Sentimental

I always get really sentimental when things end; but in a totally inane way. I got sad when I took my last United flight as a platinum member, I got sad when I skied my last run of the day at Vail, I got sad when I got in a cab in Denver for my last 4am trip to the airport this year, etc. You get the point.

Overall I’m a pretty strong person and not a lot can affect me when it is directed at me; I have thick skin. But man, when it comes to Dove commercials, or seeing a baby at Whole Foods who giggles, or seeing a couple out to dinner together, or reading a cool blog post a close friend made, or virtually anything remotely touching - I cry. I cried at the Central Park market last weekend because there were cute hanging signs with motivational words on them for God’s sake.

Anyways, it’s another sentimental time in my life because it’s the last week of traveling to Houston for my current client. No more sitting with the team in our tiny, freezing room, no more saying hello to Patricia every morning, no more friendly greetings from the Starbucks barista I see almost every day, no more Oceanaire dinners with Foster, no more being on a first name basis with all of the Westin staff, no more seeing my client team every day.

The difference between being sentimental and being upset about things ending (for me) is whether or not I have something to look forward to next. And in this case…I most definitely do.

I’ve decided to move to Thailand for the foreseeable future to pursue becoming a Dive Master and then a Dive Instructor. Other than the first time I booked a flight to Bangkok, this is one of the best decisions of my life.

I listened to Bullet Train by Stephen Swartz on the way home today; it’s my traveling song, the lyrics speak directly to me, and it doesn’t hurt that there is some bass. The song reminds me of riding in a hot minivan from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, walking across a bridge in Frankfurt on my way to pickup my passport from the Russian embassy, falling asleep in countless hostels, and many other really bright parts of my life.

Maybe it’s because I’ve done 4.5 hours of Bikram in the last week, but I am feeling incredibly sentimental (read: not upset) about the people I know and love here at home in the states who I’m quickly going to be leaving again. 

There is a last time for everything in your life, but the more “last things” you have the more “new things” you get to experience as well.

Namaste.