Imagination

imagination [ih-maj-uh-ney-shuh n]

noun
1. the faculty of imagining, or of forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses.
2. the action or process of forming such images or concepts.
3. the faculty of producing ideal creations consistent with reality, as in literature, as distinct from the power of creating illustrative or decorative imagery.
Compare fancy (def 2).
4. the product of imagining; a conception or mental creation, often a baseless or fanciful one.
5. ability to face and resolve difficulties; resourcefulness: a job that requires imagination.
6. Psychology. the power of reproducing images stored in the memory under the suggestion of associated images (reproductive imagination) or of recombining former experiences in the creation of new images directed at a specific goal or aiding in the solution of problems (creative imagination)
7. (in Kantian epistemology) synthesis of data from the sensory manifold into objects by means of the categories.

RVA All Day

How and why are these guys so cool? Can I know them in real life please? I'd be so happy to be friends with brass musicians! Watch this video and get ready to fall in love with No BS! Brass Band.

14th Dalai Lama

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." ― 14th Dalai Lama

The 14th Dalai Lama is the manifestation of kindness, strength, perseverance and wisdom. Thank you for continually inspiring people to be better, kinder, wiser. His teachings should make anyone want to live a better life without self destruction, instead with inner peace, confidence and self respect. He is the symbol of altruism. Be kind. Be a good neighbor. Be a nice human being.

If anyone in this universe has the right answer, it's the Dalai Lama.

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10 Questions for the Dalai Lama

Air

I'm listening to Air, which reminds me of Arlene Shechet's ceramic and glass sculptures about breath: air moving and air frozen in time and space. Breathing keeps us alive. We're alive. We exist. What is existence? How old is the universe? How did the universe begin? We're made of particles, stardust... What are we? What is the meaning of life? Rambling ideas and thoughts. Alone. Together. Life. Death. Love. Memories. Adventures. Explore. Learn. Give back. Be kind. Rewind. Move forward.

I don't want my life to flash by. I don't want 23 years to go by without me really living in the moment, which reminds me of Interstellar and About Time. I want to seize time. I want to hold onto time, because time is precious. It's melting away and I want it back. It's slipping through my fingers. I want to go forward, whilst holding time in the palm of my hand. Balance time. Cherish time. Enjoy time. Infinite time. Don't be scared of time.

These ramblings are my genuine and spontaneous thoughts. I truly wonder and wonder about existence on a metaphysical level, an astronomical level. Relativity. Quantum mechanics. What does this all mean? Microscopic. Subatomic. Particles. Under the surface. Under the microscope. Through the lens of a telescope. What, where are the answers? Above us, in the sky? Below us, underground? Are we just a part of an elaborate dream? Or is this reality? My ramblings seem confused.

Confusion and understanding. Learning from confusion. Understanding the truth of life. When will we learn the truth? Feeling restless. Anxious and eager to understand. To find universal truth of life. To understand the human condition. I can't breathe. Need to slow down my mind. Take a deep breath. Seizing this moment and freezing it in time and space. Breathing. Being. Existing. Existing with a sense of purpose. Love every second before it's over. Don't end.

And in that moment, I swear we were infinite. #whyislifeworthliving

I Have Dreamed Of You So Much

I have dreamed of you so much that you are no longer real.
Is there still time for me to reach your breathing body, to kiss your mouth and make
your dear voice come alive again?

I have dreamed of you so much that my arms, grown used to being crossed on my
chest as I hugged your shadow, would perhaps not bend to the shape of your body.
For faced with the real form of what has haunted me and governed me for so many
days and years, I would surely become a shadow. 

O scales of feeling. 

I have dreamed of you so much that surely there is no more time for me to wake up.
I sleep on my feet prey to all the forms of life and love, and you, the only one who
counts for me today, I can no more touch your face and lips than touch the lips and
face of some passerby. 

I have dreamed of you so much, have walked so much, talked so much, slept so much
with your phantom, that perhaps the only thing left for me is to become a phantom
among phantoms, a shadow a hundred times more shadow than the shadow the
moves and goes on moving, brightly, over the sundial of your life. 

I Have Dreamed Of You So Much by Robert Desnos

Finn

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” ― Josh Billings

This adorable Vogue video tells the charming story of the best friendship between Amanda Seyfried and Finn. I wish I had a cuddly friend who loves me unconditionally, cares about me and would look at me with those gleaming eyes. I don't know if I'd feed my dog kale though (there are studies that kale is now bad). I'm a little envious of their loving friendship. I wonder if I'll ever get a dog or cat. I already have their names picked out!

"What's your favorite word? Do you believe in reincarnation?"

This video makes me think of my human friendships and how thankful I am to have my friends in my life. I may not see or talk to them every day, but I do think about them. I have my memories to keep me warm at night, or cool now, since it's summer. This week is going to be epic, since I have friends visiting from San Francisco. It will be quite the reunion and I'm so ready for my end of summer adventures in New York City. To friendships, adventures and memories!

