Traditions

Traditions are sometimes the things that make life worth living.
Simple and anual they are things that you look forward to so much.
Traditions take years to develop. In my case, and most others, holidays are times where life is all about traditions because it is a time when families come together and the routine doesn't change much from year to year. Traditions also make you so excited for particular events because there is something special about them. Christmas has a special place and most other peoples because it is synonymous with traditions. Going and getting the christmas tree is always such a great day. In my house, this is of course a big deal. The tree has to be perfect, the exact right height, not too fat, not too uneven, perfect blend of spruce and fir.

Even here in Bangkok, Team Parsons still keeps our traditions going. My parents mailed me an ornament for my little tree I have and a stocking packkkked full of goodies that I am saving for christmas morning!


I also love new traditions too, the ones that are still so fresh that you remember starting them. They are awesome because you can know that in 20 years you will still be doing them same thing. Bri and I have started a few cool traditions recently, one being building a gingerbread house every year around christmas. Well we have done it once, and this year aren't together for christmas, so we'll have to wait until next year to keep this one going. Another thing that is becoming sort of a tradition is going and staying at KOA campsites. They are these really affordable campsites all throughout the country that have great log cabins, campfires and grills to cool food. We have been to one in NC, and plan on going to a new one every year. Wow I love traditions, they give you something to look forward to in life, and without that,who knows?

B+J Gingerbread House 2011!!!

Stages of Love

1. Courtship and infatuation.

This is the Hollywood version of romantic love. It's the butterflies-in-the-stomach and fluttery heart that feels ever-so good.

2. The Power Struggle

Consider this the reality check. Our bio-chemistry has returned to its normal state, so we are able to see a partner's shortcomings. It's the period when a couple begins to deal with (now apparent) differences and adjusts to reality, which begins to set in as euphoria wears off. This can often become a time of disillusionment and conflict.

3. Re-evaluation and identity formation

This stage begins with a fork in the road, when the couple begins to evaluate whether he or she wants to remain in the relationship. The reflection and re-evaluation tend to turn inward, with great isolation and distance between partners. People may disengage and emotionally withdraw. There may be feelings of disappointment. Sexual intimacy may become sporadic or nonexistent.

4. Awareness, Transformation, Synergy

If the relationship has survived until this point, there is an interest in reconnecting. Each partner must realize his or her own fear of intimacy, and how present behavior is shaped and influenced by what he or she learned and experienced as children in their family of origin.

5. Reconciliation, Acceptance

Research suggests less than 5 percent of couples make it to this final stage of completion. Each person is able to take responsibility for their needs and also support the other person. There is a great deal of warmth, mutual respect and a balance between autonomy and union. The couple has figured out how to resolve conflicts quickly. They work together as a team, and resentments are few. They have chosen to be with their partner, flaws and all.

This is often referred to as realistic love.

So I was doing a little research  in my office today about the stages of love. I put together the most accurate stages I could find with a little description of each one. Stage 1 many people call the greatest time of a relationship, things are new, the birds are chirping and it is so fun falling in love and learning so many new things about your partner. This stage is all about that late night LNT's and long walks are learning everything about the person. This can be so much fun because things are always new and not boring what so ever. You want to spend all your time with the person and do nothing aside from learn what makes them tick. Stage 2 hits you at a random moment and in a weird way, but it is something that you know happens. This is not a bad thing, but actually a great thing. Almost like when diving for treasure and you pull something up and fall in love with it, but after time some of the debree sheds and some parts crack a little and you feel that the thing has changed, and are confused as to why. But as the dust settles you realize that what you have in front of you is quite beautiful. If I had to take a guess, I think Bri and myself would find ourselves in stage 3. Right after finishing up a long academic career, we both took to different paths on different roads. This stage is where most couples decide if they are in it for the long haul, or if the road ahead will be a rocky one. This allows for each person to grow as an individual. But the question remains, can the couple grow together? Stage 4 and 5 are sort of out of my realm, not really sure where and when they might happen, but like any part of a relationship, it is all part of the process.

The evolution of a relationship is kind of cool. Sort of like snow-flakes, relationship all develop and evolve differently. Like anything, a relationship takes time to mature and become something great, and even when you think things are great, new things are always on the horizon.

