I’ve been busy.

Oops, that was technically three…one of which was a conjunction. So sue me.

I know, I know. Everybody get’s busy, it’s called life. Maybe there are just moments in your life where you feel like writing about what’s going on, and other moments where you’re simply living it.

Anyway…Let’s just jump back in?

Today, I spent a wonderful day with my roommate Aaron, and two other friends of ours. We went to an American diner called “Breakfast in America” this morning. It was yummy…I had a breakfast burrito, and had to ix-nay the fried potatoes, as I swore off all fried potatoes for 2010. Can you believe that? I just can’t believe I’ve made it this far without cracking.

The better part of the afternoon was spent wandering around Paris, loving this city. Seriously, I would kill to live my own life on day’s like today.

Aaron needed some new clothes, which took us to a local shopping mall this afternoon…and a song playing through the loudspeakers of one of the stores randomly made me think of an old friend…a friend I’m not close with anymore.

Without going into too many details (or any really), a friendship that meant a lot to me ended a few months ago. It hurt in a way I can’t really explain. I’m not really into melodramatic blog posts, so I won’t wax on about it…but it wasn’t fun…and sometimes, the wound feels so raw.

I’ve experienced a lot of crazy things in my young 21 years. I mean for goodness sakes, next month marks three years of living in Europe…three years? So crazy!

I’d look to think I can be tough when I need to be…but today I didn’t feel tough. It was just a brief moment, and it passed quickly…laughing with dear friends that I love made yesterday and its challenges feel one million miles away.

Tonight, I found myself randomly stalking another old friend on Facebook. Different situation, different friend, but plenty of sadness and yucky moments back in the day…and I found myself smiling. Again, who cares about the details…but happy photographs on Facebook of that person simply living their life…made me smile. I didn’t feel any heartbreak about not knowing them like I once did, I didn’t waste time thinking about any of the past…I just thought, “Well done.”

I felt happy that their life was better than I’d have ever thought it would turn out.

That sounds kind of spiteful, but it isn’t supposed to…I guess I just chalked previous mistakes up to something bigger than they were. They were mistakes, they were small faults…but they didn’t determine that person’s future.

I know this is kind of ramble-y, but hey…life doesn’t always have to be polished, right?

I guess my point is simply that it felt nice to see someone’s life for what it is today, not reflecting on a single thing, other than their happiness. And frankly, celebrating that happiness.

Sometimes you love…and you lose. And no, it doesn’t feel okay…it feels like nothing can ever be okay, nothing will ever be the same. But guess what? Today, I discovered that losing a bit doesn’t mean that the love you once shared with someone was somehow made invalid…somehow, it is that very love that can heal your heart.

My heart might hurt a little bit. And I know…it’s going to hurt for a good, long while. The two situations I referenced are pretty far detached from one another, and each have their nuances…but somehow, I feel hopeful…that one day, I’ll look back on the friend I lost, and I won’t need to stifle my tears. I won’t need to bite my tongue and wish things were different…I’ll simply see a smile I once knew, and think to myself…

I’m just happy they’re happy

I hope you guys are all doing TERRIFICLY well…things in Paris are just dandy…very BUSY, but dandy!

First of all, tomorrow I have my medical appointment for my Carte de Séjour…had I not already had one of these appointments last year, I might be a bit nervous, but I rather know what to expect…go through the drills of making sure I don’t have any contagious viruses that I caught whilst in the Congo and are going to infect and kill of the French people. Oh yeah, they’ll probably check my eyesight and my blood pressure too. You know, standard procedue.

Anyhow, for this particular appointment, I needed to purchase a little stamp…you can get them in the “tabacs,” the little tobacco stores, or from the government agencies…I ended up purchasing mine from a neighborhood tabac, and then headed to the supermarket…and look at the friend I made along the way! I was ever so close to adopting him and bringing him home with me, as a snail seems to be quite an appropriate pet for a French resident like myself, but I realized that his company might not be all-that-stimulating…and he might get lonely without a little snail friend! At any rate, I had some fun with my snail before wishing him goodbye. Hope this particular little guy doesn’t end up one some hungry Frenchman’s plate…on a side note, after nearly two years in this country, I’ve yet to taste escargot. What’s up with that?

In addition to my medical appointment tomorrow, I shall be packing my bags and hauling them ACROSS town to my new apartment! As I mentioned previously, I shall be living with my crazy friend Aaron, and we are set to get the keys tomorrow evening. The new place is more than FOUR times the size of my current apartment, and you can bet I’m counting down the hour until I have an oven…absolutely can’t wait!

