Birthdays, Trains, and Planes

Another birthday is just around the corner, but shhh – don’t tell anyone that I’m older because I feel better than ever!  I’m all about birthday cake though so don’t get me wrong – I WILL celebrate!  This past year…heck, the past month – I am continually learning more about this life and every single day – every breath that I’ve been given.

I’ve just landed in the U.S. back from Europe where I have been for 2 weeks and have seen many things through a different culture’s eyes.  I’ve traveled by subway, car, planes, trains, buses… (I think the only form of transportation that I missed was a boat.)  It’s been truly amazing.  The people, the food, the music… 

I had started to feel a hardening of my heart sometime before I left for this trip, and I can say have been rejuvenated, I have reconnected with my love of creating music, and have been touched by the kindness of the human race as well as have a deeper appreciation for home, friends and family.

I had a moment on one of the trains while in Italy.  I was overcome with emotion listening to a beautiful instrumentation track on a playlist that someone made for me before I left – what a gift.  The combination of the music with the scenery of the Italian countryside and knowing how far from home I was, feeling the blessing of the experience and in that moment – completely alone – jumping in head first – really shook me to the core.  THAT moment was amazing.  THAT is what life is about.  Living.  Opening our eyes and trusting that we are given what we need to make it. 

I’ll be walking away from this trip with a bunch of new friends, some really cool tunes and memories that I will cherish forever.  This place is rich in history, 2^nd hand smoke and wonderful people. I like that all of the taxis in Berlin are super nice Mercedes and that wherever I went – it sounded like beautiful jibberish. I like the energy and true passion at the soccer game – aka futbol where everyone was united in a drunken, smelly support of the home team. I love in Italy how everything tasted and looked so rich.  I like that cows crossing the road on top of the mountain is considered traffic. I love that people genuinely helped me wherever I went.  I was drenched in another culture, and it was great.

Thank you to everyone who I crossed paths with along my journey. Thank you to everyone who helped me and made me feel at home so far away. I can’t wait to see you all again!  Europe touched my heart and my soul and this trip was an eye-opening, life-changing one.