it someone who you’ve spent your entire life around?
Is it possible to have more than one?
Or is it beyond all that?
Could it mean a special type of connection with someone who knows you entirely from the inside out and even more so after that?
Someone who just ‘gets‘ you; and you ‘get‘ them back…
Someone who would be by your side no. matter. what.
Or is that just a rare phenomenon?
How many people actually get to experience that kind of friendship? Do we even at all?

I have so many questions….. and not enough answers…..

I think I’ve had best friends. In fact, I’d like to consider a few of my current close friends my ‘best friends’. Each one is completely different in their own beautiful way, and I love them and everything that composes them so very much.
A little background on my life… I’ve never grown up around any one group of people, unlike most americans. My family moved around a lot, and for a good chunk of time I was homeschooled and lived on a farm, rather isolated from any contact with peers outside of my computer.  That may sound depressing to you, but it was the childhood experience that shaped me into the person I am today, and for that I am grateful. I learned a lot about myself in my growing years, and I like to say I’m a pretty independent person because of it.
But I hear so often about people who’ve known each other their whole lives… their parents were close friends, and they went to the same preschool together, etc. I will never have the ability to experience such a connection with someone..
The longest friendship I’ve had is about 9 years old now, and we hardly speak anymore.. maybe two or three times a year at most.  Everyone else I know I’ve been acquainted with for maybe 5 years tops. So the close friends that I’d consider my ‘best friends’ I’ve maybe known for an ongoing of 4 years. I call them my best friends because they are those that I love and cherish in this moment. And maybe for me, best friends are just going to come and go in my life like they always have… who’s to say? I can only continually love them for the moments that we experience and have shared together…

I guess, in somewhat of a conclusion, that term means whatever you make out it to be. A best friend can be someone you’ve spent your whole life with, or it could be the chick you met at the library last week who was checking out the same book as you, or it could just be the people you hold dear for the time being in life that you are experiencing. Whatever it may mean to you, love them. Cherish them. Appreciate them. Adore them, and experience every waking moment that you can with them. Because as friends, we are the glue that hold us together.

And that’s what I have to say on the topic of best friends.

Honest Growth

I need to be honest with myself right now.
I want to see this whole situation as clearly as possible.
I have to be true to my life in order to remain on the right path.
I asked for lessons. I asked for things to be difficult.. And so they always will be one way or another. Very rarely is anything ever truly easy.
I specifically asked for whatever is beneficial to come my way and help teach me the lessons I need to learn in this life. I want to learn everything I can, spiritually, emotionally, intellectually… but with such a request, comes situations that are more difficult for me to handle than I’d like.
The lessons aren’t always a walk in the park.
In fact, they will always be complicated and challenging, because how else can someone grow as an individual?
It’s a hard realization to swallow.

 

Benign Blessing

Today I was diagnosed with a benign probable fibroadenoma in my left breast. In other words, a noncancerous tumor. Sounds super scary, but apparently it’s quite common in young women this day in age.  For a few years now I’ve felt this small bb sized lump, it hasn’t grown in size, and it hasn’t moved.. I discovered it around the age of 21. I’ve gone into two different doctors since then, both saying that it’s maybe a small cyst or a calcium deposit in one of my ducts.. nothing to worry about. The last time I visited the doctor she said I should be fine. A few weeks later I received a call saying It was suggested that go and get further testing. That news terrified me. Why would they tell me it’s fine, only to contradict that statement by saying I should go see a specialist? Liability reasons I’m assuming. Just to clear my head I made an appointment with a surgeon near me to get his opinion. He told me it wasn’t likely a concern, but I should get an ultra sound just in case – If anything, just for peace of mind. So, thats exactly what I decided to do; ease my mind. After hours in-between doctors, I finally received the conclusion of having a benign probable fibroadenoma. I’m honestly happy it’s not anything more… It is possible that it could become cancerous in the future, but statistically, it is highly unlikely. I just have to keep an eye on it, and everything should be perfectly fine. No need to worry.

Another Soulmate

From what I’ve read about soulmates, I think he’s one of mine. It makes complete sense.  (sorry, I don’t name game around here) Unlike what most of society thinks,  soulmates are only people who come into your life purposefully to teach you a lesson. More often than not, it’s a rather difficult relationship, and it is often short. It’s not always romantic either. I will say that with this experience, he taught me some things that have been engrained deep into my consciousness…. they are hard to fully understand at the moment, but deep in my soul, I know completely the lessons I learned through him. He gifted me space. Space in my heart for someone to eventually fill when the timing is right. Space in my heart for me to hold dear and protect it with everything in me. A knowing that someday, someone will be that person for me, and I will ‘know’…Just like I knew that it wasn’t going to be him. He wasn’t the one for me. At least not in this moment. You have no idea how hard of a fact that is to see, and be forced to accept so suddenly.
But he did show me a bit of my own strength. I know that I know what’s good for me and whats not, and like a dog, I can smell whatever it is coming at me from a mile away. Its a blessing, disguised often as a curse. I’ve thought I’ve just been stubborn, preventing love from coming my way… but the truth is that it’s not yet my time. I have a lot to learn and discover for myself. My path is still unpaved, but the process is ongoing. I have to respect that. I must cherish it, and continue to do what I can to learn what it is that I’m supposed to, to learn the core of myself. I’m getting there. Things are becoming easier. But within the process of things getting easier, obstacles arise, and I have to fight my way through them to prove that my journey is as important as it truly is. This whole situation was one of those obstacles…. but it left me with great rewards. For that I must be thankful. I must take it, and move forward.

