Roller coasters... I love roller coasters! With the rush of adrenaline that flows rapidly through your body. The speed that casues the wind to whip you in your face and hair. The constant twists and turns that jerk your body from side to side. The occasional complete flip upside down, and just dangling there for a second before you are brought right side up again. Finally, the long creeps to the very top, with the fast paced, heart throbbing drop that makes your stomach feel as though it went up inside your chest for a split second; and than you throw your arms and hands up in the air, and can't help but let out the loudest scream possible. Roller coasters and the thrill of them all, that makes me want to go back on again and again, just to relive the thrill. I love it!
Now the roller coaster of life, that is a whole other story. There are times you may have jumped on that roller coaster and there is no getting off at all. It's as though the ride is set on repeat, and you have no choice but just to hang on. This whole month has been a complete roller coaster, and has taught me many lessons. I have learned lessons of compassion, lessons of hardship, lessons of humility, lessons of love, lessons of beauty, and most importantly lessons of strength. I have come to know just how strong of a person I am. Despite the fear of the unknown, despite the outcome in the end. I know I am strong, and I am still standing tall with many thanks to God for placing such strength within me. Without these lessons, how would have I developed my strength and shown to myself that I encompass it. In the end it all just makes me smile.
The roller coaster of life may not always be fun, but it sure teaches you alot and I am one that is all for learning something new everyday. So excuse me now while I go and continue my ride, and enjoy the rest of this beautiful day, please do the same and never ignore any lessons that come by your way.
"Cause when push comes to shove, you taste what you're made of. You might bend til you break, cause it's all you can take. On your knees you look up, decide you've had enough. You get mad, you get strong, wipe your hands, shake it off, than you stand..." -Rascal Flatts
Family. Familia. Ohana. However you choose to say it, they are still family. I love my family and have always been a very family oriented type of person. My family is a very large bunch and I love them all. I feel so lucky and blessed to have such a great family, because I know not everybody has what I have. I bring up family because today, I woke up to the sounds of my family coming in and out of my house, scurrying around, placing some finishing touches on a birthday party for a cousin of mine. The party is not at our house, but we are helping with fruit platters and such, just offering up our helping hand wherever it may be needed. That is one thing I love most about my family, the fact of how we are always there to help one another when called upon. Even when not called upon, we always seem to let each other know that our hands are available if ever needed. One person in particular that showed the like of helping is my younger cousin Isabella. She offered to come over and help my mom put away groceries. A 9 year old little girl, that could easily say she'd rather go outside and play, wanted to help out her Tia Aurora instead. This just showed me that our acts of help toward each other has definitely rubbed off down to at least Isabella. Such a cute, and sweet little girl too.
Ohhhh, family, even when you don't want them around, they are still always there. They always seem to find those right buttons to push at those perfect moments as well. You know those moments, when you just need a moment away from it all to think, than one word is said. Just one, that may even just send you over the edge. They wouldn't be your family if they didn't push those perfect buttons either now would they? I find that no matter how much you may push them away, or how distant you make yourself, whenever you need them they are still there. In the end, despite it all, you laugh and end up saying to yourself how much you still love them. You feel happy that they are so welcoming and willing to accept you in always with open and loving arms no matter what the case may be. Simply because they are family. "Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind."- Lilo, Lilo and Stitch
I can't wait to have a family of my own someday. That day is definitely not today or anytime soon for that matter. But when that day comes, I know I'm going to love every bit of it. Family will make you laugh, they will make you cry, they will make you think, they will make you learn, they will make you angry, happy, sad, or even mad, and they definitely will make you love. Bottom line is that I love my family and always will.
CHEERS! Here's to family!
"Yaaawwwwnnnnn...." Waking up from a deep slumber and realizing that today is Friday is enough to place a smile on my face. Friday is like a Christmas Eve for the upcoming weekend. Even if one has to work on the weekend, when they are off, the fact that it is the weekend is just a nice feeling in itself. Friday is the day that is just telling you, "Hold on! Your at the home stretch to victory!" Victory from a long hard week of work, planning, strenuous thinking, studying, whatever it may be.. Friday never fails to let you know that your short break and reward to your week is just around the corner. It is a day letting you know that there is a whole 2 days ahead of fun to be had, drinks to be drank, friends to see, relaxation to be done, or whatever else that the weekend may have in store. For me, today, Friday means alot! Due to some unwanted stresses within my life, Friday today is letting me know, I'm almost there, and can actually take a break from it all for a short while. Even though the break is very short, I'm appreciative and will take it, and enjoy it for what it is worth.
T.G.I.F..... No not, "Thank goodness it's Friday!" More like, "Thank GOD, it's Friday!" Literally speaking. I am really thankful God has kept me going and has helped me make it to this day. I am thankful that God has placed such wonderful people in my life (my family, my friends, my boyfriend, and his family) to keep me pushing through and to keep that positive mind set that everything will be ok. I am thankful that God has allowed these unwanted stresses within my life. I am starting to look more at them not so much as stresses, but more so as learning lessons that are only building my inner strength and character. As a loved one texted me this morning, "Let go, and let God.." This actually meant a lot to me. It is time to let go, and things will fall as they should.
So in keeping with my theme to happiness, the day of the week that makes me happy is Friday. What day of the week makes you happy?
T.G.I.F!!!!! :)
When asked the simple question, "What makes you happy?" a simple answer usually comes into play. When really taking the time to sit down and think what exactly it is that makes you happy, the answer isn't as simple as it once was. You slowly discover the long list and multitude of things that can and do make you happy. Is it your family? Your friends? A television show? A particular song? Your favorite homemade meal? Etc, etc, etc. Here is another question that you may not get asked very often.. when was the last time you made YOU happy?
Now, I've come up with this question because I've come to a point in my life when I really have been concentrating on what I want and what makes me happy. For so long I have been living under others expectations for me and the suggestions/advice of what could possibly make me happy. Not that I am not grateful for those suggestions and advice that was given, because it did help me most definitely along the way. In fact, I wouldn't be who I am today without that constant guidance. Now, I am just taking the time to just listen to my voice for a change. Still not neglecting the other voices around me though, because they are still constantly helping me along the way today. I am also discovering what truly makes me happy so that I may choose a career for my life that I will be able to say with an honest heart, "I love what I do, and it makes me happy." Truth of the matter is I know what I want to do, now it's just a matter of finding it.
With that all being said, back to the original question, "What makes me happy?" Well, a very long list of people, places, and things, make me very happy. Lately, I noticed I have neglected the little and simple happy things in life. Why? There are many excuses I can use. I'm too busy, I don't have time, I'll get to it later... I'm not saying that I am not happy, I'm very happy with my life that God has given to me, but I noticed I've neglected the little things in life that make me smile as well. So now, I have decided to go back to the basics. I've made a mental list of people, places, and things that warm my body, heart, and soul. These things make me smile and simply happy. I plan on trying to go through each one, and take the time to enjoy these simple pleasures of life. Why not? Come on, let's get happy!:)
