My new backpack is a chameleon.

Over the past few days, I've had the most insignificant dilemma of my college career - on whether I should buy the backpack that appeases my kiddish love for color, or a clone of my current black backpack (aka partner in crime). I feel like we're at the age where we're slowly outgrowing silly kiddish desires, whether they be of backpack colors or simple pleasures like running outside for ice cream when the truck's around the corner. Lately, I've been catching myself saying, "oh, this is more practical" or "I want to, but work/school/tired/blah."

For me, this is just not okay. Can we just think for a second... about whether we're getting that second back? Can we ask ourselves whether in the future, we'll get to be rash and irresponsible and have fun through it all, the way we so delightfully can right now? It's possible that we will, but it's probable that we won't.

There are too many aspects of life that are just mediocre, and I can feel that list growing by the day. My new goal, inspired by some friends on Twitter, is to take something different each day that I ordinarily find unexceptional, and step it up a notch in excitement.

So, it starts with my most unpleasant item - the sack that has carried all of my burdens over the past few years. If you want to experiment this new mentality with me, I want to hear about it! Shoot me a text/email/whatever. I think I've made it pretty clear how reachable I am. :)

What are you juggling?

Bryant Park in the summer is so lively, and being able to witness New York's diverse crowds coming together to play always leaves me feeling enchanted in a sense. I captured this shot of a group of people learning to juggle from each other today, because I took it as a statement of the magnitude to which we rely on each other to help develop our skills, whether it be in juggling or organic chemistry. I watched as people dropped things, picked themselves back up, noticed others succeeding, and tried to imitate behavior.

So what are you juggling today? Is it work, or family, or friends, or school, or something else you want to get off your chest? I'm juggling a few things: 1) finding the time to write/read each day to better articulate my thoughts, 2) spending time with my family, knowing that I'll have to leave for school soon, 3) learning to actually ACT on my ideas/thoughts rather than having them accumulate and lose value, and 4) remembering to enjoy the summer before it flies by before my eyes.

I'm sharing all of this specifically to point out one of my major intentions with this blog: to create an open exchange of ideas that either agree with, challenge, or assist in my own thought process. With that said, I'd love to hear your thoughts - on anything I've written thus far, via any mode of communication. I'm doing all that I can to become a better person, and I need your help. 


P.S. the idea can always be reversed. If you have an issue, or even just something you would like to improve upon, talk it out, and learn from people. If you think I can help, contact me via Facebook, Twitter, or email me at robinmehta94@gmail.com. I can't stress how often I, among others, have been too proud to ask for direction, when it could have saved me a boatload of time and frustration. Let's be better about this. 

The Best Career Advice I've Gotten

University of Michigan Law Library

A few days ago, I ran into an old friend who shared with me her two cents for undergrads starting (or hoping to start) a career in law. However, her words proved to be a statement (in my mind) towards starting any career. Here's what she told me:

1) Compete with yourself (only). 
Sometimes in college, we are surrounded by overachievers (or underachievers, for that matter) and lose a grip of ourselves among all of the competition (or lack thereof). Her advice was to work hard, but compete with yourself, instead of anyone else. Don't stress yourself out worrying about what other people are working on, and don't take it easy when you know you should be focused. Solid advice, and something most of us know (but often forget).

2) Do study what you love. 
I'll admit, over the past year, I have been guilty of thinking: "Which major would sound the smartest/look the best on my résumé?" I know I'm not the only one who has had this thought, because it's natural to be judgmental of ourselves in the light of others. This piece of advice was unique because it answered why we should do this, from the eyes of a job recruiter/interviewer. We should follow our passions specifically because we should have an urge to always talk about what we're doing. We should be excited about everything. What sets you apart from other people interviewing is the spark in your eyes that invites open conversation, or that fascinating thing you learned that changed your life.

3) Do try new things.
It doesn't have to be something related to your area of study, or even academic at all. She urged me to join something random and fun, like a culinary club (if you like food - but who doesn't?), a cultural team... even ballroom dancing! Preferably something through which you can meet awesome people or travel. Treat your life like a story, and be the best story you can be. Despite whatever career path you are pursuing, knowing people - and more importantly having them retain their interest in you - is key towards opening doors to opportunity. When interviewing, creating relationships, or networking with new people, be the best story you can possibly be.

In college, it's normal to change majors or ponder career paths before settling your heart on something, and all of this is important for self-discovery/betterment. I took these three points to heart, not only as advice on how to look like a good applicant in the eyes of a recruiter/interviewer, but also advice on how to do the best for myself by discovering the best about myself, each and every day.

Can a five-year-old paint this?

