I just had the most overcoming epiphany: I want to change the world. Too many people have this thought and throw it away because it is ‘impossible’ or somebody else’s job. To these people I say, “dream big, kids” because it’s that exact mindset, call it ‘social loafing’, that is the downfall of our society. It is the phenomenon of people making less effort to achieve a goal because they assume that somebody else should be responsible for it. Well, shit, who’s going to do it then?
We are all caught up in our own lives that sometimes it is hard to see the big picture: humanity is fucked if we keep moving at the rate we are. I know, I know we’ve heard the facts all too many times—over and over. It becomes too overwhelming to deal with… it is so devastating that we push it aside. It’s like that massive cell phone bill you must pay, but it’s so overwhelming that you simply leave it, unpaid, on the table… Or that homework assignment that you continue to procrastinate… only, in this case, it’s on a much larger scale. It’s so easy to put these lingering burdens on the backburner and continue living daily life, but sooner or later they come around to bite you in the ass. Ultimately, the problems in the world are going to do the same.
What problems do I speak of? Well, global warming, war, poverty, economic collapse, genocide, homicide, world hunger, bad healthcare, water shortage, pollution, lack of education, species extinction, depletion of the world’s resources, for god sakes the list goes on and on. It’s too much to think about for most people, we’ve got our own problems… Until it affects our daily life, there will be no change—until we are unable to buy fresh vegetables from the grocery store because floods have destroyed the crops, until we can’t drive ourselves to work because the world’s oil has been depleted, until we can’t get home for Christmas because the airports are closed due to treacherous snow storms, until there is no longer water running from the tap, until we’re starving to death—but I truly believe, that by the time this all occurs, it will be too late. I don’t mean to be speaking grimly… but it’s really something to think about and it’s reality.
I’m not requesting that everyone change their lifestyle completely, but I’m simply suggesting that people could be conscious about this. We must find in each of us, our own way to change the world. It could be on a local level— e.g. working within a community…banking locally or buying fair trade products… Really, there are so many ways to make change indirectly—through art, through small everyday decisions, through provocative, awareness-promoting conversation. There is also the option of going global—e.g. traveling directly to the source of a problem and helping out a specific cause.
Let’s make change a priority. There are so many ways to help—let’s get proactive. Just a few people can’t take everything on… we need everybody to make the decision to help. Yes, it’s cliché…go ahead and call me an idealistic hippy, but I don’t give a shit. I really think this is true. Of course, I don’t realistically think that I can singlehandedly find the answer to all of humanity’s problems, but I do believe that together, by recognizing and accepting this mindset, we are at least one step closer to doing so.
Like I said before, I want to change the world. So, who’s with me?
These bonds don’t happen frequently, but when they do, it makes the inevitable hard parts of the journey seem minute. It’s the small, random occurrences in life that make it so special… It’s the little things. 
It’s about appreciating a short, but meaningful acquaintance, a snowflake falling on your nose, a baby smiling, a moving song, a good laugh… etc… these are things I’ve been lucky enough to experience lately. It sounds cliché, but it’s the truth! The little things make everything worthwhile. 
Fall: Fall is for pondering. It’s for wandering. It’s for simplicity. It’s for crispness. It’s for chatting. Fall is for winding down.
Spring: Spring is for anticipation. It’s for growing. It’s for transitioning. It’s for celebrating and bringing forth the summer. It’s for exploring. It's for moving forward, rethinking things. Spring is for new beginnings.
Winter in Amsterdam is a wonderland: Christmas lights hanging over every street; naked, leafless trees everywhere; billowy smoke drifting from chimneys, rapidly evaporating into the frigid air; the comforting, piney scent of that smoke; crunchy snow beneath my feet; frosty wind on my cheeks; people hustling and bustling about as they attempt to endure the cold; children laughing. 
They started off with their rendition of Hotel California and then moved onto various Beatles covers and then finished with a classic French song to which everyone knew the words except for us. It’s so fascinating to me how music can really unify people. Even if you don’t understand what the lyrics mean you can still appreciate a song.
Stefan had planned to take us on a tour: 'Paris par nuit', he called it. We all climbed into the car with no expectations. We were in for a ride. The roads were wet and glossy making the bright, lively city lights even livelier as they glowed and danced in their own reflections on the boulevard. 
We sped dangerously through the streets of Paris taking turns at a ludicrously fast pace, narrowly avoiding obstacles. I had to keep reminding myself that Stefan was a local and that he drives in such a way almost every day. Regardless, it felt like we were encountering a near death experience at least every two minutes. 
I felt like I was on a historical roller coaster ride through a land that lived in my imagination. I had read about all of these landmarks, but never did I actually think I would see them. I felt so humbled by their story and their size. 
During the week, I’m supernanny. On the weekends I’m a professional chiller/juice barista extraordinaire! I met a man in my bikram yoga class named Jay who just so happens to own a fantastic 
So, I guess that’s more than you bargained for… But, this is a day in my life these days. Life is not too complicated right now. I feel a healthy balance—I have time for hobbies and time for myself. I enjoy my work. I am surrounded by love. Everything is new and exciting. Time is flying. 
As soon as I open the door there’s almost always some sort of commotion going on. Toy cars strewn across the floor. A half-eaten peanut butter sandwich on the table. Dutch Dora the Explorer on TV. Coffee brewing. A fire in the fireplace. A naked three-year-old boy runs back and forth from the kitchen to the living room, dodging tables, chairs and toys. He’s quite the nudist—this is normal behavior for him when it comes time to put clothes on. Finally, I catch him and with a bit of force, am able to dress him. Being an au pair is always exciting. 
Then Dad, Jim, goes to work and Mom, Susan, takes a shower or goes back to sleep—being a mom is exhausting and she’s usually up all night taking care of the five week old baby girl, Olivia. So, now I’m alone with Stijn and Olivia. Stijn does a lot of ‘auto spelen’ and ‘boterham eten’, in English, ‘playing with cars’ and ‘sandwich eating’. These are our main activities unless we go to the ‘speeltuin’ or ‘playground’. Life is easy when you’re three. 
Then it’s time for school. Outside, it’s sunny, but crisp and chilly—a perfect fall day. Orange and yellow leaves coat the busy streets. I walk and Stijn rides his small bike. It has no pedals, so he pushes his feet against the ground to propel himself forward. It’s like walking with the aid of wheels, so as you can imagine he has a significant advantage over me in terms of speed. He zips ahead and screams wildly “HUP STIJN, HUP! HUP, STIJN HUP!” which literally translates to “GO, STIJN, GO! GO, STIJN, GO!” and I am forced to sprint in order to keep up.
Once I’ve dropped him off at school, I am normally granted some free time. In these moments I will usually go to a hot, sweaty bikram yoga class, jog around beautiful Wester Park, play guitar, take some photographs, cook a fantastic meal, ponder the meaning of life, write, have a chat with family and friends back home, or bike around the city. 
Night rolls around, Jim comes back from work. Then, the magic happens in the ‘keuken’ or 'kitchen'. Stijn frolics around, protesting bedtime as Susan cooks up wonderful typically Dutch meals. I wouldn’t say they are healthy, but they are most definitely delicious: the top ingredients are cheese and potatoes. We have a nice family meal together followed by tea, coffee and stroopwafels—Dutch sugar-filled waffle cookies. (Somehow, I haven’t gained weight yet and I think it’s due to what I like to call the “European Balance”—I’m constantly biking and walking everywhere, so it cancels out all of the cheese and butter I’m consuming.)
