I have been called to Joy.

"The way we see the world determines the way we live our lives."
-Matthew Kelly.

A couple of links.

something about my camera
(i just want you to visit my photoblog)

also,
i flickr
(if i haven't said so already)

bestvideoever

A Letter to Myself, in Two Years.

Dear Naomi in two years,

I don't know where you are,

or where you are going,

or what is happening right now.

You could be in the same chair I'm sitting in right now,

you could be in some country half way across the world,

you could be in a different state, sitting in a classroom.

You could be eating dinner with a madman with a box.

Whatever it is,

just remember a couple things for me.

Okay.

Remember how much stress you had over getting past last year?

It probably wasn't worth it.

Whatever happened,

happened and it would have happened with or without the stress.

Remember to make phone calls that you know are important.

Always remember how much you love going to Mass.

Remember the song Dancing Through Life when you're angry, For Always when you're sad, and Every Teardrop is a Waterfall for when you feel like dancing.

Remember to write out how you feel,

or you'll go insane (if you haven't already).

Remember your love for all things British.

Remember to leave your camera at home some times.

Remember to breathe.

Remember that you have the best brothers ever.

Remember to bring a good book with you.

Remember to watch Castle.

Remember not to despair,

to laugh as much as you can,

and that who you become is infinitely more important than what you do, or what you have.

Remember every summer you spent with your incredible friends.

Remember God always gives you exactly what you need,

and never more than you can handle.

Remember all those Matthew Kelly quotes.

Remember how loved you are.

Remember how blessed you are.

Remember that you were made for greatness.

And always remember that your life is for living,

and not planning.

unorganized thoughts on what i need.

I'm at crossroads.

I have this terrible need

that wants to see everything, 

every city

every town

every kind of person.

But at the same time,

I have this growing conviction to stay where I am

because of all the wonderful people I know.

The thing about wanting to go everywhere,

is that it takes time and money and effort.

And I would have to do it alone.

Because I would need to do everything on my own terms.

And it alls seems rather selfish.

But the thought of not getting to see those things,

it kills me.

In some crazy alternate universe,

I would save all my money,

and when I turn maybe nineteen or twenty,

go city-hopping for a year or two.

I'd go learn in the classroom of the world.

LIVE these cultures that fascinate me.

Capture them.

I want to see everything,

experience everything.

I want, i want i want i want i want.

But what do I need?

Do I need to go, to see these things?

Or do I need to stay? 

What do I do now?

I do school

and I clean my room

and I hang out with my friends

and do other high schoolaged kid things,

but.

but.

but.

Where do I go after this?

Where will this path take me?

I have this growing feeling that I have something to say,

but I'm not exactly sure what it is.

Maybe I'm just another bright eyed kid with wanderlust and little too much time on my hands.

But something that I'm certain of,

is that God is good,

and the life He has planned for me will be spectacular beyond measure,

because

"The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness." -Pope Benedict XVI