Sickos.

Yep. We aren't BFFs for nothing.

'Kay, bye! I'mma go hide now.

Happy 4th of July!

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

“We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.”

~ William Faulkner

#LoveWins

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

What a wonderful way to cap off the week! Well done, America. So excited for this new beginning—a start of a colourful journey. Hats off for being that courageous seed, for stepping into the light and embracing change and diversity despite uncounted struggles. Such immense bravery and heart.

Love wins. All the time.

Be Brave, Little One.

2015 © Dana Valencia

To the shy girl seated across from me here in the café, who would sometimes stare down at something—like she is staring at the coffee stain on the table now—as if she were used to only gazing on horizons a little wider than her arm’s embrace:

I want to tell you—assure you—you can look off into the distance, gaze on horizons much broader than your little personal space. Be brave, little one.

Our Last Sunset

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

✎ #DannysDiary ✎

⠀

⠀

“It’s going to be all right,” I said, feeling my bottom lip quiver. “We just need time.”

A long pause of silence followed my words as we sat there on the beach. Both of us too wrapped up in our own thoughts to talk or move. 

Out toward the horizon, the sky was shot through with brilliant bands of red, orange, and yellow. The flaming colors reflected off the ocean waves. 

But the early spring sunset was also chilly. I shivered, the cold breeze making goosebumps pebble my skin under my sweater. I had not realized before how cold it had gotten. But now I felt it, freezing my tears. 

You must have noticed how I felt and quickly you took off your denim jacket and put it upon my shoulders. I smiled weakly, grateful for your sweetness. After all that we’ve been through . . .

I turned my head to gaze at you. You lifted your hand to push back your hair. I studied your face, evenly lit by the golden hour. You were silently looking at the setting sun, tiny tears in your eyes.

I brushed sand off a tiny abandoned conch. “I didn’t know about hermit crabs until one pinched me.”

“I’ve never seen a real one, actually. I’ve only seen clips of them on BBC Earth,” you said. “But they look harmless.”

I smiled to myself, amazed by how you still humor my silly stories. “Well, looks can be deceiving,” I said. “It’s interesting how they live. Unlike snails, they don’t have shells of their own, so they have to find an empty one to live in.”

Your forehead wrinkled. “What’ll they do when they get bigger, though?”

“They’ll have to find a bigger, more comfortable, cozier shell. Move house, move on,” I answered and shrugged. “It’s just how the world works, I guess. You can’t force something that doesn’t feel right anymore.”

A sad smile. “Poor little things. What if they don’t find one?”

“They’ll get eaten.”

“That’s tragic.”

“Not really. I mean, I love me some surf 'n' turf,” I quipped, and you laughed at this.

That was our last sunset together.

And we both understood why.

⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀ ❦ Danny

Driven By Inspiration

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

5:30am. Jumped out of bed, ran out of the rest house barefoot all the way to the pool area just to chase this spectacle. Like I said, I love starting my day with something to smile about and to share that beauty with others. Luckily all the shoeless running paid off.

Then it dawned on me. Chasing something fueled by inspiration and not to fill a void really pans out.

It's okay to want what you want. You want to lose twenty pounds, cut your hair, improve your wardrobe, make more money, buy a bigger house, or find the love of your life?

Go for it!

It's human nature to have desires, to want to expand and experience more.

But do it from a place of inspiration and excitement, NOT from a place of fear or lack.

Tumblr Resurrected!

Woke up at 3am and was unable to go back to sleep. BOOM. Tumblr blog revived. Out of boredom.

It basically contains the same little things I post here on my official blog but with more selfies and hats and randomness.

You may check out my Tumblr blog here: thelegendannydiaries.tumblr.com

Cheers!

Find Adventure.

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

FIND ADVENTURE. Just like the first time I victoriously scaled this craggy mountain, I think back to more exhilarating, defining, or even life-changing moments and noticed these memories occurred when I was going with the flow, having faith—even when I couldn’t see the big picture at the time.

When we release a tight grip of old comforts, adventure and opportunities seem to naturally arise. When we allow situations to be—without having to change or redirect them—transformations begin to happen.

Meaningful Relationships

2015 © Dana Valencia

As I got caught up in everything going on in my life, I realised that I need to nurture my connections with other people and make them meaningful.

Not everyone has to be a super friend, but it's integral to our happiness that we show people who we truly are, allow ourselves to know them in return, and then remind each other through actions—small or large—that we care.

We never need to be or feel alone in this world, but it's up to us to create and allow opportunities to be together, enjoy each other, and be there for each other. It's up to us to make our relationships priorities.

Choose Positivity

2015 © Dana Valencia

Despite the crappy things that happen daily, it’s important to remember that the world is basically a safe place.

When you intentionally choose positivity, you look inward for resources and you trust your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Life still brings pain and heartache, but you know there’s a way out.

Enjoy your day, lovelies. Make it a good one!

Live. Love. Smile.

