Much More

Of course I didn’t bring my Mac. And of course this was the one day I didn’t have my little note book!

Lately, this seems the likely pattern of my life. Some call it unlucky, I choose scrappy. 

A series of events over the past few weeks have transcended me into an upheaval of emotions, thoughts, choices, and ultimately perspective. 

You know that saying, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Well I’ve always loved lemonade! 

I look ahead to an uncertain future, uncertainty in habitat, career, routine, more or less life. But one thing that is certain is change. So I can choose to embrace it, or, well that is the only option. Because like it or not, things will change, time will go on. So the real question is, what do I choose to do with it, this time.

I’ve been reading The Book of Joy – conversations between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It’s here that I came across a philosophy the Dalai Lama himself practices, “If something can be done about the situation, what need is there for dejection? And if nothing can be done about it, what use is there for being dejected?”

And so, it is with this new perspective that I’ve made a promise to myself – one that is really for my self, to explore my self, my possibilities, my boundaries, my passions. To put this out here in the universe, it holds me accountable, to come through, not just for me, but for the one person who reads this and feels the same. Because there is no greater joy than to deliver on a promise you made to yourself, to find happiness within yourself. 

Today, I took the first step in this direction to follow my heart, to do the smaller things that actually fill the soul in my life. 

I rode around Brooklyn on a Citi bike, made a fool of myself on the road because I’m not used to the rules or directions, yet, and more importantly stumbled upon roads I’d never ventured on before. Yes I was nervous, I was even conscious, but after the first 20 minutes, I was simply happy! 

A part of a promise to myself is also undertaking a new hobby – pictures and videos. You’ll be seeing a lot of these here. Let’s just say I’m inspired by a friend’s work – Ben Culpin – you should definitely check it out.

As I walked down the streets of Williamsburg, I saw this coffee shop who’s name provoked this blog post – Much More’s. This girl was sitting outside, she had the most beautiful smile. At first I was apprehensive to talk to her, but I shook this feeling off and asked her if I could take a picture of the background with her in the frame. She shyly agreed, but was too conscious to look into the picture. In that moment I realized I have nothing to worry, but just to be myself, be real, because that’s all that anyone ever wants, a real sense of connection, human.

So here I am, sipping on the lemonade of life (well a cappuccino actually), at this homely coffee shop, Vittoria, listening to the old classics playing in the background and writing this post in the notes of my iPhone. Because, that is all I wanted to do in this moment – write – because there is always a way to do what you want, to do more, much more – just open your mind and see through your soul, not just your eyes. 

Somehow I always come across words, ones that I exactly need to hear or read or listen to at that very instant in my life. Another such quote I came across just yesterday on one of my favorite Instagram accounts – Nitch – is what I’ll end this post with. 

“It maybe that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey.” – Wendell Berry