J'aime.

Rainforest & Waterfalls.

Sometimes the best days are the ones you dont plan.  My whole philosophy with this trip was to not plan anything.  My life back home is so rigid and planned out, I feel like there is nothing spontaneous or adventurous.  A couple of days ago, my friends and I took a roadtrip to the Daintree Rainforest in northern Australia to see a bunch of beautiful waterfalls, lakes, and the biggest tree I have ever seen in my life.  It was one of the most amazing days I have had here, and I couldn't have planned it if I tried.  Sometimes you just need to let go of the plans and just live your life as it comes and you will have the most amazing adventures.  Keep a positive attitude always, and life will rush in and show you how amazing it can really be!

Moonlight Beach.

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving, safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, wine in one hand, chocolate in the other, body totally used up, totally worn out, screaming 'Woo Hoo! What a ride!'"

This is the difference I feel to the life in Colorado, and my life in Australia.  It is wonderful feeling, knowing that my friends understand this, now.  Our lives back home are routine, mundane and planned out for us with one purpose: to get money. Our lives in Australia have a much deeper purpose and everyday is an adventure full of new friends, boys, jokes, food, and memories.  We meet all sorts of crazy people along the way and laugh the majority of the time.   Life is supposed to be about finding joy and loving life, not devoting your life to routine.  I love this quote, as it reminds us how life should be and is for us at this moment in Australia. 

Sparklers & Sand.

I don't know if I had mentioned this before, but i have this problem every year where I recurrently look forward to holidays so much that I am always disappointed that they never meet my expectations.  The worst part about this is that the more I like a holiday the higher my expectations are, and the worse the actual day is to me.  Not this year, though!!!

The 4th of July is my ultimate favorite holiday of all.  Barbecues and fire works... I love the whole day! Yet, I have not had a good one for as long as I can remember.  Ever since I have been in Australia, I have had the most amazing holidays, one after the other exceeding my expectations.

We were in a very small town in Queensland Australia called 1770.  There is literally a beach, 1 store, 1 petrol station, and 1 hostel. Of course, I was not expecting the big sha-bang of traditions such as the fire work shows in the baseball fields and huge barbecues in a town like this, in a country who doesn't even celebrate it.   Yet, this 4th of July was the best I can remember. I celebrated in Australia with my twinzies, 1 American boy, and about 30 people from all over the world.  The manager of the hostel decided to throw his first ever 4th of July party, and we just happened to be in the right place at the right time!

We taught everyone how to make an "american hot dog" with "American ketchup" and "hot dog buns."  We used facepaint to draw American flags, USA, and I <3 America all over everyone.  We explained the "S'more" to our deprived friends from other countries who had never heard of it as we sat around the bonfire.   The best part was that we bought sparklers at the one store in this town with a population of like 100.  Sparklers have been banned since I was 10 in Colorado, and I have missed them so much!  It was the most amazing day, unexpectedly so, and I am so grateful for that!

Life is unceasingly more here in Australia, even on the one day when I thought I would miss America the most.  I just wish i could ship all my friends and family out here and stay forever! Xx

The Secret.

I have discovered this amazing secret of life.   It is simple, yet no one realizes it.  It is the power of giving love for the things that you want.  It is the amazing fact that you can create the life that you want.   All you have to do is give love for the things that you desire.  Don’t let any negative feelings of jealousy, doubt, sadness, guilt, fear, or anything else enter your mind otherwise you will bring negative things into your life.  Every morning I meditate thinking only of things that I love…  I think of my amazing life of living in Australia forever.  I think of how I am becoming my healthiest I have ever been.  I think of how amazing life is when I surround myself with happy, positive people. 

This is the secret that so many people that I know don’t realize.  That whatever you can dream, whatever you can imagine your life to be, it can be that.  At one point and time, before I was even in Australia or knew I was coming here,  I loved the life that I am living right now.  I loved it into existence.  So many people settle for the things that they think they are stuck with, but in reality, all they need to do is love the life they want.  Love it and believe in it enough, and it will come into reality. 

This is my secret that I believe with all of my heart.  

3 ways to find Joy!

3 ways to find Joy!
Joy to me is the combination of peace and happiness.  If you can calm your mind, you will find the simple things in life are what make you happiest.

• Just Breath! 

Focusing on your breath centers you and makes you realize the miracle that you are alive and blessed to be able to breathe.  I always like to think of my breath as the sound of the ocean waves washing on shore, as it helps me to relax.  Take 3 deep breaths, and then continue.  Almost every time, I feel better just after breathing.

• Keep Perspective!

When you are super stressed, your vision becomes so narrow on the problem in front of you.  It makes you feel like the thing you are worried about is so huge!  But when you change your perspective, and imagine looking down on yourself from the future, or at the end of your life, how big is this problem really?  Is it really worth ruining your day over? Keep your perspective large, and all your small non-important problems will disappear.

• Practice Mindfulness!

This is one of my favorite practices, and best calming tricks. Throughout your entire day, while you are walking, eating, sitting... notice all of your senses and start listing the things around you.  Right now, I am sitting outside at night, listening to the rain on the palm trees,  the breeze flowing through the leaves. I hear the sound of a movie playing in the common area and the faint sound of someone practicing guitar. I feel the cool Australian winter air and my soft blanket wrapped around me.  I see 12 wonderfully unique guys and girls from all over the world, in a colorful hostel, just happening to cross eachothers' lives at this place and time, all coming together to watch the same movie in this tiny beach town in Australia.

I hear...

I feel...

I see...

I smell...

I taste...

J'ai un singe dans ma dos.

A nice rainstorm to blog in? Oui Oui. Wishing I had my piano to play on right now, I am in the perfect mood for playing.

Eternity.

I had the most amazing 2 hour hike along the coastal trail around Noosa today. There were some of the most spectacular views I have ever seen in my life. The weather was absolutely perfect, as well. By the time we got to Main Beach (the end), I felt like I was in a tropical rainforest, and we made sandcastles on the beach and drank smoothies.  This is my absolute favorite way to exercise, looking for dolphins and watching the surfers along the way.

Twinzies.

Being in Surfers for the past 2 months and then coming to Noosa, a completely different place, has made me realize how easy it is to get back into stress-mode.  Without even realizing it I have gotten back into my stressful thought patterns, with negative thoughts clouding my mind. When my friends, B & J got here to Australia, we were busy and stressed out for the first 2 weeks, but then now that we are in Noosa, I am finally able to show them the worry-free Australia I know and love.  I finally remember the joy in just sitting in the sun, listening to exotic birds chirping, sleeping in the rain, and walking therapy sessions with my twinzies.  Just walking can be such an incredible experience.  I wish I could explain this to everyone around me, how amazing Australia is, the real Australia, not the fake parts like the middle of Surfers Paradise.  Sometimes partying and touristy places can be fun, but I know that is not the place to find happiness in.  Right now we are in a small beachy town called Noosa, living the good life just chillin’ in the sun. My friends and I are living together for the first time, and we are learning so many things from each other.  I think that is the important part about having friends learning from their mistakes and enjoying life together, and always realizing that our time spent together makes up our lives.  Life is all about finding joy, love, and growing spiritually.  I feel so blessed to have my friends here to help me find those things, helping me stay on track along the way.