EndorphinGirl™ stumbled upon Sagrada Familia http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/sf-eng/docs_instit/gaudi1_e.php in the late 1990’s.  It was a profound-stumble-upon for a number of reasons.  She found an affinity for Gaudi, the architect / artist and for all his works; and for the first time she realized a true hunger for art!  She was also at a transition point in life so the beauty and serenity of what she experienced from the church surroundings were comparable to nothing else.  She felt an overpowering sense of inner peace exploring the Sagrada!  

Coincidence or not she found herself in the same Church about 10 years later when she was on a business trip to Barcelona while again in another life-transitioning stage.  Some will say there are no coincidences.  Perhaps this is true. And once again EndorphinGirl™ found an overpowering sense of inner peace exploring the beauty of the Sagrada, its art, the warmth of the country it resides in, and especially the country’s compatriots!

Why Sagrada Familia in today’s blog?  She was reminded of the church earlier this week when passing by St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue.  She took a quick detour into St. Pat’s prior to heading to a meeting across the Street.  It being the Easter season she was literally drawn inside!  She spent but a few minutes in quiet before heading back out onto the hustle and bustle of over-touristed Manhattan streets.  The minutes were well spent.

Further coincidence or not, EndorphinGirl™’s first encounter with the country where Sagrada dwells, was in the mid 1980’s.  It was her first introduction to a foreign country, while backpacking through Europe.  The story about that trip is perhaps another blog; what is worth a mention now is that the hospitality she and her backpacking buddy Kar Ren experienced, rendered them temporarily thunderstruck. They were welcomed into the homes of strangers, young girls of like-ages, when their backpacks were temporarily lost and their money sparse because the local money-exchange people were on extended siestas and they could not change currency.  [But really the money was scant because they were college kids on a budget!]

Sagrada Familia and its lovely homeland remind EndorphinGirl™ of new introductions and new beginnings.  Easter is a new beginning for many, so it seemed only fitting to write a brief blog about this today.

Coincidence?  You decide.  But somehow this all ties together for EndorphinGirl™.  And while she feels she’s done with the life-transition thing at least for another few decades . . . a few prints of Gaudi’s Sagrada meanwhile hang on her walls at home so she gets to experience doses of tranquility from his art on a daily basis.  Oh, and with her next trip to Spain and the Sagrada, she will overrule any coincidences to any life transition states! J  Other types of coincidences will howver certainly be considered!

Endorphin connection is:  Art and Sagrada Familia and Spain make EndorphinGirl™ happy.  Happy equals endorphins!

Wishing all a peaceful new beginning with the introduction of every new day!  Happy Easter!

Until next time keep on endorphin' and guest comments always welcomed!

EndorphinGirl™

[Countdown: 36 days]