Being a girl.

Becoming a woman. It's sort of overrated in some ways, isn't it? I'll always be a girl at heart -- a hint of wildness; a glint of mischief; always curious.

Time for another tattoo, perhaps.

Women need real moments.

"Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away."

- Barbara De Angelis

...

I've always known this.

And in addition to knowing it and embracing it, I am infinitely fortunate to have met a man who not only understands this need of mine, but also encourages it and reminds me of it when my life gets a little hectic and I forget about taking care of myself before I take care of others.

Think about it.

"When I was a student at Cambridge I remember an anthropology professor holding up a picture of a bone with 28 incisions carved in it. 'This is often considered to be man’s first attempt at a calendar' she explained. She paused as we dutifully wrote this down. ‘My question to you is this – what man needs to mark 28 days? I would suggest to you that this is woman’s first attempt at a calendar.’ It was a moment that changed my life. In that second I stopped to question almost everything I had been taught about the past. How often had I overlooked women’s contributions?"

- Sandi Toksvig

I have so much to say. But too lazy to say them.

It's been a long week. I should probably head back to my parents' house tonight, but after a long (but fun!) week with friends and coworkers, I am in dire need of "me" time to recharge and reflect before a weekend filled with activity after activity with family and relatives. 

One definite thing on the to-do list, though: After reading Lisa Bloom's eye-opening article earlier this week on "How To Talk to Little Girls" (via A Cup of Jo), I am really looking forward to seeing my little girl cousins and all the conversations we will have about which books currently intrigue them, what subjects fascinate them most at school, and what country/city they'd love to visit some day. 

Happiest Friday.

Traveling Thursdays: Travel and life.

NOT ONLY do I love Diane von Furstenberg for the iconic designer that she is, but I also admire her for her strength, wisdom, and free spirit.

I look at her curly, frizzy mane; I openly stare at her wrinkles that she doesn't attempt to hide nor alter; and then I think, wow, this is what I aspire to be like when I grow older; gracefully, and completely comfortable in my own skin, free to be me and no one else.

I remember reading an article once, and her secret to doing it all was to, just simply, love life, and keep on moving.

Love life. Keep on moving. That will be my motto, not only for my two weeks in Singapore and Bali, but for my own individual journey moving forward.

Which reminds me, I have exactly one week left to figure out what to pack for Asia, and I have been lusting after DVF's line of stylishly sturdy luggage for the longest time. In any case, I am definitely keeping some of the designer's (free!) jetsetting tips and other traveling tidbits in mind for now.

There are no wrong turns.

Things have not been easy. And my heart doesn't realize it's still hurting so deeply until I am alone, in the dark.

In the darkness, the silence whispers to me stories of memories and moments with you. In the darkness, I can't pretend to forget; the sobs escaping my chest are reminders that I will always remember.

It's painful, when you realize that some journeys are meant to be traveled on your own; that in order to go forward, you must leave certain things, people, or places behind. There's always the tendency and desire to hold on, but I've learned time and time again that you cannot move on without letting go. Otherwise, you risk betraying your own soul; your own potential to grow.

But there has always been something freeing in getting lost. For oftentimes, it is while getting lost that we usually find our own way again.

I'm finding my own way again. And up ahead, where I am heading, there are no wrong turns.

Why follow when you can lead?

I was ecstatic when I received the latest issue of BAZAAR in the mail. As I go through the next few days trying to hold it together in the midst of work, deadlines, and getting my personal affairs in order... I am reminded of this woman's words.

"Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you're wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn't love you anymore."

"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no trouble, noise, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."

Amen.