Suddenly, my room feels more complete.
Today, I finally filled the empty wall space in between the two windows in my bedroom. I’ve lived in this house for nearly three and a half years, and that empty space, that void, has been mocking me ever since, as if every time I look at it, it says, “When are you going to hang something up here?”
Well, I did it. Over the holiday, my sister gifted me a print of a painting of Park Avenue at Arches National Park in Utah. For those who have never been, it’s quite breathtaking. Pictures don’t do it justice; it’s an expansive view of mammoth rocks jutting out of the ground in a long row, like the skyscrapers lined along Park Avenue in New York City. She paired the print with a photo that she took of the same view when she and I visited in May 2022. I got a nice frame and hung it up on the wall a few hours ago.
On the back of the photo, she wrote a small message. I can’t remember precisely what she wrote, and I’m too lazy to take it out of the frame to double check, but it went something like this: Thanks for being my travel buddy. I can’t wait for all of the adventures to come.
When I think about the most rewarding experiences of the past few years of my life, traveling is always at the top of the list. Kayaking in the Pacific Sea off the coast of La Jolla, hopping between the towns of Cinque Terre, watching the sunset at the edge of Santorini; I feel so incredibly grateful for each of these moments. There are of course other things that bring joy to my life, like concerts, food, and so on. But traveling has brought me closer with family, friends, and even strangers in ways that I could not have expected.
Every time I walk in my room and look at the frame hanging on the wall, I’m reminded of those moments, transporting me for a moment to a happier time and place. And that, in and of itself, is magic.
——————————
I’m struggling to finish this entry because I just received word that Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills, suffered a life-threatening injury tonight. He collapsed on the field and had to have CPR administered before he was taken to a local hospital. Considering the gravity of the situation, the remainder of the Bengals / Bills game is being postponed.
This is, yet another reminder, that life is fragile. Everything can change in an instant. I think about the message my sister left for me: I can’t wait for all the adventures to come.
But how many more adventures are there?
It’s easy to talk about the big trips and fancy vacations and the impact that they’ve had. But what about the simple moments of daily life? What about waking up and having a chance to brush your teeth in the morning? Am I grateful for those moments too?
The reality is that you can’t take anything for granted. Every moment is a gift. It’s nice to dream about visiting far off places, but you must first be appreciative of what you have already.
So here’s what I’ll ask you - what are some of your favorite moments of your daily life? It could be the way the sun hits your room in the morning or the smell of coffee or taking your dog for a walk.
What are the simple things that make you appreciate life and all its uncertain beauty?
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Suddenly, my room feels more complete.
Today, I finally filled the empty wall space in between the two windows in my bedroom. I’ve lived in this house for nearly three and a half years, and that empty space, that void, has been mocking me ever since, as if every time I look at it, it says, “When are you going to hang something up here?”
Well, I did it. Over the holiday, my sister gifted me a print of a painting of Park Avenue at Arches National Park in Utah. For those who have never been, it’s quite breathtaking. Pictures don’t do it justice; it’s an expansive view of mammoth rocks jutting out of the ground in a long row, like the skyscrapers lined along Park Avenue in New York City. She paired the print with a photo that she took of the same view when she and I visited in May 2022. I got a nice frame and hung it up on the wall a few hours ago.
On the back of the photo, she wrote a small message. I can’t remember precisely what she wrote, and I’m too lazy to take it out of the frame to double check, but it went something like this: Thanks for being my travel buddy. I can’t wait for all of the adventures to come.
When I think about the most rewarding experiences of the past few years of my life, traveling is always at the top of the list. Kayaking in the Pacific Sea off the coast of La Jolla, hopping between the towns of Cinque Terre, watching the sunset at the edge of Santorini; I feel so incredibly grateful for each of these moments. There are of course other things that bring joy to my life, like concerts, food, and so on. But traveling has brought me closer with family, friends, and even strangers in ways that I could not have expected.
Every time I walk in my room and look at the frame hanging on the wall, I’m reminded of those moments, transporting me for a moment to a happier time and place. And that, in and of itself, is magic.
——————————
I’m struggling to finish this entry because I just received word that Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills, suffered a life-threatening injury tonight. He collapsed on the field and had to have CPR administered before he was taken to a local hospital. Considering the gravity of the situation, the remainder of the Bengals / Bills game is being postponed.
This is, yet another reminder, that life is fragile. Everything can change in an instant. I think about the message my sister left for me: I can’t wait for all the adventures to come.
But how many more adventures are there?
It’s easy to talk about the big trips and fancy vacations and the impact that they’ve had. But what about the simple moments of daily life? What about waking up and having a chance to brush your teeth in the morning? Am I grateful for those moments too?
The reality is that you can’t take anything for granted. Every moment is a gift. It’s nice to dream about visiting far off places, but you must first be appreciative of what you have already.
So here’s what I’ll ask you - what are some of your favorite moments of your daily life? It could be the way the sun hits your room in the morning or the smell of coffee or taking your dog for a walk.
What are the simple things that make you appreciate life and all its uncertain beauty?
