Afternoon Groceries on my bike.

The splendor of a warm afternoon rain unearthed the beauty in the misty air as I rode my bike to the grocery store.
Pedalling allows me to glide through the world. Freer than most folks stuck in their cars. I feel closer to the trees. I feel every little bump below me. I hear things I'd never heard.
Time is no longer measured by anxious small moments that have deadlines so near you can taste them. Heart pounding and short breaths.
Time is measured by the endless possibility of tomorrow and of the upcoming year. Life is eternal. As long as you feel its Energy. The heart smiles and you breathe fully.
A little girl with hair so blond in a car with her mom stopped at the corner where I was waiting to cross. She was probably 12. Her shy gaze looked up at me, down at her lap, and back up at me. I smiled. She smiled back.
She was me at that age.
A glance in a mirror. 
What have I accomplished in 15 years? What have I endured?
I remembered who I was then, a girl that wanted to save the rainforests, play with monkeys. I was going to change the world. And by night I was a ninja.
Possibilities. Growing older closes doors that actually cannot be closed because all we have are windows. It's all about how you choose to see.
I wondered for a moment what the girl thought about me. 
Sometimes I feel so connected to my surroundings, it's as though I am them and they are me. Maybe that's why I have so much faith in others.
Easier to get hurt.
I'm so grateful that I get the chance to have a 'bike' kind of life. My days have movement.
Our lives are but a passing wind, from childhood to the last breath. I want to fill my days with love from now on.

Surprise!...here's Life.

Life as a Surprise.

Some people will surprise you in good ways, and unfortunately, others will surprise you in very bad ways, something you would never have expected from them.

It may throw you on the ground, and you may feel as though the dust inhibits you from breathing and from properly seeing the world spinning around you.

Just wait for the dust to settle. It'll come in a day, a week, maybe a month. But it will come.

And when it does, you will lift yourself off of the ground, and you will find a new, beautiful path that you had never seen before. Maybe you will hop on a train and end up somewhere new. Or maybe you'll stay somewhere familiar, as strong as ever.

Nevertheless, just hold on to that invisible thing that is Hope. It'll get you through anything my dears.

Love,

G.

ps: and if not, eat dark chocolate and drink coffee.

Alone in Learning

You don't expect that the people you love in your life may not always be there, especially by choice. But it happens. 
They will shock you.
And you try to deal with it best you can. Even if it means serious workouts followed by eating dark chocolate while watching comedies from the 80's. And hugs from your friends. Many of those. Because sometimes the tears are going to fall even if you hate that you've been reduced to that, but the hugs make you feel less alone. We're only human.
So this brings me to the thought I have in my mind this week: being alone.

I think I've been waiting a while to find someone that would want to experience life with me. Someone that genuinely would enjoy going on my sometimes silly adventures.
But what if I can't find someone willing to do that with me?
I'm going to have to plan on doing these things alone.


I have a Bucket List with over 40 entries. I'm sure that list will grow to exceed 100. It gives me satisfaction to scratch off one more thing accomplished. 

I've decided to make a list of some of those things that I want to do this year. I can't wait for that impossible person to join me. So far, I am going to:

•  skydive
•  Finish Masters degree
•  a trip to Alberta
•  Go to Italy to study here (http://www.adg.it/) (may be far-fetched, but I'm going to try my best)
•  Yoga outside at Sunset & at Sunrise
•  lots & lots of camping and hiking
•  purchase a DSLR

Hey friends,

Don't forget to check out my bucket list! (I really want to know what you all are yearning to do as well! leave comments! That would make my day)

Also, there's my 'Let's play nice' blog, where I recently posted a link to a great non-profit organization...that I think you should check out! 

Don't forget to "follow me", that way I'll know if anyone's actually reading this...lol

Hope you all have a safe and thrilling Halloween!

*Keeping the people in Thailand in my thoughts*

Out of the Darkness walk

Saturday's Out of the Darkness walk was a success on so many different levels:

Emotionally - It was an important day for so many families who gathered to remember the ones they love. Pictures of the deceased adorned many of the personalized tshirts.
Financial Success - The money raised will be used in various ways. One of them is that they have implented programs in many of the schools in the Acadiana region to raise awareness and offer help to kids in need.
Awareness - the word suicide makes people uncomfortable. But it is indeed an illness, a mental illness, that is as real as cancer or other illnesses. The more people know about it, the less obscure it becomes, and the more they will be willing to learn about how to deal with those that need help.

I decided to walk in Jamie Hubley's memory, a 15-year old who after battling depression, ended his life not even 2 weeks ago. He'd also been bullied for being openly gay. I posted a picture of Jamie, a beautiful soul, on the 'Memory Wall':

Before they released the balloons, they named so many names of people that had committed suicide. Jamie's name was called.
I wrote "Be Free." in my balloon.

Here's to Jamie.

There's still time to donate to this cause, up until December. Follow this link if you want to (it's a secure site):

http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=1338&participantID=226674

Festival-ing

Things I learned at Festival Acadien et Créole this year:

- although we like to complain about the dust, it's a great conversation topic. People love to talk about it, whether about how much there is, and afterwards, about how when you blow your nose.. well you can imagine.
- I've added 2 guys on my list of: do not dance with them. ever. again.
- Wayne Toups and Steve Riley = good times.
- Even if you're 27 (me), many people still believe you're under the age of 21...
- Canadians enjoy alligator-on-a-stick and beignets a whole lot.
- this Festival is awesome because most of the Festival goers are in a great mood! (it does not matter wether this happiness is alcohol-induced or not)
- force yourself, using any strength you have left, to go to the Blue Moon afterwards, each night. it's worth it, even if you feel like a sardine.
- Monday comes around and you realize how much stuff you need to get done. Reality sets in. Sad times. It shall be a week of intense studying. If you need me, i'll be at a coffee shop somewhere in Lafayette.

Looking forward to the next one!

Cheers mes amis

So for now, here's what's up

Updates up the yazoo.
In case you care, I've scratched off a second item off my Bucket List (I fed a giraffe...twice!) You can check out my list here :)

Do you have a list?? I'd love to know about it. I find that having one has allowed me to live life with a 'let's do it!' attitude.

I've also got a Blog part deux on the go... Here's the first post. It's a blog about doing great things in this world...how to make it a nicer, happier place!

Cheers friends! Remember to tell someone I love you today