I've experienced a bit of a dry spell with my photo taking, but I'll try to get back to it. It's been raining, which has given me the opportunity to stay inside and read as well as go to the gym and not feel guilty about being inside. By the way, I would not recommend kickboxing to anyone who did not wish to experience intense physical pain. If you have a lot of anger, it might be a good choice for you though! ;)

I read The Giver today. It's a children's book that I failed to read as a child, and I'm coming back to it. It was a good read, and it got me in a contemplative mood on the drive back from the gym. The book takes place in a world where everything is the same...there is no individuality, there are no fights or wars or pain to speak of. There is also no love, no intense feelings. The basic question is: Is this life better than the one we currently live? And the answer is no, a life without love is not worth living. There is risk involved, and with that comes loss, loneliness, and pain that can bring deep despair. But there is also great beauty in this life...like the warmth of sunshine and an ocean breeze, the smell of citrus, dipping your feet in cool water, laughing until you cry, music that gives you chills. The pain is hard, but the good things make life worth living! Thank God for that.