A Letter to My Homies
Saturday, January 2, 2010 This is to everyone back in the States who heard about my trip and replied with some version of "It's not fair that you get to traipse around the world and learn how cook Thai food and I have to stay and work". Be prepared for some cheesy idealism following these words.
Life is what you make it. I can't tell you how many times someone has asked me what the one thing I 
wanted to do in my life was and I said to myself, "Why do I have to pick just one thing?" Since when do I have to pick one profession, one hobby, one passion to devote my every second to? I'm changing the rules. As of right now, no one has to pick one thing. In fact, everyone must pick at least three. If you desire to do more....Then Do More. There are 24 usable hours in everyday, you have access to the internet and the world at your fingertips. Do you have any idea how many things I've learned from YouTube alone?? There are entire channels devoted to teaching one thing or another, simply and with visual instructions. I learned to do origami and special beading designs for a class project through YouTube. 5 years ago that would have cost me a trip to Borders, an expensive book that doesn't explain it in simple terms, doodled diagrams that are to hard to follow and countless frustrating hours. With YouTube I can pause and replay parts I don't understand. Want to learn how to braid hair or tie sailor knots or even learn CPR? YouTube it.
When you hear that someone can do something that you wish you could, ask yourself something. If you want to learn something that doesn't cost any money to learn, what are you waiting for? I wish I knew sign language, I wish I knew how to fold a dollar bill into a heart, I wish I knew how to clean tarnished silver jewelry with something I already have in my house. I wonder what color octopus blood is, I wonder why eggplants are called eggplants when clearly eggs come from chickens (and aubergine sounds way cooler).
I have New York friends and co-workers that call me Christinapedia because when they want to know something they call me. And why do I know? Because I look it up, it's that simple. I don't sit around wondering why eggplants are called eggplants. I google it... (googling) and find out that the British used to breed a variation that was smaller, rounder and white/yellowish colored and therefore called them eggplants because they looked like goose eggs. Took me all of 5 seconds. No more wondering.
There is no reason why you can't work your 9 to 5 and do something different at the same time. I designed this website on pieces of paper on my lunch break when I was a design intern and I launched the whole thing from my desk when I was upgraded to a personal assistant. If you're sitting at your desk reading this post, I'm going to give you a little cubicle homework. Pick one thing I've mentioned in this post to Google, YouTube or Wiki. Right now. Learn one thing today, you didn't know yesterday and your cubicle won't feel as small as before.
So if you ever ask me "So Christina, what's the one thing you want to do with your life?" I will undoubtably respond, "Everything. I want to do Everything."
Bucket List in Misc
Reader Comments (3)
Ok, Christina; what one thing would you definitely not want to do?
Found you whilst looking around for things to do in Thailand and think your blogs amazing. Very full of life. I'll check back for an answer but I expect there'll be more than just one thing :)
Catch you on the flip side and take care!
I love your intro. I am Donna's daughter and she sent me this to look at. I now am showing it to friends because it is so great! You remind me of me when I was your age and living overseas. I look forward to following your adventures! Salute!
I'm so bad at responding to my comments. I'm so sorry about that.
One thing I don't want to do?....Something involving snow probably. I'm not a huge fan. Or running. So, no climbing Mt. Everest and no marathons. Ugh, I feel gross just thinking about them.