2015 © Dana Valencia

Woke up at 5am to chase this breathtaking sunrise as a way to kick the day off with something to appreciate and smile about.

I discovered that life will be so much more fun and rewarding if we look for every opportunity to smile and fall in love with life right now, while you are on your way to any goal that you have set for yourself.

Hope you find plenty of reasons to smile today! There are not many situations in life where a smile wouldn’t make things better.

Beauty in Simplicity

2015 © Dana Valencia

I looked around and savoured the coconut trees, the morning sunlight, the ocean breeze, the sound of waves, and the giggly little twin boys happily running on the shore.

I focused on the simple beauty around me. And then it dawned on me: The difference between people who complain and those who do not is utter appreciation and gratitude for what you have, right here and right now.

Happy new week, y'all! 

My Pursuit of Happiness

2015 © Dana Valencia

I found that if I want to be happy, it would be my own doing. Happiness is an interior process and comes without validation from others, and to me this is something that is a lesson to be relearned each day.

Spending small moments of time alone—sans phone, tablet, laptop, TV, and radio—allows one to really tune in. The more time I spend alone, the more comfortable I become in my own skin because I can truly get to know myself.

There are all sorts of things we can do to enjoy our alone time, some of them very simple. I enjoy my shower, my books, a bowl of mashed potatoes, rooftop stargazing, and the scenic drives, hikes and kayaking trips, all without communication to the exterior world. This helps me to just "be."

Ultimate Road Trip Song

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

When you talk about a road trip, it's the journey and not the destination that matters the most. And to make each moment of that journey as memorable as possible, you need the best set of friends, a loaded backseat pantry and lastly, a super chill playlist that makes you bob your head and snap your fingers while singing along.

And nothing gets me through a long-stretch of highway or late-night driving like Uncle Kracker's "Follow Me" and LFO's "Summer Girls". These songs may have lyrics that vacillate between silly and slimy, but, man, they're catchy as hell.

What about you? What's your ultimate road trip song?

The Perfect Day

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

HAPPY EARTH DAY, y'all! 

I don't know about you guys, but a perfect day to me consists of life's simple pleasures like seeing birds play hide and seek on tree branches, taking a whiff of fresh-smelling leaves, listening to the wind rustling through trees, bending the leaves back so you can see the pale green undersides, watching the sun go up and down, witnessing the way it colours the sky in soft dreamy pinks and oranges and yellows and for a short while the world seems safe and quiet, and tracing out constellations in the night sky. It's the little things nature bring that totally make my entire day.

What does a perfect day look like to you?

Globetrotting in My Dreams

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

Go around the world. Hit all continents. Pack light. One pair of really comfortable walking shoes. Wanna come with?

Life's Many Colours

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

Life is anything but boring.

Make sure that you allow yourself 

to enjoy all of its 

colours and distinctions.

Stars and Magic

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

Do you believe in magic? I do. And every time I gaze at the stars, the feeling of magic runs through me. The longer I stare, the more captivated I become.

I remember the first time I saw the night sky encrusted with stars in depth. It was seven years ago and I was tightly gripping a rope along a steep, rocky trail 3,500m high on Mount Fuji. It was 3am, a chilly time, and our surroundings were pitch black. I looked up at the sky and my jaw dropped. I had never before seen the sky so crowded with stars. I was drawn in and magic seemed to be all around me, one shooting star, two shooting stars. It took my breath away and, along with it, my exhaustion.

As my tight grip on the rope loosened, I realised how stargazing could be so therapeutic. Just like painting or playing the drums, I discovered that I could lose myself in it. 

Stargazing just creates another world around you. And I suggest you try it, too.

Dear Me

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

Dear Me,

You're sixteen and a bit dorky and would rather play soccer than experiment with your mum's makeup kit. That's fine, sweetie. You have plenty of years ahead of you with black eyeliner drawn around your eyes and you'll be amazed by how much a sport can turn you into a badass.

That cute Latino sales guy at your fave ghetto boutique in downtown LA? Shhh. He's not really flirting with you. He just wants you to get that pink cropped bomber jacket.

Don't overestimate your eyes and read in the dark until they become sore and droopy. Trust me, you don't want to have to wear super thick eyeglasses. And contacts are a little annoying.

You got an A-? Screw that. You'll realise later in life that grades don't fully reflect your genuine learning and real marketable skills. Go out, meet new people, try new things. Nothing beats the School of Life.

Don't be scared of tiny struggles and failures, my dear. They make you stronger and wiser. Embrace your flaws and weaknesses for what they are and focus on your strengths. Quit running away. Nothing good ever comes out of it.

They tell you, "You can't"? Show them YOU CAN. Some people are always looking for something to try and lambast others. Let them, and prove them wrong.

With shaky legs, you face the waves of Huntington Beach. Chin up, love. Soon enough, you'll get to stand on a surfboard and ride the hell out of them.

You're confused about what you want to become? That's okay. You'll encounter the same conundrum a decade after and probably face it again.