For tonight, Hillsong UNITED, is in town and all of my church friends are abuzz….we’re going to be rocking it out at the Alhambra théâtre….it’s going to be sooo awesome!

Hope you guys have an awesome day and I’ll catch up with you all again soon!

Adam

Hello world!
It’s nearing the end of May, and things are moving in Paris! Literally!

University is finally over for the semester…my first semester at AUP, the American University of Paris was fun. I guess I wouldn’t call it the most riveting semester ever, but then again, after a while, college is college. As I’ve blogged about before, I had the opportunity to participate in some fun things, such as RENT, and I met some fun people…but I think I’m just about over this whole undergraduate degree thing. I just want to bid my time and get it over with…and yet, I want my comprehension of the French language to grow further. I really feel like I’m developing my language skills every day, but I don’t know that the classroom is what’s helping me do so…and that sentiment is particularly echoed when I have to take courses that hold zero interest to me, just to satisfy degree requirements…think classical English literature and lab sciences. Bleck.

I want to be spending my days studying French…that makes a lot of sense to me, since I am a French Studies major. Seeing as I’ve transfered a good deal since my initial intro to uni in London, I can understand that it’s a bit complicated credit wise and I’m doing things in a pretty non-traditional way, that necessitates my taking gen ed courses that most students take their freshman year…but then again, my whole university degree path has been pretty “non-traditional.”

It’s not that I want to be out of the classroom…I really do enjoy my classes where I get to study French. I just want to be focusing on it…and I want a bigger challenge. I learned today that Americans make up about 30% of the student body at my university, which isn’t too shabby in my opinion, seeing as we are an American university. In spite of those numbers, there isn’t a single native French speaker in the French Studies program…which makes sense, as it would be kind of weird to be a French person with a degree in French Studies. Anyway, being in classes with all non-native speakers who have varying levels of French is simply frustrating to me. I don’t want it anymore…I want to be PUSHED further, which is why I love classes like my “Prostitution au Cinéma” (Prostitution at the Cinema) course, which I took this semester. No, the material wasn’t my favorite ever…but it was taught by a French professor in French, and as an open elective course, it was open to any students in the university. I was one of the only native anglophones in the class, and we watched French movies without subtitles throughout the semester…and it was hard…and guess what? I loved it!

I’m a words boy at heart…I love speaking, studying language, and discovering more about the nuances of language development. That part of me that loves to learn thinks I wouldn’t mind studying for the rest of my life…okay, yes, I’d get bored…but it makes me dream. You know, master’s programs in France are insanely cheap…maybe I want to get a masters in French-English Translation or Interpreting? That’d be sick…study in a French university full time, and work my butt off improving my French? That sounds awesome…would it take a lot of crazy opportunities and doors opening up to be possible? Certainly…but hey, I believe God’s more than capable of allowing such an awesome thing to take place…goodness knows the last few years have shown that the possibilities for my life are not limited to my very human capacities.

Truly, I have no idea what the future holds…but I like dreaming. =)

In some fun news, I’m moving on WEDNESDAY! Technically,we get the keys to the new place on Wednesday evening…and yep, I said we! I have the awesome opportunity to make a great new friend named Aaron over the past few months…we met in November of 2009 and have been pretty tight ever since, and are now going to be roomies…crazy! We even are doing a podcast together, which you should definitely check out if you haven’t! Real estate is expensive in Paris, and living together allows us to have the luxuries…an oven, an elevator, a washing machine!?! My mind is bursting with the possibilities.

It will be weird to move out of my little 9m apartment/closet, as I’ve spent nearly the last two years living life from this room…I love the neighborhood, and it’s grown to be my own little base in Paris…but I’m also excited about kissing goodbye the microwave-only food, 6 flights of stairs, and shared toilet down the hall. It will be fun to start a new chapter.

