When you stop to think about it, it really is about the little things that make life so interesting and enjoyable. While I enjoy intellectual conversations, movies, games, etc., nothing really beats the simple pleasures of things such as walking barefoot in the rain, enjoying a good cup of coffee on a brisk autumn morning, lying on a sleeping bag in the bag of a truck and gazing at the stars, walking along the beach at night, or even something as simple as curling up on the couch with that special someone. Living means so much more with someone sharing those moments, even if it is partially the hopeless romantic in me talking.

I’m spontaneous in general, enjoying varied activities that seem to fall across the gamut of personality types (i.e. athlete, geek/nerd, and even the modern concept of socialite). From SCUBA diving to enjoying the adventure a random road trip brings, from writing to semi-serious photography, from philosophical discussion to examining topics in psychology and sociology, and from mindless entertainment to challenging video games, I find myself best described as an enigma.

Family is certainly important to me, though my definition of family does not generally fall within the scope of the “traditional” definition accepted today. My family includes those few close friends whom I would do anything for, and excludes those “blood-relatives” who seem only to consider themselves family when describing how we know each other.

And then there is the dualism of personality traits that seem so contradictory they could not exist in the same person: such as the confidence in my abilities and with who I am yet at the same time the lack of confidence in starting a conversation with someone I feel attracted to; or the passionate feelings about a number of topics yet the calm, quiet demeanor I typically possess. Again, the best description seems to be “enigma.”

What I have learned, however, is that I would not trade any experience I have had thus far, for without them I would never have become the person I am today. Further, the little things in life mean so much more than we typically give them credit for. In the end, the journey truly is the meaning of what it means to live, not the destination.