Life Lessons at 27

I've wanted to do a birthday post similar to last year's wonderful little post about life lessons I have learned now that I have recently turned 27.  (Yes it's a delayed post but work has been super busy and I think I have had a cold for most of said week.)

1.  Never, ever be afraid to tell the people who mean the most to you how important they are to you.  Unfortunately nothing in this life is guaranteed and I think one of the most important things is to remember we need to embrace those who we love and remind them every day.

2. A night of sitting on the floor, drinking and eating and gossiping with your friends is sometimes all a girl needs to let life worries disappear.

3.  Live for the experiences.  I have realized that I want to do everything.  I want to go to all the concerts.  I want to go to restaurants.  I want to go experience all the joys in life with my friends and no price tag (okay some price tags) will stop me.

4.  There is nothing more beautiful then watching your childhood best friend get married to the love of her life.  This includes watching your second dad cry when he walks into the hotel room and tears up when he sees her for the first time.  Or knowing that a special angel is smiling down on that girl he always thought of as his daughter as she became a Miller.

5.  People surprise you.  With a note, text message, visits, and hugs.  Kind words heal the soul and I don't if I could have survived 26 without the countless well wishes that many people in my life have sent me.

6. Yes, you can enjoy a beer from Luke Bryan's concert because of connections your friend has.

7.  Fresh flowers can liven up any room.

8.  It's a compliment when older gentlemen tell you there is not many people like you in the world.  For some reason I appreciate compliments from the older generation because they can tell what's really real.

9. NOTHING is better then a great outfit.  When you feel amazing, you feel invincible.

10.  Surround yourself with positive people.  People who will push you to be the best person you can be.  People who will support you.  People who will love you no matter what you have done, or no matter how much time has past since you have talked to them.  The people who love you regardless and want to see only the best for you.  Negativity takes it's toll on a person and if there is one thing I have learned, life is too short to let that affect you.

11.  Buzzfeed articles make the world go round.

12.  Jennifer Lawerence is a brilliant actress and a role model of our time.  Rarely do you hear her talking about a diet or exercising.  Instead you hear her talk about beers and eating and I really think she would fit right in with my friends.

13.  I was never one who disliked the number 13 or expected bad things on Friday the 13th.  I have since become a girl who can not stand that number and dread the day every month.

14. Inspirational quotes can make a tough day a little easier.  Do not judge anyone who may post many of them because you never know what they are going through.

15.  My father was one of the best people in my life.  The guy who would see me upset and give me a hug or try to crack some joke to get me to smile.  This world lost some of it's sparkle on May 13 2013 and I have been forever changed.  I'm a firm believer that my dad made sure to surround me with people who love me and try to get me to laugh even during the darkest days.  There has not been a day that has gone by where I don't miss my dad, but I hope he's with me every step of this crazy life and that he's proud of his little girl.

Happy belated birthday to me and hope everyone has a safe Superbowl Sunday.

Love Letters

For the past few months, I have become a fan of love letters.

It's simple really.  I write letters to my friends whenever they are going through a rough patch, or when they accomplish something that I think they should be proud of.  I write them hand written letters to know that someone cares enough to take a moment of their day to send well wishes there way.

If I could, I would write to every single person who has read this blog, or has sent a prayer or well wish throughout this whole journey to my family and I.

As I sit here thinking about the history of love letters, I long for the days where a guy would send a letter to his girl back at home to let her know how much he cared.  I wish for the day that you sent your girlfriends letters filled with adventures of those summer days that you met the guy of your dreams, or you were able to let your hair down and have fun.  Or the notes that were passed in secret during classes in middle school to your friends to pass the boring days.

Love letters.  They can really change a person's whole day.  Dare you to try it and not get a response that it brightened someone's day.

Life Lessons at 26

Two years ago; a snapshot of a wonderful accomplishment

Since today is my 26th birthday, I decided that I should write some lessons that life has taught me.  Enjoy.

1. Nothing is better then receiving a hand written letter in the mailbox from a friend.  I not only love sending them, but getting them makes my whole day.

2. You can judge how good a restaurant is by their nachos.  If you don't agree with me, then you obviously have never tested this.

3.  Hospital visits can be stressful, but it's always important to try and be kind to those who are taking care of you.  Health care providers aren't going to be so nice to you if you are being an asshole.

4. Capture as many of life moments with a camera.  Being able to look back on all those amazing memories is something I truly love more then words.

5. Travel.  I have been to many states throughout the country and it's been such a wonderful experience every where I have gone.  The getting their part may be hectic (hello getting stuck in airports...) but the fun times I have had during those trips are priceless.

6.  On-line shopping is one of the greatest inventions of all time, but it can also be the devil.  There have been so many times that I have bought new clothes without having to deal with rude people at malls or stores.

7. Music makes my world go round and song lyrics can truly speak to the soul.  If you don't believe that a great song can change your whole mood, then you haven't been exposed to great music.

8.  Enjoy food.  If my stomach problems have taught me anything, it's always enjoy every aspect of a meal.  Even though I know I may be in pain a hour after eating my meal, if it's a good dish, then I will enjoy it. No matter what.

9.  It's completely okay to spend the day in sweat pants, snuggled with blankets, on the couch reading a good book.  I do this on a regular basis and I'm totally okay with being a bum.

10.  I'm also okay with reading my favorite books on a regular basis.  If I absolutely love a book, then I'm excited to go back and see my favorite characters.  In fact, 90% of the books on my book case I have read more then once, and I'm not ashamed of that.

11.  Life seems to be better in the summer time, as well as by the beach.  I think the warm weather wards off the bad energy that winter sometimes provides.  Case in point, I have never had stomach problems during the summer.  And whenever I'm over thinking a problem, if I go to the beach, then I feel completely renewed.

12.  Life will set you up with many obstacles, including many different medical problems.  As long as you try to keep your head up, and surround yourself with a good support system, then you will be able to overcome anything.  Also, even if you think you can't give blood, it's possible.  It's also possible for the girl who used to cry during any sort of shot can look at blood being taken and also give herself her own shots.

13.  It's also possible that as you grow up, you also become more emotional.  It's also possible that those emotions come out more often when you don't feel well.  Also possible to want to cry at the drop of the hat whenever someone is nice to you.  It's fine to be emotional.  Embrace it.

14. Singing on the top of your lungs to your favorite song is acceptable.  While dancing around your room, and having the music blaring.  This dancing/singing combination will let your worries slide away from you.  Dare you to try it.

15. Never be afraid to tell people how much you care about them.  Give them hugs.  High fives when they achieve something good.  Smile at strangers who did something nice to you. Say I love you.  People want to be cared about.  And smiles and hugs can change the world.

These life lessons may be general ideas to some people, or not very profound, but the fact remains they are a few of the things I truly believe in.  I always knew I was lucky to have such amazing people in my life, but you really know how many people are in your corner when some obstacles come your way.  I want to thank everyone who reads this, who has believed in me, who has given me a hug or words of encouragement, not only in the past 2 years but especially the past 26 years of my life. It means more to me then I think you will ever understand to have you all in my corner.

Happy birthday to me! Here's to many more to come.