890 sq ft of Reality surrounded by Boulder

As has been stated recently on this blog, I am hardly ever in Boulder anymore. There is a huge part of me that feels incomplete and sad never seeing Dagny, hanging out at my house with my awesome roommates and just catching up with old friends in town.

Late last night, I flew into Denver from being home for a Thanksgiving visit with family and Dan. I say these two separately because it was definitely my intention to visit both of these people I love very much. I had such a great time spending time with them and enjoying endless leftovers, not to forget dad's famous turkey stew.

And on the plane ride home, I read and read and wrote and wrote. I am reading a book called The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck, and anybody who has spoken to me in the last few weeks is familiar with the summary of it. In a sentence, it is a depiction, through the eyes and experience of a well-educated psychiatrist, of the attributes that make for a fulfilled human being through the application of genuine love. There are a few reasons I've delved so deeply into it, one being that he breaks down and defines terms we all too often believe have an umbrella definition, when they are actually inherently interpretive: Love, Discipline, Balance, Suffering, Truth... etc.

When I returned to Boulder, Chelsea called to hang out and just talk. It was late, but I realized I have been lazy with my relationships, hanging out only when it was convenient or easy for me. Peck says genuine love takes work, and I felt that work in my Boulder friendships has been lacking lately. So Chelsea and I sat in my living room. We talked and listened. I missed her more than I had even known.

I am living three different lives. In terms of spreading oneself too thin, I have certainly done it in the past year. I cannot love everyone all the same amount all of the time, especially because of work, distance and time. I essentially live in three separate realms, all of which are known to the ones I love, but not fully understood. I attempt to slap some adhesive on these realms by inviting people to visit or tag along in my traveling world. I think that this helps, but I am glad I have finally become fully aware of its existence so I may take the necessary steps to actually fix it.

This morning Chels, Tim and I went to The Village diner. We had "intellectual" conversations about the world, life, love, choices, the future... all these things that plague the inquisitive mind on a daily basis. Most only have their minds to marinate it in; I am lucky enough to have friends like these two to spill it all out onto. After the morning enjoyment of each other's thoughts and wisdom, we concurred that it is one thing to figure all these things out and say what we will do, it is all together another thing to apply them to our realities.

And that is when we noticed that we were sitting in The Village Coffee Shop, whose motto is "890 square feet of Reality surrounded by Boulder"

We are in reality, where ever we are. We must live like that. Live our to-do lists. Live our dreams. Proverbs and adages are proverbs and adages for a reason; time and time again they have proven useful and true. And with that optimistic thought, we went about our day of work with thoughtful minds.

I will finish my to-do list today.