following a train of thought

beliefs are strange things. you spend a large chunk of your life developing them, and then spend the rest of it watching them unravel before your very eyes. and since it would be far too simple for it to happen in a linear fashion - you spiral back and forth between being a believer and a dis-believer, with nothing tangible to show for yourself. of course, _this_ doesn't dawn on you until your folks call you up and ask you, 'so, what have you been up to today?'

in an effort to get to the bottom of this, i did a google search on a phrase that included 'belief,' and NPR's 'this i believe' popped up. after listening to one essay and skimming a few others, i was inspired to seriously reflect on my beliefs and how they've changed with time. (and boy, do _they_ change with time!)

in my childhood years, i would've probably said that i believe in friendship, reading, and imagination. during high school, i would've said i believe in friendship, spontaneity, and life. somewhere in the middle of my college years, i might have said i believed in myself, family, friendship, and the possibility of different realities....and it doesn't stop there.

when i first entered to workforce as a teacher while doing my masters part-time, i would've said i believed in sleep, partying on the weekends, friendship, family, ideas, young people, and potential. (and since i can't stay still for longer than two years...) when i lived in india for year and half, i would've said i believed in education reform, family, and friendship.

and now? now, i'm thinkin it's time take stock of what i have believed in before before, and figure out what that means for me today, in this moment. i guess there comes a time in one's life where you sit back, take a deep breath, and think about how it is you got here, and where it is you're headed.