Tag: Living Life

Here.

Do you ever look around, figuratively, and be like wow, how did I get here?

A cousin left a comment on my recent instagram carousel of me being very touristy in London, and said “I love that you[re] living your best life” and that really made me be like, I cant believe I am here. I am from the hood, multiple hoods actually but still. When I was 17 I was getting kicked out of many people’s home, and having to figure shit out on my own. And this isn’t a woe is me post, just saying. I came from that, but the one thing that set me up early was I had a mother who made me believe If I wanted to do it, I could. The it didn’t matter. Whatever it was, was 10000% possible for me to achieve. I think for that reason, nothing seems impossible to me, it all falls on me, and how much effort I want to put into the thing.

I wish I could tell 17 year old me, babes, you have nothing to worry about. Life is going to be so good, so much fun, there’s so much adventure coming. I’m glad that my suicide attempt didn’t work, cuz I would’ve missed out on all of this! And that would’ve been the Real Tragedy.

Jonez

Home

Currently I’m sitting in the living room, sipping a jack and ginger, listening to the wind outside. And I cant help but be grateful for where I am in Life, above all physically. I am actually living in Chicago, in my apartment. I have a roof over my head, whereas a few years ago, things wasn’t this good. Even though everyday isn’t a 10 day, most are. I am Happy. Genuinely! usually randomly I think about when I was 17, bouncing from couch to couch to subway train, to couch to wherever because nobody wanted me to stay in their house. I was an inconvenience, seems like to All, including my bio dad. I think about my nieces and my nephew, I could never treat them as such. NEVER. Even my sibling, If I was able to provide a safe space for someone I loved who needed it, I would. Yes we could chat about boundaries, and etc, but the first point, would be to make them feel safe, wanted and Loved.

I really am the luckiest girl in the World. I get to live in my dream city, and have fun when I’m at work. In my wildest dreams, I didn’t dream of this. Being able to come home, feel free to be my weirdest self, safe and happy, is my greatest achievement thus far.

Jonez.

Thoughts.

I woke up today, thinking about how short life is, but not in a morbid way. In a factual way. Basically I woke up to reality! To knowing that our time on this Earth is limited, and we should, no we MUST do all the things. Speaking for myself, its so easy to get caught up in the everyday routine. I want to make the days count, I want to look back on my life, knowing that I enjoyed it as much as I could. I want to travel, I want to create memories with folks, I want people to think of me and have warm & fuzzy feelings.

I’m not fooling myself into thinking everyday will be an adventure but I want my everyday to count. For whatever reason, I’ve been waking up at the crack of dawn, the birds have be singing to me lately, and I have to appreciate those moments. So I’ve said all that to say, Please Enjoy The Moments!

Tristan Jonez.

One Thing.

There really should be something said for folks who are able to do as they please … without regard for ANYONE else. I used to be embarrassed when folks would say things like, “well you only have you to be responsible for”, or “You should be lucky you don’t have any kids”. Like it was a bad thing I didn’t have children, or was only responsible for myself, Listen! It’s not a negative at all, In this day and time, it’s a blessing.

Y’all better stop sitting around, wishing you had someone else’s life. Someone else’s responsibilities. I thank the stars above that my life doesn’t look like, what I THOUGHT I wanted. There’s such a light in being who you are. Such a weightlessness to truly walk as the person you are supposed to be. Does your life look better now than what you wanted?

Jonez

34 going on

I promise I am trying not to fret over my age. I am also trying not to let my age dictate what life milestones I should be reaching. Just to let my life be what it is, be what it will, and enjoy each step of the way but I cant help but to think what does the future hold for me. Will I get married? Do I actually want to be married? Kids? A Kid? Continue to travel the World? Buy property? What is it that I want? And even in the question of what do I want, Will I know it, once it’s in my view?

As you grow older, How has life milestones affected your judgement?

Tristan Jonez.

One Night Only Tour

I thought I would try something new when planning my overnight adventures. Truth be told, I am not a planner, I just ‘do’. Its especially easier when traveling alone, I just have to ask myself, “Self, What would you like to do?” Then I go out and do it. I wanted to be able to have a set of guidelines, so I could follow the plan no matter the city I explored. Are you ready for those set of guidelines? Well loosely, our focus would be The Arts, The Food and the Culture of any set place. No matter what city I am in, I will ALWAYS seek out the arts, usually a museum will do but there are times when none are opened, or they aren’t in the vicinity of where I am staying, etc. Food is my first love. I try my best to immerse myself with the culture of a country, when I fly out. If I am somewhere local, then I familiarize myself with what’s popular in that city. It wasn’t until I was thinking about what Culture is, that I had a harder time placing that in a way I could explore it. However I was able to verbalize culture in a way that COULD be explored.

