Ready, Able

When I stop and think about summer, my mind always time travels back to my childhood.

My summer days as a 10-year old were so joyous and carefree. I would spend countless hours outside with my twin brother and my two next door neighbors / best friends at the time, Allison and Sarah. We'd spend our days playing in sandboxes, running through sprinklers, and hiding out in our secret treehouse in the woods. We ran away from home a lot to go adventuring in the woods. We'd chase down cars so they'd buy our watered-down lemonade. We'd have yard sales where we'd try to sell our toys for ridiculously high prices (so of course we never made any money). We'd find tadpoles and lug them around the block in a wagon so we could sell them as pets (our only client was one of our friends). Hell, one time we drew a long line of chalk in the middle of the street that spanned the entire neighborhood, because we were convinced we'd break a world-record for the longest line of chalk and somehow win lots of money (a simple google maps search indicates that our line of chalk was just a measly 0.6 miles long). I had my share of failed get-rich-quick schemes as a child, didn't I?

As I grew older, summer continued to be my favorite season of the year, primarily because I had so much freedom. I could ride my bike with friends to 7-11 for slurpees if I wanted to. I could go swimming at the beach. I could go camping (fun fact: I love the smell of campfire smoke). I could spend countless days per summer running around Six Flags (I used the hell out of my season pass). I could go on family vacations, my favorite of which have been my trips to the Outer Banks (speaking of which, I'm go back to OBX next week with Jen and some friends).

After I moved out of the house and went to college, freedom became more of an everyday thing, and the summertime no longer regularly gave me that same specific feeling that it once did. Every once in a while, however, as temperatures rise and the sun starts gleaming in my eyes, that feeling comes back, even if it's just for a second. A brief burst of nostalgia. A sense of feeling hopeful and free.

And over the last few days, I've really felt it again. Maybe the summer air has reinvigorated my spirits? I've got high hopes for the future; plans that break down the boundaries of the last seven months of my life and embrace growth and happiness. The gears are in motion, and I'm ready.

An End Has A Start

What a beautiful day for a rapture.

It's quite ridiculous how some people are legitimately convinced that today is the end of days. Although I must say, I'm kind of enjoying all the attention this charade is getting, and I honestly wouldn't be too upset if the world did in fact end today.

Now I know that sounds depressing, but I don't necessarily mean that in a gloomy or pessimistic aspect. For me, the concept of death has always had a certain allure to it, ever since that day as a young child when a morbid but very serious thought first hit me - we're all going to die someday. That concept has been on my mind fairly regularly since that day, and I believe it has changed my outlook on life. I've become a generally more optimistic person (maybe a little less so as of recently, but life naturally has its share of up and downs) because I've grown to appreciate the wonderful people and the beautiful world around me, and, in keeping with the "live each day like it's your last"-mentality, I've been trying to put a positive spin on even the most negative of situations.

I've always been a big fan of closure. For instance, as much as I don't want some of my favorite TV shows to go off the air, I typically tend to enjoy series finales the most because I enjoy seeing how everything comes to an end. And honestly, our lives are the greatest stories ever told. So you can really blame me for wondering how it all ends?

Luckily, the world will not actually be ending today, and the show must go on. I'm excited. We've got lots and lots of story left to cover.

Cult Logic

I'm realizing more and more that I prefer hanging out with smaller groups of people as opposed to the more commonly practiced "everyone's invited" social outing structure. Sure, I love seeing a lot of my friends together in one place, especially if I've been away in Maryland for several weeks prior. But hanging out exclusively at parties in a giant collective dilutes the potential for bonding or catching up or having interactions with much depth to it. Can anyone else relate to this or is it just me? I shouldn't feel almost as disconnected when I'm surrounded by friends as I do when I'm over a hundred miles away.

Hopefully I'll find plenty of opportunities this summer to chill with friends on a more personal basis.

Desire Lines

I can't believe it's been six months since I've started this job. I can't believe it's been a year since I graduated. And now a handful of my younger friends (who will probably always be known to me as "the juniors") are graduating too. Where did the time go?

You know, a lot of people claim that the "real world" sucks. And, I mean, I guess it often does. You'll never be as worry-free as you were during your childhood. You'll never get away with the irresponsibility you might've practiced during your high school and college years. But the truth is, I've had a whole lot of fun over the past year. Sure, it ain't college, but it's still been a blast.

Sometimes I think about how much control we have over our lives after college. We're free to do what we want, go where we want, and become what we want. We're all at a pivotal time in our lives where many of us will be moving away and following our personal desires. With that said, there's no doubt in my mind that friendships can overcome the challenge of great distance.

To my friends who are graduating soon, please know that I am deeply proud of each and every one of you. I've become such great friends with all of you and I am extremely thankful for that. Many of you have said to me that last year was the absolute best year of college, and I'd have to agree. I know my senior year wouldn't have been as wonderful and memorable as it was if it wasn't for you guys. I have so much love for you all, and I genuinely wish you the best.