Putting the L.A. in LARA

I've neglected this blog for so long. I apologize to all my big fans. Haha just kidding...

If you've actually been following my blog since it started almost a year ago, you may have been wondering what the hell happened to me since I got back from my trip. I wonder the same thing! It's now August, 2010. I've been back in California for about 5 months-- just  about the same amount of time that I spent out the country. In that time, I don't think I've done nearly as much as I did while traveling, but it's led me to where I am nonetheless.

Brief overview of things that happened since I got back:
* Didn't get into grad school program I applied for.
* General mental turmoil due to settling back in America and wondering what I'm doing with my life.
* Caught up and spent time with the best friends and family in the world that never felt like they were far away from me when we were on opposite ends of the Earth.
* Went to Vegas with my cousins. I'm not 21 anymore and it's kind of lost its charm.
* Worked at a yoga retreat center for a week.
* Started subbing, and eventually teaching as a regular at Cindy's yoga studio.
* Lots of resume blasting and some interviewing.
* Went sky diving.
* Got a job and moved to L.A.

I guess when I look at this and even when I go through my planner, in which I write down pretty much everything I do, I realize that a lot of things have happened since I've gotten back. But because I felt so uncertain about things and because I'd rather not take the time to explain my unconventional way of living and everything going through my head during a time when I was just trying to figure things out for myself, a lot of times I just haven't felt like talking about it. Part of me thinks that's sad. I love writing and sharing my thoughts, but I stopped when I felt like I had "nothing to show." I couldn't even give myself a break for trying not to settle. I tell people to do the things they love when they're feeling low, but I fail to take my own advice sometimes. When I look back, things started to come together like magic when I decided exactly what I wanted, got back into my yoga practice, and meditated every day for a week straight. No joke-- being good to yourself is the best medicine for any kind of ailment.

Two weekends ago I moved to L.A. and started a new job at USC. It's strange to me to return to the whole "working world." It makes me even more anxious to figure out what I really want to do with my life. But I actually do enjoy being at work, so I am very thankful for that =)

One of my Resolutions was to "Get accepted into grad school." When I didn't get into the program I applied for, I wasn't really upset about it, but I did think about the fact that for the first time since I started taking the whole Resolution thing seriously, I wouldn't be able to accomplish one of my goals that I set out to do. But now I work in a grad school program, so I'm just gonna tell myself that I did get accepted into grad school, just not the way I originally intended. Funny how things like that work out...

This is my first time on my own, paying rent by myself and such. I would put up pictures of my first own place, except that I drowned my camera in my purse when I failed to close my water bottle properly. RIP Canon SD780is. I loved that cute, red camera... I'm buying a new one with my first pay check!

I feel blessed that I've gotten what I wanted, once again, as I've realized is usually the case in the happenings of my life. But I have to acknowledge every moment it took to get back and realize the work it's taken too.

Thank you to everyone who's supported me. Cheers to new beginnings!