the girl who chases the moon

This last year, I served on the Student Council for the College of Humanities.On the last day of class, our coordinator led a discussion about what we've learned and what we're going to do now because of it. She said something that especially struck me. She said, "You've had this experience, now how dare you NOT be different because of it." That line has resided in a quiet little corner of my mind ever since.

Think about it. This life is full of hundreds, thousands, millions even, of little experiences that slowly and gradually come to define who you are and shape the life you live. Some of those experiences we are able to create for ourselves, while most of them are placed upon us, whether as a gift or a lesson or honestly? still an ambiguous question mark. The fact is, however, that we are ALWAYS in control of how we react and respond to these experiences. Sounds cliche right? But do we really understand what that entails? With each experience we face, whether good or bad, we have the option and ability to change, to progress, to be different, to be better because of it. 

I've been in the middle of a minor (or not so minor) identity crisis as of late. I have a very clear image in my head of the woman I want to be but am having a bit cloudier of a time putting that woman into practice. Mostly the frustration comes from finding myself in the same ruts, old  habits, lame excuses, dull routine. After many hours of thought though, I have determined that as long as I can see some progression in my life, I will be happy with little ol' me. 

My recipe for catapulting that progression?  be an EXPERIENCER rather than just EXPERIENCED. A few years ago I came across a quote that I loved: "I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world." Here again is the thought that because of an experience, a moment, you are different, never to be the same again. How often though, are we different only just for a day, a week, a month, before the poignancy of the experience fades? Too often I think. 

THEREFORE, I am vowing from this point forward to truly experience life and grow from it. to be an experiencer. to be a girl who chases the moon.