I am on a journey to find meaning and find joy. I am taking one step at a time and one day at a time towards living a full life where I recognize all the parts of myself. I want to live my life with purpose and on purpose and know that there may be more missteps than victories on this journey. This blog is my process of processing my process of becoming.
I have been taking myself and my joy way to seriously. I have been waiting for something meaningful to post and have forgotten that the pure expression of joy in the mundane, the ridiculous, the irreverent, the fantastic, the awesome, the amusing, the strange, the absurd, the profound, the deep, the challenging, the everyday....is the purpose itself.
So here's to remembering to take my quest to take myself less seriously, more seriously. :)
Things that brought me joy today:
Velcro
students having the courage to engage in conversation and make themselves vulnerable
I really love the "It Gets Better" campaign. I think the message of hope is so important to people. Hope that change can happen and that people can live through pain. I hope that the teachers, parents, counselors, principals, politicians, etc really listen to the campaign because I believe that we can make it better TODAY.
We don't have to wait until we "get older" for things to get better. We can use our words carefully NOW. We can be kind, caring, compassionate and respectful TODAY. We can DO SOMETHING to make things better now, so that more of our young people will live to see tomorrow when it can be even better.
I love the below video. I especially love that the creator of it reminds us that it isn't just members of the LGBTQ community that get bullied but all sorts of people that are considered different. I would add that bullying doesn't stop at the high school graduation but can continue into college and the workforce.
We must make it better. We can make a difference. I truly believe that we can change things and make it okay....to be...to breathe...to live....to love...to dream.
I will admit that sometimes nothing gives me more joy than releasing a good F-bomb into the universe. Today is one of those days where a little expletive venting really made me feel better.
Breathe and release...
:)
Enjoy the below Cee-Lo song selection (contains graphic lyrics)
Everyone is going on and on about new years resolutions. I don't really have a new years resolution but rather a continuation of this joy/self-care journey that I have been on.
Floss my teeth at least once a day.
Make sure there are no dirty dishes in the sink when I go to sleep.
Put lotion on to keep my skin from getting dry and cracked during the winter.
Do one thing to pamper myself a week.
Laugh more than 5 times a day.
Schedule time for reflection.
Forgive myself more.
Celebrate myself more (This one is from my friend FS. He asked me about my resolutions and I told him number 5 and he said that he thought I should celebrate myself more. He is correct!)
Those are my current steps to self-care & joy. Slowly making little bitty changes to make my life more joyful, more meaningful and more full of gratitude and love.
On Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve, New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys performed. I have to admit that it made me insanely HAPPY!
I am such a child of the boy band era. Add some New Edition and N'Sync to the mix and I would be in heaven. (Boy Band sidenote: I actually prefer N'Sync to Backstreet Boys - like totally way, way, way prefer - hee hee).
I actually may save some cash and treat myself to concert tickets for my birthday - the concert is in June. Giant waste of money - but totally well worth it. I mean why would I miss such a quality reunion tour. LOL
Over the last year MANY people have left the college that I work at and have gone onto to new experiences in their lives. While I have been VERY happy for them, I have been selfishly sad for the loss of them in my daily life.
Over the break, I got to see MF & MdSM. They were back in the area visiting family for the holidays and SI and I drove down to southern New Hampshire to meet them. It was really lovely to see them. I miss M so much.
In honor of these dear friends....here is the Golden Girls Theme song.
