"You Are Here"

(After much frustration with Blogger's Spam detection mishaps for the last two and a half weeks, I will simply start ANOTHER blog altogether and ditch the first. Here is the transfered post currently on lockdown... I wash my hands of it.)

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And so, March 23, I begin blogging again... I can't predict how frequently I'll be posting, but here's to scratching an itch in my soul that only writing can soothe.

Here stands my life, at this point in time, as I can feel things spinning beneath me on this rather largish hunk of soil hurling through the cosmos:

I'm in school thanks to the grace of a little something called HOPE Scholarship, working on getting into the Graphic Design program here at UGA. And I'm currently biting my nails over my upcoming review to get into my major: I am one of 32 art students selected from many for the graphic design intro course, and at the end of April, we all submit a portfolio of graphic design work for a panel. From these 32, only 14 get in- and we've only got one shot. It's intimidating as hell; we're all talented, and we all want it. Bad. I'm an art major because I can't imagine going through life in a profession in which my hands don't create beauty. And if I don't get in... well, I guess I'll tackle that if I get to that point.

There's a lot I want to do in life... I want to travel. Not "travel" as in book a hotel and see a few tourist destinations seen on a PBS special one Sunday afternoon. No thank you. By "travel" I mean its synonym of sorts: holistic experiences with soul-shaping profundity. I want to launch myself outside of my comfort zone and challenge my realities. I have itchy feet and an itchy soul that are constantly restless, craving change and the unknown... I want to look out the window to discover something completely different, and in turn, look in the mirror and discover someone stronger and wiser for it.

At this point in time, I am pleased to announce that I have absolutely nothing set in stone. I might be a graphic designer, I might be a journalist, I might be a tumbleweed with a notebook and a camera. More than likely, I will become all of these things at one point or another, and it's something I'm looking forward to. The only thing I know now is that I am OBLIGATED to stay true to me and what I want in life. So I'll let this here "happiness" be my map, and you can bet your ass I'm going to follow wherever it leads me, whatever it takes.

And here's what my map is telling me to do:

- I am going to live abroad next summer. It's not going to be easy, or cheap, but it's something I feel I must do or I'll regret it later. At this point, I'm thinking about Morocco. Or India. Or somewhere in South America. I can decide that part later, but as for now, I'm taking an active role in making sure this happens by putting aside $20 from tips every night I work at the bar, no matter what. I'm never going to get there by wishing I could go; I'm going to get there by actively engaging in whatever it takes to make it happen.

- I am going to do whatever I damn well please in life. So maybe I'll get into Graphic Design, maybe I won't. It doesn't dictate whether or not I'll be a successful graphic designer. And along the same lines, there are plenty of other fields I'd like to explore as well, such as journalism or taking time to travel and write. I'm in college to get a degree, but I am by no means bound by what that little slip of paper says on it.

So I'm here, looking at a blank slate I call my map with glowing little tendrils of happy drifting off in all directions. "You are here." I guess that's a good place to start.

Here's to what lies ahead, and- in the wise words of Joseph Campbell- to following your bliss in order to get there: cheers.