T-shirt design courtesy of www.moma.org

I've always been a fan of abstract art (to view or paint), because to me, it has the capacity to reflect imagination in a way that is unique to each individual. I love it especially because it lets me visualize a person's sense of design, style, and perspective unlike any other form of art. But the question always pops up: How do "they" determine which abstract paintings are worth what?

And couldn't a five-year-old paint this?

Courtesy of aelitaandre.com

Or this?

Courtesy of aelitaandre.com

If you haven't heard about Aelita Andre, she's an avid eater, sleeper, and pooper. But she's also a five-year-old abstract expressionist prodigy. Are you artsier than a 5-year-old? (Or did school kill your creativity?)


If you're curious at all, watch her in action. I'm still fascinated.
What I think the greatest thing about her art is that she's entirely fearless with the whole process. When you're a kid, you don't care about whether or not your painting is going to be appreciated by others or if you'll gain anything out of it. You do something because it's fun, and you do it with a sense of freedom too.

I remember doing a whole bunch of that Jackson Pollock style painting at Fun Craft parties when I was five, but all that's left of my "R-O-B-I-N" collection are these:

When I try painting sometimes, this is what goes through my head:
- I hope I make something good
- I better not ruin this $15 canvas
- I can't waste so much paint!
- I shouldn't be wasting so much time with this
- I'm making a mess!


Greatness comes when we stop worrying, and start doing what we love.

Treat Dad.

Just a reminder that Father's Day is tomorrow, June 16th. How are you giving back?


Last year, I found my dad eyeing this Yoshimoto Cube at the MoMA's gift shop. To treat his inner quirkiness, I found a (fairly quick) video tutorial to help me make it, and saved him (and myself) $65. Plus, the paint added a personalized touch! Here's how it turned out:

I'm still toying with some ideas for tomorrow, and meanwhile made reservations to this amazing Mediterranean restaurant I recently tried called Ilili (found near Madison Square Park on 5th Ave). If you do ever go, be sure to try their Semolina Gnocchi, Brussel Sprouts, and Cucumber Lemonade. Definitely surprised my taste buds there!

Photos courtesy of www.ililinyc.com

Some other ideas to treat your old man!


If you have time and no money:

A Hovercraft

Artsy Maps

Patterned Necktie Pillows

Music-Themed Coasters

Vintage Magazine Art


If you have money and no time: 

For Dads Who Love to Relax

Cheese & Wine Tasting

A Day Out Sailing

Beer-Making Classes

Make him Fly

Gelato-Making Classes

Race with Him

A Morning in a Hot Air Balloon



If you have no money and no time but still love your dad very much:

Hand-wash his car

Fix something in the house

Watch his favorite movie together

Watch/play his favorite sport

Spend the day at a park

Hug him.

Thank him.

Show him that you're a better person because of him. xo

Magic is Everywhere.

"Drop the the. Just Facebook. It's cleaner."
- The Social Network

A friend of mine texted me last night, addressing the title of this blog, adding that JT had some good advice for me. I find it funny that the movie's name isn't just "Social Network." 

But I do want to address this blog's title, "The Forever Tourist." Or "Forever Tourist," whatever. 

I chose it for two reasons:

1) To create a fun environment in which I can document and share new things I try, and inspire feedback/people to tell me about new things I should try (if not directly by comments, then by simply reaching out to me personally, doesn't matter). Essentially, to promote the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying new things. 

2) To never stop doing this. To never become satisfied with familiarity, and to always put yourself in a tourist's shoes. Because the minute you look down from those skyscrapers, the magic stops. There are always new places to go, new faces to meet, and new things to be discovered. It's simply infinite. The reason I'm writing is so that we don't all become old farts who forget the magic. It's always going to be there, and I don't ever want to stop looking!

Something New

The past year has been chock-full of new experiences for me. Some of my favorites include trapezing, trying Pasta di Cacao, singing "Hail to the Victors" at a Michigan football game, and reuniting with a long lost cousin at college.

In my fall semester at the University of Michigan, I took an intro course in Political Theory, and one concept by John Stuart Mill struck me in that we should all be trying something new every day, like this guy.

A Ted Talk by Matt Cutts prompted me to revisit this ideology recently, leading me to...

....begin teaching myself HTML (which actually helped me figure out a few tricky things in this blog itself). 

Like Matt Cutts, I had to try writing a novel:

...but got stuck when I had to name my characters. 

So instead, I painted what's now the background for this blog. Cool right? 

Lastly, I had a friend start teaching me some guitar!

Hopefully someday I'll be good as John Mayer, because he's sexy. 

The cool thing about each of these attempts is that even if you don't go through with them, they stir up a massive amount of inspiration, which instantly makes you feel good about yourself.

So, I'm proposing a new challenge to go out, and do something new every day. 

It could be as simple as trying the new Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino. 

Let's do it!