"You've got to dance like nobody's watching,
and love like it's never going to hurt."
- Source unknown

I'm sitting at home, in my own dear room. Haven't written in ages, and I wasn't going to either - I was enjoing a sweet hermitage, new-found privacy to my own life.

And then I found this quote, and felt like sharing it.

Otherwise, if you were wondering, I'm still alive and well. I'm going to make sure I stay this way for a long time ... not falling off mountains, just being their guest for a while.

Pausing from my travels for some time, to reflect upon the learning, to love my family and friends, to be grateful I have a home .. or maybe more than that.

I'm living the sweet "glory" of ordinary life - seeing people, eating healthy, getting some fresh air, going to school, building for the future. That's the news, and it's good news too :o).

Just a regular day, a regular night when I can't seem to fall asleep.

Farewell and not goodbye

So here I am, watched the last sunset over the Potala this time around ... couldn't really get my eyes of it. Love at first site, the kind that will last forever; not letting go this time. I've been living a dream, immensely grateful for the chance of seeing such beautiful places, such beautiful people.

Immensely grateful for having the chance of seeing my dream come true. The beautiful mountains, yaks grazing peacefully, breathtaking heights, the sweet smell of yak butter candles, the charming dim light of secluded monasteries, pilgrims humming their mantras, prayer wheels turning forever, the humblest smiles I have ever seen ...

My last night here in Lhasa, I've spent in the company of three wonderful strangers. Beers, momos and laughs; joy, curiosity and sorrow. Funny how things come together in life, opposites mix and life somehow goes on. Impossible dreams put into words, hope against all odds. A lesson.

Never will I talk about suffering again, little right do I have. Forever will I remember the hope and acceptance ... a dream - being humble enough to accept and hope on. Being humble enough to realize that my own dreams; however brave or impossible they might seem, are nothing but a play, nothing but possible.

To all my friends, some things we just can't say engouh. Thank you. I love you.

Belief

We all have our dreams, big or small. When I was a little girl in my grandma's village, thinking of the great world beyond that I could only glimpse on our black and white TV; images of elephants and deserts, glaciers and colourful birds, peaceful islands and turquoise water made my dreams. Nothing fascinated me more than the site of the highest peak in the world, rising tall and peaceful, above a land of mystery and tradition. Travel and passports were beyond my reach, beyond everyone's reach, but there it was, my dream, of one day seeing the giant up close, meeting the people that rise up to the challenge of living in its proximity.

Three wonderful weeks have carried me around Tibet, dreaming with open eyes. The past eight days I've taken my own epic journey, with three wonderful people - Mads, Simon and Lisa - passing secluded villages, impressive monasteries, beautiful open fields. As our 4W broke down on the last night of the trip, I made a foul of myself singing out loud cheesy songs, amusing terribly our driver and two other Tibetans (who finally joined), being accompanied by highly talented Mads :o).

The sound of music faded away into the night as the car finally started working after 4 hours, and, closing my eyes, it kicked in. There I stood, in the sunrise, in the cold cold morning air, as close as one can get to it without being on a climbing expedition; there I stood watching the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen, watching the white giant, the Everest, seeing my dream come true.

LOL - cheesy me again :o). It's funny how life works. I've spent the past few months trying to deal with the past year, trying to understand. Little did I know - some things do happen for a reason. Without even realizing it, every struggle brought me closer to my dream, kicked me in the butt and projected me in this direction. It's surely not as impossible as it was many years ago, but it's as sweet as I could ever dream.

Why belief? Because most times that's all we need. Messner climbed the Everest without oxygen (!), Bannister broke the four minute mile - many followed both, none taught it possible before. The big and small things we think impossible - how much of it is only mental barriers? :o). Dear sewing circle, guess what? - I'm back and I believe !

With love, from Lhasa.