Into the Wild

I just finished the whole Into the Wild "series." Well to be honest, I only read about half the book. It got a little tedious with all the details of other travelers besides the one the book was about, Chris McCandless. But then, I rented the movie from Netflix (on my newly acquired free-trial) and watched it last night. It was so beautifully done. Of course it was a little Hollywood, but I enjoyed it so much. I think I cried during half of it. Not because it was sad to me, but because I felt so much respect and admiration for Chris and his life.

I would never go to the lengths he did to prove any point about living "in the wild," mostly because he had a lot of family issues to sort out and I don't. I do think  that a lot of his aspirations and sentiments about life carry a lot of resonance. People should learn from his "experiment' about how to treat others, and how, if in life you really want something, all you have to do is reach out and grab it. Also, instead of talking down to one another, trying to have control over people and be cruel to them so often, we should realize, like he said, that happiness doesn't come from human relationships, but it's all around us: everywhere.

It's been an enormous source of inspiration for me. Not only do I idolize many of the authors McCandless identifies with, but I have always been more free-thinking and have had a love for nature. I am endlessly fascinated with many of the revelations he had when in the wild. I love the stories of the people's lives he touched, and above all, I admire his determination to devote himself to a life of truth and honesty.

I sure hope that I am able to take with me some valuable lessons from Chris McCandless' life. He will live on to be an inspiration for many, I'm sure.

"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greather joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." -Chris McCandless aka Alex Supertramp

These will always be the most beautiful quotes I've ever read

A written word is the choicest of relics. It is something at once more intimate with us and more universal than any other work of art. It is the work of art nearest to life itself. It may be translated into every language, and not only be read but actually breathed from all human lips; - not be represented on canvas or in marble only, but be carved out of the breath of life itself H.D. Thoreau




This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or... unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body... - Walt Whitman

One year gone

Today marks exactly one year since I graduated college, and what a year it's been. I remember after graduating feeling a little apprehensive and nervous about what the future was going to hold, but I don't think I could've predicted what happened this past year actually would. It's been a strange, hard but gratifying ride. Very bittersweet.

I think this past year has made me a little nervous about what's to come in the future. Everything I've been through has had its ups and downs and I worry that future will be filled with downs I can't handle. But I know I can and I'll have to. And the ups will hopefully be just as good as they've been this past year.

Sometimes I find myself longing to be back in college. I miss being on my own. I miss learning and I miss going to class. I miss being in love. I miss partying. I miss only having obligations 3 days a week. Sometimes I miss these things so much that it clouds my current vision and impedes my happiness.

At the same time, I'm very proud of the place I am at. I've had so much fun this past year and I've been working and advancing myself. I've been able to save money. I wrote freelance. I landed my first job (a full-time career!) after graduation. I've been able to spend a lot of time with my family. I've maintained friendships that are very close to me and have gotten closer with some amazing people. I've done a damn good job of being me, but it came out of a lot of hard times, as well.

As far as I'm concerned, the "real" world is rough. It's hard because it's unpredictable. But you always have to get up, dust yourself off and look forward to the future. Without the ability to do that, what else do we have?

I'm glad, despite everything, the past year went the way it did. And I'm looking forward to another year ahead.

Today was a good day because

I pulled up my summer clothes from the basement, and everything fit loose :)

And I got sunburnt today.

Life is good.