Belay On

Having high expectations for anything can result in bitter disappointment. Think Prom Night or New Year's Eve. It's all the anticipation, hype and quite frankly pressure to make it such a stellar night or event that it turns out being really -- well -- lame.

I've found that the best nights out in New York have truly been the ones that are unplanned, unhinged and done with the greatest degree of spontaneity. The tiny dive bar that screams health code violations and usual patrons that reek of every possible human excretion, fast becomes your cheapest night out in Manhattan and perhaps the most memorable simply because it was unexpected and you let your guard down for the possibility.

I'd say on par with that experience was this past weekend. I got back into an activity I enjoyed so much back in college -- indoor rock climbing -- and left the rest of my weekend up to its own devices. There was nothing to be gained, had or lost when there was nothing to check off a list or accomplish. Time, for the first time in Manhattan, seemed to slow down, progress slowly and at moments dragged on (but in the most enjoyable of ways).

For no other reasons but the fact that I had nothing set in stone, no To-Do list and I let go of any expectations, was this weekend one of my highest ranking weekends on my non-existent list of "BEST WEEKENDS EVER."

stay present and go with the flow...the rest will just come naturally. climb on.