In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die.

Today, I (being the perpetually poor person that I am) walked a few blocks to the grocery store to cash in my hitherto unused change at a CoinStar. On my trek up there on this beautiful Sunday afternoon, I noticed a few key things:

• Springfield drivers do, indeed, suck.
• Sunshine, wind, and good music can be extremely freeing, artistically and emotionally.
• Little girls can be very persistent salespeople when it comes to Girl Scout Cookies.

Seriously, I almost got run over like six times during a 20-minute walk. But that's not what this post is about.

There is something about the beauty of nature that makes me instantly happy. I can't quite put my finger on why, but sunshine and a gentle breeze make me feel free; like everything I've done wrong in my life and all the mistakes I've made and downfalls I've experienced mean nothing in the long-run. The wind brushes past my heart and grasps onto the pain and sorrow I hold, and carries it away. My body soaks in the rays of the sun, and the infectious smile the giant ball of gas in the sky reflects on my face. In this moment, with this sun and wind, I am feeling perfect. 

The work I've been doing this semester has really helped me connect my mind with my body. Not only Voice and Movement work but my workouts have assisted me. Learning the principles taught by Kristin Linklater has made me aware of my skeleton, and just how important it is to me as a performer, artist, and person. My spine is strengthening, my jaw is loose and able to help produce words more efficiently, and my breath capacity is becoming deeper. It has become so important for me to take care of my body, because we really only have this one body to help us live. There are no second chances. In consequence to this new discovery of mine, I have worked to lose weight. Within the first three weeks of school, I lost thirteen pounds, and as of now (six weeks into the semester), I have lost a total of twenty pounds. I feel better, I have more energy, and best of all, my motivation is at an all-time high. Once, I had to be "in the mood" to do exercise, but now I feel weird if I go a day without extra physical activity. My weapon of choice thus far has been the elliptical, but I am becoming more interested in finding other ways to strengthen my body, lose body fat, and overall become a more healthy person.

One downfall to this weight loss is the fact that I can feel my clothes becoming looser on my body. Most jeans don't fit perfectly anymore, my coat is becoming looser, and the shirts I own appear large on me. The problem here is, I don't have the money to replace my wardrobe! I'm sure I can deal with what I have for the time being, but at some point I'll have to undergo a makeover of sorts. I know this sounds like the epitome of a first-world-problem, but it's a problem nonetheless.

Anyway, I've rambled enough for one post. Hopefully the past few paragraphs have been somewhat interesting to read, and I'll see you again soon!