CURRENT MISSION

To find the right balance

ABOUT ME

I am a very easy-going person who gets along with just about anybody. I have a high level of respect for other people, whether or not we agree about everything, and I generally believe people are good. I think this perspective has greatly rewarded me in my life, as everywhere I go, I meet great people and have a pretty good time! I try not to sweat the small stuff.

PHILOSOPHY

You reap what you sow. People are always doing the best that they can, even when it seems like their not. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt, see the best in them, and hope that they'll do the same for me.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

By being opened and interested in meeting new people!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Surfed a bit and hosted a bit in Korea, and Japan, though my hosting wasn't really through the website--more word of mouth. I also have met folks through this site for coffee, and even made a few good friends! I plan to do more surfing in the future, and to host when I can!

Interests

I am a therapist, community educator/facilitator, and a life-long learner, and I find a lot of value in mindfulness practices as well as compassionate communication/NVC. I have a lot of interests, a lot of them involve interacting with other people. I love to dance (swing, blues, salsa), play guitar and sing (with a band is best, but I also can't get enough of that karaoke!). I also really enjoy cooking, and I'm always trying out new recipes. I spend a lot of my time with music, reading, and spending time with or keeping in touch with good friends from around the world.

• singing
• dancing
• cooking
• meditation
• reading
• music
• guitar
• blues
• karaoke
• mindfulness
• nvc
• therapy
• ifs
• the right use of power

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies-I love the Royal Tennenbaums, Amelie, Lost in Translation, and Little Miss Sunshine. Lots of others but that's what comes to mind.
Books-A few that stuck with me were "The New Earth," by Eckhart Tolle, "Myths to Live By," by Joseph Campbell, and "The Brief and Wondrous life of Oscar Wao," by Junot Diaz.
Music-I like a lot of different genres, some favorites include Joni Mitchel and George Harrison. More modernly, some favorites include Patty Griffin, Sylvan Esso, Iron & Wine, Yaima, and Regina Spektor.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

1. Cresting the top of the hill at the Gorge Amphitheater for the first time in Washington state, for Sasquatch music festival, I think it was 2008? Never had I been more overwhelmed by such natural beauty, I was struck so breathless, I had to sit down.
2. Riding my bike across the Hawthorne bridge in Portland, my hometown, on a beautiful, breezy summer day. I stopped and looked around, taking it all in. The river, the sun, the city, the breeze. I honestly couldn't believe that that was my life.
3. Standing beneath the Eiffel Tower, the first night I was in Paris. It's cliche, I know, but I was 18 and had hardly seen the world yet. I was looking up at it and realizing where I really was, somewhat overwhelmed with the reality of it, when suddenly flickering lights illuminated the whole tower--it turned out that night was the summer solstice! I felt like the universe had conspired to make a moment for me.

Teach, Learn, Share

Forgive yourself and others for flaws. Try to learn from them. We're all just human.

What I Can Share with Hosts

And opened mind and heart, good conversation, music, if you're game.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bolivia, Canada, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, Scotland, South Korea, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bolivia, Japan, South Korea, United States