Simply Living: Who looks inside, awakens.

I read an article called  But Will It Make You Happy? , a few days ago that really caught (and kept) my attention. Basically it's about an average couple (Tammy and Logan) who shared a two bedroom house, two vehicles, and the normal household amenities. Even with all the "stuff" they had accumulated over the years and their good paying jobs, they weren't satisfied in their lives. So one day the couple decided to live by the "100 Things Challenge" and any excess "stuff" left over after the chosen hundred was either donated or sold. Read more about their journey to simplicity on Tammy Strobel's blog  Rowdy Kittens . (I really enjoyed her post on a new way to use baking soda). They had a combined debt of $30,000 but after selling most of their stuff, their two cars, and home, they were able to pay it all off. Not only are they now debt free, but are living in an adorable studio apartment in the eco-friendly city of Portland, Oregon, comfortably

Pianist, Ludovico Einaudi has captured my heart. His nonverbal melodies have spoken to me louder than any poet, self-help guide, or spiritual leader has preached. Einaudi's music has been on repeat in my itunes for days, and I cannot get enough-- specifically his piece called "I Giorni". I've been fortunate enough to have three days away from work, aside from a brief meeting on Monday. During my extended weekend, I explored more into my sense of "self". Friday night after work, and an even longer work-week, I was a scattered mess, feeling a little misunderstood and unbalanced. I put on Einaudi and simply listened. I felt what it was like again, for the first time in a long time, to have a quiet mind. Given, before hitting play on his album, I jumbled together my brutally raw emotions and put them in a long (okay, 7 paragraphs) email to my mom in Costa Rica. I typed each word without looking back; cried, laughed, and cried again, I wrote. After, I felt refres

There is undeniably a certain part of me that I've habited to ignore, or push to the side. I have (very much so) a restless soul. My moods change back and forth, similar to a traffic light: Red, green, yellow, then red again. In my previous post, I mentioned blaming myself for my faults and past mistakes. I think from a souls prospective, we forget that we're human. We beat ourselves up for something that has since happened, and by our dwelling on it, what good does that do for us? Absolutely nothing. We are meant to make mistakes and have faults in order to understand the good in ourselves.  In part, I believe the restlessness stems from my being a daydreamer. I have all of these ideas on traveling, or visions of new places around the world, but haven't actually visited them physically. I sometimes feel as though I'm being shaken at the edges of my shoulders by my inner-self; It's trying to tell me that it's possible to do all of these things, I just hav

If I could characterize myself in one word, that word would be daydreamer. I build entire empires and scenarios in my mind, and watch as if I were a 10 year old glaring at the Cartoon Network channel on a Sunday morning. I'm very much a thinker, often times to a fault. That aspect of my personality builds on my sensitivity which gets the best of me, but has eased as I've grown older. (I've contemplated adding a photo, but I'd like you to visualize this scene yourself. Everyone's visualization will be different, which is absolutely beautiful.) As a daydreamer, lately I've had one scene on repeat as if it were a movie I keep watching and rewinding: I'm standing in an open field, trees, wildflowers, pollen flying all around, and I'm directly in the middle of it all. The sun is shining with everything it has left as it's setting under the hill directly behind me. I'm wearing a vague colored orange sun dress, spinning with my arms in the air towar

Here are some very inspirational quotes by Don Miguel Ruiz, who is a ridiculously relatable writer. His books are quick reads and he's easy to understand. I added commentary to a few of which I had trouble comprehending at first. I definitely suggest reading his books, they are truly uplifting. Have a fun and happy holiday weekend, and be safe! “Your happiness is up to you, and it depends on how you use the word. If you get angry and use the word to send emotional poison to someone else, it appears that you’re using the word against that person, but you’re really using the word against yourself.” For example, say you're standing in line for a concert, and you've been waiting for hours. You see a few people up from you that someone cuts into the line, who had only just walked up to the line. You however, have been standing there for hours, so immediately you start complaining, and ultimately it turns into an altercation. You both share nasty words and you thin

I've watched and read in books or movies where someone doesn't like a certain part of their personality or something in their life, wakes up one morning and says, "I don't like this, I'm not going to do it anymore." The story line goes on to say how their views have changed overnight and they're no longer the way that they once were. It's a huge deal because they've changed so dramatically. For example, someone doesn't like their eating habits, therefore they tell themselves, "I'm going to eat healthier and workout 6 days a week." Overnight they turn into Jillian Michaels from 'The Biggest Loser,' and are participating in triathlons twice a week.   Realistically, this does not happen. I personally have had multiple epiphanies in my life where I feel as if my whole world is going to change and I feel like I've finally found my niche (after all, I've changed my college major three times). I do believe that

I was 6 years old and my dad threw his arms in the air, yelling (what should have been singing) "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by George Strait, while in the middle of the bathing suit isle in Wal-mart. How I remember this, I could not tell you. But, that song has such an important place in my heart and brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. It doesn't have somber lyrics and isn't about a love story; it's just a memory that really hits home. He used to sing it to me all the time (mostly just to embarrass me in public places). He was an incredible man who danced to the beat of his own drum. As an only child you can assume that I was a daddy's girl and couldn't get enough of his attention. Although I was his little girl, we wrestled as if I were a boy fighting for the t.v remote. I used to go to school with bruises on my arms from our wrestling matches and basketball games. Teachers and friends would ask me what happened, and as if it were normal

There's a bridge I drive over every time I visit the beach that provides the most beautiful view of the Indian River (I'm sure my local friends know of it). Each time I look at the calm and peaceful water with boats floating slowly across its surface, in my head I strike up the same conversation with myself. It's amazing to me how calm it looks from my view, but I know that underneath it is a crazy, nonstop flow of traffic and confusion-- each fish pushing through other schools and different species of marine animals. It didn't occur to me until today after leaving the grocery store that human characteristics are very similar to the surface of the water. Although on the outside we look composed (unless we're yearning for a coffee at 8AM on a Monday morning, which is not so composed looking) and beautiful in the eyes of an onlooker, underneath our minds are going in a million different directions, pushing through various thoughts and scenarios. As I

Happy hump day! Or better described as "umph," day for me. I work a double today at my restaurant (my feet are already screaming at me). I have to admit, I am prematurely writing this post, which makes this Tuesday night. But, I won't be posting it until the morning. Working in the hospitality industry has taught me to be proactive. To be completely honest, I am sitting down watching 'The Hills' and asking myself, how in the world are all of these girls so flawlessly beautiful? And how in the hell do some of them still speak to each other after throwing the 'B' word the night before.. "Aurdrina, you're a bitch!" ... Next morning, "Wanna get coffee?" But as I was saying (warned you I fall off track) I'm watching this reality show, which reminded me of a time recently where I threw some not-so-nice words too quickly (once again, proactive) and a stereotype backdrop. My left front tire has been giving me a hard time lat