Tag: sunset

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Genesis

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The sun is setting over the city….which provides quite the view from the 21st. This is my favorite time of day to be at work. Watching the sun fade and the city begin to light up, soaking in the quiet around me. I look over at a familiar sight. The offices next to us have windows that bow out, allowing us a partial view into them. Every evening after he finishes seeing his patient’s, the Dentist next door sits alone and completes his paperwork…sometimes for hours. It’s funny to me that so many people desire success, and yet never really ponder the time and sacrifices involved in the achievement of it. Of course the definition of success varies from person to person. For me, however, as I sit here at the start of a new year, a new decade, I can’t help but contemplate my greatest accomplishments thus far, and those soon to come.

It’s been almost a year since I started this endeavor of working in the city. I have learned such a great deal about my resilience from this experience. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t foster a great deal of gratitude for where this opportunity has taken me, and I can honestly say if I had to go back…I’d make the same decision a hundred times over. And the self efficacy that has resulted, has now led me to my next big venture…..that of going to University online full time to obtain my Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting. My four year goal being to start my own business and move closer to this city that has for so many years harbored my heart and soul.

If you had looked me dead in the eye five years ago and told me that I’d be working in the heart of this city, for such a fun loving group of people, starting college again, having just taken my two beautiful boys on a wonderful Hawaiian vacation, all on my own….I’m not sure I would believe you. Not because I ever doubted that I COULD accomplish any of those things…..but out of astonishment at how swiftly the Universe facilitated the cards falling exactly where they were meant to.

I enter this year with nothing but a full heart, an eager mind, and a deeper soul…more so than ever before. I firmly believe that the moment you start elevating your thoughts, wholeheartedly…….big things happen. Speak what you want into the Universe and live your life accordingly….watch the magic happen.

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I wish those of you reading nothing but love and success for 2020!

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Sunset 

As I tip toe on the still hot pavement at the end of another scorching California day, I look to my left to see a familiar sight. The old woman that lives across the street is sitting comfortably on her porch, preparing to watch the sunset…just as she does every single night. I’ve grown so accustomed to seeing her at this time that I never actually stop to wonder how long she’s kept up this routine of hers; what she thinks about while she sits there; or how long it’s been since someone sat there and enjoyed it with her.

If you honestly think about it, how long has it been since you stopped and watched the sunset? Not just snapped a picture of it to post on social media…but actually took in the process of the sun dipping slowly, the colors of the sky changing and intensifying, the air beginning to cool, and the city magically quieting down? For me, it’s been months; since my last vacation. (Funny how it takes a change of location to help us appreciate the things that are already in front of us).

I’ll be the first to admit that my life is quite a bit busier than I’d like. This is due to both circumstance and habit. I’ve worked and taken care of people from such a young age that I struggle with the ability to relax. The majority of my time spent “relaxing” is me sleeping. I do believe, however, that there is something so powerfully therapeutic about that in between phase of our days and our lives; where we are no longer on the go, and yet not entirely shut down either. When we allow our minds to wander and pressures to subside.

As small children, we appreciate the simple things. Bright colors, new noises, familiar faces, a box to play in or keys to jingle. But as life progresses, we slowly lose sight of simplicity and contentment. In this society, we are constantly being enticed and pushed toward bigger/better. Not that I’m insinuating in any way that moving forward in life and having goals is wrong. Self fulfillment and healthy aspirations are vital aspects of life. However, it’s become very evident that for me personally and this generation as a whole, we need to train ourselves to come up for air more often. To become one with the world around us, outside of a screen. To redefine our idea of beauty and to appreciate the things around us that are not man made and can’t be bought.

In a way, I feel like that old woman is richer than most. She spends more quality time with the universe and her own quiet thoughts in a week than the majority of us do in months. At what point in time, in our lives, do we once again embrace the uncomplicated, transparent, “free” treasures in life? I suppose that is up to us.


(I took this from my roof last summer)

“Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, ever day can end beautifully” ~ Kristen Butler

“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing” ~ Camille Pissarro

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