Finding Silver Linings

Sometimes finding silver linings can be difficult, especially in the wake of tragedy and unhappiness.  Sometimes we as people are blind to the silver linings as we devote our energy and emotions to dwelling.

I hate dwelling.  You'd never think it by reading my entries the past couple of years, but I hate dwelling.   I avoid.  I pretend I'm not bothered.  I superficially move on.  Eventually, that superficiality because reality and I have moved on.  But I wonder if it takes me longer to do so.  Also, I have things lingering over my head that prevents me from always seeing them.  Grad school, for example, is a pain in my ass.  I struggle with my thesis advisor - I should have already been finished and have graduated, but my thesis advisor is a procrastinator.  Sometimes I can be also, so we're not mixing well right now.

I have some silver linings coming up.  

Silver lining #1: The summer.  I get to take my work break (sort of - after I teach summer school).  I also get to devote my time to the last two chapters of my thesis, hopefully finding that ability to mesh with my advisor and have it finished by the end of summer.  I also have some time to really work on my house and make it cozier than it is today.

Silver lining #2: My next European adventure.  I've already started working on my next trip - London and Paris 2015.  I'm excited because I didn't get to go anywhere this summer.  Next summer, I'll sojourn to London for the 5th time and Paris for the 3rd.  I so far have 12 travelers in my group, and might indeed have many more once I start advertising next school year.  My husband will even get to go with me this year.  Since we've been together, I've traveled to Europe 4 times - but without him each time.

Silver lining #3: Other travels.  One of my dearest friends is getting married in November - in Vegas!  I've never been to Vegas, so I'm a bit giddy.  Furthermore, the hubs is a groomsman in a wedding in New Jersey next May - and the area is a skip away from New York - I'm going back to NY!  I'm hoping that the day before the wedding will be filled of stuff he needs to do, allowing me to sneak off into Manhattan.

I like that idea that travel is, for the most part, my silver lining.  I feel alive when I travel, when I visit museums and disappear amongst natives.  Travel is my way of escaping.  My new running.