People watching is an art….

I don't know when it started, this love of simply watching people go about their day. I've always loved people and those who know me well know that I'm not exactly shy.  While it is not an Olympic sport, I do consider it an art form. What started as a crush, migrated to a serious attraction that has led to an intense love affair. I could sit for hours simply observing people. I imagine from where they have come, their deepest fears and most intense passions, where they are headed and what is currently on their mind. The only thing that brings me more joy than simply watching is sneaking pics of these unsuspecting but endlessly fascinating people. So here is the first installment in my "Humans of Belgium" collection…

"Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art."

- Eleanor Roosevelt

i imagine he sits here every saturday morning,

at the flea market in Ghent,

selling his wares alongside his wife

somewhere between the smirk and that hat, i was smitten

in his very demeanor you could see he had sat here thousands of times, 

reading his paper and drinking his espresso

they were newlyweds. his face says it all…

the bread man in all his glory

There you go. A glimpse into the beautiful faces I've seen during my travels thus far. I hope you enjoyed them and maybe even took a minute to imagined their stories…

my thoughts on traveling...

Where do I begin? When I speak of travel, my face lights up. My mind is instantly flooded with memories, people, unforgettable moments, and places of the past. I find myself saying that travel keeps me sane and I don't find this an exaggeration in the least. While there may be long breaks between my adventures, those memories and the stories I tell again and again help me maintain my sanity. They feed my soul - the people I meet along the way, the relationships I've made and the power of a memory. It takes one single snapshot to take me back that moment - watching the sunset over Florence with my best friend while dining on chocolate and box wine under a classical guitar serenade of The Beatles. That moment I will cherish forever. That moment and countless others is why I will forever choose experience over material things. I will never regret a single dime that was spent on travel. I consider it the safest investment for the return is always exponential. 

One of my favorite quotes of all time: 
        "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page."                 
                                                                          - St. Augustine

I'm on the edge, a trip is coming. Adventure is on the horizon and my blood sings with energy as I frantically try to cross a million things off my to-do list. Two weeks from today I will board a plane to a new place. A new city that will be my home for a few months. It will be the starting point for new relationships, new skills learned, and plenty of beer. and chocolate. and waffles. Mmmm. To say I'm excited is a gross understatement. Today I was asked if I prefer to travel alone or with groups. My answer was a mix of both. I love traveling with friends (2 at the most!) but there is something to be said for solo travel. Few attempt it but I wish many more would be willing to try. My solo travel challenges me in incredibly different ways. I'm forced to have those conversations with myself regarding what I truly value and what is most important to me. My days alone surrounded by newfound beauty are when I have the deepest conversations with God and myself. As I'm at a point of transition in my life I crave these conversations and know that while not always easy, they are necessary. I make my best life decisions traveling alone, not encumbered by the distractions of my own culture. In contrast, traveling with dear friends encourages me in profound ways. The conversations one has when traveling for hours on end with another soul prove some of the most fulfilling. You become familiar with the deepest part of that person, and it is a privilege to share these moments. Sitting in a comfortable silence while in sheer awe of God-inspired landscape is a bonding experience. A sunrise over the ocean or a mountain peak overlooking the tiniest of worlds so far below. A picture will never do it justice. Words need not leave your lips but the sights, the smells, the silence, and the person breathing and taking it all in next to you will forever be a part of that moment. Choose that person wisely. A friendship will be forged in stone if you survive the trip. This summer will be a mix of solo and group adventures and I look forward to both with great anticipation. I know I shall return a different person, having grown in new ways and ready for more change upon my return home. I do not promise to write regularly but I do promise to write. on occasion. when I'm feeling inspired. 

Until then...