Life’s up to you.
- joyclaypoole
- May 12, 2016
- 3 min read
Too much worrying, too much planning, too much stressing….
‘relax and let go’ I remind myself. ‘Let life happen.’ It’s clique, but so true.
Life will happen, whether you force it or not, so why force it? More often than not you’ll put a great amount of energy into remolding something which is already beautiful. That’s silly.
Finally got on board with the Otago Tramping (american: hiking) this weekend, as well as the kiwi way of walking. Which is as simple as it sounds, just walking. It’s a beautiful day so, just go walk. Whether alone or with a friend. Just walk. Find a mountain trail and walk. That’s what Emma and I did on Saturday. We got lost a few times on our 14 mile walk/hike, met new friends who helped steer us in the right direction, saw the city and the surrounding mountains from a high view point (on top one of the mountains), and shared thoughts and introspections with each other that helped us both think about life and ourselves a bit more vividly. I can affirmation that the kiwi’s have a healthy habit of going out on a couple hour long walk. Very healthy.
As soon as I made my way home, Project Glitz and Glamour began! Cleaned myself up, made some food and helped mix the sunrise punch bowl. My whole flat (american: house) of lovely women was invited by our neighbors to go to the Māori ball. A function that felt a lot like prom, and happen to be the theme I wished for every prom and dance I planned in high school student government to have- SPARKLES!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! After sweating and hiking all day on the trails, I was ready for a night dusted with sparkles. My sister might interject here to comment that this is an ideal “Joy day.” Mud and sparkles are two of my favorite things to wear. Contradictions like these could be a whole other blog post so I’ll go no further.
Taylor Swift playing, curling iron hot, red lipstick on the desk and drinks in the cup! To curl or to braid? A good night was ahead! It was very fun to experience something so familiar to me while imersed in a different culture. I was very much the odd one out at the ball (with my other flat mates) because most everyone there was Māori. Whether the feeling was all in my head or not, I felt like I didn’t quite belong and I was faced with a decision…. do you become submissive to stereotyping and exclusion and let my shoulders hunch forward in response to my lack of confidence? Or do I bring my shoulders back, stand as tall as I’m meant to stand and believe in my own beauty? I would encourage anyone in this position to choose the later. My full sparkle/sequined dress helped me with my confidence - I’m always happy in sparkles - so I decided to dance my heart out to the songs which were so 2000 and late (as Fergie would say).
Side note: The popular music here is very much the music we all liked ten or more years ago. It’s wonderful.
So enough about that, I feel like I’m probably getting too personal and boring most of you. I sometimes even wonder if anyone is reading this. It’s very strange to share your feelings and thoughts and not hear a response. I wonder if there’s a comment function on this site… I hope you all are well and enjoying life. Don’t forget about the huge impact the small joys of life can have - if you choose to allow them attention!
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