A little excerpt from a poem I wrote for my creative writing class:

Enclosed in a borderless land, I exist in Chicago with crescent moons pressed under my eyes, 
singing a lullaby of lies about the night sky. The city’s refuse is dumped in Michigan Lake whose darkened blue waters are my only refuge when the sky is blanketed in smog. I bike to the lake every night to let my caged soul out to breathe for a few hours while I drink the thin and pale reflection of the moon and the stars.
~

 I've always been attached to vast bodies of water and the secrets they hold. Living in a land-locked state has always been difficult, and especially so when I come back after staying in Chicago for my studies, now that I know what I'm missing. It's always a place I visit when I want to clear my mind or just freely think about anything. Lately I've been in reflection about where I am in my life and where I want to go and what I want to do. I've always just imagined myself intellectually stumbling through life and being at ease doing so, but I'm starting to have second thoughts on what that even means to me. I feel like saying "I'll just take whatever life throws at me" is easier said than done. I can't help but let my thoughts drift to the unknown waters of what lays ahead, which, I suppose, is not new for me.
It might just be that I have just been pulled away from my home and comfort zone for too long; as Rumi says "Anyone pulled from their source longs to go back." This is hoping that this trip to Iran will refresh and recharge~

I usually don't get very personal on JooJoo Azad, so thanks for bearing with me and my little rambling that has been consuming my thoughts xx

I was planning on writing a Social Action Sunday post for today about cultural appropriation in fashion, but I've just been so wrapped up in doing nothing that it just slipped my mind, but I promise I'll get something up soon! In the meantime, I've teamed up with a few other bloggers to put together an amazing giveaway Monday afternoon (all Intsagram based!) so be sure to come back tomorrow for that! xx

Photo via my Instagram: @hodakatebi | Location: Michigan Lake, Chicago

Happy Summer (and 1 year anniversary to my brother (Cadmium Soul))!

Until tomorrow,
<(')