On Thursday, one of my dearest friends celebrated two years of sobriety. In reflecting on what an incredible accomplishment this milestone represented, I was struck by an immensely comforting realization — that in a world and at an age at which life can often seem to happen to you, turning abruptly and irrevocably in frightening and unfamiliar directions, it is nevertheless most possible to take hold of yourself, of your path, and set it all right. And that just as suddenly as people or relationships that comforted you can disappear, you can let go of a version of yourself that had been holding you back. That closing a door is not always bad thing.
on life, and being 25
words from a wonderful letter i received today (from a very wise friend).
“Every moment is only a moment. Be in it and not behind it or too far ahead of it. You are not too late to any party — you are right on time.
What’s done is done. There is only now. You are in the now and you have the future, but, I am sorry to say, even that is not a guarantee, and anyway, what you do now will determine the future.
Don’t be with anyone who is just passing time. The time is too precious. You would be better off alone. In the end, we are all alone anyway.
Emma, 25 is a wonderful time. It’s the beginning, not the end. Go! and be happy.”
for the past three years...
…today included (why?), i have spent an immeasurable amount of time and energy telling someone, showing someone, closing my eyes and trying to emote to someone: “i love you. i. love. you. no matter what, always always always.”
and feeling, every time, like i am speaking to someone who doesn’t understand english, or like i’m banging my head against a wall, or like charlie brown with that stupid football. because it doesn’t matter how many ways i say it or show it, how dedicated and tireless i am, how deeply i feel it or mean it. it’s impossible for him to comprehend because he has never felt the same way. not even about me. not for one second in all of those days.
Yes, yes, yes. Every kid (and lots of adults and almost-adults, including me) need to hear this.
Obama speech to school children: ‘You make your own future’ - CNN.com (FULL TEXT)
(via apsies) (via librarianpirate) (via sunnynsassy)
Wise words from Bill Bowerman on the awesome hand-crafted Nike retrospective on the wall of their store at 21 Mercer St. Stop 2 of Sunday in NYC with dad tour.
i'd like to thank
1) those nice folks at the nike runner’s station by stuyvesant high school for comping this bitch a bottle of water circa mile 8. this definitely means i can say i’m sponsored by nike.
2) the cinco de miami mix by sir vikas for getting me to the end of my run pretty much every day. also a crowd-pleaser at random fantasy football parties in sick apartment buildings across from 1oak that you might happen to crash. versatile!
I’ve started to think about my actions and choices in terms of negative space — the artistic concept of focusing on the space around an object rather than on the object itself. I’ve found when answering any question — from “should I go for a run this morning?” to Major Life Decisions — it helps me to ask myself how I’ll feel if I don’t do something, not just how I feel about doing it. I’ve found I’d choose the temporary pain of action over the gnawing discontent of inaction almost every time.
Word.
