Slow Motion

I went to the movies tonight. I can't help but float after I've seen a movie that somehow moves me, touches me, impresses me, inspires me. I can't help but to get lost inside my own worlds, various places my mind has created over the years, and feel like I'm in a world that's full of magic. 

Because I am. 

I feel like I have to write now. But at the same time I'm afraid of ruining the perfect images in my head if I were to write them down. The lack of confidence in myself is sometimes overwhelming, and something I have to learn to deal with. 

I'll write.  

Let me paint you a little picture...

Today I watched a movie, that I liked, but wouldn't admit to anyone I actually watched it. It's one of those teenage movies that you don't really need your brain for. 

I'm not going to tell you the title of the movie, but here's a quote that I loved:

"Artists feel things differently than regular people. Artists can be emotional and make the audience feel what they're feeling, and that's what it's all about."

If you recognize the movie, let me know. 

That's so right, though, isn't it? I've always been careful about calling myself an artist, but after really thinking about it, I can honestly say that I am. It may not be obvious. You might really have to dig deep to see it, but that's what I've always been. 

I've been told that I got my artistic abilities from my grandmother (mom's side). It's a shame I never got to know her. She died when I was three years old. I only have one memory of her. We're sitting at her kitchen table, me, my mom and my grandma, and she smiles at me. She's wearing a blue gown. Possibly a dress or a night gown, I don't know. 

I've been told she was musical and that she could sing. And when she was given a pen and paper, she did an amazing job drawing. I got the latter, but I've been neglecting it for a long time. Sometimes when people expect you to do something that you're naturally good at, you lose the will to do it. I never wanted to make drawing a career, it was just a hobby for me. 

Now, if I can only find the time, I think I'm ready to start over. I will never turn it into a job. It will always be a way to pass time, and a form of therapy for me. Can't afford a shrink ;)

Not my best by far, not to mention it's been so many years since I drew that, I can't even remember. Which only shows, that I have spent too much time doing other stuff besides drawing. I'd like to get back to it. 

Don't forget the poll! You still have time to vote!

-I

"This is the last call for the flight..."

I am ashamed to admit that it took me this long to watch the movie Up in the Air. Have you seen it? If not, watch it, it's great!! It's about a man (Clooney!!), who spends more time on an airplane than on the ground, and who has to face new challenges with his work, but to me the work stuff was secondary. I focused on the traveling part, as you may have already guessed :)

When I say that I travel a lot, I mean, like, once or twice a year. To me, it's a lot. But there are other people who travel once a month (like my mom has done this year), people who travel for work, people who travel just because they can. They have the resources. As for me, all my extra money is spent on traveling... something I learned from my parents from very early on. 

I can't even be compared to the people who practically live up in the air. It's their way of life. 

I don't want that. I would love to be able to travel whenever and wherever I wanted, but to do it all the time, switching destination every five minutes... No thank you.

 I love to fly, but it's not the time spent on an aircraft that I love. It's the feeling of going somewhere, of being able to go somewhere. I love circling around airports, I lovelovelove it when the airplane speeds up and takes off. I also love the landing. Sometimes. Not always, when I land to Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport. That's the one place I love it the most, when I take off. 

There are a lot of things you learn, when you travel much. You learn to pack only what's necessary. You learn to ask the right questions when checking in, you learn to have the necessary documents ready at hand, you learn to read people. The latter may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it's true. Especially if you're traveling alone and end up sitting next to a stranger. After the first couple of minutes you pick up signs of whether or not they're talkative, social or if they want to enjoy their flight (or train-ride or whatever) uninterrupted. But mostly... you learn about yourself. Cliché, but very true. 

I only have a little over a month left until I get to enjoy all of this again. I'm flying with Delta Airlines and I joined their Skymiles -program. After doing so, I wondered why I hadn't joined into these things before... Well, I fly with a different airline almost every time I travel (I just pick the cheapest flights when I book them, without looking into what airline it is), so maybe that's the main factor. But maybe I should join. Can't do any harm, right?

And finally, I wanted to link this song for all of you to listen. One of my favorites, it's somehow very beautiful.