Finally, in a bit of random news, I’ve discovered a new hobby…googling myself! I know, it sounds so silly, but it’s fun when I discover random things…and the two latest random items are the following:

An article in The Planet AUP, my student newspaper, that I’ve never read…about RENT, which described my initial meeting with our directors and mentioned that my “audition included a tremendous rendition of ‘Lean on Me.’” Hey, their words, not mine! my.aup.edu/system/files/filefield/document/aupplanetfebruary2010.pdf

And secondly, an article from “Breaking Tweets:World News, Twitter-Style,” which quoted a tweet of mine in, “Louvre McDonalds sparkes Controvery in Europe.” It makes me laugh that I’m part of the opposing group of individuals of the Americanization of a French landmark. http://www.breakingtweets.com/2009/10/05/louvre-mcdonalds-sparks-controversy-in-paris-london-europe/

Well folks, that about wraps it up…I hope you guys are all doing awesome! Thanks for reading what’s up in my world! Have an awesome weekend, and let’s check in together again soon

++

adam

First, let me wish you all a giant thank you for checking out adaminparis.com…if you’re reading this particular post, you’ve been pretty faithful to me, regardless of the giant gap between now and my previous post! Additionally, this marks my 200th post on the blog that started as adaminlondon.com, whilst living in London, England…and the blog upon which I now right.

It’s insane to sit here and reflect on all of the changes that have occurred in my life since I wrote my initial entry in the summer of 2007. I was a high school student, preparing to make an insane leap into the world of post-secondary academics…in a foreign nation. Today, I find myself still pursuing that degree with a vengeance, though a world away from the post-highschool mindset from which I wrote that first entry.

I suppose it’s only fair to try to fill you in on what you’ve missed over the past several weeks.

First, I ended up doing RENT! I was cast as Roger, the brooding musician recovering from his heroin addiction and dealing with AIDS…such a happy thing, right? Working with the cast was a crazy experience…some things were a major pain…think, giving up every Saturday in the month of March and April to work on the play ALL day. Other moments, sharing laughs with my castmates and making incredible memories on opening night…are things I’ll always remember. Enjoy a few select photos below:

[View with PicLens]

The semester has gone well…Sometimes I wonder if my French is progressing much, as I feel a bit like I’ve hit a dreaded plateau. I’m fluent in conversational French…yeah, I make mistakes, and there are moments where I don’t understand a word or two…but on the whole, I speak French…nevertheless, I want to push it further. I want to get crazy good. I want my accent to be perfect. I want to expand my vocabulary. I think it’s all stuff I’m capable of doing, I just don’t know how effectively my current course load is preparing me for that. I suppose this is one of the frustrating aspects of being in the American system…you have general education requirements that have nothing to do with your degree, and you spend time working on things that are so boring! Bleck. I suppose that’s life sometimes…you do things you don’t care for, so that you might be able to do the things you love.

Summer is fast approaching…in fact, as far as I’m concerned, tomorrow my summer starts! My final exam takes place in a little less than two hours, and then, I shall be free until September! I’m planning to work this summer, so I’m in the job hunt process…gotta love it!

On a fun note, my friend Aaron Reynolds and I started a podcast…The Parisian Pursuit! We chat about whatever we feel like talking about, and have some pretty exciting things planned from the near future…you should most DEFINITELY go check out our latest episode, and subscribe to our podcast in iTunes!

Other than that…life is going…and what can I say, I’m still as fantastically in love with this incredible journey I get to call my own. I can’t even begin to express how blessed I feel to be experiencing such amazing moments every single day, and I know that absolutely AMAZING things are in store for my future…wow!

What does that future hold? I suppose it’s really anybody’s guess, though my brain is filled with potential ideas…getting my masters in translation or interpretation at the Sorbonne? Coming back to the States to work as a French teacher? Writing another book? I don’t know the answers to those questions, but I DO know that it’s going to be incredible…and of course, you should come along for the ride.

To those of you who wish we could stay a bit more connected, I encourage you to stalk me on Twitter, as I am constantly updating it with my latest thoughts!

Have a great week everybody, and as always, thanks for checking out adaminparis.com!

Adam

So, surprise…I wrote a book. Can you believe that? I wrote a freaking book!

My mom has been trying to get me to share my stories in book form for ages, and telling me along the way…”Honey, you simply have to do it!” I spent countless hours trying to reassure her that I was young, and that one day the day would come where I could sit down and write about the incredible things I’ve been so blessed to experience in life. Nevertheless, she persisted…”You can write your second book later down the road. For now, you need to write book one.”

I rolled my eyes, chalked her encouragement up to normal “mom stuff,”and tried desperately to go along on my merry way…yet somehow, she planted a little seed in my brain. One afternoon, I thought to myself…”Why not open up a Word document and just try? Don’t tell Mom, don’t tell anyone…just try. What’s the worst thing that could happen?”

