Thoughts collected from my documented essay.

The Documented essay has had me thinking about what I want in life. I suppose my topic would do that, I am writing about Ansel Adams, the famous photographer of the American west. My two biggest questions that have come to mind as I have written this paper are Can I live off the land, make art: photographs, write about my adventures, travel across this country once more, settle in Colorado, not live by the deadlines of school, get rid of all the crap I own and feel I 'need' but never use, find the balance between our consumeristic society and the simplicity of nature? Why do I feel that this will not be accomplished while I remain in School?

Time will tell the answer to all questions.

Warmth

I have to comment on the weather, I am after all wearing shorts and a light sweater that my mom would scold me for wearing on any other day in November in New England. It is beautiful out making me thing of spring and those warm days that have seemingly been behind us, well until today arrived. I feel the urge to get out and ride while the weather is warm, considering all my other rides on the road I have been frozen to the bone and felt the the numbness creep up my arms. Whew, I am glad to have this weather! I will enjoy this warmth before the inevitable cold takes over once more.

Thanksgiving

I am excited for the Thanksgiving break, to stuff myself full of food and just enjoy the day, no need to work or go to school, simply relax with my family and enjoy the day!

Oh and who knew that at the first Thanksgiving the Pilgrims and Native Americans had lobster!

I well deserved short time off from school to rejuvenate and finish off the semester strong.

A moment of clarity

Despite the craziness of today, I have been able to keep myself internally at peace and because of that, I am content. I wish to live passionately wherever life may lead me in the future. 

"Om"

Yesterday I found my japa mala given to me years ago, I lost it about a month ago and I am so happy to have found it once more! It is my way to step back and catch my breath in this busy world. It is made from the seeds of the rudraksha tree, a tree that is considered sacred. Just wearing it on my wrist emanates throughout me keeping my mind at peace with the internal chant in my head of a continuos "Om."

Storyland Criterium Recap

I started off dead last, keeping a steady rhythm, I began to pick off guys moving up the whole field to the lead group of six guys. I sat in for a couple of laps, rested, I noticed where they let up the pressure on the pedals.  With two laps to go I put the hammer down attacking the main group, only one guy responded and I shattered the rest of the field, the race was on! I led through all of Storyland, with one lap to go I was still leading and this guy was still with me, on the second to last hairpin turn before the finish as I was cornering and my pedal unclipped, I lost my momentum for a second and the guy went by me, shouting in anguish I regained speed, but the race had been lost there and after tasting victory I came in second. This was the most fun I've ever had on a bike, the course was like formula one racing sharp turns, small but very steep hill and of course it was through Storyland!

Porky Gulch

Closing my eyes, feeling relaxed, breathing deeply, opening my eyes, hunger satisfied, thinking about this weekend, tuning the bicycle, pumping the tires, securing my bikes to the truck, packing my cold weather gear, listening to "Explosions in the Sky," throwing my bag of clothes over the shoulder, heading downstairs, taking a last look at the house, I knew I was ready for this weekends race, the Porky Gulch classic!

Yearning

I want to go west once more, see the wide open spaces, have campfires, live in the moment, experience the beauty of nature and life itself. Watch the crows fly, home wherever their home might be. When I turn into dust I want to have experienced it all!

The people I have met going cross country certainly changed and influenced me and I hope they are doing well. The memories were magnificent and I am definitely dreaming of when I can go again and live it all again! 

Blazing like Wildfire

Mind racing, thoughts jumping to new thoughts before the thoughts can even fully formulate. The inner workings of a human, the thought process. My thought to type, move my fingers, produce words, all in the blink of an eye, or in some cases even quicker.  

We as humans are very complex, our design, unbelievably intricate, yet we accept it and do not question the wonder of life. Many seem to take this gift for granted and squander the precious moments that are given to us as humans. Wouldn't in be wonderful to live like a tree. Slow in thought and action, simply appreciating the beauty of what surrounds us. We would have time to gain knowledge, daily tasks would not have to be rushed, or even called daily tasks, for why put time constraints when all that is needed to be done, is s-l-o-w d-o-w-n. Even reading, we blaze through the text like wildfire. Instead we should be slowly blowing our leaves in the wind.

Whirlwind

October has come and gone and with it the warm weather. November 1st brought cold weather and the need to be bundled warm to keep the cold air from nipping at the warmth of our body. Time is ever moving foreword, but it seems as if it is moving much faster than the mundane seconds producing a minute. The leaves work themselves into a whirlwind blowing all over the street now desolate compared the festivities the night before. So little time it seems and so much to do, or the want to accomplish and try everything. I wish I had more time at Salem State to try every route, every possibility to see what clicks with me, but there is not enough space to fit every class I want to take, nor does it seem that it will all fit in four years. Although my time here at my university is simply going to serve me as a stepping stone towards the future and infinite possibilities.