This memoir about travel made me super emotional and want to get on a plane and go. It's so crazy how when I read something my life becomes consumed by the topic of the book. For the past 5 days, I've just been thinking of where to go next and how to budget so I can do so. Wanderlust, man.
Read it so that you can along on this journey with Elisabeth and begin to plan adventures of your own as well.
Below are my favorite quotes from this lovely story because yes:
"I couldn't live with my head somewhere else. I had to embrace my surrounding, because this time was only to go by once, and I didn't want to spend it wishing for things to be different." PREACH.
"A voyage has to have a destination to give it shape and flavor. We quest for something desirable, but we also desire quests."
"What do you want?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"What do you want? In your life."
"I want to be wild; I want to be free."
"Even if I could have stopped time, I knew it wouldn't have the desired effect, because something essential would be missing, some sharpness of focus made possible by the fact that life was fleeting."
"I now say that this was a hazard of being away all the time, this failure to entwine myself with people in one place."
"What I most wanted to do was travel more, without an end date or obligation in sight. I wanted to wander and feel free."
"The idea of roaming intoxicated me to the extent that I couldn't look at the glossy cover of a travel magazine, or browse the travel section of a bookstore, without getting a lump in my throat."
But I couldn't muster the feeling that anything mattered, I was carrying around my bruised copy of Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being: "...the absolute absence of a burden causes man to be lighter than air, to soar into the heights, take leave of the earth and his earthly being, and become only half real, his movements as free as they are insignificant." I thought I'd detached from the earth and was floating through the air.
"The best kind of travel-the kind I wanted to experience-involves a particular state of mind, in which one is not merely open to the occurrence of the unexpected, but to the deep involvement in the unexpected, indeed, open to the possibility of having one's life changed forever by a chance encounter."
"Most good travel stories are about discovering the unexpected. The travel goes abroad with an illusion, the illusion is shattered, but then she learns something new, and after assorted challenges and humiliations, she achieves a satisfying epiphany."
"I'd be there one moment, and then, poof, I'd be gone. I romanticized the quick disappearance, but really I just I hated the awkwardness of leaving. I hated the heartfelt statements that were required, and the declarations of intent that I already knew wouldn't come to fruition."
"The business of creating an adult life was difficult to think about, so I preferred things that distracted me or, ideally, overwhelmed me. Anything to push thought aside."
"I was trying to prove something, but I wasn't sure what it was, or whom it was for."
"I'd wanted to let my life be changed, but suddenly I was on the precipice of letting all go too far. I saw various lives unspooling before me. In one I was free to build a career, move to a big city, be young and aspiring at the center of the world. In another I never left the southern hemisphere."
"Travel is life changing."
Friday, September 5, 2014
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Dear July: 31
Dear July,
We've done it. We're at the last day of you. Every day has brought its trials and today is no different. I feel like as soon as things feel like they are going well and everything is in order something happens to get me all out of balance. Such is life. I am going to keep the positive thoughts flowing so that something works out for this upcoming month. I have many people rooting for me, which is lovely. It's easy to forget that there are many who care and see your potential when you get lost in your head. It's important to be introspective when necessary but when it's time to get down to business and get things done, it's important to reach out to those who can help you. Ambiguous post is ambiguous, huh?
Anyway random update part: my aunt did my highlights yesterday and I'm so happy with how it looks. The darker red is the color I originally wanted so to see on my head makes me the happiest! On the reading part of my life, I tried to pick up three books yesterday and none of them hooked me. I think after reading three books in two days, my mind is like slow your roll and let me digest the journey through these imaginary worlds you just took me on! ;]
Since, August is the last month of me working at my job unless it becomes permanent, (which my boss is working on!) I want to do what I said I was going to do a little while ago and be a tourist in NYC. So the plan for August is the opposite of July. July, you were all about being connected to the internet by posting on here and a picture on Instagram every day. I'm not saying I'm unplugging completely but I'm going to take my camera with me instead of using my phone and just be more in sync with what's around me while going on adventures. Plan! Thanks for listening to my ramblings, July.
Signing off for the last time this month.
Sincerely,
Betty :]
We've done it. We're at the last day of you. Every day has brought its trials and today is no different. I feel like as soon as things feel like they are going well and everything is in order something happens to get me all out of balance. Such is life. I am going to keep the positive thoughts flowing so that something works out for this upcoming month. I have many people rooting for me, which is lovely. It's easy to forget that there are many who care and see your potential when you get lost in your head. It's important to be introspective when necessary but when it's time to get down to business and get things done, it's important to reach out to those who can help you. Ambiguous post is ambiguous, huh?