The one thing that resonates in things i've been seeing and experiencing lately, is that in the end of the day, having someone by your side is what matters most.

A Beautiful Art..

I just was walking down the street and saw a new restaurant being built, they were putting in concrete bricks. I just stood and watched them lay the bricks for about 20 minutes. They had no idea what I was doing, but I stood off to the side and let them work. It was so beautiful, what a craft to be able to lay brick with such precision. It amazes me that such art forms have been degraded and not as respected as they once were.

Holidays in Bangkok

Something that I will miss a ton is being home on the holidays. Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Dragon Day, and Easter are some of my favorite days of the year, and to me, holidays mean spending time with the people that you are closest with. Some of my favorite times in recent memory have been holidays.... But that is what builds character I guess, adapting and having to do things, you might not always want to do.

Being in Bangkok is sort of odd for the holidays, things just have a different feel here. (Not to mention that it is hot as a Georgia summer for all of them) But everything is a little off...people for Halloween just kind of miss the point a little bit, I don't know but it is hard to describe. We'll just have to see how Thanksgiving dinner goes tomorrow night.... if there isn't good stuffing I'll be furious.

But I haven't been homesick at all in my time here, aside from missing the occasional chicken parm, and pb&j, I have been loving the moment and really trying to do things as someone here would do. But I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I am beginning to really start to miss home. But heck, I have already gone 6 months, so another 6 shouldn't be so bad, especially because 3 of them are paid vacation months....


PS. I love american for certain things and hate them for certain things. But honestly, nothing really gets me more upset than how stoked people get for Black Friday. It is the epitome of greedy capitalistic culture where people buy things, not because they need them, just because they are "on sale"

As Peter Griffin would say, "That really grinds my gears...."

Love City

We said we were going to send a photo a day, you clearly won't, but I already knew that and love!!!

I honestly can't contain my feelings sometimes, I go to bed thinking of the cutest girl I know, and wake up loving more than I could ever imagine. Most people dream of being with the perfect girl, but when it is actually a reality, life couldn't get much better. When someone is so caring and put you before all of their thoughts and actions, it almost makes me blush because I think, "Am I worth someone loving so much and aggressively?" (yes we certainly have aggressive love) It makes you feel good when you know the energy you put into making something like a distance relationship work, is worth is and someone on the other end is giving back the same way. I have more to say about this, especially in the week of thanksgiving, so check back later this week to see how two kids from Boston really can show their thanks and love.

Moving Forward...

You can sort of think of life as a book. Like a book, life is broken down into chapters that have pretty distinct feels and mental states. I was talking to my class today and we were doing a writing activity and I talked about how as they are currently in their ABAC chapter of their lives, it might just be starting for some of them, but what is going to happen when they turn the page and the ABAC chapter is over? A blank page will be open, with nothing on the page, and they will be the ones who get to write the first words. 

This is no different than my current state of affairs as well. I am 22 years old living in Bangkok until presumebly the end of May. This chapter might be a short one, but it certaintly very important. But what happens when I fly back home and literally have no idea of anything? Will my friends be there? What will I do for work? Where will I live? The page is blank, and anything can be written.  

Looking back on college I think I achieved many of the long term goals that I envisioned before the 4 year quest began. I wanted to become a valuable member of the Loyola community and be known and liked by everyone I came into contact with. I wanted to make awesome friends that would last a life time. I also wanted to study abroad and open my mind to the world and see that the world is a lot bigger than the east coast. And I certainly changed that by a spur of the moment decision at the last minute the abroad forms were due.

Upon arriving at Loyola I really became aware of why people say college will be the best 4 years of your life, I also realized that I didn't really relate to many people that were telling me this. Loyola is based around going out to bars..( I had  always pictured college as people sitting around drinking coffee in a nice common room)

But I spent the first 2 years of college really trying to create a space where people could avoid the rat race of Loyola and take a break and have fun. Actual fun. Not being way to drunk, standing in the corner of a bar, chain smoking cigarettes, with music that is way too loud, not talking to anyone. I wanted to avoid that and have a place with cool artwork, good music, and cool people around to share moments with. And it struck me that I had done that about 1 year ago today, when we had our first annual thanksgiving dinner at our apartment. I had all of my friends over and cooked the turkey, stuffing, rosemary mashed potatoes, and all the fixins. It was awesome, we had a wine bar and great desserts. Everyone came together and we shared our thanks, and enjoyed one of the best meals I have ever had. 

