One thing has changed since then though. While I do know several people who have served, I’ve met them during civilian times, after their service. As with anyone, their history and the path they traveled on before your paths crossed, is something they carry with them, but it can be easy to separate the two because you never witnessed it. Somehow, somewhere, sometime between then and now, I met someone who is currently serving in the military and through him I’ve learned more about the military, the demands, the details (the ones that can be shared at least) that come with being in the army, which makes Veteran’s Day more personal for me this year. Things like overnight shifts, and missing holidays, and classified information (curiosity might truly be the end of me one day), and upcoming deployments. I always knew those things were real, but to actually hear about them one on one…completely different experience.
Travel Goals
When I started the year out, I had set a goal to visit at least one country a month this year. Then I got my special assignment that grounded me, so I set the goal of having year round tan lines–which has kind of happened, but I’m due for some sun, stat! With that said, I started the year strong with visits to Antigua, Senegal, Grenada and the Philippines by the end of March and continued with visits to Colombia, Croatia and Montenegro in the 6 months that followed.
Can People Change?
I read somewhere that every cells are replaced in our body every 7 years, so in a way, every 7 years we’re a new person. But are we really? We grow and we change, but how much of that is real change and how much of who we are is the same? Every time I’ve moved, or started a new job, or met a new person, is a new opportunity to redefine myself, to make that first impression. And while we do change, to an extent, through growth and experience, how much do we really change?
Taking Steps Towards Political Change
But yesterday, was a glimmer of hope in a dark room. Yesterday people showed up, they voted, they proved that there is still hope and change is possible. Glass ceilings were broken, there were an INCREDIBLE amount of firsts, and it made me believe that we might just be okay after all.
5 Minutes
I’m not having the best day.
Ever have one of those days where you don’t feel like yourself. Where little things set you off? Where you don’t really feel motivated one way or the other or are just overall blah? Where you’re so up in your feelings that you can feel them almost choking you? That’s how I’m feeling today.
Gratefully Grounded
7 months ago, I took a special assignment that took me out of the sky and grounded me for a while. I traded in my wings for a clicker and took a special assignment (a temporary assignment) with the Corporate Learning team at work as an Inflight Instructor.
Why would I stop living the glamorous, flexible, freeing lifestyle of a flight attendant to work in a normal, routine, job? For lots of little reasons and one big one: routine.
Easy Like a Sunday Morning
The clocks went back an hour sometime between when I fell asleep around 11pm last night and when my eyes fluttered open around 5:30am, on a Sunday nonetheless. Still feeling like I wanted to rest more, I tossed and turned for half an hour before I decided to get up and do something. This is that something. (I figure instead of tossing and turning for a few hours, it’s better to get up, do something while the world is asleep, and take a mid-morning nap if needed.)
Chasing Mountain Tops
Though I still don’t consider myself an ‘outdoorsy person’, my friends, my pictures and my membership to REI would disagree. I’m still not the person who will ask you if you want to go hiking this weekend, but when an invitation is extended, I’ll happily accept–with a disclaimer that I’m slow but not a quitter and don’t want to hold you back.
My Bucket List
This whole blog started for a few reasons. As much as I love a good story, my memory isn’t what it used to be and this was going to be my way of capturing and documenting the stories and moments of my life. For a while, it always seemed like I was doing or preparing to do something on my bucket list. This list is a living document. I’ve added new ideas and experiences that have caught my attention.
My Relationship with my Yoga Mat
I have an on and off relationship with yoga. When we’re together and see each other often, it gets hot and heavy on my mat, I feel more at ease, I sleep better, I’m happier. When we’re apart, I miss it and reminisce about our time together, but also feel overwhelmed at the idea of hanging out again. But there’s always a reason that I stopped. Sometimes it’s schedule. Sometimes it’s laziness. More often than not, it’s price. Yoga is expensive. Especially in the Bay area. You know what else is expensive? Spending time being unhappy, unhealthy, and overwhelmed.