a better day, brought to you by robert pattinson.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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!

happy second birthday, prince leo!