Back to real life...

Oh India...how do I even begin to describe you???

So I'm back from my magical adventure. And magical it was.

Now that I'm home, of course everyone is asking me how my trip went and if I had fun. Its so hard because while it definitely was fun at times..."fun" isn't the word I jump to when I think about my trip. Don't get me wrong...we laughed our asses off a lot which helped to make life seem just a little lighter. A lot of times, everything felt awfully heavy while we were there. There is just so much poverty and sadness everywhere and it feels and seems as if its all so big and that there will never be an end to it. But when you look more closely, you really do get a sense that these people are hopeful, that they have a sense of community and closeness with the people that live around them. I saw a show once that talked about the happiest places in the world. I remember them saying that the poor and homeless people of India are much happier than those in the United States because they have a sense of family and community and a "we're all in this together" mentality.

Being gone a whole month was both amazing and incredibly hard at the same time. I don't think I could have really gotten a feel for the place in less time than that...but being away from AJ was so difficult at times. One of the things I really learned on this trip is how much I truly, completely love him. You'd think I'd already have known that since we've been married for two years now...but you learn something new about how much you love someone when you are forced to be apart from them for long periods of time. When you're in the everyday, with all the bills and schedules and budgets and planning, it easy to let that love get away from you sometimes...to let it just be assumed rather than be deliberate. Now that I'm back, I feel like I can't do enough for AJ to show him that I love him...he's amazing in so many ways. The fact that he was so supportive of my trip from the beginning helped to make my trip so much more magical.

As far as personal growth and development goes, I firmly believe that travel is one of those things that will help you along the path toward having an open heart, an open mind and a more compassionate soul. Every trip I've ever been on has changed me in some way for the good. This trip was no exception. The biggest thing that I learned was how to live in the now, to be present, to accept the fact that where ever I am is where I'm supposed to be. We spent the first two weeks at a yoga ashram where time seemed to fly by and crawl by all at the same time. I've never spent so much time in silence, in quiet. I struggled often with wanting to be or wanting to do something else...but it wasn't because I really wanted to be somewhere else...its just that I'm so used to feeling that way that it was hard to let it go, even in a yoga ashram in India! But slowly I let it all just come to me and allowed life to unfold without me trying to control it all the time. It felt amazing. So many times when I was struggling with homesickness I'd just keep reminding myself, "This is exactly where I'm supposed to be right now, this moment was never not happening."

I'll finish up with a few of my most favorite and least favorite things about India....

Least Favorite:

-Monkeys...I'm very passionate in my dislike for these aggresive little shits. On more than one occasion I thought a monkey was going to kill me. If there is a such thing as an anti-spirit animal than monkey's would be mine.

-Chai Wallas...these are guys on the train that walk by literally every couple of minutes YELLING "CHAI! CHAI!" Its not so bad most of the time, but when its 5am and you're desperately trying to get in some sleep on the train, it can be more than a little irritating.

-Taxi and Auto Rickshaw drivers...I know they're just trying to make a living, but seriously, they are beyond annoying, always up in your face trying to win you over. And then when you actually do need one, they're always just trying to rip you off and charge you WAY more than they should. Ugh.

-The smells...its unlike anything you've ever smelled before. And it can be really really awful sometimes.




Most Favorite:
-Chai! OMG...seriously, the best thing ever. When you taste it for the first time you think, "Wow, this is how its SUPPPOSED to taste."

-Mcleod Ganj...a beautiful mountain town full of Tibetan refugees. This is also where the Dali Lama resides, although he wasn't there when we were visiting, bummer. This place was amazing though...

-Playing cards and eating chocolates with Mariah when I was feeling homesick. Always made me feel better.

-Paneer Butter Masala with Garlic Naan...the best Indian food ever. EVER.

-Tam Ding...this is the name of the awesome Tibetan guy who did my tattoo. We ended up spending all day with him...he was so funny and nice and such an amazing artist.