Please murmur with me

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time." ― John Lubbock 

I want to murmur with you. I want to meet new people, learn about the world, hear your story, share your story, be heard, start a dialogue. We all grew up with this notion that we should not talk to strangers, but then how are we meant to meet people? Every day we meet new people at work, the people who serve you at a restaurant, on your daily coffee run, on your online dating app and even on one of those paper ads on a New York lamp post. I don't usually pay attention to those paper ads, they're littered on every other lamp post, you just don't stop to notice them (except for the "Looking for a Girlfriend" ad, that's still pretty funny. Hope he found a girlfriend). But on this very day, I was waiting to cross 4th Avenue and I noticed the word "murmur" and it caught my attention immediately.

Murmur Podcast is run by Uluç, he wants to have a conversation with you. If this interests you, you can contact him here. I find this idea to be such a great way to connect with people. A dialogue can eventually lead you to a friendship. Since friendships in New York can be so transient, people should be more proactive about making friends. I'm making a conscious decision to be more available to my friends, because I care about them and I hope to make new solid friendships along the way.

Life is truly an extraordinary journey. You must live it with a sense of purpose. Ready, set, go!

Midnight in Paris

"We all fear death and question our place in the universe. The artist's job is not to succumb to despair, but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence." 

I belong in this world, this romantic, dreamy, luminescent city of Paris. I belong in a land of imagination. I want to get lost in thought, without being lost. I want to smell the air and feel the warmth on my skin. I want to feel and hear the pitter patter of the pouring rain. I want to hear the hustle and bustle of the city; the poetic murmur of the people, the whisper of the willow trees. I want to smell the clean, crisp air; the scent of roses and freshly baked pastries. I want to watch the sky turn from a sweet pink into a dark midnight blue. And watch the twinkling lights slowly illuminate the city. Quiet reverie. This is Paris.

I want to spend morning, afternoon, evening and midnight in Paris. Paris, je t'aime.

The Glorious Pursuit of Life

"Find life experiences and swallow them whole. Travel. Meet many people. Go down some dead ends and explore dark alleys. Try everything. Exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life." ― Lawrence K. Fish

I'm in constant pursuit of happiness. Nothing will stop me from trying to find the meaning of life and trying to make the world a better place. I'm starting small and spreading my positivity and optimism to the people around me. Even if I'm exhausted to the core, I will always want to look at the bright side. I will always smile and keep smiling until the end. I hope my words can bring you a sense of joy and gratitude for your existence. I don't know how or why we're here, but since we are here, let's exist with a sense of purpose. Spread the joy. Keep pursuing life with glory!

Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore

Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore, non feci mai male ad anima viva! Con man furtiva quante miserie conobbi aiutai. Sempre con fe' sincera la mia preghiera ai santi tabernacoli salì. Sempre con fe' sincera diedi fiori agli altar. Nell'ora del dolore perché, perché, Signore, perché me ne rimuneri così? Diedi gioielli della Madonna al manto, e diedi il canto agli astri, al ciel, che ne ridean più belli. Nell'ora del dolore, perché, perché, Signor, ah, perché me ne rimuneri così?

I lived for art, I lived for love, I never harmed a living soul! With a discreet hand I relieved all misfortunes I encountered. Always with sincere faith my prayer rose to the holy tabernacles. Always with sincere faith I decorated the altars with flowers. In this hour of grief, why, why, Lord, why do you reward me thus? I donated jewels to the Madonna's mantle, and offered songs to the stars and heaven, which thus shone with more beauty. In this hour of grief, why, why, Lord, ah, why do you reward me thus?

On a gloomy day, you just want to listen to music that will perk you up and not let the lack of sun ruin your day. I don't suffer from the slightest of seasonal affective disorder, so a little rain doesn't make me down. I was listening to bossa nova earlier, but I've now switched to opera. What can I say about opera? My dad introduced me to opera and over the years, I've slowly grown to admire the history and craft of opera. I'm absolutely in love with Puccini and his operas. Almost every morning, I will listen to my Opera According to Puccini playlist on Spotify.

As of now, my favorite opera is La Bohème. I have yet to see it live, but I'm determined to see it this Met Opera Season 2015-16. I'm slowly learning the story and libretto, so by the time I see it, I will know exactly what is going on. I'm also really drawn to Tosca, thanks to Niles Crane in Frasier. He had to name his favorite meal, aria and bottle of wine and he claims that Vissi d'arte is his favorite aria. The libretto is so moving, when I listen to the Italian, I now understand the pain and beauty. I'm really in love with opera and I'm looking forward to learning more about opera and meeting other opera aficionados.

The Planets

"We are part of this universe; we are in this universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts, is that the universe is in us." ― Neil deGrasse Tyson

I like to be reminded that we're a very small part of the universe, because it makes life that much more meaningful. We're the result of billions of years of atoms crashing into each other. How romantic is that? My understanding of the Big Bang Theory is still minuscule, but I am positively interested in theoretical physics, astronomy and any branch of science dedicated to learning about the universe. I'm very fascinated by people like Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson. I'm constantly trying to learn more about our existence and science has some answers. Philosophers have some answers and theories too. I just wish I could soak up all this knowledge, because I hope it will lead me to the path of happiness.

