Life vs. Love

I love to travel and I love where I grew up, really I could be anywhere but in the end I'm sure I'd always want to come home in the end.
Just because I love my home, doesn't mean I have to stay there forever. That seems to be the thing that has been weighing on my thoughts lately, the decision people have to make between either following what they truly want to do or staying back and settling for what they have.

The question I have is, why does there have to be a choice?

Recently, I signed up for another trip out of the country with a group I've traveled with before, EF College Break.
My family and friends supported me and were even envious of my travels, past and future.
One of my friends decided that she would love to go with me and talked through the process with her husband and family to see if she could do it. Everyone was for it and she was entirely excited to be able to go with me, financially she would have to figure it out, but traveling is so worth it!

Today, I was talking to her about the trip and she thought for some reason it was full and I told her she had just forgotten to check a box and it was still available (it's over a year away, there would be plenty of time) and I reminded her of the dates.

She promptly texted me back to say, "Oh, I can't go those dates, that's my anniversary."
I was a little shocked, but I thought I could reason with her by suggesting she'll have many more and that when will she have an opportunity to do this again?
Again, her reply was blunt, "that's not how we see things."

I can tell you now that I'm still surprised at her answer. That an anniversary would stop her from venturing out and doing something she's always wanted to do.
I know she'll never get this chance again and she's throwing it all away for an anniversary that comes around every single year.
She tried to get me to change dates, but I said no. I planned this because this is when I wanted to go, I'm not changing them, it would be more expensive to go earlier and I can't go later for multiple reasons.

This is the conundrum, why is she willing to settle for so much less than what she actually wants?
Love is extremely important in life, but life without adventure and happiness in living out your dreams, that's not a very great life even with love.
Her husband doesn't like to travel and I know they'll never go that far away. So I will most likely be off by myself, which is entirely fine by me.
I feel sad for her, because I just don't see why an anniversary is so much more important.

I love love, but I also love to travel in my life. If my love doesn't want to come, I'll go alone, whenever I want.
Maybe that's just the independent side of me, maybe I just don't care, maybe I'm slightly selfish, but I've settled too much in my life already to not follow my dreams and to let people drag me down.

I can love someone and travel on my own, that's the beauty of life. It's sad some people put so much stake in what they have just right in front of them when there's so much more to the world than that.

I know that I'm sort of just ranting now, but it's hard to help it.
Anyways, from my life to yours.

Cheers and safe travels!

My birthday '14

This year was probably the best birthday I've ever had.

Seattle for the whole weekend was a success in so many ways, I can't even believe it happened. 

Got down there Friday and just checked into the hotel we were staying at, which was awesome and great in itself. 

Saturday came and we started out the day with some hot cocoa and tea from the coffe shop downstairs, which was amazing to say the least! The hot cocoa was the best ever! (It tasted like chocolate and marshmallows.. Yum!)

We ventured down to Pike Place Market and walked through the shops, meeting a cool Russian guy at a great bookstore and getting to try some interesting fruits (persimmons, if you didn't know, taste like a vegetable). We also went to the Seattle Art Museum and walked around for a bit before we got lunch.

We then proceeded to go back to the hotel and take naps.. And then get ready for dinner!

Met up with more of our friends at the restaurant we chose. Got some drinks, food and opened a couple presents.

Then had some drunk guys come over and invade our space and be annoying.

We left and went to our next location where we got drinks and waited for one of my friends from work and his brother, where we talked and he met my friends. 

We tried to make a plan for where we were going next and then walked to our next location although the cover charge at the first club seemed ridiculous and we left to go to a different one, which was only $10 cheaper but ended up being good. We took a cab and got in and danced for a long long time!

Took a cab back to the hotel and went to sleep.

Woke up and started from the beginning.

Cocoa first, packed up stuff in the car, went to pike place to pick up last minute stuff and headed home.

The best thing about the weekend was how many of my friends actually came out. I can't remember the last time I had that many of my close friends in the same place and they were there for me.. For my birthday!

It was great getting to know a new friend a little better and to have him get to know me and see my friends. This never happens! Dancing was great and so funny! 

I absolutely loved this weekend! I will forever cherish this birthday.

23 has started out so amazing! Let's keep it up? All you can do is try :]

Halloween 2014

This year was an interesting year for Halloween. I have been in a great spot and being at a new job with people who like to have fun, just makes things so much better.

I dressed up as a mermaid for work (a simple and not slutty one) with scaled leggings and a purple top.

It was so awesome seeing the creativity and excitement people had at work for the Halloween holiday. So much good food and lots of fun talking to people throughout the day.

Nighttime was a bit different. One of my best friends got ready, this time as simple black cats and we went to meet her sister in law (also a black cat) out at a bar for a Halloween party where we planned to dance the night away, which we did.

I forgot they were having a psychic there to do readings and talk to you, until she walked up to us and told us to come talk to her, she proceeded to tell me there was a lot of good coming to me in my future..

So when we were all finally there we went over to talk to her where she told me to start out and make three wishes but to tell her only two. The ones I told her were that I wish to travel the world and I wish to eventually get married.

From there, she told me that I would travel a lot in my lifetime, which already is amazing because I want to incredibly bad.

Then she told me that I should stay at my current job because it is very good for me and will be promising for the future, which made me happy to hear.

Last, she told me I would be meeting my soulmate in the new future, probably before the new year.. Which I don't know if I entirely believe but I guess I'll have to wait and see since it's coming soon.

She also ended by saying that I will be in good health and that I'm going on the right path in my life, which just made me feel awesome.

That in itself was probably the thing I wanted to hear most, knowing that I'm going in the right direction is amazing, I took the steps to get there and it's working out so far! 

Both of my friends then talked to her as well and we danced the night away, having a great night despite the creepy and touchy-feely guys that were also there. 

I was happy with how this Halloween turned out. Much better than previous ones.

Hope everyone else had a great holiday. 

More to come!