You wake up one day and suddenly want to become a pop star? Sure. But until you believe in yourself and put yourself out there, you'll never set a stage on fire.

Life is a giant cloud of possibilities especially when you're young, yes, but you can only achieve your dreams when you take action and work toward them.

Best of luck, you little fighter,

DANA (about a decade later)

Dulcet Lullabies

Tuneful orange skies

Resonating in your soul

Dulcet lullabies

© Dana Eve Valencia

Try Anything. Do Something.

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

When you take action and start doing things, you begin to feel better almost immediately, because instead of thinking about some far off place in your head full of uncertainty, you will be working on something that is really certain: your actions.

While it's true that you cannot control what will happen tomorrow, you can control the actions you take every single day.

And that, my friends, is the real beauty of life.

The Perks of Being a Fervently Curious Little Girl

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

When I was a little girl, field trips were my favourite time of the school year because they would take us to art museums.

During the tour, I would ask my teachers how the art pieces were made, but none of them could really give a clear answer which only further piqued my interest and curiosity. I would always mechanically clasp my hands behind my back, fighting the forbidden urge to rest my palms flat on the cool marble of the statues, to run my fingers along the rutted surfaces of the paintings. There was something maddening about being in the presence of such beautiful things, yet not being allowed to experience them with all my senses.

And I decided, then, a bit smugly, “If they won’t let me touch those things, I’m just going to make one myself.” 

Needless to say, that fervent curiosity I felt was the driving force that got me into painting.

And that fervently curious little girl? She now has one of her paintings displayed in a museum that she had the liberty of enjoying the whole journey of creating with her own tiny hands. 

Life has a funny way of working out, innit?​

Forward

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

"If you are facing in the right direction,

all you need to do is keep walking." ​

Although for some, just like me, finding the right direction might require the journey of a freaking lifetime, I do believe that there is one direction that we are all meant to go:

FORWARD. ​

By taking tiny steps each and every day, putting aside over-thinking, and realising that you have everything you need deep within, you can find the right direction in your life. And while it may not be the direction you expected, it will work out just fine.

Happy Easter and have an amazing new week!

My Happy Place

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

Something happens to time when you're in your happy place. One minute you're sitting on the dock, chatting away and it's only ten in the morning and the next time you look at your watch, it's nearly four in the afternoon and you find yourself sipping your sixth fresh coconut juice, strumming random TV tunes on your ukulele whilst your friend head-bobs to it with a panda hand puppet like a proper weirdo. And you just laugh and laugh and laugh, and there's this lingering thought in your mind: Wherever everyone else is, I am where I want to be.

What about you? What's your #happyplace like?

Ten Dope Things About Being Single

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

Being single isn't so bad. In fact, there are lots of good things to be said for it, and every time a date turns sour I cheer myself up by enumerating the many advantages of being on one's own. 

_________________ 

TEN DOPE THINGS ABOUT BEING SINGLE 

by Dana Eve Valencia

❶ You can spend a lot of quality time with yourself.

❷ You can eat Cheetos and mashed potatoes in bed.

❸ You do not have to look and smell alluring twenty-four hours a day.

❹ You can put on weight if you wish. (In other words, you can eat all the Cheetos and mashed potatoes you want!) 

❺ You can binge-watch True Detective without being sneered at for your peculiar taste and odd obsession with sleuthing and perplexing things.

❻ You can tweet or post anything on IG and FB, minus the guilt.

❼ You can have a girls night out, ditto.

❽ You can join in on the fun when the club DJ hollers, "Single ladiiies! Make some noooise!"

❾ You can sleep diagonally.

❶⓪ You can converse uninhibitedly with your books or laptop or any household device.

See? It's actually not so bad. Can you think of some more benefits? 

The Wonders of Being Six

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

Sometimes I wish I could turn back the hands of time, and be six again.

It's just so much easier when you're younger. You hop on your bicycle, pedal down the street. If you fall, you cry, get a little bruise, but after a short while you're ready and keen to ride on your bike again. And you get to have the time of your life. 

But as you get older, you become more . . . cautious. Too scared to go astray, make a wrong turn, and get hurt again after a bad fall. Not knowing that you've been missing out on something really, truly spectacular.

Yeah, I wish I could be that fearless little girl with adorable bangs again.

Long Lost Fears

2015 © Dana Eve Valencia

When spirit flounders 

Gone in circles

An aimless flight

I am scared.

When thunder rumbles

Hollow waves roll 

A restless night

I am scared.

When shadows enfold

Hadal silence

Drowns out of sight

I am scared.

When all bridges burn

Dour solitude

I seek to fight

I am scared.

When tender scars heal

To unlock door

Whilst it feels right

I am scared.

— Wrote this about eight years ago as a result of a newfound self-awareness. Glad I've managed to triumph over most of what constitute my Achilles' heel. Remember: It's okay to have fears, just don't let them take over your life. Peace out!