Wasted

I remember about 3 years ago going along on my daily run and this song popped up on my ipod. I had listened to it a hundred times but I guess that day I really listened to the lyrics. I really don't want to let all these years go by wasted. When people stand at my funeral and tells stories about my life I would love to them say "she was a little crazy, maybe a bit of a gypsy, but what an interesting life she led". I think this next adventure should add an interesting chapter to the book of my life. I guess we'll see soon enough!

Wild Horses

Nothing to add other then I simply love this song :)

The Labyrinth

I love the movie The Labyrinth. Jim Henson created a magical world that served as a beautiful backdrop for the journey of a young girl discovering the power within herself. Through obstacles created by the super yummy rocker prince Jerad she learned to assert herself and discover that her destiny belonged to her all along.

One of my favorite scenes is when Jerad dreams her into an intense masquerade ball. She is a young girl surrounded by characters that are beautiful and fearful at the same time. Part of her wants to stay but she knows that she belongs out in the real world beyond the glass walls

"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen, for my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great — You have no power over me."

Oh Jerad..click here :)

The Beets Motel

I think I could learn a thing or two from Dwight K. Schrute about running a successful hospitality business. Maybe I don't need to go to school in Switzerland ;)

Just as you are

Just a thought, wouldn't it be nice if there was someone out there like Marc Darcy who loved you just as you are. Maybe when I live in Switzerland I will take the Easy Jet to London and live out my Bridget Jones fantasy ;)

click here to see the video!

On a clear day

The hardest thing about making a big life change is getting everyone around you to see things as you do. When I tell people I am moving to Switzerland the reactions are always a mix of "how, why, aren't you scared, that's crazy". However, if people could see my future as clear as I do they would understand. Barbra understands, on a clear day you can see forever. My future is out there and I see exactly where I am going. If you could see what I see you would understand.

Soft Kitty

I had a great day with my mom yesterday shopping and spending time together. I spent about 10 years living away from my parents when I was in Oregon so I know I will be ok I will still miss my parents. There are certain things only a mom or dad can do. Like calm you down when you are stressed or make you feel better when you are sick. I think Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory understands this sentiment. The song soft kitty is something his mommy used to sing to him when he was sick.

To hear this soothing lullaby click here ;)

I know I'm a big girl but I will still miss my mommy and daddy when I'm gone. 82 days to go ;)

Eurotrip

I hope I have a night like this while I live in Switzerland, minus the creepy married guy hitting on me ;)

Don't dream it...be it

There are a lot of things I learned from the Rocky Horror Picture show. Never walk in the rain with just a newspaper for an umbrella, don't trust a hunchback, dressing like a tap dancer with a glitter tube top is sexy, always over line your lips and wear lots of lipstick (thanks Tim Curry) and it's just a jump to the left. However, among all of the important life lessons the movie has I think "Don't dream it...be it" is the most profound. I was having a conversation the other night with a person who was lamenting how much he hated the direction his life was going in. All I could say was, "so make a change". Switzerland may not be for everyone but we have all reached a point in our life when we were unhappy. So make your own change. The only difference between happy people and miserable people is change. Live your life how you see fit and pursue your true happiness. If we could skip the part where we run around in our underwear trying to figure this out that would be preferable. I can't rock the white bra slip look as well as Janet ;)

Don't rain on my parade

Oh Barbra, how you speak to my soul. I love all of her movies but I particularly love Funny Girl. A girl from meager means goes on to become a great star and fall in love. Granted, her husband turns out to be a gambling fool but it is still a very romantic story. Life's candy and the sun is my ball of butter. Thanks for all the inspiration Barbra!

Don't worry, be happy!

No commentary necessary ;) meeeooowww! 86 days to go!

It's not easy being green

When I was a child few men impacted my life, other than my dad, like Jim Henson. His simple but profound messages about love and friendship helped shaped my view of the world. Also, I simply adore Ms. Piggy. Jim once said:

"If you care about what you do and work hard at it, there isn't anything you can't do if you want to."

