Let It Go

This weekend, my husband and I got to head home to visit our friends and family. Trips home are always equal parts hectic and exciting. We only get to see our family a few times a year, so when we're there, we try to soak in every minute of love we can. It just gets a little complicated trying to make sure you squeeze all of your loved ones into a 72 hour period.

But we made it work! Being away from the craziness of every day life and surrounded by our family was incredible, and a nice reminder of the things that really matter in the world. I'm not sure if it was the vacation,  listening to the Frozen soundtrack on repeat with our niece, or a combination of both, but I came home with the intention to try more often to "Let It Go".

Watching our niece twirl around in her Elsa dress, wig, and shoes was refreshing. At five years old, her biggest worry was if we would press play again so she could hear more of her favorite songs. I don't feel like it was that long ago that my life was so carefree, but in that moment, I certainly felt the 22 year age difference between us.

It's not that my life is terrible; far from it. I am blessed beyond belief. It's just that I'm a human, and sometimes that in and of itself can be a challenge. Whether it's a stressful week at work, tension in a relationship, or just a "blah" day overall, sometimes obstacles just place themselves in your path, and you are left with the responsibility of figuring out how to get around them.

A few weeks ago, the dad of a friend of mine told me what has truly made him happy over the course of his 65 years: health, faith, family, and friends. He said in his experience, these are the four things people really care about. He mentioned he thinks the order varies from person to person, but that when those things are good, life is too.

This advice wasn't groundbreaking by any means, but it felt like the perfect way to express what I'd been trying to articulate for years. At least for my life, he is spot on. When I think about the positives in my life, they all fall into these four categories. And when I think about the negatives and compare them to this list, I realize they don't really matter.

I guess this path is a little different than trekking through a snowstorm to build an ice castle with my superpowers, but I've arrived nonetheless. Here's to letting it go.

It's Been Awhile

Four years and some change; over 1500 days. I'm surprised I remembered this blog was here. And yet I'm so glad I found it. I love to write, and too much time has passed since I last partook. I get to dabble in writing at work, but it doesn't give me the same satisfaction.

A lot has changed since I last posted here. A ton, actually. Four years ago I was living in a different state, had a bad job and an entirely alternative set of hobbies, and was in a relationship I knew I needed to leave. 

I now live in the place I love, have a job that allows me to grow and a team who I adore, have amazing friends, and am married to my perfect match.

As I read back through the only two blog entries I ever published, I feel strangely happy. Although it's surreal to read through some of those moments, I can't help but feel accomplished for how far I've come and the decisions I've made to better myself as a person. That said, there is still progress to be made. I'm not one for New Years Resolutions, but this year I told my husband I just want to be a better person...and I think figuring out exactly what that means will happen one day at a time. I also told him I want to be more like Ellen DeGeneres, but I think the two are pretty similar.

If I compare entries side by side, it's evident I'm better today than I was four years ago, no questions asked. On paper, I have a better job and I've earned my MBA. But in real life, I've chosen to surround myself with meaningful relationships (romantic and otherwise), I've weeded out a lot of the negativity that used to surround me, and I've learned a lot about myself.

I'm still figuring out what I want to be when I grow up. I'm not in my early twenties anymore. I am still a little excessive. The friends I wrote about before have all changed in beautiful ways. Two are now wives and one is a husband. One still works for her alma mater and knows celebrity gossip, but is even more successful and wonderful as time goes by. One still excels in everything he does, but lives in Boston now, and is head over heels in love with an awesome girl. Some I'm not in touch with anymore. And I think that's okay.

Life changes. People change. Even with what seems like a million changes having taken place over the last four years, this blog still lives at this web address. I apologize for using "change" so many times in so few sentences.

I don't know what direction I want this blog to go. I'm not sure if I just want to write to get my creative juices flowing, or if I want my husband to get a huge raise so I can stay at home with our future children and write about DIY projects.

My grandma has encouraged me to write more often for as long as I remember. And I'm pretty sure Ellen DeGeneres would listen to her grandma.