Bridges

"May the bridges you must burn light a flame for a brighter future."

Rocky

Here's some familiar motivation for your Friday!

"You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you're no good. And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow. Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!--Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth."
-From Rocky Balboa's classic speech

50 Lessons of 2012

1. Save your money. You never know what could come up at what time.
2. It's OK to put your dog down as devastating as it is. All dogs go to heaven, and I would never want my dog to suffer a long, painful death before getting there.  
3. Puppies make you happy. 
4. Family are a blessing. They have seen your best and your worst, and they're still your family. 
5. Friends should bring out the best in you. If not, re-evaluate your friendships.
6. Your significant other should, also, bring out the best in you.
7. Be slow to speak and quick to listen as much as possible.  (I know, it's hard.)
8. Swallow your pride.
9. You are not perfect, stop trying to be or seem so. 
10. Make sure you check who you are sending a text to, before you send it to the wrong person.
11. Put your phone away on a date, at dinner with your fam, and when you go to sleep. 
12. Relax.
13. It's OK to be unavailable to your cell phone and available to the people you are spending time with. 
14. When picking out heels, make sure you can dance in them. You won't look like you're doin' the stanky leg the whole night. 
15. Drinking enough to puke is not fun, and not attractive. (I know, what a change from college.)
16. Your parents and grandparents DO know what they're talking about. 
17. Find a hobby and stick to it. Ex. Workout class at your gym, biking, train to run a marathon, collect rocks, read every Cosmo for that year-basically whatever floats your boat.
18. From The Happiness Project: Act the way you want to feel. Still learning this, but it's so true.  If you're feelin' cruddy, there's no reason to drag anyone else down with you. You will sleep better knowing you didn't let your negativity get the best of you or anyone else. Act happier than you feel, and you will, in return, feel happier.
19. Make sure you see a future in your career. If you are working a job that feels pointless and unproductive to you, chances are it probably is. Find a career YOU are HAPPY with. And you will be happier. 
20. Take care of yourself. Getting sick is never fun. Drink that OJ, and eat well. 
21. Think before you act. (...another simple one that is still tough.)
22. Make time for yourself. This should be a PRIORITY!
23. Set long-term and short-term goals.
24. You ARE enough.
25. Keep in touch with friends-distant or close.
26. Do not be afraid to fall in love and set your life off track. Love is meant to do that. (Eat, Pray, Love)
27. Do not push away your significant other. That person is ON YOUR SIDE.
28. Lying gets you nowhere.
29. Accept your imperfections.
30. It is important to believe in something.
31. Your socks don't have to match.
32. Try to refrain from gossip whenever you can. Gossip is basically murder to your friendships and relationships. 
33. It's OK to want more money.
34. Pick a close friend or family member that you can fully trust and rely on. That's the person to vent to-not the whole world. 
35. Your business is your business. Keep it to yourself. 
36. Take pictures of anything you find beautiful.
37. Show up. A majority of being a good friend, good acquaintance, and a good family member is showing up.
38. Birthdays do count. If anything, make sure to share birthdays with as many friends and family members as you can. 
39. Send Christmas cards-a nice, simple way to keep in touch with those who are far away. (Your address book and Christmas card list will grow every year.)
40. Speak and think of the past as a previous chapter in your life, not a burden you are carrying around. It's over. Move on.
41. You are the source to your own happiness.
42. When someone hurts you with words, take those words into consideration, and turn them into something positive. 
43. Accept where you are in your life, and don't wish to be anywhere else.
44. Own your mistakes, but do not hold onto them. 
45. When you dress yourself in the morning, wear your style, not anyone else's.
46. Listen to what you feel. (...unless it's that time of the month.)
47. Learn how to cook foods you've never cooked before. 
48. It's OK to splurge on yourself at the mall from time to time. 
49. Smile more, have a bad attitude less.
50. You are alive, and that's reason enough to keep going. 

I could go on for days. 2012 has been a tough reality check for me in many ways. I've learned A LOT, and I'm super excited for what 2013 has in store. Bring in the new year leaving 2012 in the past, ready to embrace what next year has in store. You are the creator of your world, and the writer of your life. Make sure the people in your life are making YOU a better YOU. Stay close to family, count your blessings, and never give up. 2013 here we go!

Merry Christmas to us!

Christmas is such a wonderful holiday. A day with family, a day off work, a phone call from friends, and good food! Of course, I would get the stomache flu or whatever you call it. Pretty much my guy's whole family and I got it. Merry Christmas to us! On a brighter note, my father made a very good point at the Christmas eve service Monday night. He was talking about how Christmastime feels like a clean slate, a peaceful day. It's so true! The whole world changed when Jesus was born (if that's what you believe), and even to this day Christmas feels like such a peaceful day. Hence why by New Years everyone has New Year's resolutions and promises made to themselves to make the next year a better year. New Year's feels like a clean slate. And I think everyone needs that sometimes. I've had my share of faults and mistakes this year, but I have learned so much. I have a wonderful man who has stuck by me right or wrong, a loving family, and I'm bringing in the New Year knowing who is supposed to be in my life and who isn't. 2012 has been full of lessons and blessings. A year ago I was jobless, my family had moved away, and I had no idea what I was going to do. Wow have things changed. Whether it was a horrible year or the best year you've ever had, you have a clean slate. Make 2013 whatever you want it to be.

