This Easter weekend I walked 13.1 miles in one day (according to my Apple Health App). WOW. While many of my days are spent looking down or forward, just trying to get to where I am going, the weekends are times when I can stop and look around. I take the long way home, even if it means walking 40 blocks south, or meander through streets and ignore my map discovering new parts of the city I never knew.

I can also look up. Looking up to the buildings and sky to see a different perspective than the daily commute. A lot of New York looks down and I’m guilty of that too. We try not to make eye contact, especially to avoid those people who want you to sign petitions and just want “a little of your time to save ______.”  We just want to get where we’re going in the fastest way possible. This weekend, I found  new perspectives on things as I looked up on the city and not down to my feet. My phone helps me to remember these moments and also prove that I finished my first “half-marathon” this weekend. Here’s what I looked up to: 

Looking up to the Highline

Looking up to Rockefeller Center

Looking up to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral

Looking up 5th Avenue toward the Empire State Building from Washington Square Park

Shoot for the moon and you’ll always end up amongst the stars.

Still finding new things in the city. Look at those corners.

Vegas, where you can travel around the world while never leaving one city.

From the mountain to the ocean and up to the sky, color comes in many shades and forms. Lucky to be from Hawaii.

After a hectic week is setting up and prepping for the opening of our MFA Design and Technology Thesis show, I think life is getting back to normal for me. There should be less sleepless nights in this last week of school. Or at least I hope so! Got to get out to smell the spring flowers and enjoy the Flatiron again today. A beautiful warm afternoon in the city.

Beautiful blue skies in the city today. Walked the long way home along the Hudson after some thesis errands to take a break from the craziness. Well worth the extra 15 minutes and couple miles of exercise.

Today as I was buying my lunch and non-alcoholic Ginger Brew and the cashier suggested I try it with a special rum. It was 2PM but she reassured me, “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere.”

Three random, but somewhat planned things happened today. Started of going to the event, Photography Expanded at the Aperture Gallery in Chelsea, then left to take an unplanned but relaxing walk on the Highline with my people. Lastly, thought I missed the painting session we were having for our thesis show, but turns out I made it just on time for some touch ups and then clean ups. Everyone needs to do their share!

Movie trailers and trucks lined up and down my usual route to school.  Come to find out they were filming  “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” today at Union Square Park.  It’s amazing how a movie crew can turn spring time in the city back to a Christmas lights with some fancy lights and a big movie crew. Got to love NYC.

A midday chai tea and chocolate doughnut pick me up date in the spring sun soon turned somber as we learned about the unfortunate bombings at the Boston Marathon. A quick check to all my Boston ties ended in a sigh of relief. No one I know was hurt, but all those there, and the city will continually be in my thoughts. A sad way to start the week, but tomorrow is a new day.

Don’t worry–A good friend tells you exactly what you need to hear without you even asking for advice. Matthew 6:25-34.