I woke up this morning to CNN´s coverage of the financial crisis back home. My friend, who has been emailing me updates, best labeled it as ¨financial armageddon¨.

¨How can you even think of quitting when people are losing their jobs on Wall Street¨, my parents repeatedly commented/interrogated/harassed even up the final days before departure. They have always supported my choices in life, although I´m sure this one was over the top for even them. I had to remind them that the uncertainty of our country´s economic future and that of Wall Street will carry on regardless of where I am. I just chose to take myself out of the equation of whatever it is that produces unhappiness in my life.

Nonetheless, I still worry for my friends caught in this ¨armageddon¨if you will. I can only imagine the worries plaguing them. Food for thought: Standing at the foot of the Cotapaxi the other day, I was reminded just how much beauty exits in this world. It´s hard to grasp sometimes when we are so overwhelmed by the mires of our daily lives. Take a step back, open the senses and enjoy life.. because it´s too damn short!