Fall

I'm a little sad to see October go; it's my favorite month. Even though it's starting to get cold around here, I hope autumn will stick around for a few more weeks.

Hedgehog print here

The Invitation

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

-Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Baby steps

Last night I took a ridiculously hot shower and thought about some changes I'd like to make in my life. By the time I was done, my bathroom was shrouded in fog and I came out with a short list of resolutions.
I don't do well with grand ideas or sweeping promises; instead, I decided to start small. One of my resolutions is to eat fresh produce every day. This may not sound like much, but for a college student subsisting on chicken sandwiches three days a week, the change should be astounding. Here's hoping!

photo by jonmacapodi

I am not dead.

Just busy. Even when I'm busy, though, I find that I can make time to do the things I really care about. I'm starting to miss California and its abundance of interesting distractions. Half Moon Bay, for example, is a coastal town a little ways south of San Francisco. It has the most fascinating tidepools full of anemones and crabs.

Star Lights

While in Seattle last week I picked up one of these paper star lanterns. I love how ornate they are; mine looks great hanging over my desk.

photos: 1, 2

Stick to my ribs

Something about this cool weather makes me want to live off of huge pots of soup for weeks on end.

Spicy Tomato Soup , Hearty Peasant Soup

Mount Rainier

One of the best things about flying into Seattle is the view from the plane. If you come in from the north, the plane seems to swoop right by Mount Rainier. Even the locals have their faces pressed against the windows, admiring the mountain.

My fall break is this weekend and I'm visiting my parents in Seattle. I can't wait.

photos: 1 , 2

Earth Tones

I've seriously been wearing this corduroy dress nonstop. It's so soft and looks great belted. This outfit just feels perfect for sunny autumn days.

belt, boots

Terrariums

I kind of want to cover every surface in my apartment with terrariums. There's even a group on flickr devoted to these wonderful things. Plus, I'd bet they're relatively roommate-friendly!

first, second

Product of Bolivia

Being mindful about what I eat can be a confusing process when even healthful-seeming foods can come from farms half a world away. I love this packaging designed by James Reynolds; the tags include the number of miles the produce has traveled along with its country of origin. It really could encourage us all to be more thoughtful consumers.

Comfort Food

I'm still in a little bit of a funk. Hopefully this weekend I can make this lasagna tart and catch a movie or two with friends.