Personal

Before reading, please observe the cover photo for ten seconds. Don't cheat.

Next week, I will officially move into my first solo apartment. Yeah, yeah... I wish I had enough money saved to purchase a place instead of renting, but I’m not quite at that position in my life yet. So, this entry is an opportunity to shed light on some thought processes I’ve been experiencing as my days of living at home full-time are coming to a close.

You stretch, toss and turn, and attempt to arise out of bed, you emerge; what’s the first thing you do? Instantly grab hold of your phone and gaze at what’s new.

Everyone knows the story of The Princess and The Pea...

One thing in life that fills me with true satisfaction is being struck by an epiphany. For me, the feeling of having an epiphany is a most serendipitous moment of mental clarity. For others, epiphanies are bursts of joy, with dopamine or oxytocin rushes. I suppose everyone experiences them differently. When I gain new insight on a particular aspect of life or discover something that speaks to me uniquely, I come to the realization that I'm experiencing an epiphany. And at that moment, it feels that all wrongs have been righted, and a feeling of wholeness ensues. Thereafter, I become instantly devoted to the corresponding cause or passion ignited by that very moment...

Most people are familiar with the saying, “It’s not goodbye. It's ‘see you later’.” Although I may have utilized that angle while parting from my college friends, I had a much more contrasting reaction when saying goodbye to the physical location of Old Town Orange. I lived in the heart of Orange for the past four years. What brought me there was my enrollment in Chapman University, a school that is a hidden gem. I distinctly remember the first time I flew out to tour the campus. Although I was invested in absorbing information about the school and admissions, and all that jazz, what sold me on wanting to move there was the simply adorable, humble, and subtle town that Chapman calls home.