It was a great feeling to achieve a non tangible long term goal.

But that begs the question, as this chapter of my life is about half finished, what goals rest on my horizon?

For the remainder of being here in Bangkok my main goals that I had when I arrived here are still in play. Working out and getting into really good physical shape is really important to me, so I want to continue the hard work I have put in and continue working on the physical. The mental cannot be overlooked as well. I want to continue to stay informed, because sometimes I feel that I honestly have no idea what is going on. So for the remainder of my time here in Bangkok I want to work on the physical and mental aspects of my body and mind, and continuing to cherish the opportunities presented, and do some pretty cool things. 

Something that I think that most young people struggle with is find a passion. I want to do more research and find topics that I am deeply invested in. I know there are things out there that I love and want to do, but I want to take time to reflect and find the thing that I want to put all of my mental energy into. 

Most people spend this time of their lives trying to find the person they want to be with, so I am glad I have that aspect on lockdown. The girl I love isn't going anywhere, and neither am I....unless were doing something together. 

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."

Flash Forward

Something that crossed my mind a few minutes ago is  that things are perfect right now in my relationship. Things are going just the way that I imagined them to. They say that once you have some experience with something, it gets a lot easier. Both Bri and I have been in LDR's before, so we both know what to expect, and we didn't go into this blind. We didn't have expectations that were through the roof, we just felt that if we stuck to the script, and Bri brought me back to Earth whenever I got "in one of those moods" things would be fine. And so far, things have been wonderful. Bri is still the girl of my dreams, and continues to impress and amaze me on a daily basis. Like with teaching and my students, it is so rewarding to see them mature and improve right in front of my eyes, and the same is true with Bri. We both came into this relationship at sort of crazy points in our lives; I was coming of the summer of the Dom, and living the college lifestyle to the fullest while balancing an internship, and a job at Loyola. Bri was doing her thing living in Baltimore, working with Hopkins and frolicing to the fullest extent. We were both wide eyed for life and looking for someone to share that optimisism with. And we found eachohter, two weird people who love to love awkward amounts. I think about everything i want to do in life and Bri is the only one i want to do everything with. 

Some people are searching for love so hard, and wanting someone to lust for. But it is so nice being settled with someone you love and would do anything for, that you can avoid this relationship rat race persay. Bri is the thing in life I would fight for and would go into battle to protect. 

I was having a conversation the other day, and we talked about being able to see into the future, and was asked if you could see 20 years into the future and see yourself, would you want to?

I really don't think I would. There was this TV show a few years back called "Flash Forward" and it had that same premise basically, where the whole world had a blackout and saw like a year into the future. It was a really well made show, on par with Lost, but then they made a 3rd season.... 

So what happened was that everyone tried to live their lives so that what happened in the vision didnt happen, but that in turn allowed for the things in the vision to occur. Crazy, right?

So I think that if I had the option to look into the future, I wouldn't want to. Whoever I was in the future is different than who I am now, and I wouldn't want to confuse the two entities and thus causing me, in this moment in time, to act differently than I normally would. I think living in the moment is the most important thing we can do. Of course it is important to think about the future and to prepare for it, but knowing too much about it would jeopardize the moment, and that is the most precious thing we have in life. 

I think the moment is so special because you have no idea what is going to happen, and that is why life is so special. I love the moment. I live for it actually. There is nothing I would rather do than be with my loving girlfriend, because I have no idea what is going to happen when us two crazy people are together, and that is why I love it so much

B, you told me the other day that you love me to the moon!!

...so does that me we can move there someday?

...maybe get a cute lil' condo on the dark side?

..how would moon sex work?...woah!

SANDYYYYY

Perfect Hurricane Day

During the last big hurricane that hit Massachusetts, Irene, in the summer of 2011, I ventured my way down to Bridgewater, Mass to visit Bri. This is before we were dating, but the adventures were still nonetheless us. The feeling you get around someone when you are courting them is a very unique feeling. You want to be open and be yourself, but at the same time, shying away from anything that might make the other person think, "Who the hell is this person?"

