What Defines You?

Life has been really wonderful this week. I am finally understanding enough at work and am taking steps to becoming part of the team instead of just watching from the sidelines.While not at work, I find that I crave moments sitting down with a cup of hot tea and a book, and these moments seem to be more frequent. 

Thoughts this week--

I'm becoming enlightened and wondering about what makes a person. Can you define someone by what they claim to be or by the interactions you experience with them? Most importantly, can you actually define someone? Aren't we all in a constant state of growth, learning from all the experiences we have? 

I think about interactions I've had with people where I thought I knew how they would react in certain situations and was proven wrong or pleasantly surprised. Most of my knowledge of the people around me comes from my assumptions of why they do certain things. I wonder if all the labels we place on people are just our own creations. My immediate reaction is embarrassment in myself for being foolish in assuming things about a person instead of discussing ideas with them.

But what if it isn't foolish. Does an assumption become truth if it is not corrected?

I am reminded of a quote from one of my favorite movies, My Sassy Girl. The quote says, 

"Do we live in the physical world that we can touch, or do we live in the world that we create in our minds?" 

I wonder if people feel like they know me or if anyone actually does. I feel like I know myself. My mom taught me, when I was a young girl, to write down the person I thought I was and the person I wanted to be in this world. Since my youth, I've been constantly writing lists of who I believe I am and who I want to be. The lists have transformed from descriptions of "lost, depressed, overweight, angry and loving" to descriptions now which include, "happy, strong, caring, passionate, seeking knowledge, and growing". I imagine that while my core beliefs and morals have held constant, I am in a constant state of growth; either growing to achieve the person I am supposed to be in this world, or growing to paint a picture of a person I will be. And yet, these are ways that I see myself. I'm sure others view my life with different descriptions. 

This week I wrote a thought on the white board in my room. It reads,"Live the life you get envious watching others live." This quote has served as an encouragement this week as I continue making weekend plans and transforming my everyday routine into something I am passionate about.

So what defines a person? Who are these people that we interact with? I wonder if we took away assumptions of the people around us, would we see who they really are? For example, I know that someone I see at church must be a Christian, so I assume they are a Christian. But they don't necessarily have to be. Maybe the only way to know someone is by actually experiencing them and their thoughts. And maybe it isn't our right to define people in the first place. But will the world work this way? How would something like marketing to a consumer work if we are unable to define people?

 Alas, this is mostly just blabbering from the mind of someone who might think too much. I'll stay lively, skipping through life as I do and enjoying the experiences I have with others, trying not to define people and allowing them to define themselves in my life.

C'est la vie.

Karli

A Knowledgeable Week

I took a recent trip to Florida to visit family. As amazing as it was to be home with family and friends, spending time back in Gainesville made me realize that I made the right decision to leave. I still find myself craving the life of a small town and I hope to be back in one someday, but at this point in my life I need to be exploring what a big city has to offer.

I left Florida, confident in my new life and ready to delight it its potential. I began realizing the importance of where my life is right now and I started trying to find ways to enjoy it. I've been home a week and have spent each day practicing my French, reading, expanding myself at work and exploring my surroundings.

I feel like this has been a week of knowledge and advancement for me, which is important as I believe that knowledge is one of the most powerful things you can have in this world. I read Ernest Hemingway's, The Sun Also Rises. It was so interesting to read a different kind of writing style and it inspired me to write a poem, which I shall be sharing on an upcoming post. I've been practicing my French at work while I am walking around in the cold. I just walk up and down aisles saying, "Je mange une pomme rouge" and "Le chat a un poisson." It is quite the thrill.

My weekends are becoming more routine. Thursdays I nap after work then spend the rest of the day cleaning and running errands. Thursday evenings include reading or movies. Fridays are my Karli days- I usually explore an area that I've been interested in, spend time thrifting for new treasures, or get an inexpensive massage from a very nice, little Chinese man that I've met. Friday nights include outings with friends followed by Saturday farmer's market and something outdoorsy.

This Friday I went to explore a restaurant that someone told me about. It was in a little country town which was so much fun to drive around in. As I drove, I indulged myself in one of my favorite things to do alone. I put on some music that I didn't know the lyrics to and sang at the top of my lungs, guessing which word would come next. It mostly involved me being off-tune and making funny noises, but it was freeing and enjoyable. I'm sure we all have silly habits that we enjoy by ourselves. Singing like that and being goofy is one of my favorites.

Here are pictures from my adventure.

Breakfast

Old Town Shops

FLOWER WORLD! 

These ducks were so nice

Isn't She Lovely?

Pacific Northwest

Produce Market

I got some salad supplies

Jade and Ben in Seattle: Day 3

On Jade and Ben's third day in Seattle we explored brunch, farmer's market, wineries, breweries and the international district.

We began our Saturday with brunch at one of my favorite spots- Preservation Kitchen. Continuing with our family-style meals, we shared french toast, smoked-salmon eggs Benedict and a duck omelet. I fell in love with this restaurant shortly after moving to Seattle. It offers such an incredible homey, local feel, while still having great food and service.

French Toast

Northwest Salmon Eggs Benedict

Duck Omelet

Second, we traveled to Redmond to check out their Saturday farmer's market. It was incredible!!! There were many vendors with so much variety of fresh foods and flowers. We all bought some locally canned, flavored tuna from a woman who was serving her jalapeno and dill flavored tuna on apple slices. It gave me really great ideas for my tuna.

Market

Market

Dog at Market

Third, we traveled into Woodinville to see Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery; the first winery in Washington. The winery offers a free tour and tasting, which was actually really interesting and delicious (although we spent a little extra for more wine tasting). Our favorite thing about the winery was the fact that families, friends and lovers were sprawled out on the grounds around the vintage winery. They were all lying on blankets, enjoying picnics and bottles of wine. It was so peaceful to see people spending the day outside. We couldn't believe how beautiful the day was- lots of nice sun, wish a crisp freshness in the air. And we found ourselves lying in the grass, letting the wine pass before we headed to the breweries.

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Picnics in the fields

Jade Tasting Wine

On the way to the breweries we stumbled upon Woodinville Lavender Farm. I knew Jade would love seeing this, so we stopped to see what it was about. We sat on a porch eating lavender flavored ice cream bars, overlooking the field of lavender. Our ice cream bars included flavors such as chocolate lavender, cardamom lavender and coconut lavender. It was spectacular.

Chocolate Lavender Popscicle with Lavender Fields behind

We continued by visiting 2 local breweries in the area- Triple Horn Brewing Company and Black Raven Brewing Company. We sampled lots and lots of beers, talking about which was our favorite. I found the Nothing But Flowers IPA  and the Northwest IPA at Black Raven as my favorites. They had so much excellent flavor.

We went to the international district for an incredible, large dinner. We ate fresh duck, pork, beef and dumplings. It was so delicious. The evening ended with friends coming to my home to play cards and to have a couple drinks. As I sat in my home enjoying my company, I realized how happy I was to be there in that moment and to enjoy my life where it is right now. I feel so lucky to live in such an incredible city with so many different things to do. I definitely feel like I'll spend my weekends exploring more wineries and breweries, or just going to the lavender farm with a book for a treat.

Our Feast