Une Belle Vie: 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.