Making Happiness

Oh life, where have you been?  Needless to say, life has been speeding on while I'm chasing miles behind.  I feel like this summer has flown by and what have I accomplished?  What did I want to accomplish?  Well, it's summer and the whole point of summer is relaxation, right?  My day is the same every day, I wake up and eat breakfast with my mom and have some coffee while she has her ensure (cancer sucks), I clean the house for her or help her clean if she's feeling up to getting up, I work out for 90 minutes, I look at my homework and don't do it (usually), I eat dinner with my mom and I talk to my wonderful fiance.  At least that's a normal day... but who says that's boring or normal, lame, whatever?  Well, in the past two months I've had a lot of time to spend with the best mom in the entire world, mine.  I don't care that I get to see my friends once a week, I don't care that I have to sit on the side of my moms bed to hang out with her, I don't care that she doesn't have any hair, I don't care that our house is a disaster with medical supplies and nurses coming in and out every other day, I don't care that my mom doesn't like the same foods I do anymore because Chemotherapy has ruined her taste buds... I care that I get to spend almost every single moment with her because she spent 20 years giving me everything I needed and didn't need.  No I do not mean drugs or something stupid, but she didn't have to buy me Coach purses, she doesn't carry them; she didn't have to buy me Tiffany's jewelry, she doesn't own any; she didn't have to buy me 2 dresses every year for 7 years now, she wasn't allowed to go to dances when she grew up.  I think you get the point, whoever you are.  Today, I started thinking about all the things I am thankful for...all the things I have to be thankful for... No my situation may not be ideal but its real. This is not Hollywood.


So, In honor of my mom and everything that I am due to her raising me I decided it's time to reflect on what I am thankful for, what I love and some of my favorite things.  If you don't recognize your life, it will pass you by and leave you empty.

1. I am thankful for a wonderful mother who raised me for 20 years.  I am not thankful for cancer taking over her body but I am thankful that I can give back to her, I can take care of her like she took care of me.  That is true happiness.


2. I am thankful for a wonderful fiance and amazing future in-laws.  Nowhere, did I do anything to "deserve" a trip to Hawaii, Boston, free flights home to see my mom, expensive gifts, season tickets to Navy games with the family.  I am thankful for all that they do for me and the unconditional love and support I receive from them.


3.  I am thankful for my health and well-being. I realize that things in America are not ideal in the health world.  I am a believer in universal healthcare and I believe that healthcare is a right not a privilege. So, I am thankful for my insurance, even though it's terrible it's better than nothing.  I am thankful for my legs, energy and ability to run and feel the sun on my face.


4. I am thankful for life, love and happiness. I realize that not everyone experiences the things I have been so blessed to experience.  Europe was a dream?  I had a dream engagement, I graduated from a private school, I have a spectacular Mom, brother, sister-in-law, grandma, grandpa (rip 11/20/2008) and aunt (rip 8/5/2004).  Obviously theses aren't all my family, but their the ones who have impacted me the most, loved me unconditionally, supported all my crazy decisions and never turned their back on me, even once.

5. I am thankful for always being true to me.  Sure, it causes drama and criticism but if people are talking about you it's better than being ignored, right?  If you're being talked about you're either a slut or you're doing something right.  If people don't like the way I dress, what I say, that I'm not traditional and conventional but rather modern, vulgar and independent... that's wonderful but I am me and you are you.  Whether you agree or disagree with my lifestyle doesn't matter, that's what makes us both special. So I am thankful for being very open minded and liberal and still being loved in a 100% conservative family.  That's why we're all unique, special and wonderfully brilliant. 

Obviously, these are NOT all the things I am thankful for but a short list that covers pretty much any topic that may come.  I believe it's important to recognize that life can and at some point will be worse than whatever it is at this point in time.  So live, laugh, love and be merry at all times.

The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

"Success is always temporary.  When all is said and done, the only thing you'll have left is you character."

                           

"Happiness is the soul's joy in the possession of the intangible."

-William George Jordan

"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes." 

-Hugh Down

"There is only one success - to spend your life in your own way." 
-Christopher Morley

"Dreaming permits each of and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives."

-William Dement

13 long days

13 more long days until I can finally be with Christopher in the most beautiful place in the States!  After over 7 weeks of being apart this 13 days can not pass quickly enough... Then only 2 weeks apart until I move back to Annapolis for the academic year.  Possibly the last time I'll ever be "living" in my house with my Momma.  =(  And of course, everyone keep praying for my Mom! She is due for another treatment in a week so we're hoping this one is on time ant not delayed 2 weeks due to low counts again.  We're also waiting on the genetic counselors to get back with us so we can find out if my brother, sister and I carry the same cancer risk, it's a 99% chance we do... but 1% is better than 0 right?

13 more days until HAWAII!

1 year

Today, marks the one year mark until Christopher and I tie the knot!  We're getting married July 7, 2012 at the United States Naval Academy Chapel and I cannot wait!!  Even better news, my mom is feeling up to dress shopping and on July 16th we are going dress shopping for the first time.  I can't wait to find the perfect dress, the perfect bridesmaid dresses for my wonderful bridesmaids and finish planning a spectacular orange, pink and zebra wedding!  Thank God it's 2011 and a wedding isn't just white dresses and pure white satin shoes (boring!)


Here's to an exciting and stressful senior year for me... Cheers.

My favorite place on earth

In honor of starting a new blog, I decided to keep it short & simple and post a picture of my one true love (Paris, not Christopher, HA!) I've loved Europe in general since I was a wee child but I especially think of Paris as one of my favorite places and now, more importantly the place where I chose to spend the rest of my life with Christopher.   Cheers.