Apparently I'm slowing down with this blog thing. It's an easy thing to forget about when your mind is occupied in other directions. But I enjoy it - the thoughts and the writing that it requires of me. I guess I should pay more attention to that. I should really just pay attention in general.
It's full on winter here. It came on a Friday night in a windy, slushy fury. Now the streets are icy and crack under slippery footsteps. So many people say they hate winter, but I find that the white snow gives purpose to a grey landscape. It makes it beautiful, fragile. This is the time when we hibernate, and appreciate the warmth of our homes, and our loved ones.
Being in a far away land really allows me to contemplate the relationships in my life. They say that distance make the heart grow fonder, and in a sense that is true. I find that it is giving me the ability to look more objectively upon my life, and to appreciate connections that I have perhaps not always valued as much as I should. The memories of people, laughter and love become more prominent in my mind and everything else just kind of sifts away. There are so many things, so many people that we take for granted in this life, and we never notice until their gone... or at least, far away.
The true value of friendship. I come to Sweden and find myself, at first, aching to find a connection with someone that resembles one of the ones I have back home. How have I been so lucky to have so many amazing people surrounding me for all these years? People who love me, even after getting to know me. It's a slow but interesting process this, 'getting to know people' thing, but it's coming along. There are a few, but certain individuals I have met here who are the salt of the earth and I am grateful that this journey has brought me in to their presence. With this semester coming to an end I am finding this sort of calm coming over me about the next. Like, with the new year I will be able to see things in a new light. It's all coming together and I'm excited to see what it looks like on the other end.
Yes, being aware is good.
ReplyDeleteBeware of God
~~~
To be alive, to be able to see,
to walk, to have houses, music, paintings
—it’s all a miracle.
I have adopted the technique
of living life from miracle to miracle.
Arthur Rubinstein
You say, "How have I been so lucky to have so many amazing people surrounding me for all these years? People who love me, even after getting to know me."
ReplyDeleteI may be a bit biased, but I believe it's because you are so amazing yourself. And you too, love those around you, even after getting to know us.
An old story comes to mind here...
A couple was driving west and when stopped for gas, ask the attendant, "What are the people like in the town up ahead?"
The gas bar jockey scratched his chin, looked at the people asking, than said, "Well, what were the people like in the last town you were in?"
The couple responded that they were fine folks, generous, kind and interesting.
The attendant then said, "Well, I reckon that's the way you'll find people up ahead."
[Why do this wise guys out west always 'reckon'?]