I last posted a blog when i had returned from a road trip from Seattle to California, across the United States in to Chicago and eventually back to New York. Since then, many things have changed. I went back to work in New York City in November, only to find myself frustrated with the work environment and the hostility between individuals that's caused by work related stress. So.. I left. Again. I once again championed I-80 to get myself back across the United States to Utah where i was able to spend some much needed time alone with Cherie (for those that don't know - my girlfriend). A month later, I'm back at work. Again. I'm frustrated, again. A month from now, I'll be in Asia. Again - this time, Malaysia. I'll be working for another foundation that focuses on sustainable building technologies, material resource conservation and rainforest preservation. I'm thankful for working with such a flexible company that allows me to take the time I need to discover the world while I'm young. However sometimes i wish they would be open to differing opinions on how a corporate firm can operate in a socially responsible manner. I also wish they would offer their other employees the same opportunity at discovery as they've granted me.
Enough of that.. I'm not here to talk about work, or even travel. I'm here to talk about love. Yes, that gooey-ooey sappy topic that all men hate to read about, and all women love to drool over. If you're a follower of my blog, you'll notice that i've opened up quite dramatically to the world since i left my job earlier this year. You can see, and hopefully feel, my feelings on being altruistic with others, my newly found view on understanding complex issues and of course my terrible case of itchy feet. But what I've come to realize is that the common denominator of all my recent experiences focuses on love. Giving love to others, appreciating love between individuals and last but certainly not least, having love for myself.
Prior to my travels, I was afraid of love. I was scared to allow others to get too close to me, I was terrified at the thought of giving so much of myself to others. Hmm.. Giving so much of myself to others.. it's a bit of a controversial phase don't you think? When you say it aloud, do you feel selfish? Do you feel as if you're self involved? ego-centric? Good. It means you care. It means that in your heart you want to share that love but you're just not quite sure how yet. If you don't feel that way, then how do you feel? Take the time to explore the question for yourself because i certainly cannot answer the question for you. However, what I can tell you is that you have to love yourself before you can truly love another.
I spent four months in Nepal learning how to love myself by taking the time to understand the pains and miseries of those around me. I was so struck by the lack of love some people have for themselves that it made me want to give them as much of my love as I could. It made me want to build up enough love within myself, so that i could distribute it to others. To put it simply, I had to understand pain in order to give love. And as I continue to experience pain amongst others, It continuously fills my heart with more effort to give love where it's needed. It's a beautiful cycle when you're able to absorb the pain of another and turn it into love.
I can honestly say that I'm no longer scared of love, because i'm no longer afraid of giving myself to others. I've rid myself of the idea that if i give so much of myself to others, that i'll have none left for me. I've been able to do this because I've found that the more love that i give, the more that I receive. The more I share with others, the more I find out about myself. So the next time you feel as if someone is trying to put their pain on you, their frustrations, their anger.. try thinking about it this way: The more love you give them in return for their agony, the less pain you'll actually feel yourself. If you continuously give love to others, you'll continuously receive love in return. And who knows, you may even learn to love yourself in the process.
Cheers to filling the world with love, because god knows we need it right now.
Enough of that.. I'm not here to talk about work, or even travel. I'm here to talk about love. Yes, that gooey-ooey sappy topic that all men hate to read about, and all women love to drool over. If you're a follower of my blog, you'll notice that i've opened up quite dramatically to the world since i left my job earlier this year. You can see, and hopefully feel, my feelings on being altruistic with others, my newly found view on understanding complex issues and of course my terrible case of itchy feet. But what I've come to realize is that the common denominator of all my recent experiences focuses on love. Giving love to others, appreciating love between individuals and last but certainly not least, having love for myself.
Prior to my travels, I was afraid of love. I was scared to allow others to get too close to me, I was terrified at the thought of giving so much of myself to others. Hmm.. Giving so much of myself to others.. it's a bit of a controversial phase don't you think? When you say it aloud, do you feel selfish? Do you feel as if you're self involved? ego-centric? Good. It means you care. It means that in your heart you want to share that love but you're just not quite sure how yet. If you don't feel that way, then how do you feel? Take the time to explore the question for yourself because i certainly cannot answer the question for you. However, what I can tell you is that you have to love yourself before you can truly love another.
I spent four months in Nepal learning how to love myself by taking the time to understand the pains and miseries of those around me. I was so struck by the lack of love some people have for themselves that it made me want to give them as much of my love as I could. It made me want to build up enough love within myself, so that i could distribute it to others. To put it simply, I had to understand pain in order to give love. And as I continue to experience pain amongst others, It continuously fills my heart with more effort to give love where it's needed. It's a beautiful cycle when you're able to absorb the pain of another and turn it into love.
I can honestly say that I'm no longer scared of love, because i'm no longer afraid of giving myself to others. I've rid myself of the idea that if i give so much of myself to others, that i'll have none left for me. I've been able to do this because I've found that the more love that i give, the more that I receive. The more I share with others, the more I find out about myself. So the next time you feel as if someone is trying to put their pain on you, their frustrations, their anger.. try thinking about it this way: The more love you give them in return for their agony, the less pain you'll actually feel yourself. If you continuously give love to others, you'll continuously receive love in return. And who knows, you may even learn to love yourself in the process.
Cheers to filling the world with love, because god knows we need it right now.
