this too shall pass.

Stress is not what happens to us. It's our response to what happens. And RESPONSE is something we can choose. ~Maureen Killoran

The time to relax is when you don't have time for it.  ~Attributed to both Jim Goodwin and Sydney J. Harris

Thank you for all of the wonderful words of wisdom and advice! :)

Not sure if it was the kind words or the massive amounts of junk I've eaten today {starbucks, cookies, yogurt pretzels, you name it...}, but today was better than yesterday.

Time has an amazing way of healing things!

Good Vibes & Random Quotes

Once you go through something you think will kill you and it doesn’t, every day is like a present.
~Elissa B. Terris 

Others all around us are going through such awful things - illness, death, abuse, and the list goes on. In the grand scheme of things, I am a truly lucky girl.

In that context, I feel so selfish and silly to admit that it took me a long time and possibly a bout of minor depression to get to this place. But I am a happy, thankful person as of lately. Each day I am choosing joy. If nothing else, I hope to bring a smile to another person's face each day.  

 Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.
~Grandma Moses

Life is in fact what you make it, and I am trying to be more proactive in making choices that will bring me happiness and wonderful memories ~ partly because living alone has put me more in touch with what makes me feel accomplished and satisfied.

I have gotten a better balance in my life between work and personal time. I've done some successful apartment shopping {more on that later}. I have so many unbelievable friends {despite them not all being here in the city}. I have a loving family. I am proud of my independence and all that I have learned in the previous months. And I have learned to laugh at myself during not so proud moments ~ truly a gift at times!

To find in ourselves what makes life worth living is risky business, for it means that once we know, we must seek it.
~Marsha Sinetar

Although I am still uncertain about many things, I have learned so much and am becoming much more comfortable with my new life. I have a better appreciation for the relationships in my life {old and new} and the wonderful memories and experiences I have been so lucky to have. I am beyond blessed. And thank you to each of you reading for being a major contributor to my overflowing joy!

Be Inspired.

Today at work we had a 2 hour session on balancing work and home life {whatever that means for me right now...insert work/life balance issue here}. 

What an awesome way to spend my afternoon ~ this session was extremely entertaining, funny, and very insightful! The free lunch was nice too.

I cannot wait to put to use some of the tips and words of wisdom that were shared. 

The recommendation that hit me the hardest was creating a "bucket list" of 100 things to do before you die. I know it sounds cliche, but the things this guy has crossed of his list were amazing! From running marathons to riding 50 foot whale sharks to visiting over 100 countries in his lifetime.

I want to do these things. I need to stop putting things off and waiting for my life to start.  

My life is now. 

Work is a part of my life, but not all of it. 

I'm beginning my "100 List" tonight. It's not a quick exercise or a permanent commitment. Instead, this list is meant to be an ongoing reminder of the bigger picture. As life changes, substitute new dreams and goals so that the list still fits you. 

By crossing off at least two items per year, think of how many unique experiences you could accomplish in your lifetime. 

Don't let life pass you by. Make a conscious effort to live your fullest life possible - whatever that means for you personally.

I will choose JOY

Amongst life's many stresses, several things are bringing a smile to my face at the moment:

• My butt has been to the gym 3 days in a row...I love the way I feel after working out, and I want to keep it up!
• York Peppermint Patties {to balance out the workouts, duh}. This girl's got a sweet tooth.
• The fact that several of my friends have started blogs...hint, hint to the others out there...
  
• Country music ~ particularly the "Black Dress Song" and the song about dancing through the house...whatever it's called.
  
• My wonderful friends that I don't get to spend enough time with, but love that when we hang out it feels like no time has passed :)
  
• Ol' Boy asked me to dinner this week. I've decided {per my New Year's Resolution of being more open and accepting} that I wasn't right to judge him so quickly. From all I know so far, he is extremely nice and easy to talk to. And 2 bomb points to him for actually asking a girl on a date!
  
• I am trying to limit the stress in my life ~ and feeling good so far this week {ha, I know...it's only Monday, we'll see how the rest of the week goes}. I am trying to stress less about work because I am doing my best and that's all I've got.
• Finally, I am already looking forward to the Starbucks I'm going to get tomorrow morning...because I deserve it ;)

Hope everyone had a Happy Day...despite it being Monday! 

Be Happy

Although it is usually always hard for me to get out of bed in the morning, once I'm up I really enjoy my morning routine.

Depending on what time I wake up, I either go to the gym and work out next to Mr. Hot Boy that doesn't know I exist and then come back and watch the Today Show {love it} while I get ready, or I listen to Chris Carr & Co. on the radio {so funny} when I need to go into work early.

Top this off with my morning latte, and it puts me in a pretty good mood.

People must think I'm crazy as I laugh hysterically out loud during my entire drive in to work...interrupted by occasionally singing along to music.

I am then greeted by friendly workers at my parking garage. Every day, they smile and genuinely say "good morning." They all know me by name, and when I'm running a bit late and they see my car pull into the garage they hold the shuttle for me so that I don't have to walk in the cold.

If these guys can exude happiness every day, despite driving a shuttle in circles over and over, I can choose to be happy as well.

I do have so much to be thankful for, and life is better with a smile :)

Wonderful Weekend

After an awful week, all I could think about was spending the weekend at home. I cried almost the entire drive home, and after quality time with good friends I made the drive back in a much happier mood. =)

Mom and I went for sushi on Friday night when I got in town, and then came home and got distracted by a puzzle and mom believing she could sing oldies music.

On Saturday, I woke up early to go wedding dress shopping with one of my best friends. She found a dress that she looks stunning in. I feel so fortunate to get to go through this experience with her. I am beyond excited for her and her fiance, they are a beautiful couple.

After shopping all day, we went to dinner and hung out at her house (even though we had chinese food for dinner, we also made brownies...yumm!)

I have been so lonely lately (in fact, lonely is an understatement). It is hard to see the positive things in my life because I am currently surrounded by so many things I am uncomfortable or unhappy with. Being surrounded by people I love was just what I needed this weekend. It has given me new perspective, and I have realized I need to take action and begin finding out what makes me happy. I pray that I have strength to get through another week of work. I think I can, I think I can...

The Amazing Race

"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time" --Winston Churchill

I have a problem with thinking too much about the future. I am a planner, and sometimes that gets out of control. Lately, I have been stressing myself out about my future way too much. Instead, I've decided I need to simply start doing things today that will set me up for happiness and success down the road. Just take life one day at a time, and let life run its course.

I am anxious to meet more people in the area (a guy would be nice as well...), and I've decided that since I met tons of friends through social groups in college, I should try that in the new city as well. There are tons of "young professional" organizations here that look like fun.

Today, a team of four of us (basically all the people I already know in the new city) got together for a scavenger hunt through downtown. A big charity organization in town hosted a social scavenger hunt (similar to the Amazing Race but on a much smaller scale...alrthough it did seem like we were running/walking forever) and a happy hour afterwards (even though it was only 2 o'clock in the afternoon). There were 5 detour locations at bars that were discovered by figuring out clues and 5 destinations where you had to answer trivia about the city's history. Although this event was more social based, this organization does about 30 community service events throughout the year as well. I'm excited to get more involved in the group because everyone was very nice! Being that all of our team members were new to the city, we did not even come close to winning overall, but we did win in our minds because we gained a greater feel of the city and met some wonderful new people!