rainy spontaneity

my friend hannah cohen is a wonderfully talented photographer and just a gem of a human being. i came across this photo in one of her albums recently about strangers and was inspired to put it up here. she writes:

this couple had been enjoying a coffee outside in Amherst when a major rainstorm hit. i expected them both to flee but instead this happened.
 

ain't love beautiful?

grateful sundays

my birthday's tomorrow. i feel a little older than a lot of my peers (i've always been old for my grade and now i'm graduating a semester late), making me 23 in a sea of 21 and 22 year olds. not that i'm complaining and not that it makes much of a difference; i'm a firm believer that age ain't nothin' but a number. but in light of the changing season and approaching the anniversary of my birth, i've been thinking a lot about what it means to be getting older.

it seems that many people avoid or look down on the topic of getting older, groaning after we hit that ripe old age of 21. but in my experience, entering my 23rd year of life, it just keeps getting better. each year up to now, i've been able to meet new people, live in new places, and learn new things.

granted, i'm coming from a privileged place. i'm going to college and my responsibilities are fairly limited (maybe that's why i'm feeling this happy freedom). but i think it's all about how you look at it, too. everyone can look forward to the future if they put your mind in the right place. it helps to start with gratitude. we've all got lots of great things to be grateful for; can you think of something?


things i'm grateful for today:
1. combination of simon and garfunkel and coffee
2. friendly people
3. fresh cut flowers
4. new beginnings

openness

"I do not accept any absolute formulas for living. No preconceived code can see ahead to everything that can happen in a man's life. As we live, we grow and our beliefs change. They must change. So I think we should live with this constant discovery. We should be open to this adventure in heightened awareness of living. We should stake our whole existence on our willingness to explore and experience."

 -Martin Buber

As I begin to embark on my last semester at UMass Amherst and approach the "real world" after, I am constantly feeling waves of intense uncertainty. I'm almost 23 and I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. I've got lots of ideas, but no definites (other than travel). While this can be freeing, it can also be intimidating. How are we supposed to choose the path for the rest of our lives at such a young age? The idea of choosing one seems to suffocate me.

When I get too anxious about the situation, I find comfort in talking with lots of people about this, and it seems that most people don't know what they want to do when they grow up, regardless of if they're 19 or 91. It makes me think about this flexible, fluid thing called life. If we're lucky, we could have 100 years on this planet--that's a long time! Why restrict oneself to a single job for a whole lifetime when there are so many options and years out there?

It's pointless to worry about what will happen ten years from now. The weight can feel crushing, but there is nothing we can do about the future except positively be here now. You might not be in the job or location you dreamed, but only you have the power to change those things. Make the best of your now, and if it isn't the best now you could be having, change it. Look for avenues. If you're open to it, you never know who you might run into, what subject might steal your heart, and what opportunities might just land in your lap. Life is a pretty crazy thing. You don't have to know exactly what you want to do, but if you don't, be open to the fluid changes of life and perspective. And don't forget to smile and even laugh, especially when you get too serious.