summer summer summer time

I always thought the summer was supposed to be the best time of the year. I never knew why, i never asked. I kind of just assumed it was and went with it. Now that I think back, I can't recall a summer like this one. This time around, I think I've finally got it right after 27 years. Summer is time to be care free and just love life. Not making excuses, trying new things, doing things on a whim, living like there is no tomorrow. Going for broke at a moments notice, every moment. Finding myself, finding good friends and keeping them. Keeping it real, and seeing life for what it is. Theme for the summer, you only live once. Starting new relationships, keeping old ones alive. Being on top my life, but not really thinking about it. Just doing whatever it is at the time that makes me happy. Being happy to be alive, to live, to love everything around me. I hope I can take this new found glory into the rest of the seasons of my life. Damn, what a great perspective. Where did it come from? I have no idea, but I'm not gonna ask questions. Why did I never live life like this before? Who cares! Stay up late, get up early, don't miss a second, sleep in and be happy about it. If you think you should be doing something, just do it. Don't ask questions, just live. Be genuine, be real, be happy. Love yourself. Love life. Don't take anything for granted, embrace all that is, for what it is. Don't try to change a thing. See things for what they are, and then look again. They're always changing. Find new perspective, but don't hold on to it. Be excited that it might change tomorrow. Strive for new experience, live in the day baby!

Vacation: A step in the right direction?

Returning from the wilderness where Mother Nature truly rules, I find myself in a place that has always been explained, but never quite understood. I spent but three days in the hills, ridges, hollers of West Virginia, and I can truly say I have a better perspective of where I rate in this world of ours. Very low in the scheme of things. We take for granted the world we live in. I do at least. I always knew there was so much out there to see and do, but new experiences and people really bring my thoughts into perspective.
Some may call it the simple life, I call it true compassion and understanding of how to be happy. I found that being genuinely nice to people and enjoying life no matter what it gives you are two very important keys to enjoyment and happiness. I learned that Mother Nature is not out to get us, but that she simply is bigger than we are and we can live with her if we respect her.
When we arrived on Bug Ridge in Sutton, I was anxious. I was at a family event and out of my Ann Arbor element. It was not my family, and when I go on vacation, I'm usually not too far from a city. I've always appreciated the great outdoors and nature, but I've never really the opportunity to experience it like I did this long weekend. I've always thought myself to be a pretty laid back guy and generally friendly.
I don't think it's possible to explain in words the demeanor of people in our Mason-Dixon friendly states, but I love them all. Some of the nicest people in the world. I was adopted into a group of friends and family that will remember my name and accept me into their homes forever. They didn't tell me this, but they don't have to. They really just care about other people that much. Wish there were more of those kind of people here in Ann Arbor. Oh well, at least I have something to strive for as far as my own human interactions go. Thanks WV!
As far as being out in the wilderness goes; there are entire worlds out there that many people are not fortunate enough to experience. I'm very happy to have been able to fully take in the outdoor adventure experiences I've been a afforded, but I know I haven't even seen the the tip of the iceberg. Maybe an icecube. Maybe a half melted icecube. Either way, I want more. I want to live simple and be outside in the rain, in a lake, on a river, in the woods, on a rock face, in the mountains, in a holler (valley), amongst the most pristine and raw nature. Simply beautiful. The West Virginia Department of Transportation is spot on their license plates. Wild! Wonderful!

I'm feeling smooth?

I'm not sure what I'm feeling. Actually, maybe I'm feeling really comfortable and I don't know why. Am I getting used to, or rather, okay with the way life is? Not worrying about what happens on a moment by moment timeline? Who really cares what I'm feeling? The only one who knows is me and I guess I'm alright with that. I'm feelin' smooth then. There, I said it. Yeah, smoooooth. Like creamy Nutella. Like cold enough, but warm enough cream cheese. Right before it gets sloppy on an overly hot bagel. Maybe I'm hungry. Maybe it's just that I came inside from a brisk summer night. I had a good time talking to friends about randomness and nothing and having it all mean something. Telling stories and relating to each other and none of it mattering, but just the fact that we enjoy each other's company. That might be what cool is. Nice.
Should I be in bed or just sit up and think about all that I should be doing? When is the point at which someone decides that they are going to make a change, and then does it? When the action becomes the word. That is where I'm at right about now. So, I gotta go. Make a change and do it for no one but yourself. Make yourself happy, then share that happiness. Love yourself, then you can share love with someone else. Right? How about; 'Give without cause. Love without fear.' ? I'm gonna try it all and maybe I'll live to tell about it. Till then...

a holiday from life

Waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and...

Waiting, the final frontier. Or is it the inevitable frontier. What do we wait for? Why do we wait? I would rather just do and see what happens. I've learned that without careful, or rather any thought whatsoever, just doing produces unpredictable results. I'd like to say that I can handle unpredictability, but I also enjoy stability. Is this a fine line? Sure, so a delicate balance between the two is something I strive for. Or, am I waiting for it. I guess if I'm not actively pusuing my wants, my dreams with reckless abandon, I'm waiting for it all to just plop right down in my lap. Life, as I have experienced does not work that way. You can't always get what you want, but if you keep waiting for it, you may never get anything at all.
Fate and destiny now come into view. What is the point of trying to get what we want, when, for those of us who believe in fate and destiny, life is going to happen regardless of what we do or want? Is the stability knowing that life will continue to occur at whatever pace, and with whichever events, on a cosistant basis? Is life really like a giant choose your own adventure book? Make this decision and this is what happens. Is the end always the same? (yeah, death sure, but I mean where we end up right before) I'm not looking for the meaning of life here, I'm simply contemplating a rough blueprint for living ones life.
I suppose advice from the wise one's is best for now. Live each day like it was my last. Do the right thing always. Be the best person I can be? Sounds like a plan for now. Don't worry or think about tomorrow or yesterday. Live now, for the day and the rest is going to fall into place. It's like doing a jigsaw puzzle with a blindfold. Without the blindfold you are constanly seeing progress or delcine, you are constantly looking at the pieces and can easily be overwhelmed. We will always be thinking of how far we've come and how far we have to go. With a blindfold though, you only know by touch, or a feeling that a piece fits. You don't know how far you are, or far you have to go. It's a slow process that you only know is progressing when a piece fits. Hmm, that's nice to think about.

My first blog...

Hello world (wide web),

I hate trying to use the tab on the keyboard and not getting an indent. That out of the way, this is my first blog. I am a firm believer in the intimate use of hand-written literature in order to get a message across. Call me old-fashioned, call me what you will, an online conformist would be new. Maybe not though. I guess I'm on face-book, I have e-mail, I do a lot online, but not often? Not sure what I am, where I'm going, what I'm doing, or what life leads to. I just think this is neat. I can now put my life and thoughts onto a world stage and get feedback I suppose. The best part is that I get to be as impersonal as I want, and I be as personal as I please. I did say neat. I don't know what cool is, and awesome may too over the top. So, neat it is. So far, so good. Let's not ruin a good thing then. Till next time...

M