Now that you know my guideline, Sit back, Relax and Read all about My One Night Only .. Atlanta.

Tristan Jonez.

Dear Diary …

Recently I was asked to be a contributor for a publication which caters to a no bs approach to living a chill life. I haven’t said yes, I’m still debating what I have to offer this publication. Before I started writing this, I had to ask myself, if I didn’t jump at the chance to reach a bigger audience because I genuinely don’t have the time or if I’m questioning if I’m good enough. Most likely it’s the latter, self doubt it such a strange thing. I know I’m a good writer, and I know other people feel the same way about my writing but having to actually put it out there for strangers to read … am I good enough for that?

To calm myself, I usually remember reading Kimora Lee Simmons book, Fabulousity, where she writes, “Believe in those who believe in you.” So that usually how I calm those wicked thoughts in my head. It’s funny how you get older and question everything in life, but as a younger adult, I was beyond fearless. Slowly but surely I’m seeking to get back to ‘that’ place, but it starts with pushing myself beyond my comfort zone.

Here goes nothing …

Tristan J

Dear Diary …

Why is it when you’re waiting for a particular day on the calendar it takes literally forever to get to that date?! Although I’ve only been waiting a few weeks, the days are crawling by at a snails pace. I now fully understand when folks are ready to go home from work/school and what feels like eight hours, in reality is only eight minutes.

Ughhhhh!!!! Yeah Yeah, I hear you saying patience is a virtue. Time continues moving forward, and the day will be here sooner than you know! Well forget sooner than I know and just come along already. B

Nothing to share with you Diary as I’m stilllllllll waiting but July 30th, we’ll know! Excited yet? Lord knows I am!

Jonez

SPiN Chicago

Pig Pong Anyone?

So what does one do on a Friday Night when your flight has been cancelled? Ping Pong of course. After spending twenty minutes trying to find something to jump at me, I come across, an event at SPiN, announcing “On Friday Nights, We Play” I’m sure at some point in my life, I’ve played ping pong but playing successfully and winning games? Nah.

SPiN is definitely a feel good place with Instagram worthy decor to surely ensure your photos are poppin’, even each stall in the restroom guarantees you’ll be ‘transported’ to that place and space. Photo shoot in the future? Possibly. Mos definitely. In addition to ping pong tables, try your luck at Giant Jenga, and Connect Four.

While SPiN, May look like the perfect date night spot (It is) it’s fully interactive that solo dates, blind dates or friends meeting up, will find something that appeals to their senses. And if not, there’s ALWAYS the full service bar which boast a full menu. I recommend the seasonal mule!

Tristan Jonez

SPiN Chicago, 344 N State Str Chicago 60654

The Decaying.

The morbid part of me loves Ivan Albright! I was fortunate enough to see a few of his pieces at the Art Institute or Chicago when I took advantage of Bank Of America’s free museum weekend two years ago. SideNote: Bank Of America offers free entrance to several museums in America (Obv) the very first weekend, Sat & Sun, of every month if you are a card holder. I was delighted to see the museum dedicate a section of the museum to Albright.

Albright was obsessed with the decaying human body. I admire his obsession as I believe sometimes we, humans, see ourselves as invincible. I appreciate his vision, a lot of his subjects were young, beautiful, healthy, but he drew what the ‘flesh’ would become. I’m so interested to know what became of the people who he drew inspiration from. As they got older, did they resemble what he paint them as?

Tristan Jonez

When?

When did we get into the habit of glossing over the ‘struggle’? I find that folks are so eager to show that they are winning, that it creates unrealistic expectations so when you do lose, personally, you lose your fucking mind. We know, with all forms of social media, you have to keep up airs, stay put on but isn’t that exhausting? Now don’t get me wrong, who the hell wants to solely focus on failures? Nobody. That’s a depressing place to be, but shit happens, right?

I want to create a place of equal balance. A place where we celebrate the lows just as fiercely as the highs. Now maybe I won’t be the actual person to create this haven I’m looking for but i do want to play my part. So although I do believe I vocalize my lows and highs equally, I will be more aware of the content I put out. Just as often as I scream men ain’t shit but fuck boys, I’ll turn around and showcase men who have the qualities that’ll make your knees buckle.
Balance.

T. Jonez