A Valley of Peace

I am so grateful that I am surrounded by people who fill my life with whimsical adventures, who always put a smile on my face and who have the ability to make any place feel like home. 

Yesterday I went to Truckee for the day with my house mates. We went to the beach for a picnic and pulled out our ukuleles to play some music. Pages of my journal were filled with insightful thoughts.  I love it when I can look around and see nature all around me; when I can inhale and smell the fragrance of wildlife (and slight sent of smoke). This weekend has been a hectic few days with all that's going on, all that's being taught in my classes, all that's happening in my life, and prominently, all that's being burned. Although thousands of acres have been lost to the flames and turned to ash, places that have sacred meanings and hold beautiful memories will be cherished in many hearts including mine.

As school is getting into a rhythm again, I am trying to handle the work that I have and include social time and time for myself to recharge where I have been worn out by the stress, activity and confusion that life often brings. 

I have my ukulele to calm my mind and ease my head and I have a supportive family to do just the same. I hope everyone has a beautiful cloudy windy day. Fall is whispering in the air today. I am looking forward to rain boots, wood stoves, and layering up to go outside.  

Have a wonderful Autumn day.

First Day of School

First Day of School

August 24, 2015

For some reason I have been thinking today is the 21st for a couple of days, which is strange because yesterday, I even wrote the 23rd on my math sheet; and today (the 24th) is the first day of Sierra College classes. I went to bed last night under the impression that I start school in two days. I woke up this morning with a heavy pit of a feeling that I had to start school today, it didn't feel right that I didn't. So I got dressed and ran out of the door, got to Sierra, and started waiting outside of the wrong classroom for my class to start, only to realize I had already missed my first class. Once I finally got to the right classroom, a different class was in session. I walked in with a curiosity and overwhelming confusion of what was going on. After sitting there and knowing for a fact that I was in the wrong class, I got up and started walking towards the door. On my way through the rows of desks Mr. Smith, the teacher, stopped me. 

"Wrong classroom?" He asked.

"Definitely" I replied with reassured knowledge that I was in the right place at the wrong time. "I thought class started on the 24th"

"Well you're right, today is the 24th" He said with an smile hidden under his bushy mustache. 

"Right, I understand that now. I've been thinking today was the 21st for some reason. I'm in your 8:00 AM Geography class."

"Well, well... what did YOU do over the weekend?"

"Nothing." I didn't do anything over the weekend, that was the sad thing. He continued to shuffle through a stack of paper and eventually gave me the syllabus and explained that I had nothing to worry about. 

"See you on Wednesday.... the 26th!" I heard while walking out of the door. 

I walked to the study room in Sewell hall and read over the pink syllabus he had given to me, making note of all of the important due dates, and all of things he didn't tolerate in his class. I had missed my first Geography class, missed my live online Math seminar, and now, I am decompressing, gathering my well being and looking forward to being on time to my next class.

CHEERS! To teachers with tattoos, bruised unripe peaches, men with man buns, bushy mustaches, and fossils. And to the grand act of Stella missing her first class. Here's to the trees and their unwavering loyalty to the simplicity of life. Cheers to the ants. crawling all over me and my books, my backpack and my food. Cheers to being positive. Cheers to Monday being a sun day, an educational day, insightful, deceitful, and FULL, of whatever you choose to fill it with.

Yuba Day

Sit down and reflect, don't project. Feel the things that come to you from your heart. Don't dart away from the fear or the tears that stream down your face when the pace gets too fast to keep up with. Slow down and reflect. Tell yourself what matters to you. Tell yourself what you love. Fly away into the sky and reach the things you dream of. Die and come back to yourself as something new. Blue feelings only come when you sit in a stew of the past and don't move. Forward is a direction that can be described going anywhere. Go forward to the things you dream of. The things above you are yours to become. 

August 18th 2015

Yuba River 

Villa Trevilla

Looking at these photos takes me back into the lounge chairs on the water, to the love in my heart and revives my admiration for Positano and all of the amazing people who live there. Below are some views from Villa Treville, Positano, Italy.