Operation Excavation

I am twenty one years old.

Multiply this by 365 days, and that means I have lived 7,665 days (plus a months worth or so). 7,665 days, or rather 183,960 hours, equates to 11,037,600 minutes. 11,037,601 minutes now.. Where have all these minutes gone? & Which are the defining moments that stand out from the rest?

In an effort to qualify these quantities, it is with the motion of my unsettled mind that I resolve to take IMMEDIATE, progressive action for the next 11,037,601.

As such, let this be my proclamation of self; a journey towards self-discovery.

I, Natalie S, hereby declare this day, number 7,711, a day of CHANGE. And welcome any being, whether it be man, woman, she-man, rabbit, and/or dog, to follow suit.

Come ye' lost and wayward fallen, & embark on this semi-spiritual-meta-physical pilgrimage with me. For though I cannot promise a road outgrown in calla-lillies & crowded with warm cuddly puppies, I can guarantee a destination closer to self-fulfillment and satisfaction.

Nietzsche says: "One's own self is well hidden from one's own self; of all mines treasure, one's own is the last to be dug up."

I say, LET'S DIG THAT MOTHER UP.

Step 1: State Your Intentions.

(I name mine below)

I would like to get to know myself on a deeper and more profound level.

I want to live DELIBERATELY; making conscious, thoughtful decisions.

I want to learn how to choose my thoughts, ridding my mind of the detrimental and flooding it with blinding light.

I want to be at peace with myself, maintaining this state of healthy calm on a daily basis.

I would like to leave the world a better place than what existed before; to do something of worth, worthy to me.

I want to be at equilibrium with my surroundings, harmonizing all aspects of my life.

I want to get swept up in the fervor of a mind revolution- taking rapture in this newfound zest for life.

Step 2: Name Your Action.

(To take these fluid thoughts and make them tangible realities)

My Method of Finding Inner Peace:

A) Yoga: My new found love. Connecting your mind to your body and discovering that inner-calm is pertinent to a Mind Revolution. It takes effort to build a bridge between your physical and spiritual self when you lay folded on that studio floor- but it is SO worth it. The stretches, the concentration, the sweat.. it's aaa-mazing. Even though I leave completely exhausted, I feel so whole and strangely energized. My favorite form of therapy for sure if you ask me.

B:) Eat Cleaner: You are what you eat. A good general rule of thumb: If it doesn't have a mother, or doesn't grow from the ground, DON'T EAT IT. If I stuff my body with dense, low nutrition foods & toxic chemicals, then that energy will transfer to my spiritual state. I want to be in sync with my environment; & eat sustainable, farm-fresh foods. My body is the vessel in which I exist in this world- why not take care of it?

C) Take the time to do nice things for myself: People get so caught up in the day-to-day, mindless rif-raf that they loose sight of what's important. Slooow down. Strip away the mundane & get to the heart of it; life is too illustrious to let it pass you by. Give yourself some Monday love. What's nice to me: warm baths, playing with dogs in the park, reading classics in bed, having heart to hearts with my favorite people, dabbing rose oil behind my ear, indulging in Billy Holiday over wine & cheese, cuddling up on the couch to a good movie, listening to This American Life w. fuzzy socks, wild thoughts, & an empty journal.

D) Educate Myself: If I want to get taken seriously, I have to take myself seriously. How can I expect others to take interest in what I have to say, if I have little of substance to say? Knowledge is power. My information infused goals in the next few months: Learn more about Judaism, and the Israeli-Middle East Conflict. Familiarize myself with the nutritional value behind common foods. Learn to live GREENER- w/ easy environmentally friendly options (future post?). Read about Buddhism, & how I can incorporate its jewels into my life. Explore prose & poetry.

E) Get Involved: Feeling worthless when you want to do something is possibly the WORST feeling in the WORLD. I choose Berkeley for a reason. The Free Speech Movement, the Fight for Women's Rights, etc.: this was the center of it all. What could I do to better the community & satisfy my need to get involved (not just to fluff the resume)? I personally know there are countless organizations dedicated to helping the homeless individuals residing on Telegraph and in People's Park. Anyone in for a breakfast serving this Sunday morning?

F) Find a Balance: The Goldilocks Complex. Just like the famed nursery story, it's all about finding the chair that fits juuust right. Not too big, not too small, but perfect for you. I hate that I am often a person of extremes- exercise a lot or not so much, study like a nerd or party hard, eat up the passion when it's hot but drop it when it's cold. I want to find a stable, consistent balance between school, work, & play. I am committed to doing so.

Step 3: Appreciate Your Efforts.

Rejoice in the positive change that is a result of your hard efforts. Happiness is a choice accessible to anyone of us whenever we so choose. & If you need a pick me up or a reminder of how good you have it, make a list of all that you are thankful for.

Mine: I can breathe. I can think. I can feel. I can move. I can change.