The Lives We Lead

       So in honor of the fact that Thanksgiving day was yesterday, I got to thinking about what I am thankful for...and not only this year, but in general at this point in my life. After-all, is it not the perfect time to reflect on the things you are grateful to have in your life?

Family is forever.

       Although my family is on the smaller side and somewhat separated after my parents’ divorce years back...I don't know what I'd do without them. Whether you get to see them a lot or you don’t get around to meeting up with them too often...just knowing you have your family there is always a blessing. It is a group of people that will always support you, be there for you, and come running in a time of need. Not only that, but you know they aren't going anywhere. Unlike some other people who are subject to come and go in your life, no matter what, your family will always be there. And I am very thankful to have them and their endless support.

A very significant other.

       Well for any of you who may have read "The Ninth Cloud" entry, than you already know my happiness in this department. I give many a thanks to having the wonderful boyfriend that I do. From the moment we started talking, we just knew...our search for the "perfect one" could finally come to a screeching halt.

       I am truly thankful that we have gone from our first days of dating, to our first kiss, to meeting the parents, to falling in love, to moving into our very own place, to being able to watch our relationship grow and blossom into the beauty that it is today. My boyfriend...I thank you for your constant support of my goals and dreams, for encouraging my talents in music and writing, for your never-ending understanding and forgiveness, and for always giving effort in our relationship, everyday. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, your romance, your intelligence, your patience, and your unconditional love.

       To the person who somehow knows how to put a smile on my face on the worst days, who reminds me not to give up when the tough times come, who truly is my best friend, and who laughs loud with me at 2 in the morning. To the person who respects me, who remembers what I say, who knows what I'm thinking without a word being said, and who has genuinely and beautifully shown me that my traits are appreciated and loved...on this year in particular, I am forever thankful that I will always have you to hold my hand.

We all get by, with a little help from our friends.

       My parents used to always warn me in high school that your friends will "come and go" and only a real good few will remain. I found this to turn out to be very truthful. Not only have friends I used to have for years slowly fade out of my life, but I have had just as many great ones that came shining in. And I am thankful for my friends back home that still keep in touch and never let me forget that they will be there.

       And college was not only one of the greatest times of my life, but I met some of the best people in the world. Not everyone is lucky enough to gain an entire "home away from home" family at college. I am thankful that I did. And although we may not see each other often, I know I can call any of them up and we could pick up right where we left off. Thank you to all my WVU family for making 4 years of my life very amazing, for giving me some of the funniest, craziest, most memorable memories, for teaching me many lessons, and for always making sure I got home safe on a Saturday night.

       I’ve also gained friendships from the most unexpected places, and I am thankful for that too. And although the amount of true and close friends has come to be few. Those few are solid and trustworthy. So to all of my friends, thank you for being there to laugh with me, for staying up late hours listening to my banter, for hearing my problems and caring, for telling me I need to change those shoes I picked out, for reminding me to shut up at times, for cheering me on, for rooting for me, for staying in touch, for all of your support, for being beautiful, for being unique, and for being (and staying) friends with me. :)

Flaws and all.

       I know it sounds weird to be thankful for my flaws, but really, if you think about it, without our flaws...how would we ever learn? So I am thankful for being flawed (as we ALL are). Without them, I would never grow, I would never learn, and I would never be able to continue to mature in my life. No one is perfect...so with that being said, let’s embrace our imperfections. They help shape our lives and build our ever-growing character. Also, once in a while it’s nice to remember that we always have opportunities to change, improve our lives, and better ourselves.

A little passion goes a long way.

       I have to say that I am thankful for the passion I have in my hobbies, talents, and goals. I have spend a lot of this year finding myself and realized this blog and my music have been a large part of my life lately. Not only that, but I find a great deal of happiness, accomplishment, and enlightenment in them. I constantly find myself preaching to others to "follow your dreams" or at least keep them in your life. Whatever it is you love to do...make sure you keep doing it, and do it with passion. Everyone has a dream, so be thankful you have one, and even more so...make sure you are passionate about keeping it alive.

The fall-backs and comebacks.

       Our lives are filled with both our fall-backs and failures and our comebacks and successes. Without either, we couldn't truly learn to appreciate the other. Without these experiences, both good and bad, what would shape our lives?