It comes down to one simple thing....Passion. Being exactly who I am in this moment, accepting all of my good qualities and my flaws. I have made the decision to go after exactly what I want for my future and I am doing the hard work to make it possible. There are days when I am exhausted or unsure of myself but I know I am moving in the right direction. I am taking the road less traveled and it makes me different. Special even? It may not be easy being green but "it's beautiful and I think it's what I want to be" :) 87 days to go!

"Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending."
— Jim Henson

Timing is everything

I ran into someone I knew from my childhood last night. It got me thinking. Are we all just two ships passing in the night? We meet people in life who mean something to us and then somehow that changes. Granted I'm not saying I knew anything about life when I was twelve. But, it still gives me pause to consider all of the people I have known in my life and what they have meant to me. I think of those I met when I was too young or the people I have yet to meet that will impact my life.

What about the person in the coffee shop that smiles at you and you hold eye contact for that extra second but you just grab your latte and leave? Was that your person or the next great teacher in your life? Do you remember that person from your past who still makes you smile when you think of him? Maybe moving on means never forgetting where we came from and the people who have shaped our present.

"Ships that pass in the night and speak each other in passing;
Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness;
So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another,
Only a look and a voice; then darkness again and a silence."

- Heny Wadsworth Longfellow, 1873

Think of those moments when you look at someone and pause to say something but you stop yourself. What if we all took a risk in that vulnerable and honest moment and spoke? I have always said that things happen when they are supposed to happen in the way that they are supposed to happen but maybe helping destiny along is worth shifting the cosmos. After all, timing is everything, and there is only so much time that we have. 88 days to go :)

Just because I can!

If you want in my window into my soul watch the video below ;)

89 days...OMG!

Girls just want to have fun!

One thing I love about my friendship with Brittney is that we can go 3 weeks without seeing each other and then hang out 4 nights in a row like now time has passed. Good friendships are hard to come by. I have a handful of people I consider close to me, most of whom live in Oregon (you know who you are ladies). So here is a shout out to all of my girlfriends...whether I'm in Switzerland or live next door.. you will always be my friends :)

The climb

Today I went to the Swiss Consulate in Los Angeles and submitted my Visa application. What a relief. I had all of my paperwork in order and I was in and out in 15 minutes. Then my mom and I spent the rest of the day enjoying ourselves. We kept it "super classy" and strolled down Rodeo drive and then went shopping at the Westfield. It was nice to have a day with my mom since they are numbered. Only 91 days until I leave. It is becoming more and more real everyday and I am excited to start this new chapter in my life.

Looking back I remember a time in my life when I was always worried about that next achievement. I was lost and didn't know what my life's purpose was. I thought if I just get this job or meet the right guy then I will "be happy". But as the years have passed I've begun to realize that it really is all about the journey. I've swerved, made u-turns, and all together pulled over to the side of the road at points in my life. I think we have all been there.

Then one day it clicked for me. I needed to stop keeping a scorecard on my own life. Its okay that I am almost 30 and I'm not married. It's okay that I have had a handful of careers. It's okay to want something more then the everyday. The people I've met along the way, the mistakes I've made, the places I've been have all created the crazy and complex person that I am. I see my move to Switzerland more as a plot point in the story of my life. Who knows where I will be or what I will be doing a year or 5 years from now. Right now I am just enjoying the ride and taking it all in.

In the immortal words of the great Miley Cyrus ;) "It ain't about how fast I get there, ain't about what's waiting on the other side, it's the climb"

Baby I'm a firework!

Sometimes I just have hard time understanding people. Why settle for a common life when there is so much more out there. Granted, getting married and having babies can be amazing with the right person but why settle for the status quo when there are a whole world of opportunities to experience.

I feel a spark inside me to be greater, to achieve more, to pursue my own personal happiness. I rest my destiny in no other person's hands but my own. Sometimes chasing your dreams can be a lonely prospect but I think there is no greater loneliness then being with the wrong person for the wrong reasons.

