I've been so crazy-busy lately. It was the second week of school and I had an essay and midterm exam on top of all my regular course work. I love how 3-page papers no longer give me anxiety, as I can churn them out in under a few hours. If only I had this kind of concentration and drive in high school... It would have saved me a lot of late nights.

But anyway, school and social responsibilities like birthday parties, baby showers, and baseball games (hey, alliteration!) took up all my precious time this week. Sigh. I haven't had much free time to write, and whenever I do have free time, it's been spent reading (because that's my favorite activity and re-energizer in the world, and no one can take that away from me ever).

I need to get in the swing of things, so I signed up for a creative writing class at Southwestern. I'm taking another class, too--intro to literature--because I somehow skipped it and it's a degree requirement. I also wanted to take a screenwriting class, but alas, I won't have a car to take me to school on Wednesday nights. :( It's okay, though.

2014 has been really great thus far! I mean, I haven't done much (haven't done shit) in terms of writing or traveling or adventuring, but I've been quite happy and boundless in my mirth. It feels like it's overflowing, and I'm not sure why. I guess I just feel like something amazing and magical is going to happen! Has already happened, and the wheels are in motion...

I can't wait to see where my travels take me this year, and I already have a few opportunities presenting themselves. My sister wants to study in Paris this summer (for a month), and I might be able to go, too! My best friend, Awesta, has extended her visa for six months in China and desperately wants me to come visit. My parents are talking about a vacation in Cabo, and my mom's friend may be going to Boston in April and invited me to tag along. Possibilities! But I don't know... I can't seem to get London off my mind. I think about it constantly.

Also, I've been reading a lot of incredible stuff lately. Ralph Waldo Emerson, to be exact, and his essays Nature and The American Scholar. That dude is mind-blowing. I love reading the work of great thinkers, and I love how their ideas sometimes correlate with mine. Or enrage me! Or enlighten me! Or inspire me! I feel really enlightened, actually... I can see my philosophies and beliefs changing. It feels good. I'm just letting them; no point in stopping them. I'm bursting with new life, creativity, and intellect this year. It's wonderful.

In fact, this morning, during my regular scripture study and prayer time, I was reading something I didn't agree with at all. And instead of forcing myself to try and believe it (like I would've in the past), I shrugged it off and put the book down, content with simply disagreeing. That kinda amazes me! Maybe it's hard to understand, but I grew up with this stuff and it's really hard to admit you don't like some of it. I'm talking about Christianity, folks. For so long I hated myself for not agreeing with my parents or grandparents, but why hurt yourself by trying to conform to something that just feels wrong? Do what feels right in your heart.. BE what feels right in your heart... and you'll be a much better person for it.

Okay, I'm done rambling. Gonna spend the day working on my dream story and preparing for school tomorrow.

Go be awesome! Go be radical! Take some risks, break some rules, run like you're on fire, smile like a mad scientist, be kind to a stranger, use your heart's compass! Love recklessly! Your time is short.

<3

V