Travel, Reading, & Book Club...

{Australia Challenge Day 2}

While traveling in Australia I read the Salinger classic, Franny and Zooey. The words pulled playfully at the corners of my mouth and moved me to put pen to paper. I saw Australia through an altered lens because this paperback was my traveling companion.

Last week my lovely book club ladies and I met to discuss Salinger's words. I was able to share and express all that I had kept to myself while seeking adventure. The evening was joyous. The flow of discussion moved seamlessly as the group showed academic engagement with the text. We chuckled at the characterization of the mother, dissected the obsession with the ego, and disagreed with SparkNotes concerning the interpretation of the ending. We also came to believe that the stories were relevant to the contemplative words of Howard Thurman:

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

What makes you come alive? I would love to hear your thoughts, so leave 

comments below!

image via.

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A Creative Block & Solving Problems.

Chinese Museum, Melbourne.
January 2012.

{Day 1}

I am three weeks removed from my Australian adventure. And with the passing days, my current case of writer's block only seems to intensify. To break myself free of my struggles to contribute to the written word, I am giving myself a blogging challenge. Hooray!

The Challenge:

For 26 days {the length of my travels}, I will continuously post reflections, photos, and insights from my trip on Underlined and Bold. With a little outside accountability, I hope to regain my sense of creativity with words, and rekindle my love of snapping photos. 

Do you ever experience writer's block? What strategies do you use to break away from it?

  I would love to hear your thoughts, so leave 

comments below!

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Twenty-Five.

My lovely Chicago friends who came out to celebrate! Thank you ladies!

I turned twenty-five while traveling in Australia. I celebrated. It was awesome.

My friends, a little over a week after my return, generously threw me another bash at one of my Chicago favorites. It was also awesome. 

And just what I needed. 

-

Confession Time: 

I feel as if I shouldn't complain, considering I've just come home from an amazing trip, but I'm going to do it anyway. My transition back home has been a bit rough. My sleeping patterns are completely out of whack (4 hours of sleep at night, long naps during the day or immediately after work), the figurative off button to my inner monologue is broken, and focus is fleeting. I have not pinpointed the exact causation for this difficult juncture, but it is here occupying my attention for the moment. 

 I know I will find my rhythm again soon. But I cannot resist feeling incredibly impatient, letting my inner critic win. Allowing pessimism and futile thoughts run rampant.

Then again, it maybe good that I am unable to find my old rhythm. What good is a trip to the other side of the world, if it doesn't shake you up a bit?

Today, I leave you with a quote I've been contemplating.

"Life should be lived on the edge of life. You have to exercise rebellion: to refuse to tape yourself to rules, to refuse your own success, to refuse to repeat yourself, to see every day, every year, every idea as a true challenge- and then you are going to live your life on a tightrope."

-Philippe Petit in Man on Wire

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