There was a state wide warning urging people to stay away from the beaches and oceans because of high winds and flooding. So of course we decided that heading to the beach would be a perfect idea. We went out for a "Hurricane Drive"  and there were so many trees knocked down that it was hard to drive around town because so many roads had been blocked off because of debree. So along with Bri's best friend Amanda, we drove from Bridgewater to Plymouth.

The beach was really cool that we went to, you know one of those great East Coast beaches that is really long and wide. It was so cold and the wind was probably upwards of 60 MPH, meaning the sand was blowing everywhere and felt like a deadly weapon upon touching the skin. So I thought that the only thing to do that made sense to avoid the sand pellets was to go for a swim! Bri and Amanda must have thought I was crazy swimming in a hurricane, but heck, it's what us Parsons do. (I always wondered what they were saying about me as I was off frolicking in the water.)

But we came back to Bridgewater after the storm and relaxed at Bri's house and had sick snacks and had a nice storm day.

This is Sandy, an epic storm, some calling it the biggest hurrican in a while.

This is exactly how I would want to spend a hurricane day this year if i was with the one Brianna Kelliher.

6am: wake up to an early alarm to check how the storm is outside. Give B a little kiss because she would obviously still be passed out. And go and get breakfast all prepped and put the coffee pot on.

8am: B is still passed out.

9am: I get up and go get a BIG breakfast going, bacon, omelets, toast, home fries, pulpy orange juice, maybe some pancakes.

930am: Go back and get Bri and pretend like I was just waking up for the first time, and complain of being starving and wanting a huge breakfast. 

10am. head to the kitchen and make Bri and great breakfast, put on some good music and enjoy the storm with a great feast. 

11am: I think a TV marathon is in order, some couples pride themselves on movie and TV watching together, I think B and I have watched like 2 total movies together and no television. So on a hurricane day this has to change. I think 24 is in order. Bri would love it because of the intensity, there are kidnapping, and it involves terrorists. 

1pm: After a few episodes, I would obviously get restless, and crave some hot chocolate. I don't think any drink is better on bad weather days. I think this would be a good time to bring back an old Bri and Jeff tradition, Monopoly. It can be played while other things are going on so a nice competitive game of monopoly seems in order on a Hurricane Day.

3pm: After smoking B in Monopoly (obviously) and continuing my undefeated streak alive. I think a good lunch and nap relax are in order. Driving around in a hurricane is something that is fun because it is sort of dangerous. So the little Toyota corolla will have to be tested again, and I think a nice Deli sandwich would sound perfect on a stormy day.

4pm. So after getting awkwardly full at lunch, a nice relaxing nap would be in order. Extra blankets would definatly be needed for extra comfort in such a storm. 

6pm. Wow what a nap! Back to the 24 marathon. I think a bottle of wine is in order as well! Hurricane nights go well with Cabernet Savignon. 

8pm: There aren't too many things better than having a few "B" glasses of wine and making a nice dinner together. Something I have been totally craving are the personal size rosted stuffed chickens from Trader Joe's. Bri is a master of making salads so I would leave that to her. I want to have a magical dinner just loving everywhere and enjoying an amazing together. 

10pm: After dinner, I think a few more episodes of 24 are in order while just laying on the couch loving and kinda forgetting what is happening, but not caring because the moment is so perfect.

It is crazy to think that 8000 miles can seperate two people who love so much. Bri you are the girl of my dream and i hope I have thousands of days like this in my life with you 

Bonus Saturday Blog

It has been about 175 days since I was with my girlfriend and the time has been flying by. My heart still continues to learn how to love in way I couldn't have imagined while in Baltimore. Our love is growing and maturing in ways I didn't see coming. I think the maturity and independence that being halfway across the world can help you to learn will allow this to develop and continue to grow into something special. B, you make my days worth living and motivate me to be the person I want to be.

