I Amaze Myself Sometimes

Here's my recent moving stories:

 

In the span of a year and a half, I have moved 4 times. Yup, that's a couple too many times, for sure.

 

Move #1: To get me out of my parents' house. I had lived there for far too long in order to pay off some debt. Did that happen? Uh, I plea the fifth.

 

Move #2: I needed cheaper rent, plus my lease had ended.

 

Move #3: I was offered a job in Salt Lake City, Utah, meaning my commute was a little over an hour. Gas prices were kickin' my pocket book's butt, so the move was out of necessity to keep me from donating plasma or something totally make-me-pass-out worthy.

 

Move #4: My roommate and dear friend moved to Germany (pouts) and our lease had ended. I wanted to stay in the area, so I moved just down the road to where a ton of people I know live.

 

I'm getting really good at packing, moving, and unpacking. Woot!

 

Move #4 was interesting in that I had to be out of my old apartment by April 30, and the girl that was moving out of my current apartment couldn't get into her new place until May 1. That meant that my stuff and her stuff were in the same place for a day. Talk about massive chaos. It all worked out well, though. Phew!

 

I took the day off from work on Thursday and dug into the mess of boxes. I would have gone completely bonkers mad if I hadn't have done so. I'm sort of OCD about having my things in order.

 

This is what my bedroom looked like to begin with:

This is what it looks like now (Zen):

And I did this all in maybe 10 hours and that includes some deep cleaning and putting away my kitchen junk (ok, junk food). Do I win the best unpacker award of the century or what?

 

And yes, that is a pillow with a picture of Bono on the front. Lance Armstrong graces the other side. (G-rated totally, I promise) My good friend made me it as a birthday present a couple years ago. And yup, I own a banana chair, too. :) I am definitely awesome. You totally want to be my BFF now, don't you?

 

Well, tell me about your moving stories? How fast have you unpacked? Well, I have to admit I don't have a ton of stuff, and I am just one person. I don't have a husband and three kids' worth of crap to unload. I have it a bit easier than some. 

 

Writing Jewels

Smiling all the Way From A to Z -- Z

Wow, is this really it, the last day of the Challenge? I'm sad but happy I participated in posting from A to Z along with a slew of other fabulous bloggers. Nice job, all! Pat yourself on the back. :D

With one last letter to blog about, I conclude with smiles brought to you by the letter Z; it stands for...

ZEN

• According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Zen is defined as: "a Japanese sect of Mahayana Buddhism that aims at enlightenment by direct intuition through meditation."
• I also like how Urban Dictionary defines Zen: "One way to think of zen is this: a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts." It also continues with this definition: "Complete and absolute peace."

My zen-like focus is peace. Peace is something difficult for me to access. Why? My mind is flying around a 228mph and I am in such a rush that I fail to slow down and smell the flowers and take pleasure in the moment. I think this is a reason for why I enjoy the outdoors and traveling; I can slow down and relish in what really matters and the beauty of the world.

Julia finding her inner zen at a monastery in Xian, China.

Those moments of my life when I have felt a measure of peace have come in a variety of ways: while attending religious meetings, being in nature, before I go to bed when I can slow down my mind, and while praying. I smile in those moments where I can cast away my worries and focus on the now, the zen-like letting go of me and absorbing the refreshing feeling of revelation and/or peace.

Love it!

How do you feel zen/peace? Starting with the letter Z, what makes you smile?

Love you all. Thanks for stopping by my blog this month. I hope to continue building great relationships with y'all through our blogging/writing adventures. :)

Writing Jewels 

PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!