Pinch Me

I'm never shy about expressing gratitude for the privilege of realizing so many of my dreams. I've been able to cross off every goal I had for the first ten years after undergrad.

Thinking about it tonight, I see something else to be thankful for. It's the fact that along the way, living each dream actually felt like living a dream. Even now after 22 months in Copán, there are moments when I can't believe I live here. It's still a little surreal.

Give It What It Needs

Turns out there's nothing like starting a Monday feeling brand new because of extra rest you let your body have during the weekend.

Keys To Happiness

In recent months, I've found myself committing to something I realize sounds a little funny.

Years ago, before I ever left the states, I took my lifestyle from mediocre to good, and then from good to amazing. It has continued to be amazing here in Honduras, but this year something is compelling me to take my lifestyle from amazing to whatever is beyond that.

I know going to the next level will involve maximizing my happiness and my health. And conveniently, some things I've been reading since this time last year happen to touch on the study of human happiness and the value of examining the phenomenon of happiness in one's own life.

So, I am growing from all this.

And then quite accidentally this week, I drew further inspiration from a video I found and showed the teenagers for a lesson in our Personal Narratives unit on how to write a proper thank-you.

Click below to find out what the video says about the connection between showing gratitude and happiness.

Future Husband And...

Me: Okay - your turn, Litzy. What's something you're planning to accomplish for the future?

Litzy: I will be an actress and a model.

Me: A model? Really? Josue, in the other section - he said he is going to marry a model someday...

Litzy: Yes, I will be his wifi.

I Am Free

"You know, you don't actually deserve to harbor a grudge or stay bitter towards anyone for any trespass in your entire history."

This was the thought that walked softly into my consciousness in a quiet moment at work this week.

It didn't come completely out of nowhere, but it also wasn't brought on by any heavy internal turmoil or lengthy thought process about someone who did me wrong.

Just something that sort of dawned on me in a light, liberating, ring of truth-having type of way.

Why Me?

This is how it seems to me:

I am basically living the best life I can imagine, while also recognizing the fact that there's a relentless trend in which time repeatedly delivers new chapters of unforeseeable awesomeness to my story.

Return To An Old Love

Cheese plate from the cafe many of my fellow foreign teachers frequent.

In the midst of living in a world so different from the one I came from, I've been fortunate to find time and space to reflect on my experiences.

Here is one thought that has come together during this journey of discovering more about who I am:

I like and need to be outdoors...and not just for a few minutes.

This is true even when the weather isn't ideal.

It's like I've realized that the way I was as a kid - spending all kinds of time outside playing sports, exploring in the woods and creeks, swimming in the neighborhood pool, riding bikes, et cetera, is what I never should've given up and need to get back to forever!