We Can Unwind and Just Be Free

"At least we know that if we die, we lived with passion."
-Will Pugh

I read this quote recently and, like most things I write about, it made me stop for a second to think. Live with passion. What does that look like? Is it a fiery red dress? Something like mischief in the eyes? A way of walking or holding oneself up? Maybe. Or maybe it's something completely different that you can't see, but know is there. I believe you can tell when someone lives with passion. They're the kind of person that draws you in because something about them excites you. I'm not talking about chemistry, that exists between two people. I'm talking about those people who you have a conversation with and have to do a double-take to see if there really was light bursting from within them or if that was just their personality, their soul. Those people who seem confident in themselves and in their destiny, not worried about Life and the many ways it holds you back and tears you down. I'm not saying they never break down, or get scared or tired. They just keep pushing forward, even if it feels like swimming through concrete. They're the kind of people who you can't help but wonder if they have private, giggling conversations with Life. If they and Life just sit around and gab about the things that make them laugh or make them think. They love Life and, more than that, they trust it like an old friend.

I think we all have the potential to be that person brightly spinning, flying forward 'till death do us part. We all have a life, it's just a matter of truly making it our own. To me, it's just like developing a new friendship into something you can count on- it takes time, honesty, a level of comfort, the ability to compromise and a whole lot of breakdowns- it just happens to be a relationship not with a person, but with Life.

Old Teenage Hopes Are Alive At Your Door

So, right now, I'm sitting in Claire's bed (with her sound asleep next to me), it's 9:18 a.m. and a Friday. Why is this a big deal? Because school got cancelled today. Yes, every kid's dream come true. This wonderful, new pocket of free time excites me to no end. A whole extra day for me and not for tests, projects and deadlines! How magical. Anyway, this moment of limbo where I'm awake and everyone else (Claire mostly) is still asleep has allowed me some time to think... about life, about senior year and, most importantly, how I plan on spending my now three-day weekend.

Aaaaaaaand Claire just woke up.

So, with her half-asleep contributions, I will compile of list of 10 things I hope to do this weekend.

1. Give Claire a massage (Claire's contribution. So NO.)
2. Friday morning trip to Einstein Bagels and Starbucks to celebrate no school
3. Make sushi? Which will be a disaster.
4. Trip to Barnes
5. Bother a certain mom of ours
6. Photography adventures. In the cold. Which will be fun.
7. Finding new coffee shops with Susannah
8. Movie Madness Marathon
9. Want to visit the theater to see Black Swan
10. Maybe consider working out. But probably not.