Live Long, Laugh Often, Love Much.

If we discovered we had 5 minutes to live before the world ended, phone booths everywhere would be full of people trying to call their families to say, "I love you."  Cell phone towers would be busier than ever, all because everyone would be trying to contact the people closest to them to say, "I love you."  

Why is it that a major crisis or natural disaster has more of an affect on people than everyday life?  Why wait for something terrible to happen to make you realize who's important to you?  Life is short, love is strong.  Love should be given every day.  To friends, to family, to spouses and children.  If you like someone, tell them.  If you love someone, tell them, and tell them often.  

Love can also be scary.  But personally, I'm more afraid of someone not knowing I love them than I am of them not loving me back.  Me saying, "I love you," has nothing to do with me.  It has everything to do with the person I'm saying it to.  I love who/what they are.  Love doesn't have to be mutual to be real.  And if someone tells you they love you, don't be afraid of it.  Maybe you're not ready to say it back, now or ever.  That's ok.  But you ought to feel good knowing that someone feels such a strong emotion for you.  

And if it IS mutual, say it back with confidence.  Own your feelings.  Living and existing are completely different things.  To live is the greatest thing of all.  To live is to show emotion and share adventure, goals, hopes, dreams, sadness, pain, joy and love.  To exist is to walk around with no ambition or feeling whatsoever.  

So LIVE your life.  Don't just exist in this world.  LAUGH as often as possible with people who are important to you.  And LOVE as much as your heart will allow, and then some.  It'll be worth it, even if someone breaks your heart.  Crying is not a sign of weakness.  Since birth, it's been a universal sign that you're alive...

Captivate. Motivate. Inspire.

Work for a cause, not for applause.

Live life to express, not to impress.

Poise yourself with class, not like an ass.

Find the beauty in everything, ugliness in nothing.

Cry out loud, stand proud, don't get lost in the crowd.

And most importantly...

Don't strive to make your presence noticed,

Strive to make your absence felt.

When something bad happens, you have three choices:

1. Let it define you.

2. Let it destroy you.

3. Let it strengthen you.

Happiness is a choice.  I choose it every day.  

A Limited Right to Privacy?

I heard this topic on the radio this morning, and it reminded me of many, many conversations I've had with friends and family about the same issues.  I'm curious to know what people think of this...

Privacy.

When you're in a committed relationship, how much privacy are you entitled to?  

Some people say, "None, there should be absolutely nothing to hide, so why would you need privacy?"  Others have said, "The same amount of privacy as someone NOT in a committed relationship. Everyone has a right to privacy."  

Well here's what I think...

If you're in a new relationship, I don't think you have any right to know your bf/gf's email password, Facebook password, phone password, etc.  You're still building that trust.  If you get to a point where you can't trust your bf/gf, you shouldn't be together anyway.  There does come a point, however, where I believe you should [theoretically] be able to ask your significant other to look at their phone (or whatever) and they shouldn't hesitate to let you.  If you have nothing to hide, why would it be a problem?  

I know many couples who just periodically check each others phones, or they'll say, "I'm getting ready to delete all my texts - do you want to read any of them?"  I realize this is not for everyone, but it works for them, and I kind of like the concept.  I know that I don't have anything to hide, so if my boyfriend wanted to look through my phone, I'd let him.  If he wants to look through my emails, he'd find a bunch of forwards from family and friends, and maybe some bills.  Fun, huh?

My question is, where do you draw the line?  At what point is it acceptable to ask your significant other for this kind of access into their private lives?  Should you even have a private life when you're in that kind of relationship?  I think once you're married, there should be no question or hesitation (but there should be no reason to need to see this stuff anyway).  

It's just a sticky situation, but I'm curious to know what your take on it is... What do you think?

Bragging Rights

This post is purely to brag.  But you know what? It's my blog, and I can say what I want :)  I am SO proud to report the following (from March 20 to September 11, 2011):

I've lost 27 lbs.

I've gone down 3 dress sizes.

I've gone down 4 pant sizes.

I'm still not a size 00 like my roommate, and I still don't have abs like Steven, but I'm happy.  I've worked hard, and it has paid off.  It's amazing how diet and exercise work so well...fancy that.  Only 7 lbs to go before my photo shoot, and I know I'll be able to do that.  5 weeks and 5 days to go!!!!

#happiness

RAWWWRRR!!

Ok ladies, listen up. This is important.  There are a handful of things you should be able to do by the time you move out on your own.  Most of my female friends are married and have babies already, so I'm hopeful that you already know these things.  But here's the rundown:

1. Know how to change a tire. (I don't even know how to do this. I know the concept, but I've never done it.)
2. Know how to use a power drill.
3. Know how to make a grilled cheese sandwich. (cough, cough - roomie)
4. Know how to get a job.
5. Know when to call a man for the rest of the shit you can't do.

Ok now let's break it down:

1. Changing a tire.
     I admit, I've never changed a tire.  But everyone should know how.  The concept is simple: remove one tire, replace it with the spare.  Well here's a thought...practice it a couple times just so you know how to do it.  That way I don't have to sit on the shoulder of Westbound 80 for an hour waiting for another Triple A guy to come do it for me.  That was embarrassing.  Someone please show me how to do this...

2. Power drills.
     Power tools are amazing.  And men are usually terrified when you know how to use them.  Know how to change out the drill bits, and know where the button for forward and reverse is.

3. Grilled cheese.
     Grilled cheese is delicious, and a crowd pleaser.  So if you have a new boyfriend over and you're too lazy to go anywhere for dinner, make him a grilled cheese.  It's easy, and he's more likely to return when you feed him.  So know how to make one...without burning it.

4. Getting a job.
     I'm talking to my younger friends with this one.  You can't walk into a business and ask for an application in a t-shirt and jeans.You should be professionally dressed and well-groomed, with a complete resume in-hand.  I'm so tired of seeing you young girls in restaurants and other places in mini-skirts and tank tops asking for job applications.  Who would you hire?  The teeny-bopper in the plaid or the well-dressed young professional with a resume?  It's not rocket science, but as I've been told, "common sense isn't common anymore."

5. Calling a man for help.
     Lesbi-honest. Sometimes we just can't do it.  Be an adult and admit when you need a man to help. Even if it's your dad.