-Train rides...I don't know what it is...but they feel magical sometimes.

-YOGA! Of course.

I'm leaving to go on a magical journey soon

Yes. It's true.

I leave for India in three days. My heart beats faster every day in anticipation. I'm mostly excited and a tiny bit nervous. But that's only natural. I mean, its not everyday that you experience a world totally unlike your own. But I've been smiling a lot when I think about it all, and thats what makes me believe that I'm doing the right thing and that a lot of good is going to come of this trip.

For anyone interested in the mundane details of the trip, here is our loose itinerary:

1:30 am, August 4th - Depart San Fran
11:35am, August 5th - Arrive in New Delhi
6:55 am, August 6th - Depart by train to Rishikesh, India where we will be staying at Anand Prakesh yoga ashram.
August 20th - Depart Rishikesh to travel around Northern India.
August 27ish - Meet up with the beautiful, wonderful Heather DeStefano and have some good times hanging out in Northern India.
1:00pm, September 4th - Depart New Delhi
8:00pm, September 4th - Arrive San Fran

Everyone send good juju my way and send that good juju to Mariah too! And we will see you when we get back!

Green

So this week I had two days off in a row, so my mom and I decided to get my veggie garden in! I have this PERFECT space in my new backyard for one...so we got to work and made it happen. I'm so proud of myself...it was some serious work. My mom is amazing...seriously, if she was a superhero than her power would be gardening. I'll post some photos of our progress...

Its so funny because the maturity period for most of my plants is 60-75 days, which means they'll start producing fruit right as I'm leaving to go to India for a month. Which totally sucks. Although, I'm not really sure I was even doing the garden for that reason...it felt good to be doing it, it felt right to be doing it. Our crazy lives have us running every which way and we never stop and take time to reconnect to the earth. Maybe it sounds stupid and new agey to you...but I really believe that it's important to do that.

On to my travel news! Mariah and I purchased our tickets to India...so its actually official now...no backing out. I feel much less anxiety about it than I thought I would actually...but this is just one of those things in my life that I KNOW I'm supposed to do. Shortly after we bought the tickets I mailed in all my info to apply for a 6-Month Tourist visa to India. You absolutely cannot get into the country without having applied or one in the States. And today I got my passport back from them with the visa sticker inside...YAY! I'm really attached to my passport for some reason, so I was nervous sending it in the mail...so I"m just glad it got back safe and sound. Mariah and I have solidified our plans for the first two weeks of our trip. We've decided to stay at an ashram in Rishikesh, India for two weeks to learn yoga and observe the religious culture of the area. We will sleep at the ashram, where they feed you three meals a day and have two yoga classes a day. Accomodations, food and yoga...all included...all for only $10US a day. !!!! Can you believe that? As for the second half of our trip we have absolutely no plans whatsoever.

Okay, done. Here's the garden pics! The first is the start of day one and the last is the end of day 2!

Damn life is good....

The past 6 months of my life have probably been the best. I'm almost certain that it has nothing really to do with outside circumstances either. There was a turning point a few months back...thanks to AJ. I won't go into details, but since that moment in time things have started to change for me. I made a decision to focus on the good in life and to stop living in fear.

For those of you that know me well, you know that I used to FREAK OUT about lots of things in my life. Usually once a month I'd have some sort of meltdown about something or other. Fear ruled my life. I was afraid of the future, I was afraid that I got married too soon, I was afraid I'd never get back to California to live near my family, I was afraid I'd never figure out what I wanted to do with my life, I was afraid of what people would think if I didn't go back to school. It was so awful. Really. I cannot believe I put myself through all of that.

But now I can breathe again...

