Stepping back and taking it ALLLL in

Good morning world!

We're going to see how long this urge to write lasts for but might as well roll with it. Just put on my blue light glasses cause all is so well right now and I refuse to get a headache.

When I tell you, the vibes are beyond immaculate, incredible, beautiful, serine. And I think so many people could read that and be like jeez, this girl needs to chill. But the right people will read that and understand the picture I’m about to paint.

It’s 6:45 on a Saturday morning. I’m sitting in this big ole queen bed that I have all to myself, in this cute blueish green room, a tv to my right, a painting to my left, some set out towels on the chair in front of me, and two little lamps by my bedside bringing in just the littlest bit of light, perfect for a cozy start to the morning.

Last night we got here. We’re at this little red house on Cayuga lake. It's got a wraparound sort of porch that literally overlooks the cute backyard where we sat around a bonfire last night, and beyond that a dock on the lake.

The lake has been so stunning. Yesterday, we sat out there and did a mediation. I took some photos at first but then sat down and just stared out across the stretch of water. It was unreal. I almost started crying. It was one of those moments where you’re just like, life is so darn beautiful, and I love those moments more than anything where you can just take it in. I love those moments where I can just really stop for a second and recognize that, this moment is so precious and something I want to hold on to forever.

So, it was a nice night, we made burgers on the grill, and some fries. Set off the fire alarm for a second but got that under control quickly. I danced while Dalya cleaned dishes. We sat around the fire and listened to music and talked for a while, then came in and had ice cream while watching Hannah Meloche Hawaii vlogs. I cleaned up (although I don’t know how much that helped), then off to bed we went.

It was a little bit of a restless night, but you know what, it was a night away from my dorm room, a night in my own space, a second for me to just disconnect from my life right now and it was sooooo darn incredible.

Then of course we just got up for the sunrise, which was again serine, and then I made some tea that I’m enjoying now out of this Tomatoes Wayne County Preserve mug that’s very cute and fitting for the scene, and almost reminds me of a mug you’d find in my childhood home before it was redone in our natural wood cabinets, inside the red plastic sided exterior, beside my little toy kitchen set up in the microwave room. (If my mom and dad are the only people who understands that image, I don’t mind, I’ve done my job).

But yeah. This tea is so delish, and I just feel so grateful right now.

Gratitude text I sent myself last night so I could look back at it:

“I’m just laying in bed and I’m so friggin grateful right now. I've got incredible people around me. I'm on a lake. I've got a queen bed to myself tonight. Like that's obviously not all but just thank you god, I cannot thank you enough.”

So, that’s currently life at the moment. It’s pretty darn good. And I mean this is up for change, but the plan for today is yoga on the lake, brunch, schoolwork with a view EEP, bikini vibes, kayak, dress up and dinner, and ending it relaxing. So, I really am just feeling so lucky.

Life otherwise lately, has been good. You know, there have been some ups and downs, but what’s fascinating is just like, everything seems so new lately. I’ve had so many new random experiences. With guys, with emotions, with friends, with school, with jobs, with travel, with living in Ithaca for the first time for a full Spring, which must I add is incredible, and makes me want to stay all summer. Like it feels growing up! Which is weird, but also makes sense.

But yeah, there’s been so darn much to be grateful for. I walk around my campus and at least once every single day, think, this is it. This is what 17-year-old Parker dreamed of, it’s what she imagined and now it’s my life. I remember being on college tours where everyone says, “Oh, can you see yourself here? That’s how you’ll know it’s the school for you.” And the answer for me was always, no. LOL. I don’t know, I just had a very hard time picturing myself in a single place and taking that as my sign that it was right for me.

In that process of choosing schools, and working on my indecisiveness, my mom had said to me, “There’s never really a right or wrong decision, you’ll never know unless you try.”

So, for me that meant, pick a college, and you know, if you get there and you absolutely hate it, it wasn’t meant to be, and you transfer. But you have to pick a college and go to it in order to know.

And I did.

Lately, and I’m sure any one of my friends can attest to this, I find myself thinking and saying, “I don’t know how I would’ve gone to college anywhere else, there is nowhere as perfect for me as Ithaca.”

And it’s the truth. This semester especially, I’ve had the chance to really enjoy downtown, and the natural beauty of the area, and one of my favorite parts in the WORLD, the college town aspect. I love love love the image of waking up on a Sunday morning, and walking through your college town, past the college houses, and the blooming trees, to get your latte from the coffee shop. And me and my friend Lauren do just that. And it’s literally the greatest thing in the world.

There’s like so much more to what life has been like lately, but those words were the easiest to get out.

Other than that, let's be real, I miss my family, I miss my dog, schools a little bit hard, but also, I have had the opportunity to just like be shooting photos and video all semester and every single time I’m doing it, I can help but think, “This is incredible, this is my homework and I love it.” I’ve been running again, thanks to the motivation from my friend and running buddy, Jack. That always has me in a great headspace. I’ll be living in an apartment next year which I am SERIOUSLY looking forward to, for cooking purposes, plus I feel like that’ll really hit home, Ithaca feeling like home, LOL. Summer’s swiftly approaching, and I think it’s going to be a special one. I don’t know what else to share. If you have any questions for me, PLEASE share them. AND ALSO, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ THIS. UPDATE ME ON YOUR LIFE. I DON’T CARE IF WE HAVEN’T TALKED IN 4 YEARS, I DON’T CARE IF WE NEVER TALK, I DON’T CARE, IF YOU HAVE GONE OUT OF YOUR WAY TO READ WHAT I WRITE, YOU’RE INCREDIBLE. AND I’M SURE WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT, I’D BE SO DARN DELIGHTED TO GET A MESSAGE FROM YOU AND TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT’S NEW WITH YOU.

But yes. Please do that. Also, on the most random note ever, my brothers, and all of my younger cousins are making me so so proud and just like happy lately, because being the oldest, I’ve had a front row seat to everyone growing up, so to see each of them literally doing exactly what they’re dreaming of is so heartwarming and honestly inspiring, because them getting after it, makes me want to continue to do what I know full well I am capable of.

So, yeah!! Take a shot every time I write “So, yeah”, “But, yes”, very proper journalism, I know.

I’m going to cut it off here, but seriously thank you for reading. I would love your feedback on this post, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Whether that's a comment, Insta DM, text, email, call me, send me a letter, whatever.

Each and every one of you is so incredible, and so insanely capable of anything you have your mind on, take each and every day as a blessing and romanticize your life cause no one else can do that for you. Period.

Love You.