Ware Tada Shiru Taru

Ahhh the zen gardens of Japan. How I miss the simple days of vacation with my family, traveling and learning about this world with so many endless cultures and people. I can't believe how lucky I have been this past year to have experienced so much joy and so much pain. It has definitely been one of the greatest, yet toughest years of my life. But I'm glad I'm living and learning, and until I run out of money (which could be very soon). I'm here.

Anyway! I remembered this fountain because my bff Karisa wants to get a tattoo, and I told her if I get another one it'll probably be this. Maybe I'll double check to make sure the Chinese translation is similar! :) There's many translations the literal translation is "I only know plenty". But I like to think of it as I am content with what I have. My mom said that this quote tells you that you should be content with what you have, so you shouldn't try to strive higher. I argued that I complain pretty much every day about my life, when in reality, I have a great life, and I really should start appreciating it more. 

I literally count down the weeks until I go home to Hawaii. I miss home, and my family, my friends, my Benz, my dogs, everything. It breaks my heart to think of them at home and me being so far away.  But then I think, I'm here, so I gotta make use of what I got. I said it from the start, I'm not staying here forever.. so lemme make the best out of it. 

So I'm trying! I'm really trying hard my friends. I want to have some great experiences and great stories to tell you. I want you all to be proud of me and make my vagabondage so far be worth while....

Until then.. enjoy Maitais (losers).

180 degrees

It's so crazy how much my life has changed.  Although the last couple months were a struggle.. and trust me it's still a struggle.. I live with the positive mentality that things can only get better, so even though times are hard.. it's just getting better.  When you only want the raw basics in life to be secure (job, house, and food), everything is considered a luxury. I strongly would suggest to anyone in this world to strip their self of everything that makes them comfortable so they learn how to challenge them self. It's a very scary and a little too real.. but it's very humbling. I know I will never ever take any luxury I have for granted and I feel unaware and ignorant for not realizing that earlier.

Anyway October life in NYC has been good. Lots and lots of dancing and working, and not much time for anything else. I can't afford a social life, but I try to get out and do the free thing as much as I can. I'm hoping paychecks will start rolling in and I can be a little less worried, but as I said earlier, I'm just trying to stay positive and work with what I got. It doesn't really bother me not being able to go out and get nuts and wear the best clothes and have the best social life, because I realize that I came to NYC to dance, and dancing is what I'm doing.

On another note.. I love working nonprofit. Because I'm broke and sober, I have a lot of time to be aware of this world and learn about things that I might otherwise be ignorant to. My non profit has taught me a lot about how meat is so bad for you.. and although I haven't given up meat completely, I have significantly cut down on all meat consumption, and have been spreading the word about it's health benefits.  I also have been involved in the community as a peer mentor, because eventually I would love to spend some time in Asia so Ive been meeting a lot of people who have traveled all over the world doing volunteer work. It's amazing to meet people from so many unique fun cultures and sharing stories with them. They love to hear about my stories growing up in Hawaii, and I love to hear their stories about their lives. It makes both of us educated and more open to this world.

Okay that's it bye.

Hello Fall!!

Friends seriously how is it Oct already? My rent is almost due and I'm broke, which means cereal.. and dollah menus all week long :).. ahh life of a starving artist is so painful yet so beautiful.  Unfortunately between the two internships, work study at the dance studio, and bar job, my social life has resorted to Facebook, but I'm a whole lot happier than I was 2 months ago because I'm doing what I love, and it's so beautiful to spend $$ on a dance class instead of materialistic things. I've always said that love is something that you can't explain.. it's something you feel in your heart.. that makes you completely happy. That's how I feel about dancing. I'm really not trying to become famous.. or be in music videos or whatever.. I do it.. because I love it. 

I was thinking today while I was in yoga (2nd favorite activity) .. I'm not gonna be able to dance forever.. I mean.. my body in comparison to.. 5 years ago.. gets tired faster, gets stiff the next day.. and recovers slower. So I'm determined to dance all I can as long as my body can handle it.  I meet so many people from BDC who love to dance and who are beautiful professional dancers, who could've chosen to go to college, or go to a normal whatever job. But they followed their passion and they're completely happy, even if it means being a starving artist.  I truly admire these people for knowing exactly what they want in life and going 100% towards that goal, and I only hope that I can learn to be as passionate as them.


In the meantime..

(stolen from Michelle's Facebook.. mahalos littlecrazyone)


LOVE IT

Stay beautiful my friends.