Nearly 300 pages and countless hours spent in front of my computer screen later, I’ve finally published my first book…and I can’t begin to express all of the crazy emotions that come along with that. Part of me feels a bit proud of what I’ve accomplished, and part of me feels a little bit embarrassed…as my friends and family have begun to hear about my literary pursuits, I’ve received several messages on Facebook and in my email inbox, all asking me the same thing. “Adam!” they all start. “Why in the WORLD did I not know about this sooner!?”

It’s not a shame that comes from the simple fact that I’ve written, and it’s certainly not an embarrassment derived out of the incredible things I’ve been so blessed to discover over the course of the last few years I’ve spent abroad. Rather, my slight hesitation was simply related to the fact that I don’t feel as if what I’ve done is more valuable that what some others have done…I’m not Superman, and I don’t have any awesome supernatural powers (though that would be pretty awesome!). Instead, I’m a boy who took what he had to work with and ran with it.

In the end, the book I’ve written isn’t about the crazy things that happened in London, nor all that I’ve come to know and love about Paris…though all of those things are certainly contained within it! Rather, I chose to simply share where I’ve been…and encourage you all to tackle your big dream too…I couldn’t be more thankful that I had the guts to try!

Check out all of the details by clicking the above image, or by clicking below.

ONE GIANT LEAP.

]]> http://www.adaminparis.com/?feed=rss2&p=657 http://www.adaminparis.com/?p=650 http://www.adaminparis.com/?p=650#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:16:37 +0000 admin http://www.adaminparis.com/?p=650 So I missed a day of blogging for the second time in my quest to blog for one hundred days straight. Yeah, I know…they say the third time is the charm and all, so maybe I should go for a third time…but I kind of don’t care to. I mean, sure…I’m all for continuing the regular blogging streak, but I don’t want the pressure of trying to do it again. Really, does it matter to anyone if I manage to eek out 100 blogs, 1o0 days in a row? Really? I don’t think so.

Thus, I’m going to blog…and some days, you might trek all the way across the web to this humble little page, only to discover that I haven’t said anything in the last 24 hours…and that stinks, but it’s just the way of life. Check out my Twitter feed in the bottom left hand corner of the main page…it’ll show you what I’m up to. I’m constantly updating that thing. And who knows? Maybe someday I’ll hit 100 blogs that happened to have arrived in a time frame of 100 days? And if not, I doubt anybody is going to be shedding tears.

Do you know what I love? Candle light. I love to put on soft piano music, light some candles in my little studio, and just sit there…letting my mind wander where it might. Sitting in the darkness, the soft shadows playing on the wall…I feel peaceful. I don’t worry about tomorrow. I dance with the flame, our silhouettes becoming one in the night, as we disappear together into a dream world, a land of fantasy.

I know that didn’t seem to make any contextual sense…but sometimes, I don’t make any sense. Sometimes I have so much raw emotion, and nowhere to sort it out…so I write. And I do love candle light…

I’m guessing you guys are probably getting sick of these last minute blog updates, but you know what? Beggars can’t be choosers, right? In any event, I’m blogging at 11:42 P.M., as I just realized that I hadn’t blogged for the day, and yuh-oh…that’s no good!

Today is a lesson in self control. I ended up spending the night at Aaron’s house last night, which wasn’t a big shocker as I was invited to do so in the first place, and I’d packed an overnight bag in the event that I chose to do so. He and Clément went to the early service at church today, and I stayed at his house and slept, as we didn’t get to bed very early…what a crack up, right? It was weird walking around his apartment without him here…I felt like a bit of a creeper, not gonna lie. Whatever, it was totally legit, he’s the one that offered to let me sleep!

We ended up grabbing dinner this evening, and went to a little French restaurant in Saint Michel…I know, I’m starting to sound like a broken record…everything I do seems to take place in Saint Michel! Not to worry, he lives just next door, so it made logical sense.

In any event, I ordered a chicken breast in cream sauce, that came with FRENCH FRIES!

I do believe I’ve talked about my fasting from fries for 2010, right? No french fries for me for the entire year….no fried potatoes, period…except for potato chips, which I know, doesn’t make that much sense…but the rule only applies to freshly fried potatoes. In fact, I know I’ve mentioned this, so now I’m realllly sounding like a broken record.

In any event, it turned out just fine, as Aaron didn’t care for the roast chicken he ordered, so he simply ate my fries and his own, and picked at his chicken…and we called it a day.

