Day 21: The end
So it’s the end of the 21 day challenge; or rather, it was the end! But this is truly only the beginning. I’ve set myself on an incredible journey and there are only more good things to come.
- I am so thankful for all of the support from my friends and for keeping up with me along the way! It is much appreciated! But again, this is only the beginning!
- I am so thankful for all of you sticklers who kept me in line whenever I faltered. There was a while there were I was close to taking drags from other people’s cigarettes but was saved… even from people I had just met; so thanks guys. You probably don’t read this, but I am sending you vibes of gratitude anyhow.. I hope you feel them.
- This is so random, but food is so great, culture is so great, combine the two and … they’re just about the best thing ever. I had and “end of challenge” meal, and had tabouleh, labne, pita, and mediterranean salad; what a glorious meal it was!
- I am so grateful for the opportunity to live, to love, to explore, to learn, and to serve. I think that pretty much sums up the point of this challenge in the first place. Albeit, I still am an incredibly disorganized person, in need of some de-cluttering and a driving force to push me in the right direction. But life is an uphill adventure! So cheers to that!
So my next list of goals is about decreasing my negative impact on the earth, and also training myself to be self-reliant, healthy, thrifty, and in balance with life.
I’m weening myself slowly, but this summer I will kick in to high gear, and begin experimenting! So far I’ve gone shampoo and toothpaste-less, depending on baking soda, as well as fruits, teas, and oils. I’ve been doing some research and deciding what it is I want to do/make. My make-shift list for now is:
vegan soap
felted vegan soap
almond milk
almond yogurt
almond “sour cream”
cashew cheese
re-usable cloth towel rolls (assembled like paper towels)
enzyme household cleaner
composting
natural mosquito repellents
makeup
grow and brew tea
moss graffiti
bug burger, yum! hahah
clothing? (already bought material for bathing suits, and ladies I have a lot of extra material, if you want a bathing suit, holler)
I cannot wait to do these things and keep adding to this list! Please, if you’re in SA, CSTAT, or ATX this summer, then join in! (haha I like those abbreviations, they look nice together don’t they? My life will concentrate around those three areas as soon as I get back) All are welcome to experiment with me!
Also, I’d like to end with some quotes/ideas from Jessica Guerra, from a conversation I just had with her.
- “We’re f*cking human beings! We’re not machines! You just don’t fix or heal a person like you would a computer!”
- Ideal man = sexy sustainable man… Bearded and on a bike, with a baby on a sling snuggling next to his chest, with a burlap sack full of vegetables
Gotta love her <3
Day 20
“Women are second class citizens” ….. Seriously???
So I walked over 50 blocks home tonight after an amazing day spent with my friends. We went to this incredible Cuban restaurant called Guantanamera (appropriately… Jose Martí anyone?). Fabulous food, music, and even better company. I walked home most of the way with my lovely ladies Alex and Justine. It was such a fun walk. I dropped them off and had just a matter of blocks before I got home. I was near the end of Union Square and was waiting at the cross walk in front of a group of about 6 guys, not my age, probably in their late 20’s, so “men”. I couldn’t help but over hear what they were saying. One sentence that stud out among the rest was “women are second class citizens.” What struck me most was the seriousness with which one of them expressed this. Though some of them didn’t seem to agree, not a one of them said anything to the contrary. I had half a mind to turn around and tell them just how wrong, closed minded, and backwards they were. But then again, I was walking alone and they were 6 grown men, so for my own safety I sucked it up and kept walking. I tried so hard not to let that one group of men, I can’t even call them men, I’m not sure what to call them, but they certainly do not deserve the title of “men;” not even “boys;” I tried so hard not to let that affect me. After everything I’ve learned and studied these past years, all of my efforts to promote human rights and equality, I couldn’t help but feel broken. I couldn’t even stand up for myself. How could I? I wouldn’t have stood a chance. I kept walking, trying to keep composure, less than a handful of blocks away from home. But as I walked home, I encountered completely different words. I was maybe one block from home, and a group of gentlemen, because that’s what they truly were, gently said to me as they passed, “You’re beautiful. God bless you. I hope you get home safely.” I can’t thank them enough for their words.
I refuse to let those.. worms.. put a damper on the beautiful day I had with my friends. Thank you to all of you real men, men and women, true people, who refuse to see differences between sex and any other difference people may claim is there.
