Life

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbour, co-worker, longest friend, lover, or even a complete stranger) but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.

Some people move our souls to dance.

They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom.

Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.

They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints in our hearts,

and We are never, ever the same.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realised your potential, strength, willpower, or heart. Everything happens for a reason, nothing happens by chance or by means of luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience help to create who you become.

Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count!! Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself; it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

- writer unknown 

Dreams

People often have dreams, dreams of the future, dream weddings, dream families, my dreams are often about my dream home, for some reason it keeps me inspired. Here are some homes or parts of homes or hotels that I love and hope to have a part of my home in some way or another.

Revamped

As we enter the New Year we slow down, first in observation and assessment of the past year; maybe of the things we accomplished, perhaps gratitude for the blessings bestowed upon us and maybe in reflection of the moments and opportunities we have seized or even missed. After reflection has subsided we come to a new light; we look forward. Often referred to as New Year's resolutions we make goals, we determine how we want to move forward, what we want to overcome, I look as it as a time to assess who I want to be and how I need to alter my actions or attitude in the day-to-day to reflect that. I hope for you a beautiful and happy new year filled with opportunities that you see, love that cannot be ignored and a fresh sense of who you want to be. I look forward to the year ahead. I have grown so much in the last year and I have to say I can look back with sincere gratitude for the life I have been able to live and the people that have come into my life. I look forward with many resolutions to continue to better myself and prepare for my future, to open my heart to those around me and give back as much as I can as I am truly blessed. I welcome 2011 with an open heart and a clear head.


The new year not only brings a fresh start and a time for an analysis for ourselves but that of our nation, its people as well as its economy and morals. This has been a rough year not only for a US but across the world. With great economic downfalls many people have been put out of work and have be presented with quite difficult situations. With almost a 1% increase in the unemployment rate the US sits at 9.3% employment. That is the highest it has been in over two decades. I truly hope that the government takes this new year as an opportunity to really reassess the actions that they have taken in the last year and how they need to change their course of action to benefit the US economy and the people of this country. We continue to try better our nation with expanding our research and technology. But have we solved the root problems? We need to get and keep people off of the streets, provide a safe and flourishing nation. But instead we continue to debate what is best for the nation, nationalized health care to differing the taxation. Perhaps this new year will encourage those in the debate to reflect on our increasing debt and rather than basing our economy on such exaggerated fiat currencies we should utilize fiscal and monetary policy more efficiently and make active changes without over spending. Our nation is in serious turmoil and increasing danger. I hope we are able to start working together to make a positive step forward.


A few quotes from one of my favorite adventure movies, 180 degrees South.


"People say you can't go back, but what happens when you get to the cliff and you take one step forward or you turn 180 degrees and take one step forward? Which way are you going? What is progress? You can't keep trying to make a flawed system work."
"Men do not learn very much from the lessons of history and that is the most important of all the lessons of history."


"The best journeys answer questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask."


"Fear of the unknown is the greatest fear of all"


This year I was highly inspired to go on my own wanderlust adventures, the photos above are some of the photos that I took during these very adventures.

Dance like no one is watching

I grew up dancing and I have a sincere passion for it. I always have a extreme urge to dance. With the winter months not only comes snow but the annual ballets, this has brought back great memories. Ballet can be so beautiful, full of grace, strength and emotion. Here are some photos that capture those elements.

The higher you get, the higher you get.

Spring has sprung in Utah, beautiful warm days, cool breezes and some great thunderstorms thrown in the mix. The late snow and rain has made this desert the greenest it has been in a long-time, making canyon drives quite awing. There are three things in Utah that I think make it such a desirable place to live; the first, of course, being our world-renowned champagne powder and its easy access. Second being our rock climbing. Little Cottonwood Canyon is home to endless world-class bouldering routes and Big Cottonwood Canyon holds the sport, and trad, this is just in the 15-minute range. As many of my friends are well-rounded outdoor enthusiasts we have all been excited to get back out on some rocks. It is quite amazing that rock climbing blew up the way it did, at any level it’s worth trying out a really cool experience being so in tune with yourself and your movement, as well as with nature. If you like math and problem solving try out bouldering, if you’re more of the outdoors go-getter get into sport climbing and trad. Here are some pictures that truly capture the intensity and realness of rock climbing.

So amazing the places and views that you can get from scaling rock.

My old roommate Brandon and I got the chance to catch Core at a local movie theater bar downtown called Brewvies, best idea ever. Check out the trailer and if you haven't caught a flick at Brewvies, come hungry and thirsty this place is a true gem.

Some cool quotes "Anyone who lives within their own means suffers from lack of imagination." - Oscar Wilde
" I also have in mind that seemingly wealth, but most terribly impoverished class of all, who have accunulated dross, but know not how to use it, or rid of it, and thus have forged their own golden or silver fetters." -Henry David Thoreau.
If I have a recommendation it is to read some of Thoreau's work, in today's society we are so blinded money and assets, luxury, but what really is a luxury to you, all the money to work so hard for in a job you probably hate, for what, something that someone decided they wanted to sell so they inspired to you need it. Anyway, enough of that. Enjoy life to the fullest, however that may be.