Blue Sky for Brekafast

When you close your eyes and imagine what you look like, a certain image come to mind. Whatever it may be; that is what you perceive yourself to look like. I picture myself with a really short haircut, and a red bathing suit on at the beach somewhere. But then thinking about that image, that is not really what I look like. I am probably 17 or so in my image. I dont even have facial fair. That is what I conjure up for some reason though. I think that many people would do a similar thing and picture themselves from an earlier age, which brings up the struggle of who one thinks they are vs. who they actually are. 

It is easy for me because I am just coming off of a 5 week vacation, so there is a lot of time to sit and just think and relax, but I am starting to come to the realization that who I am is not who I have always been. I think there are some winds on the horizon that will revel the true test of character. And I think that certain values I used to hold as true are, changing. Im not really valuing others views of myself as as important. And being the center of attention is not really as much of a priority in my life as it was for most of my childhood. For me just sitting back now and let other people sort of come to the front of the stage, is totally fine, and almost preferable. 

I am also starting to realize why people drift apart after college. College sort of holds everyone in with a boundary per say, but once that gate is lifted people can basically do whatever they want. And you soon realize that people have completely different agendas, and value totally different things. It is funny how two people can look at the same situation and think of completely different things.

Life is full of choices, that is what makes it so special. But I am sort of confused now at the choices I have been presented with. And going forward is a leap of faith, I really have no idea what will happen but I know things will work out, just really don't know what exactly will work out.

This also marks a crossroads for me where people who have been such main characters in my story the past few chapters are now getting phased out for whatever reason. But it is like at the end of a movie where the characters sort of know they aren't going to be with each other in the sequel, but they are trying to still finish out what they have to do in the movie. People who were once so close, can drift away when different things become a priority in people's lives. 

It is exciting while at the same time sort of scary. But that is life I guess..

First Day of My Second Semester

..This is a jam. Am I just foreign to american music now? 

There are of course tons of moments when you miss someone who is halfway across the world, but the time where I miss the most is when I want a little pat on the back. When I have something going on like a new day of teaching, and I know I'm going to go in there and do well, but still want that great breakfast and morning kiss just to get a little more confidence and to know that I'm not alone when starting my day. 

I love doing some pretty cool things, but I also love knowing that you have someone who you actually want to tell everything to. 

Into the Looking Glass.

"The World Has Turned and Left Me Here" By Weezer. 

 
Is there a breaking point where I think things will slow down and I will truly accept myself?

I think that is the point of life sort of. I think that most people wake up to try to become fully content with things, while trying to do some cool things along the way. Of course I would say that I am fully content with things right now in life, and that I am good enough for me, I mean I want to say that. I try to give of the impression a lot of the time that thats the way things are. But honestly I think there are some critical decisions where I missed crucial advice about something and might have made a decision where an I "couldn't believe that was me" kind of moment occurred. I'm sure it's not just me, but I feel that there are several seemingly unimportant, but actually incredibly huge moments that I feel In my own consciousness I sort of overlooked. Somethings are much more important than others. Like one little decision let the flood gates open, but that's life i guess. Rolling with the punches as they come. 
I don't want to say that I live in "my own bubble" a lot of the time, but I do think I, like many people, shape their memories in a way that might be be perceived differently by someone else. Meaning, overlooking negative experiences and only focusing on the positive ones. But that can sometimes can be problematic, like anything else, when pushed to an extreme. 
But I still feel a little on edge about things. I don't know exactly why, maybe just living thousands of miles from home and   not being sure on my next move can cause some uneasy feelings. Recently, life has sort of been reminding me of a movie. Like when in a really good movie, about an hour and a half in, when there is a lull for a bit, and as the viewer you are DYING to know what happens next. That is where I think I am right now. On one hand it is a really cool feeling. But at this point in life at 22 years old, I really don't know if I am good enough for myself know because I am changing and developing every day, so I don't even know exactly who I want to be. So I think this chapter of life is moving a little to quickly to say If I am truly good enough for myself because I still have so much left in life that I would like to do, rather am going to do, and places I want to go, and great late talks had, and nights of having one too many glasses of wine. So I think I have a lot more potential with who I want to become. I love who I am now, I have actually always loved Jeff Parsons. It's a humbling feeling when you can love the good and the bad, or positive and negative things about your self. It is vitally important to love yourself and to be happy with who you are and being content with how the cards were dealt. But honestly, I think I will be more content with things I when get more recognition from others. How you view yourself is ultimately important, but being viewed by others is important too, just the ways things are I guess. But things have been moving pretty quickly and the sand is still floating around. Things haven't settled yet, so I guess I am waiting to see how things look when the sand settles back to the bottom.