Now, what would you have done without that riveting little tidbit of information? You’d likely have cried yourself to sleep, as you’d have missed my blog entry for the day. Just saying.

Hope you guys have a great weekend! Thanks for checking out adaminparis.com, as always!

Adam

I’m sitting at my friend Aaron’s apartment in Saint Michel, with Mr. Clément Barbu…I was randomly invited over for dinner and I was just sitting here discussing randomness with them, when it suddenly hit me…

“Oh my GOODNESS GUYS! I HAVEN’T BLOGGED YET TODAY AND IT IS NEARLY MIDNIGHT!” Of course, I still had about an hour before my deadline, but nevertheless…I nearly missed a blog! And seeing as today is only day three, that would simply not be acceptable…and I’m committed to this thing!

So let’s share exciting news from today…hummmm….that means not so much. I just posed the question, “What’s my exciting news for today to the two guys sitting beside me,”to which Mr. Aaron responded, “Hum? You found out you were pregnant?” Not so much. I’m not pregnant…but it’s a nice try Reynolds.

Ok, let’s see…there must be something, there must be! OH, hey! I bought sugar donuts today at Monoprix, one of the supermarkets here! They weren’t all that delicious, but they were donuts nonetheless. There we have it! My exciting news for the day!

Anyway, I apologize for my lack of effort…but hey, I managed to share a few paragraphs with you guys, and even took the time to do so when with my friends…thanks for letting me use your computer Aaron!

Hope you guys are having a killer weekend. I promise to be more riveting…well, to try in any case, very soon!

++

adam

I simply realized whilst sitting on the train that I hadn’t yet blogged today, and since I’m only on day two of my second attempt to blog for one hundred days straight, I figured that simply wouldn’t do! Thus, I find myself writing to you all via iPhone
I thought I’d pose a simple, rhetorical question today…Doesn’t it feel great to be loved?

My precious friend Nikki sent me a little valentine from Nebraska the other day, and I can’t begin to tell you how big the smile on my face was. There is such enormous power in simply letting those in your life know that you care, don’t you think?

I spent some wonderful moments with a friend this afternoon, and I can’t even express how much good it did for my heart. Sometimes, it is so easy to get caught up in the scary stresses of day to day life, and the opportunity to put it all aside for a few brief moments and simple revel in the beauty of friendship…that’s pretty enormous.

Yes, just simple thoughts from yours truly today…but thoughts that come from the heart…and it doesn’t get better than that, does it?!

Have a great weekend everybody!
Adam

I want to leave a legacy…how will they remember me? Did I choose to love…

Today’s entry is not what I imagined myself writing. I made a commitment to blog for one hundred days straight, which thankfully was not a New Year’s resolution, for it quickly fell to the wayside…my internet at home went out for a bit, my Mac has been giving me issues…in short, my posts simply didn’t happen. I’m restarting today…maybe the second time will be the charm? This post serves as post one.

In any case, that’s not why I’m writing…not in the least bit. I find myself in the computer lab in my university, hacking away on a Windows P.C., something that feels entirely unfamiliar to me. I stumbled down here after an incredibly intriguing discussion in prostitution and cinema…I’d planned to spend some time in the lab, as I have another engagement later this evening, and it doesn’t make any sense for me to head home between class and that activity.  Nevertheless, I didn’t think I’d find myself writing about death today.

We watched yet another film featuring a prostitute today in class, and as we analyzed the material following the film, one of my classmates asked the instructor about her feelings on what happens after we die.  I have an admittedly less secular viewpoint than many of my peers and professors in the academic world, so I caught my breath, waiting for her response.

“I believe…that as long as your memory lives on, as long as people remember who you were…you are still here. You are still influencing, and moving, and changing things.” she responded. She went on to detail why exactly she believes what she does…and I find myself intrigued by her simple response.

Of course, I don’t share her exact perspective…I choose to think that life is not simply a game of accomplishing something that people will remember you for later down the road, but that’s not what my professor was trying to express. Rather, she simply was speaking about the importance of your life not being a story that revolves around you. “Life is an exchange…it’s about receiving from others, yes…but it’s also about what you give.” she shared.

I found my palms sweating and my hands shaking as I contemplated her words. Perhaps that seems a bit overboard to you, but it’s the response I found nonetheless.

