For dated writings of my adventures, visit http://www.katandcollieadventures.wordpress.com (2013)
The years between 21and 24 are kind of blurry. Not because of the normal age appropriate drinking phase, but kind of the opposite. I worked long summers for ten years helping to manage a seasonal pool cleaning business. Once October came, I had saved up 7 grand and knew I could continue living the simple life, under my parents roof, looking for something fulfilling and really just staying numb until March of the next year when the pool business planning would begin again. I should have had 70grand by the end my ten year employement, but even a frugal teenager finds ways to spend her money. Sometimes I think time goes by so fast now in my life. I think I have a broken scale though. Those 3 years of in between really EFFED up my clock. Thinking back, I remember days in winter where I would literally not even take one step outside or breathe fresh air…. maybe even for a week at a time. I hated my body and my skin and didn’t ever want anyone to see me, so I never went out. I was the kind of person to turn the opposite way when I would see someone I knew in the cereal isle. I was a 20 something still actively playing Neopets and watching ALL the trashy TV I could. I would stay up until 2 am most nights because around 9, I would start feeling that “what have I done with my life today” itch and try to find something to mark the day by. Finally, I would retire and wake up at 9 am to roll over and fall back asleep to REALLY wake up at 11 or noon. Every. Day. For months on end. I would pine for my high school days and would spend way too much time reminiscing and lamenting on Facebook. I didn’t understand why my friends weren’t saying the same things to me, “I miss you sooooooo much,” and “Remember that one time…..?” I will never forget crawling in to bed with my sister, visiting from her hippie awesomely fun life in Ohio, and crying to her, saying, “ I just want to be happy. How do you find that?” Well 4 long and short years later, I understand a bit more. I began running and exercising regularly, while eating pure foods and still do (as best as I can on an island). I still work a semi-seasonal job but I realize I LOVE to work hard. To earn my sleep. But to feel like I made an impact on the world each day. To go to bed proud and happy is an amazing feeling, and to do that every day is a feat I never imagined I would enjoy. My boyfriend makes me the happiest person alive and sometimes I just BURST with love. I LOVE myself, I love my body, I love my laugh, and I love just about everything I hated in myself years ago. I still find a strange comfort in my bi(okay TRI)-yearly visits to neopets and find some joy in reality TV. I have found a balance worth living for and I have a new UNDERSTANDING for the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun!”
Art on an Island 