I'm in love...

with life. 😉

Using the edge of a sidewalk as a balance beam.
Humming while walking.
Hiking barefoot.
Swaying to music.
Taking a pretty picture.
Sitting criss-crossed on a bench.
Oh, to be alive.

Staying in Tartu, Estonia feels like sitting on a rock at sunrise, dipping your fingertips in the lake. Just… peace.

Though I still have online classes and daily tasks at Looming Hostel, I dedicate my days to reading, sleeping, drawing, embroidering, walking, and talking to people.

I live luxuriously on 5–10 euros a day—enough for groceries and an occasional bus ticket.

If I want a book, I take a picture (and find a free version on my library app, Libby).
If I "need" a new shirt, HA, no I don't. I shall continuously bring my clothes back from the brink of death until they are just rags.

I recently bought a pair of moldy shoes for 2 euros. They look horrendous and are hellish to walk in, but they serve me well when scrubbing the showers.

Sometimes, after cleaning the hostel, I crawl back into bed, just breathe, and relish the fact that I don't have to get up if I don't want to. What a gift. 

Happiness is a feeling that comes when all your human necessities are fulfilled.

My checklist:
Full stomach? ✔️
Sunlight? ✔️
Movement? ✔️
Socialization? ✔️
Peace? ✔️
Purpose? ✔️
Freedom? ✔️

Sigh.

That's nice.

Hiding in a small European country is nice.

Blissful ignorance is nice.

Warning: prepare for the mood shift.

Rage is a friend of mine.

Anger exists for a reason.

It's a friend that defends.

It's a friend that protects.

It's a friend that has hope that things can be better than what they are.

I'm not back in the U.S. yet (as I write this), and most of the time I feel detached from what's happening there. I avoid social media when I travel—I like to stay present… but there comes a point when blissful ignorance turns into negligence. Recently, I broke my "no Instagram" rule and was instantly drowned in dystopian news about the U.S.

I can hardly begin to explain how I SEETHE with rage.

(Also, the Polish and Estonian people are SERIOUSLY concerned about our sanity.)

I try to understand the other side.

I read the "Project 2025" document—officially titled Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise.
I fell down the rabbit hole.
I read articles from right-wing outlets. I looked at right-wing political comics.

Let me tell you: it's amazing how different the world can look from another perspective.
Several times, I squinted, doubled back, and audibly asked, "What???"

What on EARTH is a "Deep State"?
How is the Smithsonian a "ruling institution"?
What do you mean, "the radical left has a different constitution"???

I kind of understand why they think the liberals are so brainwashed—our sets of facts are on two different planets. 

I understand that many people are scared. Everybody is trying to do what they think is right.

But come on—

"Land of the Free." "Anyone can be anything." "Home of the Brave." "Land of opportunity." "Liberty and Justice for all."

These are the ideals the United States of America should stand for. I thought we all agreed on that?

You can only know true rage if you love something… and I love so much.

Thanks for reading ❤️

Join me at the protests 😇

Find more information at https://indivisibletwincities.org/

(scroll down on the website to see more events)

:)