Investing In the Future by Living in the NOW!

Glimpse of Firenze on my way to Piazzale Michaelango.
Saw this because I was PRESENT during my journey
not just rushing to get to the Piazzale!

I start this post with a quote I saw on my friend's Facebook page (I could have lied and said I was reading Deepak...but...I'll just trust you not to judge me). Anyway the quote "spoke" to me and perfectly summed up how I aspire to live.  Are you ready...ok... wait for it... BAM:

The best way to prepare for the future is to be totally present now...now is the moment that never ends.-Deepak Chopra

So clearly, based on the above...there is at least one more person in the Universe who has shared my compulsion to be excessively future focused.  It's such an easy/complicated thing...the whole concept of "being present."  Easy to someone who does not have my particular brand of neurosis... to just say..."oh...come on... just enjoy the moment you're in!"  Complicated to those like me who think..."yeah but if I only focus on now...how can I be truly prepared for whatever's coming next.  MUST.  PREPARE.  NOW."    What I like about the above idea, is that it allows the simultaneous existence of both states of mind.  AHA...by BEING present...I AM preparing myself...because NOW IS the future.  Wow.  That's why his name is DEEPak :-).

It's especially timely that I see this, now, as I near the end of my Italian adventure.  My experiment in trying to live in the present has been a little anxiety ridden lately as I find myself regularly obsessing over "what comes next?"  I've found myself hesitating ... doubting...even freaking out a little...essentially not living in the present.  This little Facebook gem reminds me that the best way that I can make sure that I'm strong enough and ready for any eventuality is to truly squeeze out every moment of enjoyment...every last drop of the flavor and spice and happiness and sadness that I'm experiencing now.

Cat has clearly mastered the "living in the moment" principle

It gives me, "permission" in a way ... to embrace the good AND the bad of this journey...not dismiss things that may not have gone as I would have liked as a stupid waste of time...but as invaluable preparation.  When I think about it this way, suddenly I see how much progress I made in the times I was truly present focused. 

For example...instead of beating myself up about how "cliche" I was to fall for AC...I can be proud of the fact that I, a TEXT BOOK passive-aggressive mess...was able to clearly state and ask for what I wanted/needed.  Usually, I am so worried about what will happen if I say something... (will they say no, will they leave, will they get mad, will they think I'm weird) that I don't say it.  I just beat around the bush, hint, cajole...but never, ever say what I really truly want.  For one of the first times ever, I actually said how I felt.  I showed my cards.  I never do this.  I have always taken refuge in being able to give the impression that, I didn't care anyway...or I expected this crap, etc.  It's always been soooo hard for me to risk hearing something I don't want to hear and letting a person see that they "got to me" that I've missed out on so much.  I've messed up the present (and consequently, the future) precisely by trying so hard to protect myself from future consequences.  But with AC, I did it.  I said what I felt.  So, it didn't work out...but I did it!!! I was there!  I was present!

I've also let go a little with spending.  Here again, this doesn't mean... I'm living in the present to the DETRIMENT of the future....but I'm giving myself a little latitude to really maximize my time hereby investing a little bit in the NOW.  These experiences that I allow myself to have ...and fully enjoy without obsessing over every penny...(eg., trips to London, Barcelona...and next week Sicily)...are actually investments in my future well being.    Instead of saying...I shouldn't spend this money... I'm booking the ticket...and going for the adventure!

In addition, by really being observant and aware in the "PRESENT" I've been able to note how others are making their "Present" count.  I always thought I was too old to do this that I missed my chance to take this time to live abroad...but I have met Senior Citizens (who, by the way, were far cooler than I am) who are taking time to travel and study a language.  I've met newlyweds who are taking time to experience their first few months of life together by taking a moment to live a little.  There have been single parent (expats) I've encountered who got the courage to say "F" it...we're moving to Italy...and are building a life here.  I'm seeing (by really BEING in the present) that it's never too late to do anything ...well unless you're dead.  The beauty of being a grown up is that now you get to make the decisions and do the things that are best for you...however...the key to reaching the pinnacle of success is to not forget the childlike joy of living in the moment that ensures you reap the full benefit of those decisions.

