Days 403-405: Different kinds of journeys

Day II.38 (403) - Monday, July 23, 2012
Oh, the joy of being at home after a busy weekend away! 
 
Day II.39 (404) - Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I read a great article today about how every woman should travel alone. I found much of it inspiring, and the author echoed a lot of sentiments I felt about traveling alone in Tunisia, Vietnam and Syria.

She closed with this:
"The greatest trip of my life came because I did not get the things I wanted."
    - Sarah Hepola

That's what this year has been -  what a lovely and fulfilling journey I've been on, because I didn't get what I wanted. I got exactly what I was afraid of. And I am unmistakably, profoundly grateful for it.

Day II.40 (405) - Wednesday, July 25, 2012



that secret that we know, that we don't know how to tell, 
i'm in love with your honor
i'm in love with your cheeks


How delightful, delicious and scary the anticipation...I go on an adventure tomorrow, of a completely different kind, that tests the emotional distance I have come this year and the person I am becoming. I remind myself that everything changes and evolves, to accept the beauty of things as they are - and to dive in to the glory of whatever life puts in front of me.

Day 399: Best friends

Day II.34 (399) - Thursday, July 19, 2012

Getting to spend a night out on the town with your best friend. Bonus: flaming margaritas!

Day 400 - 402: Palm Springs, Part II & Joshua Tree

Day II.35 (400) - Friday, July 20 // Day II.36 (401) - Saturday, July 21 // Day II.37 (402) - Sunday, July 22

What a lovely weekend with my friends Shane, Amy & Nathan at Palm Springs & Joshua Tree. This was another thing on my LA Bucket List, and I am so profoundly grateful for an incredible trip with great friends.

 at Key's View: Nathan, Amy, me & Shane

 at Jumbo Rocks!

 Dinner at Lulu's

 Pool to myself, first thing in the am, under a mountain. Blessed.

View from the top!

Day 396-398: All the tiny beautiful wondrous details

Day II.31 (396) - Monday, July 16, 2012

“...the true secret of happiness lies in the taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life...”
-William Morris

 

Day II.32 (397) - Tuesday, July 17, 2012

“Anything one does every day is important and imposing and anywhere one lives is interesting and beautiful.”
-Gertrude Stein

 

Day II.33 (398) - Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Check this view out! Culver City Stairs (x4): this is your reward.

 

Days 390 - 395: Purity through fire

Day II.25 (390) - Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Things are moving forward. I'm so happy. I'm so grateful for my life. I am so alive.

Day II.26 (391) - Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Sometimes you have to make some bad decisions to realize what's really important. And if you're lucky, you figure it out before you've screwed up a good thing beyond salvation.


Day II.27 (392) - Thursday, July 12, 2012
I'm grateful today for the realization that I've changed and transformed so positively in the past year. I'm in such a better place. I'm grateful for everything that happened, especially the travails - like a purifying fire, they burned so much weakness out of me. I will never accept less again.


Day II.28 (393) - Friday, July 13, 2012
I gave notice at USC today, and I'm so grateful for the validation and kindness which with I was met. I am grateful that my whole life is out in the open now. No secrets. (Well, almost....)

Day II.29 (394) - Saturday, July 14, 2012
The last free weekend in LA. This time around. Massively productive. Thankful for that, and physical safety.

Day II.30 (395) - Sunday, July 15, 2012
Culver City Stairs - 4 times. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Day 389: The journey & the search

Day II.24 (389) - Monday, July 9, 2012

Always searching. Always finding. Always discovering. 

So grateful for the journey. Not the destination - but the journey.

I found this beautiful quotation today.

On travel: "But we will need to reclaim some notion of the heroic: a quest for communion and, ultimately, self-knowledge. Our wandering is meant to lead back toward ourselves. This is the paradox: we set out on adventures to gain deeper access to ourselves; we travel to transcend our own limitations. Travel should be an art through which our restlessness finds expression. We must bring back the idea of travel as a search." - Ilan Stavans & Joshua Ellison

Days 386-388: Blue skies and blue oceans

Day II.21 (386) - Friday July 6, 2012

Thank God for riding my bike to work and getting up endorphins to survive work on a summer Friday!

Day II.22 (387) - Saturday July 7, 2012

My friend Noor was in town this weekend, and it was great to catch up with her. We went to a lovely rooftop bar in Venice Beach, recommended by my dear friend Shane.

I also got a completely sweet compliment from a stranger. Mark Twain once wrote, "I can last a whole year on a good compliment." I know the feeling.

Then Noor and I went to the beach.

What a lovely day, full of simple pleasures, here in paradise!

Day II.23 (388) - Sunday July 8, 2012
View from the top of the Culver City stairs! Check out this panorama.