Inspiration

The day my world stood still

I still remember the day my world stood still, it was in 2003 when a very close friend of mine passed away from Cancer. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in high school and we were in our summer break, he had gone to Ecuador to visit his family, when a mutual friend sent me an AIM (remember when AOL instant message was cool?) and he told me that Edgar was being transported to New York because while in Ecuador they had found a tumor the size of a tangerine in his brain. My immediate reaction was denial, I was so upset with my friend I told him that it was not funny and he shouldn’t play that way.

My biggest regret during this time was never going to his house to visit him. He had a full ride scholarship to a university to play soccer, he was really good, matter of fact he was amazing. He never made it, 6 months after being diagnosed he passed away. I was in school when I found out, that’s when my world stood still. I took the bus home everyday, that day the ride home felt so long, I saw everything around me move but yet my world was still. I couldn’t believe it, my friend was gone.

To this day I cry every time I think of him, there are days I wake up missing him, wishing he was still alive so I could call him up to get together and discuss life over coffee. I am crying now as I write this post, I wonder if the wound will ever heal? Will things ever get better? Will I ever stop missing him?

His brother is the same age as me, he was in my home room in high school and I remember I couldn’t look at him for the longest time after his brother passed away, he reminded me so much of him. Jessi is such a great person, one I admire and wish I talked to more often. He started a non-profit in honor of his brother Edgar Sanchez Foundation:

About the organization:

Founded in 2009, The Edgar Sanchez Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that is hoping to help battle the fight against cancer. Our organization was developed in the memory of Edgar Sanchez, an enthusiastic young man whose life was cut short due to a brain tumor in 2003.

Founders, Jessi Sanchez and Othon Gomez, have dedicated their spare time to create an organization where everyone can help make a difference. Jessi is the late brother of Edgar and Othon was a close friend. In order to create a successful organization, it was their idea to create fundraising events in which the participants would be able to enjoy themselves as well as contribute to a great cause. What better way to raise funds than through an annual soccer tournament; the sport of choice for Edgar Sanchez.

My only advice is love life, every second of it, even if its hard, even when its painful and even when you don’t understand why things happen, love every second of it because you will never again get the chance to live it. You have heard we only get one life to live, some get a longer life than others but we all get one.

-A

My Affair with Art

Happy 1st day of March!!! I cannot believe its month 3 of 2012.

Here’s a little history behind the name of this blog “Advnturesspirit” for Adventuress Spirit, adventuress meaning a woman who enjoys or seeks adventure. Here’s a confession, I am definitely not that! But last year I made up my mind that 2012 would not be like all the other years, I promised myself I would take more risks and analyze things less. You see I am not a risk taker, matter of fact I analyze all options and compare pros and cons to determine which option is best and why, I plan everything, I love statistics, I am a trained researcher, I analyzed data for 3 years of my college career, I like to keep to-do lists, you get the point.

This year I promised myself things would be different and I would be more adventurous, analyze less and just go with it. I remember when I was younger (grade-school young) I use to love art. I took a few art classes, I love pottery, drawing, painting, wood works, sculpting, I loved it all and then somewhere along the line I gave it all up. I don’t know why I stopped painting and drawing, I just did. My love for art continued in high school when I took a few classes but it didn’t go much further than a class. I went unto to college and DePaul requires their students to take art class, I took an art history and a drawing class, my love for art was re-kindle.

My art history class gave me a new appreciation for art, I have always admired the skill and abilities of an artist but I never really gave much thought to the history behind a painting, sculpture, etc. Then in my drawing class I would doodle and my art professor loved them but I didn’t think much of it. I took both these classes my last semester at DePaul. I graduated June 2010 and it was not until a week ago when I had this strange feeling, I realized I missed drawing, painting, coloring; I missed creating art.

So earlier this week I took a trip to Blick and bought some art supplies, I was a little scared as I walked around the store, I literally walked around the entire store soaking everything in. I took my time looking at the brushes, the easels, the canvas, the sketch pads, the charcoal, everything. I began to feel overwhelmed and intimidated but I took a deep breath and told myself I would take baby steps. So here I am taking baby steps back to the place that brought me so much peace and joy. I don’t promise to share my work all the time, since I make art for myself and not for the world to see or criticize but I promised myself I would make it even if I think is just doodling.

Here are some pictures of my trip to Blick

I love these little guys, I owned a big one and the little one, I called them Woody!

How cute are these little guys?

What I came home with, no canvas, no paint. I am taking baby steps

My doodle

This year take risks, don’t ever be scared of stepping outside the boundaries of your comfort zone.

-A

 

Leap Day

We are so lucky we get one extra day this year, so maybe you screwed something up at the beginning of the year, well today could be the day you fix it. Let’s not think of February 29th as just another day in our calendar, let’s think of it as a gift! We got an extra day to do whatever your heart desires.

Do something out of your comfort zone, try a new food, do a RAOK, smile at a stranger (I do this all the time), buy someone coffee or their favorite drink, I don’t know do something!!! Today is a day you didn’t have last year so take advantage of it!

HAPPY LEAP DAY!!!

This is my little guy, I painted him with nail polish, long story let’s just say he was my faithful neurobiology studying partner!

-A