What I've learned Thus Far
So I know I've failed at posting about my trip, but I've been thinking about it a lot, so that counts, right?
I've learned a couple small things about life over the past month or so of traveling and I wanted to compile some of them here.
1. It's OKAY to be dirty. I hate being dirty. If you know me, you know this. But really I'm in the like top 1% of most clean people in the world, even at my dirtiest, darkest moments. Also, the city is often so grimy that your shower is immediately null the moment you step on public transportation. (God bless the clean Mormons and their clean city.)
2. Don't worry too much about your food, or at least eat food that you don't have to worry too much about. What I mean by this is that I think in America we have become obsessive with food. I'm not talking about consumption, but rather production. We obsess over what's been put into it, how clean it is, how long it's been in the fridge, how old it is. The grocery stores in Europe are a tenth of the size of Americas, yet they get along just fine without starving. They don't stock up on food, because, let's be honest, if it can live in your pantry for months on end without going bad it probably shouldn't live in your stomach. If you're eating from the earth and eating based on what you need you shouldn't have to worry so much about where it came from.
3. Live simple. It's just so much easier! I've been living out of a carry-on for over a month and the only thing I've really needed that I don't have are scissors. I don't know why, I just do.
4. There are a lot of humans on this planet. We all have to figure out how to live in each others space. Sure, it's awkward to be cramped on the subway next to the guy who insists on wearing sunglasses even though we are underground and seems to be swaying a little more then necessary to the movement of the train, but hey, he probably thinks I smell like toothpaste. Having your own space is important but sharing is more important, not only for the sake of humanity but for the sake of community, because really, in the end, we are all human.
4. This world is amazing. A long time ago, God created an amazing creature called human and we in turn created all sorts of amazing shit. Shit like giant, elaborate, tedious, unnecessary sculptures with our bare hands all for the sake of glorifying some king who died along time ago. Silly, wonderful humans. While I believe that stereotypes exist for a reason, I know that we have no right to judge someone based on the sliver of their life journey we get to experience. Only God knows where they are on their path.
5. Love where you are. Seriously. I love Salt Lake. I love it even more now that I've spent time away. Don't let your place tie you down, no matter how many people you love are there, you have to leave or you will always be miserable. No house, car, job, toy will satisfy you if you can't love your home.
So there it is, some stuff I've learned. Like I said in #4, we are all in completely different spots in life so, to some, this might sound ridiculous or you had it figured out along time ago, but for me it is what I see now and I'm glad I got to figure it out on my own (believe me, I've heard it all, I just didn't really, truly understand it).
*two cents by Tory has been brought to you today by Lotsacoffee Inc.
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