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Snapshots of My Life

Writer's picture: Karen PlaatjesKaren Plaatjes

Crossing the road outside my university

In my flowery mini dress with my hair twisted up with a paintbrush

Carrying my portfolio folder

Feeling exactly like myself

Reading Whitman in English class

The passionate teacher dancing around under the canopy

Of the big tree outside our classroom

He made us go outside so we could feel the poetry under our bare feet

A golden dome in the walled city

Standing in a garden by a tomb

Walking streets where Jesus walked and history took place

Riding a camel across the burning sand

Floating in the salty ocean in the evening sun

Skin unusually brown for me

Music and dancing and Paella

Culture and art, adventure and exploration

Scanning my employee badge to gain access to the huge building

Full of young minds all searching

For a climb up the career ladder

Learning complex facts about things I never cared about before

Wandering through the chaotic neon lights

Dancing girls and the smell of frying beetles

Kimchee and Garlic and Soju

Bombarded by a foreign language yet feeling very at home

Climbing giant steps almost as tall as me

Staring out across the vast land

Breathing in new air in an ancient land

Visiting the oldest living tree and wanting to hug it

Friends and family gathered to celebrate with us

A long white dress and flowers

Love cascading through me and spilling over

Pinching myself. I'm the luckiest girl in the world

Riding an ostrich and standing on giant eggs

Baby cheetah purring so loudly as I pet it's soft fur

Family and friends, the sea and so much beauty

And laughter and love everywhere

Hot humid air like a thick blanket

Small lizards skittering through our room

Lazy swims in pools with views that postcards capture

Sea canoes and snorkelling, watching wild monkeys

Miracle. Small baby girl changed my world

Flipped my heart inside out and I am a new person

Mother, provider, comforter, protector

Emotion stronger than I imagined possible

And then a second one

A gentle soul who stared into my eyes

And was full of wisdom in her tiny face

So much love coursing through my veins

Thousands of young people

Singing, food, making friends, languages, exploring

Building connections and sharing opportunities

Longing to help others experience other worlds

Glaciers and fault lines and waterfalls

Soaking in natural hot springs and an evening cruise

To find the northern lights

Which we could not see, but it was magical anyway

Beautiful Island decorated in white and blue

Hot tub and crystal waters stretching as far as you can see

Amazing book shop and memorable food

Celebrating marriage and love and with my best friend

Perhaps I feel so lost

Because my life was so full and now it's been compressed

And I'm carrying a great big world around a small town with masks

and I can't help wondering what is next?

My quote for today is "Great things never come from comfort zones."

My photo for today is of my favourite bookshop in the world--Atlantis in Santorini. I think I left part of my soul there.

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