Old pictures.

( let me know if they remind you of anything... anything at all. )

Well, it's officially the

NEW YEAR.

Welcome 2009, so long 2008.

The past year has been challenging, beautiful, inspirational, painful, and perfect.

Looking back, I can honestly say I appreciate every experience I've had.

I have resolutions.. but I hesitate to list them here. Mostly because I want to do them for myself and no one else..

Mom, you know one of them.. keep asking how I'm doing with it!

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years celebration.

Mine was peaceful and refreshing.

P.S. EVERYONE SEE WALL-E!

"Consciousness will always be one degree above comprehensibility."

- Gösta Carl Henrik Ehrensvärd

I've had this longing to write lately and when I sit down in front of my computer, or with pen in hand, it's just blank. My mind seems to be filled with more emotion than thought. I wish this werenn't the case..

My eye's see such beauty that I truly long to express.

Why do I want to do this so badly? Why do I torture myself, sitting here with such high expectations.

I suppose once I was inspired by something I read.

My impact on the environment has become incredibly dissatisfying. My life is a process of consuming and creating waste. It's incredibly disgusting. I long to contribute rather than deplete. I've ignored the call of the fields to live the way my body is designed for, it is both a pleasant awakening and a guilty realization.

What did the world look like before our beloved 'industrial revolution' or the oh so beneficial first and SECOND 'green revolution'! Even now I am left speechless with the world I see, how magnificent was it BEFORE our 'biological footprint' was so massive.

The vocabulary is just a distraction. I've in fact even heard fellow students say that in order to 'all come together' and make a true shift away from destruction, we must first construct a common language in order to discuss the situation. The language is already within us! Close your eyes and you will know what to do.

It's been so long since I've closed mine.

The answers are there, and they are waiting to be revealed.

We don't need to create anything more. We are only destroying anyways. Create time and you will be given a beautiful creation. And if we must create... use what we have, buy nothing more. Take advantage of those who don't want to change and receive their trash with open arms.

No more pavement is needed.

The momentum is likely not to significantly slow, but why allow that to be an excuse.

One day I will be gone and I know that my body will be happy to return to where it came from.

I just hope I'm not considered pollution.

I hope it's as easy as it feels..

I'm taking a Resource Conservation class. It's in the Biology Department so my text book is full of all sorts of fascinating plants and animals. The larger picture of the bright green Caterpillar I just happened to come across while I was searching for the Snake Caterpillar. Apparently the bright green one is called a Coconut Snake, although the photographer really wasn't very sure. The Snake Caterpillar though (the brown and black one) actually morphs in to a snake head when feeling threatened. Wow! I have always been fascinated by the various forms of life. Our perspective allows us to see such a limited picture of this world. Some animals see colors we don't see, and bats create their visual reality with sound! What is this place we call home? The intertangled chaos of order that surrounds us on a daily basis will continue to awe me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM
Here is a link of an 8 minute video we watched in my class this morning. It's one of those predator-prey animal documentary clips (which ordinarily I can't sit through) but this really is incredible. I think I might start getting into tree species too, we'll see how that goes. Right now I'm working on recognizing Post Oaks.

Get your hands on this.

Put it in your DVD player.

Sit down.

Experience it.

Let me know how it goes...

I've been trying to start pro-actively living my life lately. I went to a 'cardio dance' class the other day and spent an hour learning ballet. It was so wonderful.
I figure I'll make a list of ventures I'd like to accomplish in the next couple months. I'm going to put it here for a few reasons. One, so I can't pretend I never actually made this list. Two, because I think there is something special about being involved in one anther's lives to the point of challenging each other to be who we all know we can be.

Beautiful, Confident, Joyful, Loving, Peaceful, Adventuresome, Spiritual, Faithful, Trusting!

Sometimes we just get to busy, or to lonely, or to stressed, or to lost to stay on track. We should help each other stay on the path. The forest's can be dark and scary, let's not wander out there any more.

Here's what I'd like to do..
1.) Take more pictures (digital and Polaroid)
2.) Go to dance classes
3.) Go camping more than I did last year
4.) Keep my life more organized so I don't get so easily stressed
5.) Recycle
6.) Do laundry and vacuum more regularly
7.) Cook more often
8.) Learn more about the things I find intriguing and awe inspiring
9.) Go see Lillie in Nac (I need to keep my promise)
10.) Save money (I spend what I do make on silly things sometimes)
11.) PRAY MORE and therefore listen more.

Of course, this is by no means a complete list, just some of what I think about most.
I hope everyone is in the process of completing their list also. If you want any encouragement, let me know if I can help.
Keep walking fellow hikers.