the thing with unplanned traveling, it is something that is diametrically opposed to who i am. i usually plan out the daily itinerary. but i had to let that go because i get stressed because of the time constraints. my cousin mentioned of a friend that flew in to Jersey with a list of the places where to go. i have learned to make that list very short and just go with it.
starting this year, i just said eff it. i know where i am going but i do not know what to do. i will be very flexible and just think on my toes. i ended up dancing my ass off in a rooftop bar in Nashville, Tennessee. in New York, I saw the massive exhibition of Andy Warhol. in New Jersey, i saw my old classmates, hung out with cousins, and made some new friends, i found myself with relatives in Pennsylvania clambering up the Rocky steps....all of these unplanned. all of these just emerged as brilliant opportunities.
Last week, Dallas was not in my mind. Ran into a Pinay friend in the gym (which i just restarted on a whim) and she asked me if i wanted to go to Dallas with her. and i said hell yeah. and i was more focused on my summer classes.
the moment my Spanish exam ended, i rushed home and just went off to Dallas....and saw the vast beautiful Texan landscapes. Maam Nida was asking if i had a plan for Dallas. i just said i want to see art and eat ramen. and i ended up with so much more. so much more that i am still smiling.
the point of this is i have learned to manage expectations and befriend flexibility (which is something difficult for me)...but ultimately i no longer make demands from life and from the universe that such and such should happen. i just show up, so to speak, and listen to where the winds might take me.
