*Follow this journey on my former (now inactive) blog: Europe 2010 My memory is hazy since my departure for Europe ten years ago (to the day). I can’t remember all the sensations of saying goodbye to my parents at the airport, laden with my brand new North Face 60 liter backpack, stuffed to the breakingContinue reading “10 Years Ago Today: “loos’d of limits and imaginary lines””
Tag Archives: adventure
November 5th
Bare trees with branches, tentacle-like, grasp. Exposed bark. Leaves cling to a few oaks, green tinged with yellow, orange, brown. There is a difference between being alone and being lonely. God has given us nature to surround us and wrap us like a garment, and I have had only a few moments of electrifying clarityContinue reading “November 5th”
5 Reasons NOT to Travel
Not many blogs today are going to discourage any readers from traveling, but, though I believe in the power and importance of cross-cultural experiences and travel, sometimes we need to check our motives. This post is a follow-up to my last, “5 Reasons to Travel” (sorry I didn’t post this a week later like I originally said…firstContinue reading “5 Reasons NOT to Travel”
Guatemala and Big (Personal) News
Last spring, during Semana Santa, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Antigua, Guatemala… …with my fiancee, Elena! Yes, it has been difficult for me to post as frequently as I’d like because of some crazy (awesome) life events including proposing to my amazing fiancee and transitioning back to the United States to continue teachingContinue reading “Guatemala and Big (Personal) News”
Transcendentalism, Nature, and Concord
About a year and a half ago I remember having what can only be described as a really good day. Now, if those superlatives don’t exactly bowl you over, it’s simply because nothing truly spectacular happened; I was just able to look back at the end of the day and realize how incredibly refreshing itContinue reading “Transcendentalism, Nature, and Concord”
Deep breaths…
It’s a simple playlist, only sixteen songs right now. My thinking music. My deep breathing, deep contemplating music. My centering music. It’s playing in the background right now. I invite you to join in my thoughtful reveries: a pipe and thoughts Every life is a universe. Every step opens new worlds, new realities andContinue reading “Deep breaths…”
Saying Goodbye (and Understanding Home)
Home is one of the most powerful motifs I’ve ever found in literature or theology. In my senior’s English Literature class we’re reading Robinson Crusoe (I needed something in our textbook that would hold their attention amidst senioritis better than old poetry they couldn’t understand–remember, English isn’t their first language). At the beginning of the storyContinue reading “Saying Goodbye (and Understanding Home)”
Poetry: Walt Whitman’s “Song of the Open Road”
First of all, can we just acknowledge how cool Walt Whitman looks? I mean, like the original mountaineer hipster guy. Okay good, glad you agree. I first came across Whitman in college quite by accident. I honestly can’t remember how I found his poem “Song of the Open Road,” but it was while compilingContinue reading “Poetry: Walt Whitman’s “Song of the Open Road””
Adventure: Reflection and Looking Ahead
Seven years ago today I embarked on an incredibly transformative life-adventure: backpacking through Europe by myself for 3.5 months as a freshly graduated 22 year old. I spent time journaling and reflecting this morning. Here’s today’s entry: January 14 [2017]: On this day seven years ago I flew from St. Louis to Dublin. ThatContinue reading “Adventure: Reflection and Looking Ahead”
Everyday Adventure
{I feel like every post lately starts with an apology. Here’s my last apology but hopefully not my last post for awhile. The reality is that I was a little over-ambitious when I began my blog, not factoring in my schedule (besides being a first-year teacher I’m finishing another degree online). Once my schedule clearsContinue reading “Everyday Adventure”
a great, real place 