Jack taking pictures… of sleeping “bums” (literally tee hee)
Cutest pup evah
Dog smoochin’
Justine et moi
William makes an infiniti sign 
Feet 
These guys…again!
Sing us a song piano man!
Chilin’ chez moi
Couldn’t resist sending this to the veg-o’s I know; had the most amazing vegan pizza of my life!
Double duty 
Beers in pocket? 
Sareen bean and Will 
Chug! Chug! Chug!!! 
“Restaurant Kyu-bah-noh; me gusta un sandwicho et un mojito” -Cody 
Too white to function… “It’s so loud! What are they saying??” 
Day 19
Day 18
- I love sharing. Remember that weird gum commercial with the song that went “sharing is caring it can be fun!” Well they had it right, sharing definitely is fun. Good things by yourself aren’t nearly as satisfying as good things in good company. I’m grateful for sharing time, food, opinions, ideas, hopes, fears, anything, and everything. A thanks to everyone for sharing a piece of their life with me.
- Realizing the finite nature of my stay in NYC, and even with life itself has made me so much more adventurous and open. Everyone seems friendlier and I can’t wait to meet and converse with them. Although I am kind of bad at that. I still remind myself of conversations in which I forget to ask enough about the other person. I talk way too much for how little I actually communicate with people. So if you have a conversation with me, and I don’t ask enough about you, it’s not that I don’t want to know, its more “I don’t know what’s going on and if you ask me how I am I will give you the full answer to the point where you may have lost interest in the conversation and I don’t get the chance to ask you how you are.” So, how are you? Please, feel free to answer and let me know.
- I am grateful for new people, or meeting new people rather. Even if it’s just for a little while, I would love to explore you and delve into your thoughts and passions. I met a few people tonight, some for the first time, some for the second. People intrigue me and I wish I had enough time to become well acquainted with each one.
Reservation for Tim? 
The Tribe. 
Yes, I’ll have a “bitchy”
MMmmmmmmmm
Look who got a hair cut! How clean-cut!
Jared is a big baby. 
Day 17
- Thanks to my dear friend Taylor Foody, through channeling the great Anis Mojgani (props to Justine and Bri for the introduction as well), I am also going to dub this year The Year of No Mistakes. This is of course not to mean that I am not allowed to make mistakes, but rather the decisions I make are all correct paths, and as Anis says, we cannot fall, only land. I’m talking specifically about his TED talk, and a powerful one it is (fo sho). I was delightfully surprised and felt connected when he talked about the differences in which he and his wife see the world; he through a telescope, and she through a microscope. This is exactly what I talked about in one of my early posts about feeling small and infinite. I’m going to make this year a meaningful one, in which I trust the path I am laying out for myself and welcome each day with open arms.
- I am thankful for being able to confide in others. To be able to trust others, not just with your secrets, but with your everyday struggles. The ability to tell your neighbor that there is a load you need help with, that (yes, Bill Withers) we need someone to lean on. I want to thank each and every person who has let me lean on them, heaven knows there are many of you. I also want to say that if anyone out there needs someone to lift up their struggles or even their joys, I have been overflowing with love, and I need to share it before I explode or even implode (I’m not sure what that will look like, but I’m sure not good at all). So by all means, even if you need a simple chit-chat, call me.
“For (FIVE) it won’t be long (SHORT), ‘til I’m gonna need (ELBOW) somebody to lean on” break it down now.. <3
- I want to shout out to Taylor and Dillon for taking such an active interest in my well-being. I’m so thankful for your constant encouragement and for the constant laughter you bring to my life. Taylor, we will “mom dance” very soon, I know it. And Dilly, I’ll keep practicing on trying to make you laugh, even if we will never be married, I’m putting “make Dillon laugh” on my life goals list.
Squeezing out opportunities today…
Phone call:
Cody: you sound confused
Me: my second class was canceled so I came home to take a 30 min nap
Cody: Oh sorry! (feeling bad bc he always wakes me up, though admittedly not this time)…. lunch?
How can I say no to this?
