Chasing the Sunset

Chasing the Sunsets

On this Valentine's Day, I hope you have learned to love yourself. Love yourself and all that you are. Love what you enjoy; Love what you despise. Love those around you; Love those far away. Love your hobbies; Love your not so hobbies. Just Love. Love life and love all that life offers you.

Today, I took my own advice. I loved life and loved myself enough to indulge in what life had to offer. I went against all that I had ever held dear to my heart academically and did something that my younger self would have scoffed at: I skipped class. You might as well get your gasps and groans of disbelief over with, cause it only gets worse from here on out.

Now you may think that I walked out of the admin building, where the classes are held, with my head low and praying I didn't see anyone I knew, but this was not the case. I held my head high, my eyes looking for people to talk to, and my feet active in an effort to not turn around and resume my responsibilities. In all honesty, I was determined. Not only determined to enjoy my day outside of class, but to also take a breathe of fresh air that was much needed.

Now, don't get your panties in a wad. I did not completely throw all cares to the world and be utterly irresponsible. For goodness sakes, I had things to take care of! (Such as cleaning my room, doing laundry, taking a shower... and another, yes another 1,000 word paper I still had to write) But even in my dire need to do all these things, there was an even greater desire that has arisen lately... adventure. Adventure in living life to the fullest.

I know. I know. You say that I'm a dreamer, but I promise you I'm not the only young adult prompting for this life of loving things this world has to offer. There is more to this world than living in the everyday rut of waking up, working, going to class, doing homework, going to worship practice/outreach/workout, taking shower, and maybe getting some sleep. How are you living?

Anyways, off my soap box. Today, I lived. Today, I loved. Today was a day where I didn't feel like going to class, so I didn't. Instead I took care of various responsibilities (I'm not completely avoiding life and adult-ish things), then Chased the Sunset. Quite literally. I have made it my personal mission to chase as many sunsets as possible and see the beauty that is available to me everyday.

Today is day 3 of chasing the sunsets and I am finding life to be so much more beautiful than I had ever hoped. Even though today I froze my arms off in the chilly Minnesota winter wind, my endeavors of capturing the moment through photography was a success. It wasn't just the sunsets that caught my adventurous eye, but as well as the journey it took getting to the sunset.

There were many, many things that occurred on this quest for evening greatness... most of which were surprises.

The adventure did not stop when the car stalled on a hill, wheels locked up, and starting rolling backwards. Oh no. It was taken with great "chill", if you will, a hyperventilating heart, and a minor panic attack internally. But no our adventure did not stop there, for you see a dog was found and befriended in the cold, desolate street in the middle of the journey. We played. We jumped. We scratched. We ran. And then we went home. Mainly the dog.. and so my mission continued to chase the sunset further into the colors it was transforming into! I was living life on a Tuesday evening by loving myself to do the things I never thought I would be doing.

As the sun had vanished over the horizon and my adventure had come close to ending, the sporadic inclinations kept me from leaving the place I considered home in the moment. Instead, I ran (really drove) into the sunset on this cold, windy, and shall I say muddy day. You can probably see what is coming next, but I? No, I did not. No, I did not sense the tires sinking slowly into the muddy ground. No, I did not sense the wheels spinning under me. No, I did not see any of it coming. But instead my eyes were set on the glory that was in front of me like blazing clouds of fire. I was consumed not only by the mud below me, but the bright array of colors that surrounded me as well.

No worries, the mud below me hardened and at last I was free. I was free from being stuck in the mud, as well as free from the rut of life we consider "normal". There is nothing normal about life, nor about love. To love life is to live it and to live life is to love it. I may have only been chasing the sunset for 3 days, but these 3 days have been filled with amazement, wonder, curiosity, appreciation, and a greater desire to chase more sunsets.