okay, so that last post was a little.... whiny.
after a long talk with my friend D on the way home from restaurant club, i'm feeling much better.
after all, what can i do? i don't want to whine anymore, i don't want to feel sorry for myself or dig myself deeper into a surly little world. what's the point?
so- on saturday, i will put a sexy dress on, strap on some high heels, toast the happy couple and dance my ass off with my fabulous sister.
as carrie bradshaw says,
"don't worry. they have a very lovely life."
Thursday, July 30, 2009
changing the attitude.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
what, no guest option?
this weekend, i am attending the wedding of a dear family friend. he and i grew up together; our parents were neighbors and continue to be very close friends. while i don't know his wife-to-be all that well, i have been looking forward to celebrating this wonderful day with him and with our families. that is, until the wedding invitation came in the mail.
look, i know that i'm single, i've never been married, i've never planned a wedding (well, never planned one that came to fruition). i know how much money goes into them and i know it must be hard to cut down and stay on budget.
but. while i am single, i am almost 27 years old. so when i received a wedding invitation addressed to "brooke" and not "brooke and guest," i felt like i had been kicked down.
i know that's not what they intended. i know they probably didn't even think twice about it, because i will be going with my family and i likely wouldn't have brought anyone. but it's the thought that counts. it's the fact that when and if i get married, i will have to accomodate for him and his wife (and his brother and his wife) in my budget, but he gets off because my sister and i are both single.
i'm still looking forward to it and i know i'll have fun. but it will be in the back of my mind. mountain out of a mole hill? maybe. just another "single issue" to have deal with, i guess.
look, i know that i'm single, i've never been married, i've never planned a wedding (well, never planned one that came to fruition). i know how much money goes into them and i know it must be hard to cut down and stay on budget.
but. while i am single, i am almost 27 years old. so when i received a wedding invitation addressed to "brooke" and not "brooke and guest," i felt like i had been kicked down.
i know that's not what they intended. i know they probably didn't even think twice about it, because i will be going with my family and i likely wouldn't have brought anyone. but it's the thought that counts. it's the fact that when and if i get married, i will have to accomodate for him and his wife (and his brother and his wife) in my budget, but he gets off because my sister and i are both single.
i'm still looking forward to it and i know i'll have fun. but it will be in the back of my mind. mountain out of a mole hill? maybe. just another "single issue" to have deal with, i guess.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
a little wedding toast.
to my non-romantic life partner, this is my speech to you, just in case i have a few too many glasses of bubbly at the reception and get too choked up to speak. ;) how to give a wedding toast without sounding too cheesy? well, cheesy is my thing, so bear with me...
we've stood next to each other on many, many days.
there was the first day of sophomore year. i found you in your room, i sat with you and cried with you. a sad moment turned bittersweet in a moment that defined a true friendship for me.
there were the many, many nights we stood next to each other at one party or another, you teaching me your "expert" ways... or just leading me through the taco john's drive-thru on foot at midnight!
there was that "one summer" we spent our days by the pool (margaritas usually in hand) and our nights prowling minneapolis, making it known we were full-swing into "mating season."
there were breakups, makeups, laughter, tears, love and fury. and through it all, i stood beside you.
and now there is this- your wedding day. and while i cherish with all my heart every other day i've stood beside you, there is nothing i cherish more than this. i am so blessed to call you my friend. i am so happy to be beside you while you promise your life and love to the one who will now stand with you forever.
and through it all, i will be there too. and i will love you forever.
happy wedding day, my beautiful angie.
we've stood next to each other on many, many days.
there was the first day of sophomore year. i found you in your room, i sat with you and cried with you. a sad moment turned bittersweet in a moment that defined a true friendship for me.
there were the many, many nights we stood next to each other at one party or another, you teaching me your "expert" ways... or just leading me through the taco john's drive-thru on foot at midnight!
there was that "one summer" we spent our days by the pool (margaritas usually in hand) and our nights prowling minneapolis, making it known we were full-swing into "mating season."
there were breakups, makeups, laughter, tears, love and fury. and through it all, i stood beside you.
and now there is this- your wedding day. and while i cherish with all my heart every other day i've stood beside you, there is nothing i cherish more than this. i am so blessed to call you my friend. i am so happy to be beside you while you promise your life and love to the one who will now stand with you forever.
and through it all, i will be there too. and i will love you forever.
happy wedding day, my beautiful angie.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
the sweet ain't as sweet...
lesson of the day: "the sweet ain't as sweet without the bitter, baby."
recently, i had a conversation with a co-worker as we were driving in between meetings. one of her favorite topics of conversation is her two little girls and i love to hear her talk about them- her face lights up and the energy and love with which she speaks of them is lovely to be around.
this conversation revolved around the girls' bedtime a few nights before. as she finished reading a story to her three-year-old and was ready to tuck her into bed, her little girl said, "mama, i don't want you to go yet, it makes me sad." and she told her little girl, "it's okay to be sad."
it's okay to be sad.
she told me that's an important life lesson she wants to pass on to her daughters. so many of us try and skip over the sadness by over-indulging ourselves to forget about the pain-- too much eating, too much drinking, too much of something so we can forget about the sadness. but if we let ourselves feel the sadness-- if we treat it less as a disease and more as a necessary emotion from time to time, maybe it won't be so awful.