When will you be good enough for you? Is there some breaking point where you will accept everything about yourself?

This might be a few years away..

 With young adolescents, adolescents, young adulthood, and adulthood, there is always some sort of self consciousness that lingers. And the thought that what your doing might not be the "right" thing to do, whatever that means. And the notion that will those around you stick around when your decisions might be different from others? But I mean of course I want more, everyone does. But right now, I honestly am so happy with myself and the things I have ben able to do over the years. I mean I'm living in Bangkok where it is sunny every day, am playing on a competitive international lacrosse team, have a beautiful girlfriend who makes me proud every single day, and a smile on my face when I wake up, in my book, it could get a lot worse. 

Does anyone ever truly accept themselves? or are some people just really good at faking that they totally accept themselves? I think we all fall somewhere in between and try to live in a way where we can look back and respect the decisions that we made.

Life isn't about waiting..

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.


I was thinking the other day, just one of those introspective looks that sort of happens on the way home after a long trip. Where there is so much to debrief about, and when crazy thoughts come to the surface. Dr. Seuss says that sometimes in life, for whatever reason, people fade into the waiting place. I sort of picture it as the place where you only tell stories about fun times you had, or times when you predict what will always happen in the future, while the whole time almost ignoring the present. Almost like those times in life when you look back and felt like a month just slipped away. I almost want to feel very depressed about these times, but I guess they are natural. Not every moment can be super lively, and always full of adventures. 

Especially during a long distance relationship life can feel like you're in the waiting place. Where some thing just sort of blur together because of such a heightened anticipation. With Skype and all, it is really easy to communicate so it can almost feel like you are sitting right next to the person during a 3 hour skype conversation. And that is such a tease experience, but I cherish it so much and am waiting until that feeling can become real. But as we all know, distance is a crazy thing, if can feel so different depending on when you are perceiving it. And when distance seems far that is where the waiting zone can develop. 

But not allowing idle time to take over is something that makes distance not seem so far away. Avoiding the waiting time will make things so much easier. Bri is taking on running as a new hobby which is awesome and just participated in a 4 person group marathon, which is pretty awesome. Taking on things that productively "occupy the waiting place.." is what is going to make the next 7 months not so bad..

Cheers to taking backroads, always trying become a better person, making your bed in the morning and all those other little things that can make someone perfect. 

Living life from a backpack..

The life of a backpacker is very simple. There aren't many rules, and everything you need can be found in your trekking bag. When you set of for your destination you have to make sure you have everything that you are going to need. Anything can happen when you are travelling. Heck, you can get held up by a supposed undercover Vietnamese cop with a tazer demanding that you give him $500.

 But I really do love the mystery of travelling. Having no idea where you are going to stay, let alone what city you might go to is a freeing feeling that most people don't get to experience. 

The open road leads to an open mind where thoughts can wander and love can resonate to the surface. Things that really matter are truly recognized, and things that don't are left behind in the dust. I don't know a better feeling that sitting on the beach with a good book, and nothing else to think about. 

Off to visit the sand dunes of Mun Ne....

All great things..

3:14 AM. 

LLAH obviously.

All great things take time  to develop. Sometimes when you are painting a great picture, you must take a break in the middle of the process and let things sink in. In the middle of a meal, taking a break and enjoying the company of another is sometimes the best way to fully appreciate a meal. Often, things take time for you to fully appreciate them, and there is a summation moment where you truly realize that. One of those moments that will forever be locked away in the memory gates. And when the page of this chapter of life literally closes in front of your eyes, and a fresh page is opened and life is ready to be written. Life becomes a little more clear, and it is almost as if you are seeing life through a different lens. Things can be pretty cool if you take time to soak in the sunshine. 

