…what will you do with it?
Will you learn to dance the flamenco in Spain?
Will you help bring peace to the Congo?
Will you perfect the chocolate souffle?
Will you spend Sundays eating watermelon with your grandmother?
Of all the billions of combinations of sperm and egg…you lucked out big time. You were given a chance.
The world has never known another like you, and it never will.
Will you spend your life at the beach with friends?
Will you contemplate life from atop a white mountain?
Will you speak for those who cant speak for themselves?
Life is short and it goes so quickly.
Will you design children’s flip flops?
Will you serve homemade gelato to the hungry masses?
Will you discover a cure for cancer, or diabetes, or AIDS, or migraines?
Will you be the next Van Gogh?
The best advice anyone ever gave me was, “Never be afraid to take a wrecking ball to your life.”
What will you do with your one and only life?
I was lucky enough to find a room on my favorite island for only 25 euro a night. It’s about a mile outside the port, in the countryside. The roosters wake me up at 4 am every morning, but I don’t even mind because it’s a gentle awakening, not at all like the shrill buzz of an alarm clock. I listen to the roosters giving it their best effort for a while, and then I fall right back asleep.
The woman who owns the house, Maria, is beyond sweet. She and her namesake granddaughter are constantly feeding me watermelon and anything else they happen to be eating that day. Maria Sr. also gave me one of those fossilized shells that are found in the sea. I’m not even sure what it is, but it’s beautiful. She said I could make it into a necklace or a ring. She wanted to give me a remembrance, she said. It’s the milk of human kindness that breaks my back every time.
I also lucked out because a friend from Folegandros is here for the month and offered to be my guide to the more remote beaches. I’m looking forward to checking out some of the beaches that can only be reached by jeep or on foot.
© 2009 – 2011, Ithaka Bound. All rights reserved.
Okay! Those are some seriously beautiful beaches! Back in the sun and sand, not too bad. Bobby is off having one of his tattoos redone – it looks good. Had a quick question for you, regarding your place in D.C.. Hit me up on email. Lots of love, Kathryn
Kathryn, the beaches take my breath away! Are you back, or haven’t you left yet? E-mail comin’ atcha… (Good for Bobby for doing maintenance on those tattoos. I wish more people would do that.)
Beautiful, inspiring, and compassionate friend, you will know when the time is right.
Priscila–Aww…
Mainly I was referring to all my young nieces and nephews. So many of them have had birthdays this summer and they’ve been on my mind a lot. I hope they ask themselves these questions early in life and know that they have something special to contribute, whatever it may be. Actually I hope the whole world feels that way. (Miss America, step aside).