In December, I had the privilege of receiving a heartfelt card from a precious lady who is no longer a part of my day to day existence, but who was in an academic capacity in the past. She wrote to me for no reason but to encourage me to continue pressing on in the same manner, spilling compliment upon compliment about my endeavors and behaviors. It was an absolutely precious gift, one that I felt so incredibly moved and honored to receive.

In writing a response to that very woman a few days ago, I reminded her that her work is not simply about the papers she grades, nor the lessons she shares with her students. Rather, it’s about the brief glimpses of her beautiful spirit that she shares with those around her. Perhaps it is for but a moment, a tiny blip in the great scope of life in its entirety, and yet…those moments have the power to transform another for the rest of his lifetime.

I don’t understand why some moments, moments we might be tempted to categorize as pivotal or foundational in some way…why those moments often fade away into oblivion, nor do I understand why some seemingly routine instances are engraved into our minds, souvenirs we carry with us everywhere we go. I do know, however, that the power of influence that reaches far beyond today is a most precious gift.

Sitting in my prostitution class, I wondered…”If I passed away tomorrow, what would people remember?” I imagine the little groups of friends at my funeral laughing, reminiscing about how bizarre my sense of humor was, likely laughing at some random moment of insanity that scarred them. I know there are people who would say they admired certain attributes about my character, whilst others would discuss the accomplishments I’ve been fortunate to achieve thus far in my life.

The thing is…none of that really matters. There is this beautiful song by Nichole Nordeman called “Legacy.” If you’ve never heard it, do yourself a favor and click that link. It has some decidedly Christian overtones, and I understand that some of you may not relate to that particular aspect of it…but the beauty of the understanding she sings about is something that we should all be so fortunate as to grasp. Our lives have to point to something bigger…or all purpose is lost.

I immediately started humming that song in my head when we began this discussion in class, and I even searched through the archives of my site, as I wondered if I might have mentioned it before…I found one entry, from July of 2007. Reading my words, I felt overwhelmed by my resolve to keep pushing, to keep loving. If I remember that month correctly, it was one of great heartache…one of great pain, and one of fear in a certain sense. I was forced to learn how to let go of something I loved, even when it was the last thing I wanted to do…and to focus on the enormous path ahead of me.

You can sense my youthful naivety in my words, and I can’t promise that I was particularly poignant…but what I can tell you is that those words ring just as true today as they did to a scared little boy getting ready to fly across the ocean and start a new life in England.

Your life has purpose, and whether you realize the implications of that simple fact or not, it doesn’t change the truth in those words. You have worth, so enormous that no price can be placed on your head. You are valuable, you are beautiful, you are powerful, you are CAPABLE…no matter your circumstance, no matter the ugly baggage you carry from the past, no matter what. No outside factors hold power over the magnificence of your heart.

Sometimes life is just hard…and unfair. I was walking home in the freezing rain earlier this week, cursing myself for leaving my umbrella at home. My face stung as each little drop felt like a bullet, stinging my cheeks. As I quickly pecked the building code to open my front door, I noticed an elderly homeless woman who walks my streets, day in and out. There she was as always, making her way down the street in the rain.

I sat there and wondered to myself…how does she have the strength? I can barely muster the courage to walk the three minutes from the metro to my apartment building…how can she walk aimlessly, with the simple hope that she’ll survive another day?

Life is heavy and heartbreaks abound, but I choose to believe that when we have the ability to do something…we have a responsibility to act. A quiet prayer may not have been much in that instance, but it was what I had to give…and so I quickly stammered through my simple words.

Will that simple prayer give someone reason to remember me someday? Perhaps not…but we must act, not so that we will be remembered…but so that today counts. And if today counts, tomorrow will look back on the memory with a fond smile.

Act. Stand up and act today. Don’t get caught up in the stress of all of life’s details, don’t shiver in fear of what the repercussions might be. Choose to be somebody who will step out of the crowd, who will look something scary in the face and scream at the top of your lungs, “I will NOT live in fear of you!” Beyond all things, don’t lose grasp of the power behind your value. You have something to give. Maybe that means you’ll smile and tell the cashier at Walmart to have a beautiful day. Maybe it means you’ll tell your waitress to keep the change, or perhaps you’ll send a quick email to a friend, simply to say you’re thinking about them.

Regardless of how you do it, choose to act. Leave a legacy…we might not all have the name recognition afforded to Van Gogh, Freud, or Shakespeare…but we all have the ability to shift and move our world. I’m in…how about you?