What did you have for lunch today? When was the last time you had an appetite for life? To truly feel, taste, wonder. To truly — marvel? When the last time you did something for the first time?
To feel your bones quiver in excitement, eating and truly tasting as you awaken your tastebuds? To feel fear but dive in anyways? To just go for it ? To live? Here we are exhausting ourselves into society ( don’t get me wrong, as permeable membranes, we are naturally born to exhaust, to deplete into responsibility), forgetting that live is for living. Stop constantly waiting for the perfect job to get that perfect paycheck to be able to plan that perfect trip and have that perfect vacation. Perfect, is a state of mind, just like happiness. Make it your own kind of perfect and make it NOW.
Dropped everything and bought one round trip ticket to Chicago, 7 hours before boarding. What’s there to see? What’s there do to? Where do I stay? What am I doing? I’ve never flown alone before. What the heck am I really doing? I had no idea. I knew no one. The fear was enough to make me pack a backpack and just fly!
Ego-friendly with a modern, minimal feel, I felt right at home. The best bed I’ve ever slept on in a very long time.
Hour 3 of 18: Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
You’re totally doing Chicago wrong if the first thing you do does not involve a deep dish pie from this place. Deep dish done right, right here. ( Their Vegetable pie is a favorite ).
Hour 5 of 18 : Chicago Riverwalk
Not quite like New York, but not entirely Los Angeles, Chicago is it’s own. One of the most scenic corners of the city.
Hour 10 of 18 : Eataly , Downtown Chicago
A piece of home and good chunk of Nutella never hurt anyone. Plus, they have very good Lattes to fight Chi Town’s wild winds.
Hour 11 of 18: The Art Institute of Chicago
Character is something this city has tons of. It’s nothing that I’ve ever seen and it’s energy is nothing that I’ve ever felt. Perhaps it’s simply exudes the energy I emit. Perhaps we just mixed well. Perhaps I was falling in love with a strange place.
The Art Institute’s iconic staircase is every modern minimalist’s dream.
Because no one leaves the city without taking an ever so tourist-y photo by the bean — er , cloud.
Also known now as Willis Tower.
I was Towering at 103 stories high, in a glass box. I owned the world. It was my moment. I made it mine and no one can ever take it away from me.
Hour 17 of 18 : Giordano’s Pizza
Yes, another deep dish because, why not. Giordano’s is just as good if not better than Lou’s! A must try.
Hour 18 of 18 : A visit isn’t complete without tasting the city’s local coffee shop. Heritage bicycles general store has one of the best ( and strongest) cortados , ever.
I believe in intention and I believe in work. I believe in waking up in the middle of the night and packing bags and leaving our worst selves for our better ones. I believe in self love. That we can be selfish in order to be more generous. It is only through bettering ourselves that we become the best for others. I believe that only by loving and falling in love with ourselves do we find it in us to love another, fully, generously, deeply. I believe in self growth and that the only way you can love is by not losing yourself in someone — becoming the permeable membrane that you are, but by growing yourself so you too can grow with them. We are wholes not looking for halves. Therefore we must be whole in order to find another. Grow in your own skin and trust that you are the strongest when you are alone. I believe that the only way to everything and the only way things are ever done right is if it’s done passionately. I believe in truly feeling, truly tasting and truly living. I believe in firsts and that you can never be too old for them. I believe in all of these and more. But lastly, I believe in you. Find your pulse in the things you love. Do it now because if you wait, you’ll never do it.