I know some of you may be thinking, "Come on Shea, there's a lot of really great things that have been happening lately, so that's probably why you feel differently." Well, you don't have to believe me, but I'm here to tell you that I fully believe that these wonderful things would never have happened had I been stuck in my old frame of mind. Good things have always happened for AJ and I, it's kind of freaky actually. As you all know, AJ is one of the most infectiously positive people and I think that his outlook on life attracted a lot of amazing things. But now that both AJ and I are on the same page about life, I believe that we are attracting even more goodness into our life. I always like to joke and say that the universe has really been on our side lately, but I wonder how much of a joke it really is. I suppose it all comes down to if you believe in the law of attraction or not. I do. Without a doubt. I think sometimes the good things are there all along just waiting for you to see them or recognize them. But when you live in a dark cloud of fear, its really hard to see the good. When that cloud was lifted, it was as if I was living in a new world full of light and energy and life. All kinds of good things started popping up all over the place. Its been truly amazing to be a part of...and I can't wait to see it keep unfolding in my life.

India

In case any of you didn't already know, I'm GOING TO INDIA! I hate to seem like I'm bragging, but I'm just so effing excited I can barely stand it.

The other day I woke up and realized that all of my dreams are coming true, and its all so surreal. I married the love of my life, I have an amazing family, I have the best friends in the whole world and I'm getting to do the thing I love most: travel.

I'll have plenty of posts updating you on all the lovely details of the trip, but for now I just want to say that there are not words to explain how grateful I am for AJ in my life. I know it sounds so cheesy, but he just lights up my day. And for those of you who are fortunate enough to know him, I'm sure you'll agree. Its just like this energy follows him around where ever he goes and gets everyone in a great mood. Its like magic, really.

I suppose some people may think its odd that I'm going to India for a month without my husband. But for us its not really odd at all. I mean, OF COURSE we're going to miss each other, we're best friends. But its stuff like this that convinces me that I was always meant to be with AJ, because when I told him I wanted to take this trip he was SO supportive. I think its because he knows me and knows how important it is to me to see the world. Its my passion and as my husband he is encouraging me to follow it. He is so amazing. I don't think a lot of husbands would react the way he did. I love our marriage. We are in such a good place right now and I honestly believe its because we both encourage the other to be themselves. I think a lot of marriages are full of unrealistic expectations and ideas of what love is supposed to be like. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the reason I love what AJ and I have is because if feels REAL.

Ahhhh...life is so good.

Oh yeah, did I mention we also signed papers for our house today??!! We should have keys by Monday! Seriously, could it get any better than this?

First Time for Everything

So this is my first blog site! Yay for me.

My life is taking me in so many directions lately, its a little dizzying.

There is so this part of me that wants to get really into remodeling our new house. Yes, AJ and I have purchased our first home in Roseville, CA. It's a great 3 bedroom, 3 bath ranch style house with a pool! I'm starting to obsess over color schemes and finding creatively cheap renovations. Craigslist is my crack. Here are a few of the things I'm on the hunt for...

1. Leaning Bookshelves...have you seen them? Some even have like an attached computer desk too! AJ and I want like a little office nook in our bedroom and I think that leaning bookshelves would be perfect.

2. Cheap furniture to refinish or repaint. The glass coffee table and end tables just aren't doing it for me anymore...I want something unique with a personal touch, but also on the modern side.

3. Outdoor Gazebo. Since we don't have a covered patio, we need some shade in the backyard. Especially if we're going to be playing cards and smoking hookah all summer!


So then there's this other part of me that keeps thinking of all the amazing trips we could be going on with the money we're spending on this house. Its all so much money and things keep coming up...little fees and stupid bullshit that we hadn't planned on. Not to mention we're pretty sure the pool has a leak, which could end up costing hundreds to fix. Welcome to the life of a homeowner, I guess.

I can't help but wonder, "When can I get outta here?"

Even though we thought our calendar this year was as full as it could be (SoCal roadtrip, Lahontan, the wedding, Hawaii...), I'm still trying to find a way to get out of the country this summer. I don't want to say anything until there are plans underway, but I may actually get to do it!

I'll end this by saying that I have the most amazing husband. I really really do. He's SO supportive of everything I want to do and be. I love him.