From my journal...

I was reading through portions of my journal a couple weeks ago, and flagged this bit to come back to. It so beautifully describes some of my dreams and goals for life - the places and things that are important to me, and the things I believe God has planted deeply within me.

It's from a journalling workshop I attended back in March. March 24th to be exact. Kim McMechan taught it, and while I can't remember the exact instructions for the exercise, the title of it is "Instinct".

I wrote:

I would live somewhere with lots of sun, but not too much heat. Somewhere where you feel wrapped in warmth. Somewhere kind of humid, because I don't care that humidity makes my hair curl - I love to wear it curly.

I'd wear skirts all the time, flowy things, and sometimes, just because I felt like it, I'd twirl like I did when I was a little girl - just to see what shape my skirt made as I spun.

I'd hang out with people who let the messy things in their life show, because that kind of honesty is beautiful.

I'd spend lots of time with people, listening, sharing stories, praying.

I'd spend lots of time alone, too, curled up in a blanket, with a cup of tea, slowing down to reflect on my day, and on the stories I'd heard while I was with people.

I'd find a way to see the world - all of the European history I studied but have never seen with my own eyes. Machu Picchu in Peru.

I'd live in a big, laid-back, coffee shop loving city, and embrace that sort of lifestyle for a while.

I'd pierce my nose, and get a tattoo.

I'd hang out in the mountains, listening and praying, and I'd spend time writing beside the ocean.

I'd spend more time with the friends you can just be quiet with.