June 12
Quote of the Day

A traveller sees what he sees. 
The tourist sees what he has come to see.
G.K. Chesterton


On this day last year I took off to the other side of the world. Literally as far as I could go from home, and ended up discovering friendships from way back when and making some new, falling in love with the lands of the hobbits, and enjoying the down under with the help of a bunch of uh-mazing locals. Well, locals and expats, but nonetheless people who took me beyond the go-to, top 10 places to visit according to whatever tourist guide I would've happened to read.
Forward to today, and I'm the expat/tourguide/roomservice/friend/fellow-explorer.
This spring my day-to-day life's been flooded by visitors from afar. And while I've been blessed with most peeps being open to suggestions, to walking around aimlessly and people-watching, there's definitely been some headaches caused by "WE MUST SEE THIS!" or "WE CAN'T MISS THAT!" But...all this came to a beautiful end with the latest visit of the most chill and open-minded kind. True traveller-style, I guess, if we're to use the above quote for some guidance.
Atm my brain's tired from too much doing and too little rest, but the last week+ has been a glorious ride of friends old and new, discussions deep and shallow, foods healthy and disgustingly bad for you, and nights...long, late, warm summer nights.
And while I'll miss the company of a new to New York friend, I've definitely welcomed a time of wakeup-gotowork-comehomeandeat-gotosleep for at least a day or two. Mm-mm.

Meanwhile, here's a few sights in my City from a traveller's perspective:

June 11th
Quote of the Day

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. 
Barack Obama


Change for the better or change for the worse. Change toward something or away from something. Change as a good thing or a bad. Regardless of whether you want change or would rather maintain the status quo, don't trust it in another man's hands. I guess. Or do - if it's someone like Barack Obama? :D
It's 3am and I'm thinking of changing my sleeping patterns. Eating patterns, too, preferably, and exercise, but on that I'm already on my way....
Now to sleep.

Quotes of June 8th, 9th, and 10th 
Apparently I've been busy again.


Sanity calms, but madness is more interesting. 
John Russell


This dilemma is something I've dealt with for a while. Not necessarily madness and sanity to the ultimate extremes, but in terms of choosing based on reason versus emotions. Thinking things through versus acting more impulsively. And while this quote calls for my agreement, I'm still very much on the fence about this topic.


You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. 
Unknown


Around issues of routine, comfort, simply getting used to how things are and how they should be - how I like or love them to be, the issue of how I would survive if it would all fall apart and be taken away from me.
We had a discussion with my best friend, and the issue of never having really been pushed to my limits, never really having had to fight for many of the amazing things I have in life came up. So how does this play into truly knowing how to appreciate what you have?


People never get the flowers while they can still smell them. 
Unknown


Appreciate them! And show it, too.

June 7
Quote of the Day

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
Albert Einstein


<3
So we've been dealing with some difficulties lately. And while the above quote is filled with hope, it is sometimes near-impossible to see beyond the next big hill. But opportunity is good. Opportunity is a word filled with broad horizons and positive changes and reaching higher. Growing together. Seizing the moment. Learning from today's or yesterday's mistakes. Opportunity is the door to change, and change is good when you're dealing with difficulties.
So anyway, that's a lot of round-and-round-we-go:ness, but it sounds good, and I'm wanting to take a hold of that. Hold on to the opportunities that lie amidst all this confusion and frustration, and believe that whatever they are - even if unseen at this moment, outside of my grasp or awareness - they're ahead. Inevitably.

June 6
Quote of the Day

A good home must be made, not bought. 
Joyce Maynard

image from: http://www.heartratemonitorstoday.com/

June 5
Quote of the Day

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18


Something to keep in mind.

June 4
Quote of the Day

When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.
Eric Hoffer

June 3
Quote of the Day

Always work hard on something uncomfortably exciting. 
Larry Page


At this moment there are a number of things at varying levels of both discomfort and excitement, which all fall under this "must always work hard on" category. I'm both excited and nervous to see where things lead, how issues work out, how I can grow, both as just me and as a part of us. 
Key words in the uncomfortably exciting realm this month:
Openness (in varying contexts)
Love
Effort
New responsibilities, both at home and work.
Hard work pays off, I'm told, so I'm looking forward to good things, success, and excitement.


Ps. To the Finnish-speaking folks...kinda cool that Openness, Love, Effort, and New responsibilities spells out "OLEN", huh? :D I'd say putting these four to the core of being me - or being you - can make a pretty big difference for the better.

June 2
Quote of the Day

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Romans 2:16


This may be the first Bible quote I have here. Regardless of what the source, this is some sound advice. Whatever you're thinking of when you consider someone "lower" than you or somehow less, get off your high horse and level the field. I'm all for taking pride in who you are, in what you do, in your own choices, but I'm pretty sure that's not the kind of pride we're talking about here. So humble thyself, as they say, and listen to that "lowly" person for once, try on her pair of shoes for a minute, consider his point of view, and you may learn something valuable.

I'm not sure what it is about this blurry image that I love,
but there's something that just does it for me. 

June 1
Quote of the Day

I just need enough to tide me over until I need more. 
Bill Hoest


Just enough to make paying attention to the moment possible, but not too much to distract me from it. Sounds about right.