Today is the one day that is gifted to you

I have been struggling to stay mindful these past few weeks. And by mindful, I mean present, calm, relaxed, remembering to eat, sleep, laugh and socialize. LIVE. (hence the title of my blog-- a Zen Life).

I knew graduate school was not going to be easy and I came to Cambridge determined to continue living a life of tranquility that the coastal town of Santa Cruz, California (and many of my friends) taught me.

At Harvard, it is easy to get wrapped in the daily tasks of work, school, reading, homework...etc. It is a never ending cycle that can continue if you dont stop and smell the roses, as one would say. Literally, my days begin at 7am and I don't return home until 11pm. My days are long and often times, they are spent inside classrooms, libraries or coffee shops.

Below are images of study places I have attempted this past month:

Out on the grass, California style

On some benches outside of my department

Darwin's Cafe, a block away from my campus
(Stays open until midnight)

Widner Library, Harvard's most famous library
For more info click here

My good ol' room
(not much work gets done here)

Today, a friend of mine sent me a video and I remembered! Each day is a gift that you can never get back. So make it a good one. Watch this video it will change your day completely. It brought me back to the mindfulness I was craving. Enjoy:)

Book Signing with Nicholas Sparks

I found out a few days ago that Nicholas Sparks, novelist and screenwriter, was going to be signing books at the Harvard Bookstore and I was stoked! I wrote it in my planner well in advance and set my alarm early to wake up in time to go stand in line to meet this fabulous man.

When I was 13, I read my first romance novel: A Walk to Remember. I remember reading it in less than 3 days and crying out loud, but wiping the tears out of my eyes as fast as I could so that I could continue reading how the story ends. I was obsessed with the movie when it came out. I still own the book, the dvd and soundtrack to this day. And yet, I am not embarrassed to admit these things as my fanaticism paid off today.

Other famous novels of his turned movies include The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John...etc.

Um, I have to say that after putting these movie posters side by side, Hollywood seriously needs a new movie poster manager... The look alike: tight heterosexual embraces...

Today, more than a decade after reading his first book, I got to meet Nicholas Sparks in person! He was a cool guy, dressed in jeans and a baby blue polo shirt. He was sitting on a table talking to fans and taking pictures with us. Here is some of the madness I endured to get my 30 seconds with him.

The long line that wrapped around the bookstore

Not only did this lady cut the line,
but then went on to talk with him for like 5 minutes! 

Finally, got my moment!