The bells chime and the waves roll in. I watch the surfers paddle out and ride the swell. The birds chirp, the breeze carries their sweet sounds. No need for music, it’s the simple beauty of nature. I sip my giant mug of coffee. It’s a perfect morning.
It’s January 7th and today the academic world returned to their schedules of early morning alarms, coffees, and the notebooks. Myself included as student and teacher. During my lesson this evening I started with a game. Two truths and a lie about what we did during out winter vacations. Mine were as followed: 1) I went surfing Christmas morning 2) I taught myself how to make the Spanish tortilla and 3) I went to the Canary Islands for four days. As much as I would love to have had number two be the lie, unfortunately it was number three. I’m still pale as a ghost and look like I havent seen the sunlight in about four months … oh wait, welcome to winter in San Sebastian! I kid, I kid. But really — I stayed in my beautiful city during my two week vacation and, despite the terrifyingly large waves pounding on Zurriola, Mother Nature sent some choppy 4footers my way. So I paddled out on Christmas day. It was rough. I realized after almost …
I got an email the other day from hostelworld.com — the subject line read: “It’s been six months since your last trip.” I couldn’t believe it. Six months has already passed since I last booked my hostel in the Canary Islands? I stared at the email thinking about those three months of traveling before clicking the box to delete it. Man, does time fly. It’s now the very last day of July 2012. I just rolled in from the beach, searching for the slightest sign of ride-able waves. Trickles. The surf shop had students floating on the passing baby swells, but it was nothing I wanted to bring my board out into. I parked the truck, grabbed my towel and headed for the water. I needed a good dose of salt water. My mind had been swirling all day with thoughts of visas, moving in October, friends I’ll get to see again and friends I’m leaving in the States. I’ve come to realize a good dose of salt water will really help cure anything. I’ve …
Twenty-one days ago my friend and I watched a video talking about happiness. The speaker said it’s not about looking forward to happiness, it’s about creating it in the here and now. We can’t attribute happiness with achievement and success, because once we attain those objectives we’ll only set new ones – continuously pushing away our “ideal” happiness. Unfortunately, this is how most people operate. I only hope that everyone I encounter I’m able to help them realize that its how they choose to celebrate each moment that will bring them happiness and it’s not something we have to push away until we achieve something in particular. After watching this video the speaker left us with the challenge of finding happiness by taking the following steps in our day to day life: 1) Exercise 2) Do Random Acts of Kindness 3) 21 Days of Gratitude – Write down 3 things a day that you’re grateful for … 4) Journaling 5) Meditation So – along with my regular exercise, journaling, small amounts of meditation (whether its …
The sun sets on my time in Maine while the waves start to grow for the seasoned surfers of the North East Coastal towns. It’s been an amazing summer in Maine but as the season is changing, so is my craving for new adventure – which is why I’m moving back to Spain, to the coastal city of San Sebastian. I called the small coastal village of Kennebunk my home for the past 19 years. But after leaving the country to pursue my four-year-degree in Halifax, NS I found myself living abroad in Madrid, Spain; it was the first time I’d been living in a large city (3.2 million to be exact) – and the closest beach was a four-hour car drive away. It wasn’t until then that I’d realized my need for the coast; the smell of salt air, the view of the vast ocean fading off into the horizon, the steady cry of the seagulls patrolling their countries coast lines, and the bright reds, yellows, and oranges exploding over the deep blue waters …
native of the north 