so.
last night, i was sad. and i cried. and i let myself feel it. today- i am sad. and i will let myself feel it.
and i am absolutely confident that better days are ahead, that this will pass and it will all be okay.
lesson of the day.
recently, i had a conversation with a co-worker as we were driving in between meetings. one of her favorite topics of conversation is her two little girls and i love to hear her talk about them- her face lights up and the energy and love with which she speaks of them is lovely to be around.
this conversation revolved around the girls' bedtime a few nights before. as she finished reading a story to her three-year-old and was ready to tuck her into bed, her little girl said, "mama, i don't want you to go yet, it makes me sad." and she told her little girl, "it's okay to be sad."
it's okay to be sad.
she told me that's an important life lesson she wants to pass on to her daughters. so many of us try and skip over the sadness by over-indulging ourselves to forget about the pain-- too much eating, too much drinking, too much of something so we can forget about the sadness. but if we let ourselves feel the sadness-- if we treat it less as a disease and more as a necessary emotion from time to time, maybe it won't be so awful.
so.
last night, i was sad. and i cried. and i let myself feel it. today- i am sad. and i will let myself feel it.
and i am absolutely confident that better days are ahead, that this will pass and it will all be okay.
lesson of the day.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
do you ever have one of those moments?
where you're runningrunningrunning through the day and all of a sudden you just stop.
and think.
is this really me?
when i was little, i'd always watch the business men and women walking through downtown, hoping that someday i would be one of them. i had no idea what it would consist of, what my life would have to be like in order to be one of them, but i just knew i wanted it.
today, crossing 6th st. downtown in my plaid skirt and black heels, sun on my face, rushing to get to a meeting, i realized it.
i've become what i wanted to become.
it doesn't really feel as how i imagined it would.
it's so much better.
and think.
is this really me?
when i was little, i'd always watch the business men and women walking through downtown, hoping that someday i would be one of them. i had no idea what it would consist of, what my life would have to be like in order to be one of them, but i just knew i wanted it.
today, crossing 6th st. downtown in my plaid skirt and black heels, sun on my face, rushing to get to a meeting, i realized it.
i've become what i wanted to become.
it doesn't really feel as how i imagined it would.
it's so much better.
Monday, July 13, 2009
monday morning satori.
i seem to be incredibly fond of pulling other people's words for my own blog these days. which is fine, as i seem to be at a loss for "stories" to share.
this quote is from he's just not that into you, which i watched for the gazillionth time last night. it's the last line in the movie and it never fails to get me just a little teary-eyed.
enjoy!
"girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up.
if a guy punches you he likes you. never try to trim your own bangs and someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending.
every movie we see, every story we're told implores us to wait for it, the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule. but sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending we don't learn how to read the signs. how to tell from the ones who want us and the ones who don't, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. and maybe a happy ending doesn't include a guy, maybe...
it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. maybe the happy ending is... just... moving on. or maybe the happy ending is this, knowing after all the unreturned phone calls, broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment you never gave up hope."
this quote is from he's just not that into you, which i watched for the gazillionth time last night. it's the last line in the movie and it never fails to get me just a little teary-eyed.
enjoy!
"girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up.
if a guy punches you he likes you. never try to trim your own bangs and someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending.
every movie we see, every story we're told implores us to wait for it, the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule. but sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending we don't learn how to read the signs. how to tell from the ones who want us and the ones who don't, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. and maybe a happy ending doesn't include a guy, maybe...
it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. maybe the happy ending is... just... moving on. or maybe the happy ending is this, knowing after all the unreturned phone calls, broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment you never gave up hope."
Thursday, July 9, 2009
desiderata.
(by Max Ehrmann)
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
a good reminder.
my best friend posted this a few months back and not-so coincidentally, i came across it again today, on just the day i needed such a reminder. thanks carrie, for posting these lovely words! a good reminder for us all.
what is self-consciousness? unquestionably, self-consciousness is the result of too much self-thought. the self-conscious are always conscious of themselves, wondering whether they are impressing people, hoping that they are not making blunders, uncomfortable, unhappy, ill at ease! ...forget about yourself! and there is only one sure way to forget about yourself. think more of others! take a keener and more sincere interest in people. send your thoughts abroad, far beyond the selfish little boundaries of your personal world...it is when we forget ourselves that we do the really worth-while and interesting things. it is when we forget ourselves that we find beauty everywhere around us, that we see charm in the most commonplace people, that we feel happy and at ease in the company of our fellow beings. forget about yourself!
what is self-consciousness? unquestionably, self-consciousness is the result of too much self-thought. the self-conscious are always conscious of themselves, wondering whether they are impressing people, hoping that they are not making blunders, uncomfortable, unhappy, ill at ease! ...forget about yourself! and there is only one sure way to forget about yourself. think more of others! take a keener and more sincere interest in people. send your thoughts abroad, far beyond the selfish little boundaries of your personal world...it is when we forget ourselves that we do the really worth-while and interesting things. it is when we forget ourselves that we find beauty everywhere around us, that we see charm in the most commonplace people, that we feel happy and at ease in the company of our fellow beings. forget about yourself!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
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