Neruda and tonight.

Tonight I am tired, but I feel like a live wire. This graduate program is so challenging to me in terms of opening up new ways of thinking, in ways I'm not used to. I've never been to the place where my knowledge is measure by what I say instead of what I made, until now. That is the challenge I face here, it's my goal to turn what I'm learning into pieces that change minds without any talking. 

A friend from high school whom I hadn't thought of in a very long time had this Pablo Neruda poem on his Facebook wall, and it strengthened me in my beliefs about what I want to do in my short few years here in the North.

Tonight there is rain in the autumn hills around me and this poem in my heart, and I feel tired but alive, and well. Below the poem is a photograph I created for a concept project in college, but it works as a metaphor for me at this moment and with this beautiful piece of writing. 

You start dying slowly if you do not travel,

if you do not read,

If you do not listen to the sounds of life,

If you do not appreciate yourself.

You start dying slowly

When you kill your self-esteem;

When you do not let others help you.

You start dying slowly

If you become a slave of your habits,

Walking everyday on the same paths…If you do not change your routine,

If you do not wear different colours

Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.

You start dying slowly

If you avoid to feel passion

And their turbulent emotions;

Those which make your eyes glisten

And your heart beat fast.

You start dying slowly

If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job,

or with your love,

If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,

If you do not go after a dream,

If you do not allow yourself,

At least once in your lifetime,

To run away from sensible advice…

- Pablo Neruda

                                                                              Lord prepare me to be a traveller in the world, and across my own life.