True Programing

Ever since people learned how to speak, and understand language,
they were told what to do,
how to feel,
whats right,
and whats wrong.
Freedom to trust one’s instincts and be themselves,
was stolen when they were very young.

For most,
self-reflection has been self-rejection
rather than self-realization
of beauty and life.

Fear to be true, and simple,
honest, and loyal,
to themselves and to others,
because it might not measure
to society’s standards…

We desire acception from everyone else,
and we’re left forgetting about ourselves,
our true wealth,
which is happiness and health.

During youth,
most are put in front of a desk.
With a book, paper, and a pen,
They learned that was to be their nest.

Some rebelled,
they put this programming to the test.
They were treated less,
than the rest.

Televisions and magazines,
have shown a false perception of perfection.
Forcing this view of pretend beauty down people’s throats before they even get a chance
to find the true beauty within themselves..
THIS. IS. WHAT. YOU. WANT!
They scream,
they enforce.
Instead of asking such young creations,
“what do you truly want?”, “You are beauty”,
“There is no perfection”, “You are light and loved for you.”
But no,
its not that easy,
it’s just not that simple.
They make it way too complicated and unreasonable.
‘Anything less is way too much to handle.‘

‘Start them off when they’re young!’
Domesticate them till they’re numb.
Until they cannot see the road,
because what you show them is all they know.

How do you feel?
To you, what is real?
Break the seal.
And all of your agreements.
You cannot control what you were taught…
But you can control what you believe.
As well as what you teach yourself,
and others..

Let them be their true potential. 
Don’t tell them.
Don’t punish them.
Just let them be them.
And leave the rest to karma.

Acrostic America

A country so proud
Men claiming other’s land
Everything taken for granted
Restless minds of civilians
Idiocracy widespread
Colonialism at it’s finest
A country lacking culture.

 

Written ~ 8/27/13

Staircase

Given all, to the ground.
Just barely touching the air.
To rise again with all might,
I hold your hand gently, but snug.
Fear of letting go.
Encouragement I gave myself,
and to you.

I stand tall in the treetops,
staring out at the wide skies,
the sea of a universe,
as I plan for more.
Grounding, the reverse, yet the key.
It’s what you’ve given me.

All my years,
I hid under my bed,
if I opened my door, there was no going home.
To lose a home,
that wasn’t what I’d expected,
to build one’s own,
and yet another.

I share a piece of my bread,
in return for your wine.
I didn’t ask for much.

Every day spent in a dream,
head in books,
pen in hand,
money in wallet,
A desire to destroy the war within us all.
A desire to dry every tear shed.
A desire to make everything better.
The truth only hurts.

Burning to my eyes and ears,
drones and bombs,
it all makes sense.
There is no blame left in me.
I gave all, so did they,
and you in your own.

We got away,
but from what?
The crowds,
the drugs,
the noise?
Only memories and hope remain.
Dreaming of something, somewhere
bigger, better,
thrilling, unknown.

Every day, caffeine to my knees,
weight to my back.
Roses, waterfalls, lightening,
shadows, clouds, awakening..
Bigger than every day.
Tomorrow’s another step,
on a staircase leading to somewhere unseen.

Dreams, wishes,
hopes, fears,
cries and joys.
It all happens at once,
but only in a flicker of a thought.
Do you follow? Or do I?
I’ll hold your hand if you step too.

 

Written ~ 8/27/13

Forest of Clouds

 

The obstacles mark the path to evolution.
Stars beyond galaxies unseen.
Other dimentions within our own.
creativity pulsing through our veins.

Visible but blindfolded,
What lies beyond is a mystery to us all.
Fields of color unimaginable
words unfamiliar, unspoken, but known.
Experience given, lessons received,
Mental capacity exceeding beyond dreams.
Etheric hugs fear to let go.
To visit is to know.

Accepting complications
for without, no solutions will arise.
A freedom far beyond the skies
lies within your fingertips
tingly waterfalls
heart beat tsunamis
visual thunder
the thought of rain beneath our tongues
hold my hand
watch it crumble
see it build.
Street signs and paved pathways.
invisible to plain sight,
nonexistent, yet touchable
Close your eyes and believe the unimaginable.
Follow the path that leads to the unseen
versus
the path ‘appearing’ to lead somewhere,
which is an actual.. illusion..of reality.

 

Written 8/26/13