Resolutions

This year, 2007, I will read more; eat more healthily; stop watching television altogether; start papers and lengthy assignments early rather than the night before; follow the news more diligently; meet new people; be enthusiastic and eager and always curious; be tactful; be understanding; write more; appreciate little joys; put aside time to take beautiful photographs; travel; discover the hidden wonderful niches in Pasadena and Altadena, where I live; spend more time out of doors; try never to be self-pitying; fall in love.

When I was in Italy, my Greek teacher asked us if we had ever been in love. One or two people said yes, and the rest of us shrugged and said, "Not yet." So she gave us an assignment, which was to fall in love before leaving Italy. One of my classmates laughed skeptically and asked if falling in love with Italy counted. "Of course it does," she answered passionately. And in the end, Italy is what I fell in love with. The simple joys of being in Italy seduced me and swept me off my feet, so that even seven months later I still think of Italy constantly, miss being there, want to go back. But so long as I can remember every experience vividly, and recall the laughter and the train cars and the pastries and the pasta, then it's still close enough and real enough, and I'm still in love with all of it.

Labels: Italy, Self portrait

posted by Holly @ 9:14 PM