Over the last years, I've watched Stephen Hawking's The Grand Design, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Particle Fever, The Theory of Everything, The Inexplicable Universe and more. There is just so much to learn about our existence and why and how we've ended up here. For a better breakdown and explanation of how long the universe has been in existence, watch the first episode of Cosmos.

Always questioning #whyislifeworthliving. I hope you are too.

Just Around The Riverbend

"I'd rather die tomorrow than live a hundred years without knowing you."

I feel a huge sense of excitement and exhilaration for life. It's more of a nervous excitement, but excitement nonetheless. I just want to run around the streets of New York while singing Just Around The Riverbend. That's exactly how I'm feeling! This is the first of the Disney Renaissance "I Want" songs and it is perfection. I was unsatisfied with my current life, so I'm making changes and searching for and pursuing my dream. I want. I deserve to want. I want to want to want to want. I will achieve what I want.

There is no rush, so enjoy the journey and always keep aiming for just around the riverbend and you'll find what you're looking for.

Avalonne Hall's Day Off

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." ― Ferris Bueller

I find myself always looking up. Looking up for answers, as Neil deGrasse Tyson would say. I've been thinking about my calling in life. I now know, deep in my heart that it is my calling to spread joy and positivity. To make you smile. To make anyone smile. Because life is so beautiful and I don't want you or me or anyone to miss it.

In this case, Ferris is looking down. So looking up and looking down from high above will offer a new perspective. Keep finding and experiencing new things. Take a day off to look around. Take a moment to take a deep breath and just enjoy life.

Cue Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want.

15 Minutes of Fame

"I think everybody should like everybody." ― Andy Warhol

Happy Birthday Andy Warhol. He would have been 87 today. The world misses you still. He inspired me to take photo booth photos, which is a great way to document my youth and my life. I hope to preserve my life and thoughts. I hope to achieve that here. Everything I create is my attempt to express my appreciation and love for life. He has inspired me so much. He really had a unique view on art and life. That's why I'm so enamored by his body of work. You just can't replicate Andy Warhol. 

"I like boring things."

I wonder if Andy and I would have gotten along. Admiring someone you don't know is such a strange concept. Especially if that person passed away before you were born. He has been quoted to "like boring things". It doesn't look like he led a boring life... at all. I am fascinated by the whole idea of the Silver Factory, but given its time and culture, people were definitely not doing boring things there. Nevertheless, I will focus on the contribution that Andy made to art. I love art.

Monosodium glutamate

Nothing wrong with MSG! Don't hate on monosodium glutamate.

I'm re-watching The Mind of a Chef now, since season three was just added to Netflix. I can't wait to re-learn and learn more about food. There is so much to learn about food and cooking. Art, science, agriculture, history, technique, etc. I'm so fascinated with all of this and I can't wait to have a better palette and eat all kind of food from all over the world! Don't take food for granted. Enjoy it and appreciate all the work that goes into it.

Sand, sea and the sky

"You don't need to be the tide to rise and fall,
you don't have to be a wave to touch the shore;
just be a little sand-grain and feel them all."
― Munia Khan

Yesterday, I put my feet in the sand and ocean. At first I was afraid. The water looked dirty and I didn't want to get my feet wet. But then I changed my mind, because I was being silly. I walked towards the water and when the tide swept towards my feet, I screamed in joy. It was exhilarating. I felt so much happiness. I have feet. I felt my feet sink into the sand. Slowly sinking. It was such a wonderful sensation. I felt the ocean water on my skin. It felt amazing. I don't know why I was even afraid. I'm alive and I need to experience everything.

To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield

"It may be that the gulfs will wash us down; 

It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And though we are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are—
[Scene shifts to Frasier’s KACL booth.]
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will;
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

I’ve been thinking about that poem a lot lately. And I think what it says is that, while it’s tempting to play it safe, the more we’re willing to risk, the more alive we are. In the end, what we regret most are the chances we never took. And I hope that explains, at least a little, this journey on which I am about to embark. I have loved every minute with my KACL family, and all of you. For eleven years you've heard me say, "I’m listening." Well, you were listening, too. And for that I am eternally grateful. Goodnight, Seattle."

I've been thinking of Frasier a lot lately. In fact, I think about Frasier all the time, but mostly because of the very recent change in my life. So I've been thinking about the final episode of Frasier a lot lately. The episode is a farewell to the show for the audience, but also a farewell to Seattle for Frasier Crane, the character. Change is scary, especially when it's an unexpected change, but it challenges us to be courageous and take chances in ourselves. I'm taking this change as a positive thing. Everything happens for a reason. It's not goodbye or farewell. For now, it's just uncertainty, but I'm embracing the surprises to come. I'm ready for a new adventure. Let's do this together, universe.

New York, I love you. Thank you for all the beautiful adventures and memories. The adventure does not end here. Keep striving. Keep seeking. And whatever you do, do not yield.