I spent this past weekend away in beautiful Julian and I right now, I'm kinda wishing I was still there. I miss being away, in the mountains, in nature and out of cellphone service range. I miss the simplicity of being out of the city and out of the busyness of life we sometimes get way too caught up in.
Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate city life and I absolutely love living in San Diego. I also appreciate a nice restaurant, good food, symphony concerts, fast cars, Kate Spade, high heels and a chance to dress up every once in a while.
But what I always love more than the bright lights and shiny objects that attract many are the simpler and often forgotten things people used to once enjoy a whole lot more and a whole lot more often. It is the chance to be outside, to sit on a porch in a rocking chair and watch the stars for hours. It is the chance to befriend stray animal and plant gardens and collect fresh eggs in the morning. It's horseback riding in the mountains away from everything and digging for worms with my grandpa for our next fishing trip. It's finding solace in nature and hiking for hours, appreciating the beauty of the world we live in. It's building campfires and roasting s'mores. It's the little things that cost nothing but their value is priceless.
Growing up in the South, I spent all my time outdoors. The millions of mosquitoes, ever present risk of contracting West Nile and annihilating humidity could not keep me from the outdoors. My family didn't have cable and grass grew faster than our Internet connection but it didn't matter. I had outdoor cleaning businesses and dog walking services. I made compost piles and buried countless animals in my backyard.I grew fruits and vegetables with my grandparents and I ruined all my nice church dresses after Sunday Service but I would get lost in the woods and catch every speck of dust, dry leaves and sticks I could find. I was one happy child. Being in Julian was a reminder of childhood and the part of me I sometimes forget about and a part not many people know.
Reflecting on these opposites in myself got me thinking about perception, judgment and how one of the most beautiful characteristics you can find in a friendship or relationship is a person who comes to understand the many facets of our personality.
People all too often take each other too quickly at surface value. Obviously if you wear a suit or high heals, you must be high maintenance. Obviously if you get a manicure, you aren't willing to camp that weekend. Obviously if you are a star sports player, you must be full of it and a jerk. Oh and obviously if you wear glasses, you must be really smart.. or a wannabe hipster.
There can be some truth to these statements, but there is many times a whole story behind appearances and first impressions and we often fail to get to know people as a whole after learning just a part of who they are.
Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate city life and I absolutely love living in San Diego. I also appreciate a nice restaurant, good food, symphony concerts, fast cars, Kate Spade, high heels and a chance to dress up every once in a while.
But what I always love more than the bright lights and shiny objects that attract many are the simpler and often forgotten things people used to once enjoy a whole lot more and a whole lot more often. It is the chance to be outside, to sit on a porch in a rocking chair and watch the stars for hours. It is the chance to befriend stray animal and plant gardens and collect fresh eggs in the morning. It's horseback riding in the mountains away from everything and digging for worms with my grandpa for our next fishing trip. It's finding solace in nature and hiking for hours, appreciating the beauty of the world we live in. It's building campfires and roasting s'mores. It's the little things that cost nothing but their value is priceless.
Growing up in the South, I spent all my time outdoors. The millions of mosquitoes, ever present risk of contracting West Nile and annihilating humidity could not keep me from the outdoors. My family didn't have cable and grass grew faster than our Internet connection but it didn't matter. I had outdoor cleaning businesses and dog walking services. I made compost piles and buried countless animals in my backyard.I grew fruits and vegetables with my grandparents and I ruined all my nice church dresses after Sunday Service but I would get lost in the woods and catch every speck of dust, dry leaves and sticks I could find. I was one happy child. Being in Julian was a reminder of childhood and the part of me I sometimes forget about and a part not many people know.
Reflecting on these opposites in myself got me thinking about perception, judgment and how one of the most beautiful characteristics you can find in a friendship or relationship is a person who comes to understand the many facets of our personality.
People all too often take each other too quickly at surface value. Obviously if you wear a suit or high heals, you must be high maintenance. Obviously if you get a manicure, you aren't willing to camp that weekend. Obviously if you are a star sports player, you must be full of it and a jerk. Oh and obviously if you wear glasses, you must be really smart.. or a wannabe hipster.
There can be some truth to these statements, but there is many times a whole story behind appearances and first impressions and we often fail to get to know people as a whole after learning just a part of who they are.