Love is

Remember today, love is not a whisper or a weakness.
Start your Christmas weekend off right. Share a little love with the special ones around you. It is not a weakness, but a strength.

Mercy-Dave Matthews Band

Girls, Girls, Girls

So much to say about this. Girls, girls, girls. Girls have the natural capability of representing beauty and love. But yet we become raging beasts in the snap of a finger.

I read in The Happiness Project to stay away from gossip. Sort of impossible if you are a chick. But I really want to challenge myself to do this. The only time I enjoy gossip is in the moment it's being said, the moment I hear it, and the moment it's spread. That's it. There is no long-lasting happiness I get from being a part of gossip: telling it, receiving it, or sitting in a room full of it. The day after a gossip sesh feels worse than a hangover for me. I always revisit what I said, what I heard, and wow is that true?. I, also, read in Rubin's book to never believe what you do not see. If you didn't see it, but you heard it, don't believe it. You weren't there to witness the dirty deeds being done, you weren't there to hear what was going on, and therefore, it is none of your business. Would you enjoy your life being plastered all over everyone's tabloid lips? Probably not. I mean, who does?

I strongly believe in karma-not religiously or anything like that. I believe that you should treat others like you would want to be treated. Thank goodness there's grace and mercy or we'd all be beaten down and completely miserable. Obviously, a lot of the bad deeds we have done, haven't necessarily been repaid. But I find that if you notice your wrongdoings and fix what has been done, karma won't be out to get you as much. But if you continually partake in treating others bad or doing wrong, with no sympathy or hope to change, karma will get you. Maybe I'm wrong, but I've seen karma get a few people, and I can't say I didn't smirk about it.

I'm not a mean girl. I really do want happiness for everyone in my life. I'm not perfect. I make mistakes, and I learn from them. One of my biggest pet-peeves is those who mistreat others-mainly relationally. Our relationships are the MOST important part of our lives. Our relationships with God, our significant other, family, and friends will make or break our lives. Stop mistreating the people closest to you in your life. Stop lying. Stop cheating. Stop gossiping. Stop the violence. Stop the anger before you destroy your purpose on this planet. You treat your family bad, your future family will suffer. You treat your romantic relationship bad, your lover will suffer (and even your kids if you have any) and probably your future lover, too. You treat your friends bad, you will suffer. Yes, we all suffer from mistreatment from someone in our lives, but know that it is not your fault. You cannot make decisions for anyone but yourself. Make good choices!

Back to gossip and the agony of being a woman. You will always be surrounded by gossip one way or another. You may have said something before that you regret and something you wish you would have never said (knowing it will turn into someone else's gossip). I'm making it a point in my life to stay away from gossip as much as I can. In one ear, out the other. Speak purely of others.

"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people." -Eleanor Roosevelt

To-do Week

Ever feel like you're having a week that is more like a to-do week? I know I do! I'm having a to-do week as we speak. So much to do, so little time, AGAIN! How is it humanly possible to have so much to do? I want to see the day where I have nothing to do, at all. Gosh, I don't even remember what that feels like.

My goals for this week seem never-ending. On the up side, I made spaghetti by myself for the first time ever. And thanks to "Fit and Active", it was more healthy than usual, making stuffing my face more enjoyable. Now, you may be thinking "Wow, she must not be domestic." You're probably right. I was raised in a family where the daddy was the cook of the family. My mom can cook, too, but my dad LOVES cooking. One day, he even mentioned opening his own restaurant when he retires. He just loves to cook. And when he's cooking, he seems like he wants the kitchen to himself, until he needs the table set. So there. I haven't really experienced cooking, and I don't consider myself a typical woman, either. I like to clean because I like a clean home. But cleaning isn't a "woman's job". It's a home-owner's or renter's job. Tonight, even though my guy doesn't live with me, I asked him nicely to help clean up the kitchen after dinner. Of course, he gives me that "Do I have to" look. He surprisingly agreed to help, and let me tell you, the cleaning was done MUCH quicker. Team effort. It's OK to help clean, even if you're a manly-man.

Anyways, it was nice to feel like I accomplished something tonight: I made my first spaghetti dinner. And while the sauce was slow-cookin', I did an Insanity cardio workout via DVD. That completes my Monday.

Happy Monday to you. Make sure you have your goals for the week! I look forward to the weekend. And the more I get done this week, the more fun I have come Friday. And...CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!