This week's post is sponsored by: My parents. They have been amazing as they helped me build the van, and also as I am traveling. I know that they worry about me but also want me to follow my own adventure. Thank you Mom and Dad.
Updates:
I haven’t been doing a lot of thinking this week. Or a lot of doing. I mostly just went with the flow of life. I would clean and get things done in the morning and afternoon, then tennis practice in the evening, and spend time with my friends or on my own at night. A very simple and monotonous week.
Monotony seems to get a bad rap these days. If you aren’t out breaking records, making discoveries, or traveling somewhere glamorous, then you must not have any fun. I find myself falling into this mindset often. I frequently am looking for the next adventure or experience to dig into, wishing that I were already there. Wishing I had nothing holding me back from doing said thing. Daydreaming that I am surrounded by the grandest nature, seeing the most breathtaking sights, breathing the freshest air, swimming in the clearest water, etc. I long to be out in “big nature” where I can feel connected to something greater than myself.
The reality is, I can’t always be doing these new and exciting activities because frankly: it's exhausting. This begs the question of what do I do? What do I do with my mostly-mundane-but-occasionally-awesome life? How do I experience the feeling of connectedness with the environment I am currently in? I don’t want to wait for those few and far-between moments to feel the greatness of being alive.
Somehow, this past week something clicked in my mindset. I have started seeing my everyday moments as beautiful for what they are. A delicious coffee in the morning, a sweet song that I haven't heard in a while, a few hours at a coffee shop painting with my best friend. Each experience is so beautiful in itself and connects me to the world, the community around me, and myself. I've gained a deep sense of connection that I've been looking for, for a long time.
I was looking in the wrong places, from sources outside of myself. This feeling comes from within. Nothing in my life changed, except for how I was looking at the world. I attribute part of this to being intentional about noticing “delights” throughout my day. The other part seems to come from finding peace for myself, instead of waiting for something else to bring it to me.
I got to go camping with some great friends this weekend. We took a night swim under the stars, cooked meals over the fire, and chatted late into the night. Such beautiful and meaningful time spent with great people.
Quote of the Week:
I found this quote in the book I was reading earlier in the week and it has stuck with me for the past few days… I was also surprised to find that Warren Buffet was the person who had been stuck in my head all week. :)
“Assume every human on Earth is a marble placed in a jar. If given a chance, would you put your marble in the jar, shake it, take another marble at random, and live that life instead?
If it's a no, then you know you have a blessed life.”
This Week:
What I have been doing: Spending time in mindful silence
What I have NOT been doing: grocery shopping… I'm surviving on the bare minimum
What I have been wearing: long sleeves, the weather has turned the corner to slightly chilly
What I have been eating: I had a black bean and chicken quesadilla probably 4 times this week
What I have been reading: I have been watching Netflix instead of reading (bad Mariah)
What I forgot at home: My little day pack
Stats :
Matches: 1
Days I went to bed before 10 PM: 4
Cups of coffee total : 3
Meals over a fire: 2
Gone swimming: 4
Problem of the Week :
My engine light is on again :(
Text of the Week:
Evelyn and I had a wonderful day
Delights:
Time, the sun in the morning, falling asleep listening to the outside, walking slowly, socks that don’t scrunch up in my shoes, floor naps, solitude
Thanks for catching up!
Mariah
Comments