I had a moment a little while ago that was a Bri Kelliher kind of over examination that can lead to stress. But living here in Bangkok and traveling to central Thailand is such a wild experience. Like whoa. It is so natural to me at this point that I often dont fully understand that magnitude of certain opportunities or moments. Life is life, and you only have one shot. If you really want to do something. then you should better do it because you might not have that opportunity again. And that is certainty a slice of humble pie.... 

But, this is one of my favorite songs all time. Worth a listen.

AND.....

Check out this list we read together as a group. It is of 21 things to do in your 20's:

Worth a read, and after reading, really think about how you want things to be during this phase of your life. Some good things here.  

1. Don’t feel the need to respond to every text message, phone call, and email the second it reaches you. Once upon a time, it took longer than a minute to reach someone. People used stamps and envelopes; they had answering machines they didn’t check for hours, sometimes days. No one will die if you don’t immediately respond to every message you receive.

2. Ask for what’s owed to you. Half the time, you’re not getting your needs met because you’re not making them known. Your employers, romantic interests, and friends are not going to read your mind and give you what you need unless you speak up.

3. Never turn down an open bar. Seek them out and make them a priority. Indulging in open bars when you’re older isn’t appropriate because a) people will think you have an alcohol problem and b) you’re supposed to have enough money to afford your own alcohol.

4. If you’re unhappy and someone offers you a way out, take it. You don’t owe your first job years of loyalty and your first-born; you don’t have to stay in your city just because you’re on a first-name basis with the bodega guy. Do what feels right; the initial fear will give way to excitement.

5. Enjoy all the sex marathons you’re having in your 20s, dudes. In your 30s, the time between erections is waaaay longer. Then, some 20-something babe is all, “Can you go again?” after five minutes and you’re all, “No I can’t ‘go again.’ I am still dealing with having just came. Jesus.” That’s not a concern when you’re in your 20s — don’t ever take it for granted.

6. Let your more successful friends pick up the check this time. Before you’re 30, it’s still okay to be work as a barista and not have your career path figured out. Save your cash and take up your lawyer-friend’s offer for dinner. Use the money you saved to buy more ramen.

7. Play a sport you played in elementary school. Kickball, dodgeball. There are leagues for these games now. Get on it.

8. Learn how to cook. Here’s an idea — instead of spending all your money on ridiculously marked-up restaurant food, save your money by buying non-processed WHOLE FOODS and LEARNING HOW TO MAKE A MEAL OF REAL FOOD. A meal of real food is not a box of Annie’s Organic Mac and Cheese — that’s PROCESSED FOOD. A meal is something like sauteed brussel sprouts with onions and pinto beans garnished with salt and pepper. You’ll thank yourself for learning how to cook when your metabolism catches up to you.

9. Keep making friends. Everyone complains that it’s hard to make friends after college, but we still manage to find new people to flirt with and date, right? It’s not that hard. You know yourself better than you ever have before, and your friends can finally reflect that. Don’t cling to old friends because it’s too frightening or ‘risky’ to make new ones.

10. Let your parents buy your plane ticket home. It can be trying to be stuck in a house with your family for a few days or a week, but vacations in your 20s can be hard to come by. Let them subsidize your trips home and do you as much as you can when you get there.

11. Stay up late. In your 20s, you’re all, “Let’s go to another bar!” “Who wants to eat at a diner?” “Have you guys seen the sun rise from the High Line?” “In this moment I swear we were infinite!” When you get older, this becomes, “What are you doing? Go home. Watch Parks and Rec and go to sleep. What is wrong with you, staying up all night? Who has time for that?” If you’re in your 20s, you do. You have all the time. Do it now and take advantage of how not tired you are. You think you’re crabby now when you stay up too late? You’ll never believe how terrible you feel when you do it in your 30s.

12. Savor those 20s hangovers. They are a gift from God so that you’ll always remember what your tolerance level is. Your hangover recovery time is like flippin’ Wolverine in your 20s. You wake up, feel like death, pull on some shades, gulp down coffee or maybe a bloody Mary and whine about your headache over brunch. Oh, boo hoo. When you’re older, every hangover is Apocalypse F-cking Now. You’re not making it to brunch. You’re not making it off your goddamn floor in a weeping puddle of regret.

