Witness. A piece inspired in real time. 18th September. A dreary and misty day of uncertainty in the city of Edinburgh. Looming in the unwavering fog is the duty of decision. Stickers of Yes. Placards for No. The future of Scotland rests in the hands of its registered voters - an astounding 97% of them. Would its citizens awake tomorrow to an independent Scotland? And if they did, what would this tiny, beloved (adopted) country of mine face -- economically, financially, divis

Storybook. A piece inspired by Scotland. It's safe to say since my time in Scotland, I'm on a different path. Rather, I've always been on this path but now I see it differently, more clearly -- and for exactly what it is: my own. I've stumbled off of it more times than I can remember, but I've thankfully always found my way back. And I've finally discovered the tool to stay on this path, an inner compass to guide me along. One that I can use to sort out all decisions with, an

Believe. A piece, inspired. Christmas brings out the best in people. It's a time when the world slows down and families come together. We hang up twinkling lights to chase away the chill and the darkness. We show people how grateful we are to have them in our lives. But nothing is more heartwarming than seeing Christmas through the eyes of children. We watch them marvel in awe at the magic Christmas brings. We watch them believe. What is it about late December that makes us f

Speakeasy. A piece inspired by the heart. It is said that actions speak louder than words, but I'm a proponent for words being pretty powerful too. When you use your words for good, it's amazing how easily you can be the sunshine in someone's otherwise cloudy day. For me, I was recently inspired by someone reaching out to me with the words, "I thought of you". With 4 simple words, I was immediately inspired to share that moment. And the best part was that I wasn't even having

Indulge. A piece inspired by happiness. I run. I cook. I read. When I am at my happiest, I indulge in one of these three simple yet good-for-the-soul activities. Why these three? None of them let me take the easy way out. And what causes such happiness? Well happiness, to me, is when I will time to slow down just a bit - so I can squeeze more moments out of it. I know this, because I've also known the exact opposite. Days I've wished away, willing for better ones to come. Day

Revelation. A piece inspired by the Climb. Independent. Stubborn. Optimistic. Blithe. These are the qualities I most identify with and equally take the most pride in -- yet these are the first (okay maybe not stubborn) that seem to fallaway in more relationship-eras than I care to count. In said relationships, I was always ready to latch onto someone else's dreams, jump into the passenger seat and go along for the ride. Looking back on these times, I can't help but wonder, di

Climb. A piece, mostly uninspired. Some of the best days are the days when we don't think about our lives at all. It's in those days that we leave ourselves open for inspiration. Clear minds ready for new thoughts and ideas, and perhaps most importantly, forgiving of expectations. I'll admit, the past couple of weeks have lacked inspiration. "But you took a totally impulsive 36 hour trip to Munich," you'll say. Meh. Munich left me... underwhelmed. Coming off absolutely fallin

Strangers. A piece inspired by the journey itself. Strangers are everywhere in a new city. The unknown faces and unknown stories of the passersby. Strangers here in Edinburgh come in all shapes and sizes. Children laughing and playing games. Couples, young and old, walking hand in hand. There's a lot of love in the city of Edinburgh, I've observed. And what more do I love, than being in the presence of love? In the brief moments we share -- the smiles exchanged or the helpful

Time. A piece inspired by London. Wandering through the streets of London, you can't help but notice the impressive presence of Time. Clocks are everywhere you turn; adorning Parliament, Westminster Abbey, countless cathedrals, and busy market squares. The chiming of Big Ben demands your attention and alerts you to the passing of the hours. The world clock paces its time from just outside this thriving city. "Stand here," the Greenwich Meridian Line suggests, "and you'll be a

A journal inspired by Europe. A piece inspired by Edinburgh. In getting to know new cities, like getting to know new people, I am intently interested to see the hidden layer beneath the surface. Don't show me your touristy shops with plastic goods; your fake facade hiding realness and depth. I want to get lost on the streets behind the fanfare. That's where the history is. Tell me the stories that happened behind the walls of these old buildings. Who lived here? Who died here