       Let's be thankful for the times we were at our rock bottom and climbed our way back up, for the mistakes that have made us strong and tough and have given us a list of "never agains". And let's be thankful for our successes we have achieved. I am thankful for all of my successes and failures, my fall-backs and comebacks, my rights and my wrongs. Whether it was the right thing or the wrong thing at whatever place and time, I ended up where I am now...and I'll admit, it's a pretty good place to be.

       So be thankful for your family, for your friends, be thankful for your significant other, for your passion and dreams, and for your fall-backs & comebacks. Give thanks....give love to others, give hope, give opportunity, give back, give people a second chance, give effort in your life, give it your all, give it your best...and once and a while, give yourself a break.

       Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. To many more years, many more memories, and many more successes...to be thankful for. <3

       For the lives we lead may pass us by, if we don't take a moment to appreciate them.

Dependent on Independence

       Today I was thinking of independence.  Just the general idea of how people strive to be independent in their lives. I find this to be a great trait. Everyone should want to stand on their own two feet and be able to do things for themselves.

       At the same time though, have we grown to think of accepting help from others to be a sign of “weakness”? Have we become dependent on independence? Whether it’s emotionally, physically, or financially...this struggle seems to be present. 

       Some guys are raised on the notion that if they cry, they aren’t “being a man”...that they seem weak. Trust me, I know of guys who have probably never shed a tear in their life. Talk about suppression. Or the girl who lives in fear that she’s being perceived as too emotional when she has a good cry. 

       We’ve all known or heard of someone who might be a little too old to do certain things for themselves and may feel bad for the family member needing to take care of them. A person who might have gotten in a serious accident and needs help walking, eating, showering, etc. Or have you ever had to ask your relatives or a loved one to loan you some money? We feel somewhat ashamed don’t we? We feel belittled.

       All of these people are not only frustrated with their situation at hand...but the real underlying fact is that they have suddenly moved from being independent to dependent upon someone. Whether you become emotionally dependent when you’re having a rough day and just need someone’s affection, physically dependent when something serious happens to you and you wouldn’t be able to manage without the assistance of someone else, or financially dependent when our lives of bills, payments, rent, and daily responsibilities happens to be kicking us in the ass lately.

       Yes, independence is a wonderful thing. But if anyone has a belief that they will coast through life never needing anyone’s attention and never needing anyone’s help...well at one point or even several points in their life, they will be proven terribly wrong. Life is crazy. We all know it and we’ve all come to terms with that. Without people we wouldn’t have made it through our childhood. We needed our parents to change our diapers and our little friends to color with us. Without people we wouldn’t have made it through high school. We needed our teachers to teach us & our friends to give us the answers to the test we didn’t study for. Without people we wouldn’t have made it through college. We needed someone to carry us home from a long night of binge drinking, save us from the crazy homeless man on the corner street, and pay for our 7 beers we ordered that we didn’t have money for. Without people we wouldn’t make it through work. We need our co-worker to fill in for us on our sick day & keep us up to date. And even later on in life, your family, your friends, your significant other or spouse...what would we do without them?

       Without them who would we bitch about our bad week to? Who would we laugh with? Who would we make memories with? Who would be there to carry you if you couldn’t walk again? Who would be there if you were buried in your bills? Who would be there to hold you while you cried?

       Think of all the times you’ve helped someone in this way. Did you mind? Because more times than not, I’m sure you were happy to do so. So just don’t forget that when you’re on the other end of the deal.

       Admit it, we’ve been depending upon people since the day we were born. It is the way of the world. So yes, be independent but do not feel ashamed to ask for help, to need someone’s help, and to receive someone’s help. We all need a shoulder to cry on, someone to take care of us in a time in need, and someone to help pay that unexpected bill you may not be able to pay for this month.

       If you need to depend on someone, do not feel ashamed and do not feel weak. Anyone who knows you knows you stand on your own two feet all year round and if there is a day or two that you need help, than accept the kind gesture and keep it moving.

       Remember, depending on others is part of life and a part of living. Make sure those in your life can depend on you for help....just don’t kick yourself in the ass when you’re the one needing it.