13. Indulge in drunken diner/ fast food at 4 a.m. This is considered depressing behavior once you become a real adult.

14. STOP PROCRASTINATING YOUR TRIP ABROAD. YOUR CHANCES OF TAKING A LONG VACATION ABROAD DIMINISH AS YOU BECOME MORE SET IN YOUR WAYS AND AS YOU GAIN MORE RESPONSIBILITY.

15. Do ‘unacceptable’ things to your hair. Dye it. Dread it. Shave only the left side of your head and give a shit if it grows back in a flattering manner (hint: it won’t). There’s no time but now.

16. Avoid Burning Man. Save it for your weird-Dad mid-life crisis.

17. Sit down, unplug, and read non-fiction. Do this daily. None of your peers are doing it. They’re playing video games and refreshing Facebook and Gmail chatting about nothing in particular. After a month you’ll be smarter than all of them.

18. Walk into Forever 21 and grab every single crappily-made floral dress available. Is every other girl on the street wearing it? Is it literally falling apart at the seams? Is it also actually five dollars? BUY IT IMMEDIATELY. When you get older, your clothing becomes all expensive blazers and tailored khakis and other pieces that won’t break while on your body. That will be a great day — the day when your closet starts to look respectable. Though those outfits are more expensive, they also last longer and look better on you. You will be a classy human ready to take on the future. But as long as you’re still in your 20s? You know — the demographic of Forever 21? Game on, stretchy black dress with pockets that lasts about a week. Game on.

19. Take road trips. Sitting in a car for days on end isn’t something your body was designed to do forever.

20. Don’t invest in things like window curtains or throw rugs or… Windex. You’re a young, social person who doesn’t have time for things like picture-framing and broom-sweeping. No one actually expects you to maintain a bed skirt or a duvet cover in your 20s, they’re the home decor equivalent of puppies/ children.

21. Go to/host theme parties. Once people age out of their 20s, no one’s trying to wear pajamas or Saran Wrap out of the house. The only theme parties that exist after your 20s are ‘Wedding,’ ‘Baby Shower,’ and ‘Funeral.’ 

Turning Points..

This song puts me in the best mood. Crank it up and smile and just appreciate living!!

This weekend was awesome. It was a much needed getaway from campus and anytime that happens it is good for the soul. A few of us went up to Nakon Nayok, which is about 2 hours north of Bangkok. I finally became a man in Nakon Nayok! We went to a military university and there was a shooting range. I hadn't shot guns before so it was certainty exhilarating. I got a 89/100 on the shooting range! We figured we needed a little more exhilaration, so we rented ATV's and went riding basically up the side of a mountain. Of course there was no training or safety regulations so we were basically going full speed and like racing over boulders.

I love those weekends that spark a change of lifestyle. I think this was one of them. A catalyst of great things to come. I have been off for a week and I still have a month left to cherish my time here and do some pretty cool things.

But getting out of your environment every once in a while is so important. The routine can take over your life and months can seem to fly by without you noticing. The daily grind can take over and encompass you sometimes and you feel like things are going well until you take a breath of fresh air and realize "What the efff have I been doing"Who knows if I am just realizing this now and everyone else has been doing this for ever, but the working life is taxing because weeks almost seem like days because of the repetitiveness of things. So taking some time off and heading into nature is the best thing you can do to reenergize yourself.



I have been here in Thailand for a little over 4 months now and I am in the full swing of things. I have been working hard at slowing down my life and working on becoming more disciplined. But sometimes you have to break free of that and just pull a Bri Kelliher once in a while and go crazy!

She gets kind of crazy!!

PS..

B, I can't wait until were out in Colorado just frolicking in nature. Maybe we can work on that painting out there too..

Brianna Kelliher

Good evening ladies and gentleman, I was asked tonight to write an introduction about the one Ms. Brianna Kelliher. It is really hard to write an introductions about people that you are so close with. 100 words just seems like way to few to say everything that  you want to say. But the girl I'm introducing tonight needs no introduction. She was born in raised a Boston girl, and that resonates with her so well. Talk about a true go-getter,there is nothing this girl can't get done.  Bri will do anything for anyone, and do it with a smile on her face, or a really creepy sociopathic face if you catch her at the right time...

The smart, the beautiful... Brianna Kelliher...