Clean Bandit

Such an amazing marriage of classical music and EDM. 

Waiting for the Drop

If prompted, most people could probably come up with a lengthier list of reasons as to why you should say no to going to Coachella. For me, those reasons would've been the cost, the heat coupled with the low probability of having a decent shower, and the heavy EDM featured artists (haha).

However, with this weekend being my first Coachella experience, all those unappealing factors are now so irrelevant. All my preconceived notions are shattered, and that's completely okay with me!

The heat was surprisingly more tolerable than I had imagined. I mean, it was definitely hot, but it wasn't enough to kill my vibe. Besides, a little sweat never hurt anyone if everyone else is going through it, right? And dancing to EDM, I've discovered, is just as doable and just as fun as my typical hip hop musical preference. As for the cost? Honestly, I can't even remember how I felt when I stressed out about the payment because now the amazing experience of having gone has taken up major mental real estate in my mind.

It was a really fun weekend, and I'm a little sad to be back home. But here are my photos of some 'chella shapes:

Before the turn of the year, one of my friends dubbed 2015 as "Say Yes 2015". Maybe he meant it more as a enabling statement for being young and reckless, but I can't help but see it as encouragement.

I am only 24. And in the vast scheme of things, that is still really young. There is still so much I have yet to see, experience, and grow from.

Me actively seeking environments and settings that are unfamiliar have done nothing but fill me with wonder and excitement. And in spite of all its uncertainty, I'm really excited to be at this stage of my life. I'm young and I'm restrained by next to nothing. So I do want to say yes.

That means saying yes to dancing a little sillier and more unabashed.
That means saying yes to going to more music shows.
That means saying yes to getting drastically tan if it means I get to go out into nature more often.
That means saying yes to categorizing a career as merely a monetary means to enrich my life, not necessarily about riches.

That means saying yes to running more long distances.

That means saying yes to visiting more distant cities.
That means saying yes to applying the runner's mentality I know I have to the race set out for me in real life.
That means saying yes to reminding my friends and family that they are so significant to me.
That means saying yes to being optimistic in relationships that are a little bit uncertain.
That means saying yes to being courageous enough to love, at all.
That means saying yes to being fearless in my writing and confident in my convictions.
& that means saying yes to allowing the distance between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not intimidate me.

So with this new refocus, I feel really excited to see where I could go from here. As far as I can tell, all these recent life events-- traveling, dancing, going to concerts, getting uncomfortable, reading inspirational books, running-- are components to the crescendo.

This is only the buildup for the drop.