eight.

This afternoon, I hung out with my good friend, Hannah, who just got back from school last night. I drank too much coffee and we walked around Prospect Park, enjoying the sunshine that has been lacking for most of the week. I really enjoy being in Prospect Park. Its so peaceful compared to the streets full of cars honking and people screaming expletives with no explanation. I also really enjoy getting to talk to Hannah. We see eye-to-eye on a lot of things, and we are complete opposites on lots of other subjects. It leads to lively conversation. I respect her opinions so much, even if they are way different from mine. Hannah cares about things, and I love that about her.

I opted to walk home, because its been a while since I went on a good walk, and I wanted to stay in the sun. It probably wasn't the best idea since I was wearing flats, and I now have blisters to prove that it wasn't the best idea, but it was a really good walk. I enjoy the time alone, the people-watching, and listening to City & Colour on my iPod.

As I was walking home, I was thinking "melanie, you should update your blog." And I was thinking about how much I love spending time with Hannah, because Hannah is passionate about things, and she reminds me of things I'm passionate about. I love seeing what other people are passionate about, because I'm passionate about people. I started making a mental list of things I think I'm passionate about as I was walking. I'm all about people- I like helping people, I like spending quality time with people, I like encouraging people and showing them that I care, good conversations with people and finding little ways to brighten their days. I'm passionate about caring for my planet, peace, justice, learning new things and growing in Christ. I think this is how I would sum myself up if someone asked what I'm all about.

Of course, sometimes I get sick of helping people and I would rather not go out of my way to help you. I do plenty of things I wish I didn't and I turn by back on God all the time. I wish I watched less television and cared less about the vanities of society. I'm only human. But I'm trying to be less selfish, and more self-sacrificing. And I'm attempting to unplug myself from life- less tv, less facebook, less twitter. More time alone- reading, praying, and with people.

Long walks are when I do the most thinking about life. I realize more and more that Brooklyn isn't the place I want to be forever. There are so many things I dislike about living here. But I'm still glad I grew up here. It's shaped me in a lot of ways, I suppose. Long walks make Brooklyn seem like a nicer place than it otherwise seems to me. An old lady sitting on her porch smiled at me and even though the kids playing baseball in the middle of the street were a hazard to cars and pedestrians, they were having fun. Life is so much different here than it is in other places, which is something I never really noticed until I left.

Anyway, thats enough about all that. My feet hurt a lot, but it was worth it.

So, what are you passionate about?