Tonight I went to Epcot after work to meet up with two good friends, even though I had to wait for them to get off of a ride I took the time to catch up on Facebook from the day and send a few texts I found myself just sitting and people watching and enjoying my coffee. Prior to my trip to Tokyo, the just sitting and enjoying the moment part would not have existed. I would have been wrapped up in my phone wanting to rush to the next moment. The entire evening went on like this for me...I feel like I'm in the moment and noticing little details and just enjoying everything.
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| Happy in line after running through the rain yesterday! |
We were lucky enough to have an amazing table overlooking the lake to see Illuminations from and a server who was more than kind to let us take our time to eat dinner and have a few drinks...like an hour and a half. I have never watched this fireworks show this close and this intently but I've noticed myself doing this more often lately. On the 4th of July I was working and was only able to see a small section of fireworks but boy was I captivated, last night on the 5th I took in a different perspective of the fireworks. I will always love fireworks and shamelessly admit I am like a small child when watching fireworks.
On my walk out my friends went one way to go back to their hotel and I walked to my car while wishing I had my little green book (anyone who was on the trip to Tokyo will know what book I'm talking about) and for the first time in a very long time, a camera. I noticed the light and shapes of things I have seen for years a little differently. And took my time walking out of the park enjoying the mild July night we are having.
Growing up I had a love for photography, I even developed a minor in college, proposed it to an advisor and got it approved through the school surrounding photography...I got all A's and loved every minute of it but eventually I stopped taking pictures and taking in the little moments. I think we all have those times when we stop enjoying the small things in life and are sucked into activities that take us away from the environment we are in.
While on the walk to my car I watched groups singing and laughing in a different language, the kinds of laughs that come from inside and are full of pure joy. It made me think of being in Tokyo on the subways and trains laughing and enjoying the experiences that were so new to so many of us. I wonder if how I viewed these people is how we were viewed by the locals in Japan.
There is nothing quite like riding home with all the windows down and the sunroof open at night in the perfect weather. There is a sense of freedom and the desire to play music very, very loudly and the need to sing the words at the top of your lungs. Yup, I did that...and I learned that my car does in fact have a 6 CD changer (I have owned this car for nearly a year and JUST learned that, and yes I do still have CD's). On this drive I saw a shooting star (made a wish....not telling you though) and thought about how free I feel for the first time in a long time. I am comfortable with myself for the first time in years and am truly happy. The friendships I have are the right ones for me and I know that the people who care for me and are meant to be there will be there, it's ok to cut loose friends who disappear when life gets tough. I need to be OK with cutting ties to people that I feel I have had to work too hard to try to be a good friend to...those are people I don't need in my life at this point in time.
Loving my moments of clarity...I hope things stay clear for a long, long time...
