I have long been lauded for my going out abilities. My capacity to transform whatever city I live in to a tourist trap extravaganza extraordinaire! To uncover every hidden gem, to rave in old banks and cathedrals, to walk through every opulent museum and theater there is, to eat every delicious meal within the vicinity. But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. By which of course I mean I am telling tales. This began a meager two years ago. And lauded is a strong word. At the time I was undergoing a transformation the likes of which I had not seen since 2012. Two transformations even. Possibly a regeneration as well. They had all amalgamated to create one, newfound, sense of obligation. I was relinquishing, advancing, and thus was born, Could Do Without It, and as such, Could Not Do Without It. And so I distinguished very clearly in my life those things which I Could Do Without, and those things without which I Could Not. I now (then) felt obliged to not squander a minute more of my youth and energy. There was too much to see, too much to do, and not nearly enough time to see and do it all! Every moment I was getting older, wrinklier, and more tired. Which is not to say I am not excited to age, don’t get me wrong, I am going to be the glammest damn grandma there ever was. But at the ripe age of eighteen, I had other things on my mind. I had just moved from Boston to Montreal where I would study for four years. But that’s a story for another day
Now I am on a plane two years later, heading away from Montreal and to Madrid, where I will study for one semester. I am twenty, and I am still on a mission to rest as little as possible, and do as much as I can. This brings me back to my going out abilities. People often question how I do not get tired which always surprises me. I do get tired. I rest by reading, or writing. I rest when I am overlooking a beautiful city from its highest terrasse with a cool Spritz in my hand and a cigarette in the other. I rest when relaxing on the manicured lawns of Park Retiro, sunlight dancing on the Crystal Palace. Or when I’m chatting with the girl next to me on the plane, going over her plans to walk el Camino de Santiago. Is this not the most restful form there is? That which is experiencing? So, when it comes to total energy required to achieve, I would say it amounts to the total energy you are willing to expend.
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