Weeping Willows cover most of the walkway.
The roundabout stage.
I live in a slightly suburban part of Beijing.
Actually, closer to the truth to say I live in an area of Beijing that doesn’t seem to have a lot of expatriates living in it.
Fishing for dinner.
Below the hustle and bustle of the city.
I like this because it allows me to feel like I’m living in a foreign country and forces me to expand my boundaries and take risks.
I enjoy smiling at people, saying “Ni hao” and having small conversations that are full of gestures because of my misunderstandings each day.
A peaceful meeting.
A bridge not too far.
I’ve started to walk along the Yuandadu Chengyuan Ruins Park, and the Xiaoyue River that flows through it, and document my daily excursions.
There are always new people, new interactions and new visions to see.
I feel incredibly lucky to live in Beijing.
I am able to work at a job I love.
Live close to my brother.
Travel to parts of the world I’d probably never otherwise visit.
Meet people I’d never meet.
And have experiences I’d never have anywhere else.
I often forget how easy it is to travel and change your viewpoints on life.
I get stuck thinking that one way is the right way and travel allows me to remember that there isn’t actually any correct way of living.
Everyone has a right to live a life that is their own and be in control, as much as one is able, of their own destiny.
Choice is always an option and it is up to each of us to make a choice and then deal with the consequences.
Consequences meaning the results. Those can be good, bad or an infinite amount of results in between good or bad. In fact, I don’t really know of any definitively good or bad results. They are all learning lessons and help me to accept what I can change and accept what I can’t change.
And them make choices on how I want to deal with those consequences.