Giving Back by Opening Your Home

     If you aren't familiar with the CouchSurfing community, you should be.  This network of outgoing, intelligent, open-hearted people is SO incredible!  I recently finished the majority of the work for my Master's Degree, i.e. recital, coursework, etc.  Coincidentally enough, as soon as this pocket of free time exposed itself, I got 3 requests from travelers in the area to stay with me; all of which will overlap and stay with me this coming week.  Yeah yeah yeah... some of you have the questions about safety and ask, "Why in the WORLD would you host a stranger?!"  All I can say is click on the link below and your questions shall be answered:

http://www.couchsurfing.org/

This worldwide community is magnificent.  I met so many good friends through it already, and I've only been a member for a year!  The people I'm hosting next week seem downright awesome, and I hope that our meeting and interactions will create lifelong friendships as well.  One of them, if he does end up staying with me, has been cycling around the perimeter of the USA... ring any bells?  How could I refuse to host another cyclist, especially when they're out there doing the same thing I'll [hopefully] be doing in a few months?!

     I can't say enough about broadening your horizons and going out to meet new people.  How can you expect to make friends and find happiness if you coup yourself up in your apartment and don't go out and try to explore.  There are about 6 billion people on this planet--ignoring this fact and/or them is just bupkis because there is so much to be learned from each other.  We are not an exclusive breed, or the only culture that is on this planet.  Go out--learn--try to understand; you don't have to agree with others' ideals or cultures, but simply brushing them off and being ignorant and saying you don't accept it because of your ignorance is simply not acceptable in a time when travel is so readily available and accessible.  Life is too short to not enjoy it.  I know there are several introverts where this random going out and meeting people thing isn't their schtick; I encourage you nonetheless.  This web of people is so useful and life changing that you may break out of your shell a bit...?

     I thoroughly believe that you have to be the instigator of change in your life, lead by example.  If I were ever in dire straights, I would hope that someone would open their door to me--and I've done it for some.  Karma, no matter how delayed, will somehow repay you; you can't anticipate it, expect it, or want it to happen... it just does, unexpectedly and in the most bizarre way sometimes.  So, my proposition to you is to open your heart, and your door(s), to a [non-homicidal, vouched for via CS] stranger, and make those life altering connections and friendships.

To new friends, new experiences, and great stories.