Thanks to a very strange series of events that took place in our universe, I exist.

The question now is what to do about that.

 
 

Memento vivere

I’m trying to get out of my own way.

The world didn’t always seem so expansive to me. I struggled to make friends, and I didn’t have the tools to communicate the things I thought and felt. I (like everyone) deal with self-doubt.

But I think life gets richer and more exciting if you work at the right things. I’m not referring to your morning routine or how many calories you consume. I mean fighting to stay curious, to ask questions, to explore the things that scare you. I think you die the day you stop wondering about the world.

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Exploring the world

I want to see the world.

I fell in love with travel during my freshman year of high school, when my class took a trip to Spain. It blew my mind how much it felt like I was stepping into an alternative universe: the people looked and sounded different, as did the food they ate, the spaces they called their homes, and the way they behaved. I was instantly hooked.

I knew immediately that I had to see more of the world.

I try my best not to forget how lucky I am. It’s a miracle my ancestors survived every obstacle they faced (religious persecution, oppressive rule, war, etc.) ultimately resulting in me being here. Their exploits spanned over a dozen countries and 5 continents.

Life is ridiculously precious and I’m trying to take that idea and run with it.

Amor Fati

Life Isn’t a Problem to be Solved…

… but a reality to be experienced. Those are words from Søren Kierkegaard, and I think that pretty much sums up how I’m approaching life. For way too long, I’ve tried getting there, a fictional location I invented where I’m happy and there are no more problems.

That’s a recipe for misery. I hate to break it to my younger self, but there is no getting there. This is life happening right now.

 
 

Every place I’ve ever lived in has left its mark on me and how I see the world:

MY WORK IS MY OXYGEN.

IT’S A WAY TO MAKE SENSE OF THE INSANE WORLD I LIVE IN. IT’S A WAY TO FIND MEANING AND TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I CARE ABOUT.