July 25th, 2009
Over the past week and a half I have seen and done a so many amazing things. I've experienced life in a way I feel few other people have, and I want to share in as much detail what I have done and try to describe these incredible feelings I've had.
The first event was MEAC, Middle Eastern Alateen Conference.
Well we ride all the way up to Front Royal, a long and uneventful drive into the foothills of Virginia. I am excited and nervous, anxious to meet new people. We arrive, I get out of the van and someone walks by. "Hi! What's your name?" he says to me. "Uhhh....Hi, I'm Danielle?" He goes "Danielle! I'm Daniel! Nice to meet you!" and I receive a warm hug. Wow. Not having been there one minute and I am already being greeted like this? Feeling at home already I easily started talking to everyone.
Then I met Cole Barnes. I was drawing a mushroom in chalk on the pavement, a dark skinned guy with a funny afro walks up, says hello, and asks if I'm a pot head. I said "Sure, I smoke. I've never done that before though." I gesture to the shroom and stand up, he also gives me a hug. Little did I know he was to become, very quickly, a dear close friend.
There were meetings and activities and free time and late nights and music... but the one absolute thing that stood out was a particular workshop. I am gazing unknowingly at my schedule, I ask Cole "What is this 'Unconditional Love Workshop' about?" he smiles at me and says "You'll see. It will change your life." Huh, now I'm thinking to myself; who can I squeeze this secret out of? And you know what? I asked everyone, and not a single person who had been there before would tell me. So naturally when it came time for the UCL workshop, I was very excited and nervous to see what would happen.
We enter a dimly lit auditorium, the whole 55 of us kids, the board at the front on the stage with speakers and a stereo. They tell us to line up, then give us numbers; 1 & 2. 1's go to one side, 2's to the other. Now my mind is reeling. Group 1, the group I'm in, goes to the middle of the room and everyone stands spaced out, eyes closes and arms at your sides. Slow, meaningful music begins. Group 2, anonymous and also silent walk among us. I am standing with eyes closed, when I receive my first hug. After that, it was hug after hug after hug, and unless you've actually done this, you can't begin to imagine why I cried so hard that day. Everyone did, it was so incredible. I will never forget it as long as I live. Getting so much love without having to give anything in return.. that's what it's all about. And since this, I hve been practicing UC Love every single day.
After the switching back and forth of the groups, hugging and being hugged, we all talked and shared about how we felt. One girl said these words; "I never thought I'd actually see something so beautiful it made me want to cry."
The dance that night was really fun, except I had been wearing a nicotine patch and threw up a bunch of water, thus making my group leave an hour early :[
The next day we said our goodbyes and came home, a very long and boring ride back left me completely exhausted and ready to sleep for a few days. Only my mom's B-day we went to see Harry Potter instead of going to the meetings. It wasn't very good. Oh well.
Well, then I basically decided, hey! I'm gonna go to Warped Tour with Lizzy. So I did. Cole and a few other people from MEAC were there, and some others I knew. We had a wonderful time, walking around, spending loads of cash, hearing the multiple bands play, and smoking jusssst a little weed ;3
The next day we went to the beach nearby. I haven't seen the ocean in such a long time... it was very surreal for me. The vastness of it.. the sheer volume of the waves crashing and the water pulling on your feet, I've never felt more at home. It really firmed my decision to move to So Cal, or even VA Beach. The boardwalk was pretty cool too, and I attempted body surfing. We ate at The Jewish Mother, and I finally got home at about 10:00 pm.
And the whole car ride home, watching the sky and clouds, all the colors and the music blaring in my ears, I did cry a little, just a little. Just because it was so damn beautiful.
I love my life.
Peace.
-Danielle