So thanks Deepak (and Jen for posting the quote on FB) for reminding me that contrary to being irresponsible by immersing myself in living in the present...I'm being a responsible adult and preparing myself for the future in the best possible way.

Now, off my soap box...I've got a flight to Palermo to catch!

Today, right now the sun is shining...and it feels good!

Beautiful BarTHAlona

Once Upon a Time...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live inside a fairy tale land.  As if you were one of the characters in the beloved children's stories, like Snow White or Cinderella?  In my opinion, that's exactly what Barcelona is like.  The surreal, bigger than life architecture of Gaudi, the mix of crazy characters skateboarding and biking to and fro on the boardwalks against the back drop of rolling hills and beautiful beachfront make Barcelona seem like a whimsical fantasy land.  I literally felt like I could walk up to a building, break off a piece of the wall and find that it was made of candy!


The trip from Rome to Barcelona is super easy... no customs lines (like London) and on Vueling airlines, I had a seat reserved...so no stampedes.  I stayed at an "ok" hotel.  It was in a part of town called Eixample... The good news is that it was close to two metro lines...the bad news was that it smelled a little funky and there was no wi-fi in the rooms.  To be fair, the listing where I booked the hotel said wifi at the hotel...I just ASSUMED that meant in the rooms.  Because, you know, why would anyone care if there's only wifi in the LOBBY.  So, I had to buy a new SIM card that worked in Barcelona to use my iPad...because what a pain in the ass it would be to have to get dressed and go to the lobby just to check email.

Barcelona (pronounced BarTHAlona by the SPANIARDS) is a very clean, safe and organized city...and super walkable.  Although I bought the weekend metro pass (and the metro is extremely extensive), I ended up walking everywhere and only used the metro to and from the airport.  I even became a regular at a little cafe in Barceloneta called FOC Barcelona, where I found yummy guacamole.  Alas, I didn't have paella at all because I was travelling alone and the majority of the places only offer paella for a minimum of two people.  No biggie, though...because I love tapas and I love sangria and they serve that ALL DAY LONG...so there was no shortage of food for me to eat.  And I needed my strength.  Many of the big "sights" require lots of mobility...for example Parc Guell (designed by Gaudi) is a twisty, turny, Alice-in Wonderland like  garden where walking is the main event.  It's breath taking, it's crazy, it's amazing. I wish I had another day, because there are still so many things I didn't get a chance to see. 

For me, though, the structure that truly blew my mind was the Sagrada Familia.  Even with the crowds, and I HATE crowds...it was truly a spectacle to behold.  I got the audio tour (worth it) and meandered through the still unfinished structure and marveled at the imagination it took to come up with this design.  It also made me think how wonderful it is for your work to still be so relevant so long after you're gone.  The brilliance of dying and leaving a body of work that you know for certain will be carried out according to your plan because all see it's value, beauty and importance.  Although it's probably disappointed to not see the final vision realized in person...it must be so gratifying to leave the earth knowing that you made (and will continue to make) such a tremendous impact.

Spaniards aren't known for their warmth ... and didn't disappoint.  There were a few welcome surprises though...I was treated so well in every restaurant and store I visited...bright and happy "holas" greeted me. Also, there were so many Italians there, that I almost felt like Barcelona was a annex of Italy.  Most of the time when I encountered friendly people in the street, or people that were willing to sit next to me on a bench...I'd hear them speak and sure enough they were Italian. 


It was a great weekend getaway.  Barcelona is a good place to go solo (even as a female), because there's lots to do and you won't feel bored and it's reasonably safe.  The only downside is that dinner is super late (10ish) and the nightlife goes until the wee hours...so it's a little tougher to do that stuff on your own (kind of awkward to have dinner alone at 10pm...but maybe that's just me).