When I first started this thaaang, I really enjoyed sitting and writing and telling tales about getting to Korea. Those were tales to tell. There are still tales to tell, but since I've been here, this blog has simply become a quick way to update my friends and family with pictures and "where I been" posts. Which is fine, but far less entertaining...hopefully this will change come the new job with half the hours, allowing me more time A) to be creative and interesting and B) more time, period. Good, fun, and ridiculous things are happening and their memories are trapped inside my head; they need to be sprung more often.
Until that's possible, here are four things I wish I had more time to write about. I've been obsessed with and fulfilled by many things over the past 6 months, things that I think others can obsess over and be fulfilled by, as well. By "others," I mean the 3 people that may still read this blog:
1. Vegetarianism. I've been one for a while. Years now, in fact; it worked for me by removing certain meats at a time until all were out of my diet. However, I've never been a healthy vegetarian. Bag o' pretzels? Check. Giant baked potato? Cool, hold the bacon bits. Salad covered in ceasar dressing? Right on. I've been totally NOT eating meat, but not doing my body any favors, either. Until I finally watched Forks Over Knives, a documentary I've been wanting to see since before its release. It fully changed my take on vegetarianism; it is SO MUCH MORE than animal welfare, which is of course, the cause with which I'm most adept. I was always aware of the other benefits to boycotting the meat industry, but I'm much more informed now and constantly educating myself further: There are huge ramifications to our health and our planet because of the massive meat consumption and consumerism. It's terrifying. From the moment I finished the movie, I've been pumping my body full of wholly plant based foods and have seriously never felt better. My body and my brain are thanking me in ways I didn't know possible, and when I slip and indulge in some past guilty pleasures, I feel very unpleasant effects. Not only do I feel better, but my awareness has skyrocketed and I am a much stronger advocate against meat and feel empowered by my growing knowledge. It is painful knowledge, as I know that the larger percentage of the world has yet to be enlightened, but I wouldn't choose ignorance over this subject for anything. If you are intrigued, definitely check out the doc: http://www.forksoverknives.com/
2. Asthanga yoga. Holy chakra, yall. I've never been a yogi and this is changing my life. It took me a while to get the breathing down and grasp the practice for what it is truly meant to be, and now I don't think I can ever live without it in my life. It has centered me, calmed me, and I feel light on my feet and happy. I mean, this stuff makes me happy. I smile more. I laugh more. Things are shinier and lighter. Try it. Try it more than once. And love it, also.
3. Jonathan Saffron Foer. Read his books: Everything is Illuminated, Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud, and Eating Animals. I still need to see the full movie based on his first book, Everything is Illimunated. If you like Gogol Bordello, you'll like the movie; the lead singer plays the main character perfectly. I've watched several YouTube scenes and laughed my hearty butt off. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has a major film coming out on Christmas this year, as well, starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. But read the book first. Jonathan Saffron Foer is a prodigy and totally enlightening. Learning about him and reading his work makes me wonder what the hell I've done with my life.... How is it possible that he was 23 when he wrote his first book, a book that has made me laugh and cry out loud, a book so complex that I have had to re-read multiple pages for clarity, all while being fully and completely entertained and entangled in the story? He's fantastic, his books are fantastic, and you'll be fantastic for reading them.
4. Life In A Day. Watch this film. Period. It's a 94 minute collaboration from Ridley Scott and YouTube capturing life around the world on July 24th, 2010. Over 80k clips were submitted from 192 countries. The editing is magical and the result is beautiful, shocking, unbiased, etc etc etc. Watch it:
http://www.youtube.com/lifeinaday
Go forth, try these things, feel happy, love them, and be enlightened and awesome.
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