Anyway random update part: my aunt did my highlights yesterday and I'm so happy with how it looks. The darker red is the color I originally wanted so to see on my head makes me the happiest! On the reading part of my life, I tried to pick up three books yesterday and none of them hooked me. I think after reading three books in two days, my mind is like slow your roll and let me digest the journey through these imaginary worlds you just took me on! ;]
Since, August is the last month of me working at my job unless it becomes permanent, (which my boss is working on!) I want to do what I said I was going to do a little while ago and be a tourist in NYC. So the plan for August is the opposite of July. July, you were all about being connected to the internet by posting on here and a picture on Instagram every day. I'm not saying I'm unplugging completely but I'm going to take my camera with me instead of using my phone and just be more in sync with what's around me while going on adventures. Plan! Thanks for listening to my ramblings, July.
Signing off for the last time this month.
Sincerely,
Betty :]
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Dear July: 30
Dear July,
We are coming down to the wire, huh? Looking back through my posts is great because I got to document a month of ups and downs. I had a good day today. Spent it with my cousin running errands, getting Taco Bell and then going to hang out with my other cousins. Good times. I finally got my highlights done again and I'm so happy with the color. I've been reading like crazy and that's my plan for the rest of the night once again.
Sincerely,
Betty :]
We are coming down to the wire, huh? Looking back through my posts is great because I got to document a month of ups and downs. I had a good day today. Spent it with my cousin running errands, getting Taco Bell and then going to hang out with my other cousins. Good times. I finally got my highlights done again and I'm so happy with the color. I've been reading like crazy and that's my plan for the rest of the night once again.
Sincerely,
Betty :]
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Dear July: 29
Dear July,
Today felt like a nice fall day and I love every second of it. The breeze felt great when I went to go get some lunch earlier. I've spent most of the day at work reading and listening to Snow Mantled Love and it's been super relaxing. I can't believe there's only two days left of you, July. I'm trying to make some plans for August. I like how this project became a diary of sorts and I want to continue to document life on here. Just not every day because that was weirdly stressful in that since I promised myself I would post every day and I did even if it was a sentence. I'm proud of that for sure. Anyways, back to reading.
If you want to listen to SML: http://snowmantledlove.bandcamp.com/
Currently reading: Conversion by Katherine Howe
Sincerely,
Betty :]
Today felt like a nice fall day and I love every second of it. The breeze felt great when I went to go get some lunch earlier. I've spent most of the day at work reading and listening to Snow Mantled Love and it's been super relaxing. I can't believe there's only two days left of you, July. I'm trying to make some plans for August. I like how this project became a diary of sorts and I want to continue to document life on here. Just not every day because that was weirdly stressful in that since I promised myself I would post every day and I did even if it was a sentence. I'm proud of that for sure. Anyways, back to reading.
If you want to listen to SML: http://snowmantledlove.bandcamp.com/
Currently reading: Conversion by Katherine Howe
Sincerely,
Betty :]
Monday, July 28, 2014
Dear July: 28
Dear July,
Today has gone by pretty quickly, which is perfect for a Monday. The day has been filled with Comic Con and Mockingjay feels.
Sincerely,
Betty :]
Today has gone by pretty quickly, which is perfect for a Monday. The day has been filled with Comic Con and Mockingjay feels.
Sincerely,
Betty :]
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Dear July: 26
Dear July,
Word of the day: family. I woke up to do an errand for my mom and then went and spent the day with my aunts and grandparents because tomorrow is Dominican's father day. So we ate and were just enjoying each other's company, it was good times. My cousin and I then went to this park were her friends were throwing a barbecue and we got drinks and just hung out. Now we're figuring out where to go to dance and have a good time tonight. Gotta love family!
Sincerely,
Betty :]
Word of the day: family. I woke up to do an errand for my mom and then went and spent the day with my aunts and grandparents because tomorrow is Dominican's father day. So we ate and were just enjoying each other's company, it was good times. My cousin and I then went to this park were her friends were throwing a barbecue and we got drinks and just hung out. Now we're figuring out where to go to dance and have a good time tonight. Gotta love family!
Sincerely,
Betty :]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)