Adventures to be had #1.

Sometimes I feel like there are so many things in the world that it's overwhelming - so many places to visit, things to experience, emotions to feel, books to read, skills to learn, so many people to savour every moment with... This post is the beginning of my stream of adventures to be had.

The architecture, the art, the food, the fashion... Paris, France.

I have visited Paris in the past, when I was only young. The experience always changes when you grow older; there are new things you want to see and do. When it comes to places such as those beautiful spots in Europe, I don't believe in site-seeing. I would rather spend a long period of time in a beautiful place living like a local than a short period looking at the things we're told we "have to see" when we visit.

Qui peut résister? Paris est magnifique!

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Things that win my heart #12.

Books by your favourite author that come autographed!

But more importantly, books that can make you laugh and cry in the same sentence; that you finish overnight for lack of power to put them down, delving into your fears and hopes through them. Ones that you forget are fiction because they're too wonderful, daring, terrifying, poetic and honest not to be part of the real world.

Thank you John Green.

"I believe the universe wants to be noticed. I think the universe is 

improbably biased toward consciousness, that it rewards intelligence 

in part because the universe enjoys its elegance being observed." 

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Holding our grudges.

I don't know why I haven't been able to complete any of the different drafts I have saved to this blog in the past few weeks. Sorry for the absence; I guess it's really been a challenge to get my thoughts in order. And there has been a lot to think about.

The one thing that has come up the most in this time has been grudges. They've popped up in conversations, situations and contemplations on end! Perhaps this is because of the whole "new year, new beginnings" thing and people want to begin the year without bitterness, but in saying this, I don't understand it.

I don't think we should be getting over our "grudges" just because we've suddenly decided to have a clean slate ahead of us. We have to clean that slate ourselves, not just dump its contents on the ground and expect everything to be okay.

A grudge is "a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury." People say we should let them go because there's "no point holding onto the past," but really, these past insults or injuries change the way we see the person who had caused them. We are given the chance to learn a new side to their character. By suddenly letting go of a grudge without reason, we're ignoring that part of who they are.

Now I'm not saying we should hold onto our grudges forever; I'm just saying perhaps we're better off figuring them out. Has the person changed? Or do we simply wish to imagine they have changed? There's a vast difference.

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