Since I last wrote a blog I have crossed through Oregon State, met relatives I had only ever heard of, cried over my grandfather and uncle's grave, slept on floors, found employment, broke the key off in my ignition, purchased a wetsuit, been on 6 dates, kissed one man, made friends, put my foot in my mouth, attended one church session, reveled for 2 hours at the power of smiling, surfed on Thanksgiving, long boarded the boardwalk while listening to Perry Como, drank too much wine, drank too much sangria, met a pro football player, ate pizza off the ground, dressed up like a pilot, learned how to listen better, pursued happiness through attaining material goods, failed at finding happiness by attaining material goods, meditated in a Self-Realization Fellowship garden, bent the piston in my engine, pushed my car through a small alleyway-river, watched a man receive the Heimlich maneuver, sang "At Last" to 3 strangers, wrestled with dogs resulting in a scar across my leg, admired pelicans in flight, walked the beach at midnight, lost 15 lbs, become a fan of Yerba-Matte, purchased 3 new pairs of jeans, given money to a homeless man, attempted to buy a new car, registered for a marathon, and blacked out while surfing.
I am, at the very least, pleased with how my life has gone in San Diego, and I am proud of where I have come from and where I am going. There have been days I have questioned my ability to accomplish daily tasks, but not once have I questioned my ability to achieve the dreams I set out to do.
My views on many things have changed: money, men, friends, authority, weather, joy, sadness, religion, and smiling. Yet, in all of my time spent in San Diego, I have not lost who I am. Life only gets better as time passes. Though I may feel like I am walking in circles, I am learning cadence, patience, discipline, and the beauty of pure joy.
I don't want to be anywhere else or live anyone's life but my own.