Maybe I will move to Switzerland and fall in love, maybe I will eventually become a Mother or maybe I will spend the rest of my life searching for something greater. The future is so uncertain and that is what is so exciting. I get to choose my life not anyone else. So make your choice today. Be a firework and explode with all the sparkle and fire inside of you. I know I will.

92 days to go!

Moon River

I have always been fascinated by the character of Holly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's". A girl who was stuck in a life she never planned for or wanted. She decided to make a change and moved away from it all to start a new life as a completely different person.

I think that may be one of the things I am most excited about. Every time you move to a new place it is a chance to start all over again. A chance to reinvent yourself or to return to the truest version of yourself. People and circumstance often complicate things. Maybe that is why Holly never gave the cat a name in the story. Getting attached to people and places often creates a vortex that you can never escape from. For those of you reading this that live in Bakersfield you know what I am talking about.

I am not saying love and family are not important but I do think opportunities often get passed by just because it is easier to retreat to the comfort of common life. Of course taking risks is a frightening prospect but just think of what is at that rainbows end. I am not afraid. I am just a drifter off to see the world, and there is such a lot of world to see.

Only 93 days to go :)

Thank God for what I've missed

Do you ever have regrets in life? Do you think, "What if I had said Yes?"..."What if I had went to this school?" or " What if I went on that date?". Should've Could've Would've. What if all of the things that we haven't done are what lead us to this exact moment. One thing my mother taught me early on is to live with no regrets. Everything truly does happen for a reason. If I hadn't had that first horrible job out of college, been in that relationship for 2 years too long, or moved back home would I have made it to this moment? I am on the precipice of something greater. I can feel my life about to change again. Regrets? What does that even mean? We are all just in this moment, participating in the greatness that is the human experience. Everything has led me here to this. Where will this day lead you?

94 days to go :)

Publish Post

When I dream, I dream in color

Yesterday was the first time I started to feel a little overwhelmed at the prospect of turning my life completely upside down. After a big deep breath, I reminded myself that I am living my life's dream. A real life dream, not a thought or a passing notion of what I would hope to do someday. A real dream that I have always yearned for and I am now realizing

I want to go where I've never been....see what's never been seen. This lyric for Regina Belle's song embodies this journey I am about to embark on. I have always reached beyond what some may have thought was possible. My dreams are vivid aspirations. I know exactly who I am and where I am going. I dream in color, full and bright, forever moving toward my future. 95 days to go :)

Click on the video at the bottom to hear this amazing song.

Tired of living life in black and white

There's so much in between

Like a rainbow in the sky

Crying to be seen

When I open my eyes to find inspiration

I search for the best I can see

If I settle for less

I won't be the best I can be

When I dream, I dream in color

There is so much I want to discover

I'll give you so many good reasons

To capture a dream, yeah, yeah

Life is short, but can't be bought, mmm

And time is a very precious thing

I want to go to where I've never been

And see what's never been seen

In the midst of the morning I won't take for granted

There'll always be another new day

Got to live for each moment

Never let time slip away

When I dream, I dream in color

There is so much I want to discover

I'll give you so many good reasons

To capture a dream, whoa...

If I was unaware, if I didn't care

About people and places and things

How could I live a life full and satisfied

Now knowing how to dream

When I dream, oh, yeah

When I dream, I dream in color

There is so much I want to discover

Show me a child who never has seen

A vision that shows what his life really means

I'll give you so many good reasons

To capture a dream

No day but today

I just started my enrollment module for school. Reserving my studio apartment and looking at the long list of things I have to do for my visa application is a little overwhelming. I think I will feel better once I drive to LA next week and it has been submitted. Anyhow, I was surfing youtube last night and came across some great videos from the musical Rent.

When I was a freshman in college a friend of mine invited me to see the show live. I would a little melodramatic to say it changed my life. However, it did bring to the surface a lot of thoughts about living for the moment and loving those around you. It really is a very moving story set to beautiful music. One of my favorite songs is below.

There really is no day but today.

