Hi Everyone!  I can't thank you enough for all the positive feedback that i have had so far on the blog. I have heard from a few of you, and it has been a treat to hear about your own inspiration scouting!

If my parents are reading this right now, please scroll down to the part about Harry Potter.

For everyone else, I wanted to tell you about my roof adventures!

I took this like 5 mins ago.  I am actually still sitting on the roof right now.

If you are a friend of mine in Boston and you haven't seen me in the the last week, it's because I am usually scurrying from either class, work, or working on my homework.  It is a pretty busy season for me right now, but that doesn't mean that I can't make time to be alone.  For this week, rather than going out and doing a solitary activity, I have been doing homework on my roof.  My roommate, Kaylyn, and I discovered our roof access last summer.  For the times that Boston feels a little much like a city, my rooftop is clutch.  Another bonus is that our wifi works up there.  ( cha-ching!!)

Just casually drinking a cold brew coffee on a summer's day.

Moving on.  As I was reflecting on my attempt to embrace the solitary life, I remembered that I had started my journey before I realized.  Let's back track a bit, perhaps with the use of a time turner????

My only goal of 2014 was to read through the Harry Potter Series.  It's true.  When I sat down in March to write a belated New Year's Resolution list, the only thing that I could think of was - well I guess I have never read the Harry Potter books.  Best decision of my mid twenties.  If you have been friends with me post 2014 you have probably heard me say, "J.K. Rowling is a genius" or "I can't believe Snape's role in all of this," or even the sentimental "if Harry can get through this, then I can get through anything."  See reading a seven book series is a big deal for me.  I have never done it, and I probably won't do it again.  The reason - reading feels like a waste of time.  I used to hate reading because I felt like it was a constellation prize to actually hanging out and interacting with people.  Why would I want to read a book when I could talk to someone?  I was surprised to learn that Harry Potter united me to so many more people than I could ever have imagined.

Over the course of the year I would carry around the HP books wherever I would go.  People would stop me on the street and say- "Is that Harry Potter?"  When I would explain that it was my first time reading it, I would get almost the same look from different strangers.  It was the look of envy and excitements's love child.  Meaning, everyone wished that they could read Harry Potter again for the first time.  I became closer with people at work because we could talk about Snape and Mrs. Weasley during our lunch break.  This wasn't a one time interaction.  We talked about different characters and plot sequences for weeks.  Not only did we chat about the novels, but I also was invited to learn about where they were at different life stages while they read the series.  Harry Potter was the bridge to learn a lot about my coworkers' adolescents. 

Many a night, Kaylyn and I will accidentally stay up late talking about the many themes of the novels and how the most important theme - sacrificial love conquers all, is ever present in the book. 

It is interesting how a solitary activity can make your social activities so much more rich.  I am looking forward to learning how inspiration scouting can help me connect and be a better friend to those in my life.  More to come!

Scouts Honor,

Kathleen