Life with Dylan

Month: January 2013

  • Quiet mornings, coffee, and making plans

    Today was my last day of winter break. For the past two weeks I have not had to think about work or schedules or being anyplace that I didn’t want to be. Two weeks of vacation that didn’t require packing a suitcase or staying in hotels. Exactly what I needed. I have enjoyed my quiet mornings with a cup of coffee and my late nights with hot cups of tea.

    My mind has been in overdrive, which is strange considering I took two weeks off from blogging and haven’t been writing. Instead, I have been thinking and making plans. Thinking is so much more than just solving a problem or getting a good grade in school. I am talking about really thinking – deep thoughts about the world and your life and what great things you will do next.

    Nothing is finalized yet, so I can’t give you too many details. However, I can tell you that I will be doing something very special to help with rhino conservation and that I will be taking on a challenge of something that I have never done before. It is all very exciting and a little scary at the same time.

    For now, I will continue to get lost in my own thoughts. I will enjoy the next two days – the weekend – before going back to work on Monday. I will keep taking life one day at a time and while my mornings may go back to being a little hectic, I will cherish my quiet mornings with coffee.

  • My hopes and wishes for making a difference in 2013

    I woke up this morning with a feeling of inner peace and complete calmness. The house was quiet and still. The first thing I did was open the blinds and look up to the sky. Good morning 2013 … I think we’re going to do some amazing things together. The sky was beautiful.

    I am ready to take on the new year with an attitude unlike those of the past. I’m not sure what happened last night, but somehow we said goodbye to 2012 and hello to 2013 as if we were in a bubble with nature. We took a walk down to the bay to watch the final sunset of 2012. Cameras in hand, we were exactly where we wanted to be – with Mother Nature.

    It was as if time was standing still. The air was crisp and the water was glassy. Patches of frost lay along the banks of the bay. The sun reflected on the water giving it a rosy glow. The view took my breath away.

    About this time last year I made some New Year Wishes (because I can never keep resolutions) and recently went back to read them – you know to see how I did. I  must say that I am quite proud of myself. I was able to make 4 of my 5 New Year Wishes come true in 2012. I found the time to read more and get my photographs organized. I think it is safe to say that I stopped worrying about what others think and I have definitely learned some new things. Why just last week I taught myself how to knit. The decorating bug never did bite me, but the photography bug sure did!

    Since I was so successful at making my wishes come true in 2012, I think I will make five New Year Wishes for 2013. Maybe this time I can make all of them come true.

    1. Spend more time outdoors with my camera photographing the world around me. Not just trips to San Diego, but trips everywhere. Day trips up the coast or to the mountains with one thing in mind – to take lots of pictures. 
    2. Volunteer my time at local non-profit organizations. I need to feel like I am doing something that helps the environment and this is one way that I can do it. Some places may even let Dylan volunteer with me.
    3. Continue to read more, explore more, and keep learning more.
    4. Spend more time relaxing and enjoying life and less time stressing about what needs to be done. Less deadlines and more impromptu activities.
    5. Do something that makes a difference everyday because like +Rick Schwartz said, Today, like everyday, presents an opportunity for you to Make a Difference. 
    Dylan and I plan on doing some amazing things in 2013 – we hope you will come along for the ride.
    Happy New Year!