Day 16
- A girl who was a camper at CAMP (Children’s Association for Maximum Potential) while I was a counselor contacted me today. I think the last time I talked to her was about 5 years ago. She was in my tribe, Pawnee girls, and she is still as sweet and sassy. I feel great that she remembered me, even though she didn’t think it was a big deal. I remember what an incredible place CAMP is, and how much I learned about life and myself while I was there. It was a lot of fun, but one of the most difficult weeks of my life up until then. It’s probably still up there actually (if I had a list). Her long lasting friendship shines a little more hope into my life.
- I am grateful for overcoming fears! Today, drum roll please…. I went to Bobst! What is Bobst, you say? It has many nicknames, one that is often used in my friend group is the 50,000 dollar jail cell. It’s our library and it is actually a fabulous place. Sort of. It is actually quite a menacing looking building, an ominous obtrusive red giant.
The inside is also kind of dark and gloomy; or maybe that’s just the way I perceive it. The school has to take a few precautions including adding glass to the railings and having a guard on each floor during exams (so I’ve been informed) to make sure nobody jumps (which unfortunately has happened quite a bit). Is this fear seeming more real? Well it’s not anymore because Justine took me! I was actually so nauseated in the elevator, something about that place still isn’t quite right to me, but I can’t leave NYU without saying I have studied my butt off inside that building, and I did it! So thanks J-man.
- I am so thankful for learning. It’s… fabulous. I think about the education I’ve gotten at NYU so far, and how my classes probably won’t be of use when I change my major, at least not in the academic sense. What they have done is teach me about life and myself. They were essential for me (the living me versus the academic me). In Alain de Botton’s TED talk “Atheism 2.0”, he talks about the yearning to go to an institution of higher learning exclaiming, “I came here because I’m in search of morality, guidance, and consolation. I want to know how to live!” I can’t say this for the entirety of my higher education, but for the most part, each of my classes has done something in the favor of these sentiments. I am so incredibly thankful for it.
Chit-chat in WSP.
This cutie, groovin’ on the sax..
Day 14
Brudders <3
Day 13
Day 12
- I am grateful for the friends that inspire me to be a better me, just by being themselves. There really are many of them, but to specify a little, I mean Brianna, Alma, Taylor, Adri, Annie, and Jess (but she’ll get her own post tee hee). These girls have each shaped my perception of the world for the better, impacting my life in so many positive ways. All free, loving, and gentle spirits, filled with love and respect for life, expression, individuality, and unity.
- I am grateful for love; I mean true, selfless love. I really do think it’s the answer to everything. People don’t understand when I say that, they become critical and cynical, which isn’t in tune with love either, so how could I expect them to understand? Jessie told me about Isabella’s plea for love. How we are often encouraged to propagate hate, especially towards people like terrorists, dictators, criminals, and any other “wrong-doers”. But she brought up an important point: why don’t we love those people? And people will be appalled if you say something like that, they will perceive you as demented or simply idiotic and naive. But the fact is, what harm can love do? Love doesn’t harm, it can only do good and if we want to work for a better world then we must love our enemies, not hate them. Hate only spawns more hate.
- Does everybody know that I have another half? Her name is Jessica, and if we were attracted to each other we’d probably be engaged by now. She is my best friend and we are ONE. We are so in tune with each other and she brings me back to earth. I remember once crying tears of gratitude because I feel like I owe my life to Teresa and Frank Guerra. I don’t know where I would be without her. She is the most intelligent, artistic, talented, funny, creative, loving, beautiful, perceptive, wise, and awe inspiring being I have had the pleasure and honor of knowing, so feel free to be jealous that she’s my BFFNENE (best friend forever ‘n’ ever ‘n’ ever). I can’t wait to build our wellness community and lives together.
And I would like to thank my lovelies for spending the day in Central Park!
We actually went to play frisbee, but these pictures are prettier haha
Déjeuner du l’herbe?
Oh, the decadence..
Occupy-ers’ drum circle: soooo fun!
Hare Krisna! 
Jammin on the sax
Lovely fellow with a flower of life sweat shirt; he saw me eyeing his sweat shirt, we totally connected over sacred geometry. 
Brianna and Tim lend me their profiles to make shadow art.
We played the guessing game again (à la Inglourious Basterds); took me so long to guess.
Many many many questions and hints later….
Cody: “Don’t over psychoanalyze it”
Me: “I’m Freud!”