Still I rise

When I was in high school I wrote my Senior Thesis on a very inspiring woman, Maya Angelou. This woman was abused as a child, spent time as a prostitute and transformed her life to stand beside Martin Luther King during the civil rights movement and become our national poet laureate.

I highly recommend reading her series of memoirs beginning with "I know why the caged bird sings". Her life changed my perspective on what is possible. Circumstances are just obstacles that have to be overcome. Anyone can become anything. You just have to believe and persevere.

One of my favorite poems of Ms. Angelou is "Still I Rise". This piece of prose embodies the spirit of a woman who will not let anyone or anything stand in her way. It is inspires me to dream and pursue my life's purpose. What does it mean to you?

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

'Cause I laugh like I got gold mines

Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame

I rise

Up from a past that's rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

97 days to go :)

I hate shopping but......

I found my laptop bag for school. It is super chic and it is called "The Geneva" which I thought was very appropriate.

Look how cute

Snozberry?

When I was a little girl my mother introduced me to "Willy Wonk and the Chocolate Factory" and my favorite scene was when they were all licking the flavored wallpaper and Willy Wonka says " The snozberries taste like snozberries!". Then Veruca Salt replies "Snozberries? Who ever heard of a snozberry?". Willy Wonka grabs her mouth and replies " We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams."

click here for a video of the scene!

I was always drawn to this statement even as a child. To me it has always meant that we create our own destiny. We choose how to view the world and what to make of it. Well it turns out the quote is part of a very famous poem that embodies just that.

We are the music makers,

And we are the dreamers of dreams,

Wandering by lone sea-breakers,

And sitting by desolate streams;—

World-losers and world-forsakers,

On whom the pale moon gleams:

Yet we are the movers and shakers

Of the world for ever, it seems.

We can all sit in the comfort of our lives as the days merge or we can break against the sea, climb the steep mountains, shake our souls awake and dare to dream.

98 days :)

People always ask me

When I tell people I am moving to Switzerland I always get the same 2 questions:

Why?

Who are you going with/do you know anybody there?

I find both of these questions fascinating because neither ever occurred to me. My answers.

Why? Why not?

Who are you going with/do you know anybody there? No? Do you?

99 days to go :)

The Decision

It is 100 days until I move to Switzerland. Well actually more like 100 days until I leave the country. I will be heading to Berlin on July 13th to visit my cousin for about a week and then I will arrive in Switzerland on July 21st. Inspired by a friend (thanks Melissa) I have decided to start this blog to document my preparation for my trip and any subsequent adventures.

So to start....why Switzerland? To answer this question I will need to go into some background as to who I am and what makes me tick. Some people may think that this was a somewhat "out of blue" decision but it has actually been building for years.

However, the long and short of it is this. I was sitting in my office last Fall avoiding work and daydreaming, actually more like commiserating how mundane my life had become. When I was young I had these grand ideals of world travel and a career I loved. Somehow relationships, money and adulthood had gotten in the way of who I truly wanted to be. So I sat staring at my computer screen and thought about what I really wanted. If time, money and circumstance were not an issue what would I really want to do with my life. I wanted 3 things: to live abroad, work in the hospitality industry and I wanted to live in the city again.

I knew about this school I had always wanted to attend where I could get a Masters Degree in Hospitality Administration. I looked it up, emailed the school, walk to the front desk and told my assistant I was moving to Switzerland. Poof! Life changed in about 15 minutes. All of the sudden the stress, tension and general unhappiness that had been plaguing my body released. I felt light and free. I called my mom who was immediately supportive of course and I was on my way. A week later I had an interview and a plane ticket to Switzerland.

Since then I have been spending time getting my affairs in order and preparing for my next adventure in life. Those three things people worry about when they decided to postpone something in life: time, money and circumstance. I have found that none of those have been obstacles so far. It seems the universe is agreeing with my life choice because everything seems to be working out so far. So to all my fellow travelers out there...take a deep breath and dare to dream because "we are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams"