amy rocks, okay?

... the worst kind of loneliness in the world is the isolation that comes from being misunderstood. It can make people lose their grasp on reality.

I just thought of searching for Buddhist speeches on TED Talks. Mind blown. Heart aflutter. Perfect medicine for the soul at this moment. Only enough time for one tonight, but here's a taste of the goodness that lies in TED Talks library.   http://www.ted.com/talks/joan_halifax.html

So, I'm luckily going to get to be back in the retail management side of things and I am a basket of emotions. So completely energized about the endless opportunities available yet completely petrified I will fail or be a disappointment. Obviously these are normal reactions to a new job, but these consume my mind daily! Partially because I can't get it out of my head that those passions and fears will be a part of my wandering mind for quite some time. I suppose, the only way to get around that overwhelming despair is to tackle them head on. Which I am doing. Partially. I have been reading endless articles on topics like what makes a strong leader and how to be an effective manager. I mean, I'm not starting tomorrow with a team of 10 employees, but I am obsessed with being an awesome leader/captain, and if I am standing at the gates down that path, I want to come prepared. One thing I read that discouraged me and is the reason for writing this post, is that just becau...

I just pushed purchase on a set of two tickets to New Zealand. For two hundred bucks. That'll never happen again! Last time I purchased tickets with a NZ destination it cost me more than $2,000 and that was..... 5 years ago? Hot damn. Lucky. In every way. I learned that I am a girl that doesn't have the "let me spend your money for you gene". David gave me his credit card info a few days ago to buy the tickets and I have been sitting here for 3 days unable to punch the numbers in. It took him getting on the phone tonight and repeating that it was okay for me to go through with it, before I could hit "purchase". What am I even saying? Have you jabbed your eyes out yet? There is just something about spending someone else's money that just... HURTS. I can't do it! Guilt and more guilt. It's not fair? They put the time in to earn that, out of their day that could have been spent doing other things and I don't care if they work to pay for fun la...

No Tasmanian Devil spottings on this trip but we did see one of these little guys! A Quoll. A skitterish little creature we spotted jetting across the road in the evening causing two Americans to squeal/yell with excitement because HAVE YOU EVER EVEN HEARD ABOUT ONE OF THESE?! "White with black spots!" "No! Black with white spots!" Thankfully it gave us something to talk about the rest of the drive and even though we have smart phones and could have settled the issue, it was much more fun to debate. I think this story will be best told with pictures. And the occasional video. Mostly because I'm exhausted and have a few other important things on the mind :) HERE WE GO! Clockwise was the theme here. Starting down in Hobart and working our way around and back down again!  A couple weeks ahead of the trip we were spending our nights reading all the Lonely Planets that litter our bookshelves and set about finding what exactly we wanted to see in...

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is bliss, taste it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is costly, care for it. Life is wealth, share it. Life is love, enjoy it. Life is a mystery, know it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, embrace it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life! Fight for it! (Found on a wall in Mother Teresa's convent in Calcutta)

In the beginning I set out to find a Bible study group and kept coming up empty handed. I even checked out on of the main churches in the city but to no avail. In time it fell off my priority list (shame, shame) but has since worked its way back up. Especially in this moment. But, yet again, I'm unable to find a group to join, or any type of group that exists at all! I am sad at this. Where are the people who gather once a week to read and reflect and relish in the community of others who would like to develop themselves holistically, religiously. I miss it. I miss it bad. I had just begun to find a place in Berk town when I was leaving and now, as well as for many other reasons, I wish I wouldn't have left. In time I'll find it again I suppose. But right now, all I want is to read my Bible or other assigned readings and reflect. Onward!