Yup, I am officially middle aged. Well, not really, but if you want to be technical, I'm 1/2 way to being old. Honey and I decided 70 was old, so if I just turned 35 then I'm 1/2 way to old. Hence, middle aged. For some reason turning 35 was tough for me. I was happy to turn 30, it seemed to hold so much promise. But, 35? Seems to hold so much dread.
To combat these feelings I've decided that I would set some goals for myself this year. If I put them out into the world I have a better chance of accomplishing them so here goes:
-get a labyrinth tattoo
-lose the pregnancy weight
-enjoy being physically active again
-run a race (5K, 10K, half marathon, Tough Mudder?)
-let my little light shine as bright as it can for all to see
The last one sort of covers all the others. Well, maybe not the tattoo one. I need to live up to my potential, and I don't always feel like I do. It's time to change that.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Dear Me:
I saw a link via Dooce to a book about actors writing letters to their 16 year old selves and was immediately hooked in. It was beautiful and sad. Jim Belushi telling his 16 year old self that he didn't have to seek negative attention? Blew me away.
It was also inspiring. What would I say to my 16 year old self?
So.
many.
things.
I could probably sum it up in two words. Resilience and perseverance.
But here's the rest of what I would say:
Dear Cora,
You are stronger than you have ever given yourself credit for. You have seen more pain in your short time than most people see in their whole lives. Keep moving forward. The gifts that will be awarded you for doing so will be beautiful.
The friends you have now that you think are important to you, will just be faces on Facebook in fifteen years. (don't worry, facebook hasn't been invented yet, but it's cool) The friends that you would lay down and die for, those are the ones that you will meet in college and after. They will introduce you to your husband and you to theirs. And it's not who you think it is. You never even talk to him after high school.
About relationships. You will have some doozies. Losers, jerks, and assholes as the saying goes. You will even date a guy who doesn't own pants. Seriously. But be patient. When you least expect it, a wonderful man will come back into your life and it will be obvious to you that he is the father of your children. And that will freak your freak, but don't let it. And sex? I know you're all nervous about it now but you shouldn't be. You will wait a long time to lose your virginity, which quite frankly was a bit too long (it should've been Ed), but it seemed important to you to wait so go with your gut. As cheesey as it sounds, sex with someone you love is incredible. Anything less is like bad chocolate-it seemed like a good idea at the time.
You will grow up to have two beautiful girls. They won't come easily to you, which means you should appreciate them even more. They will forever change your life in ways you couldn't possibly imagine. And you will learn to embrace the color pink.
One last thing: right now you feel like tragedy defines you. It doesn't. It has helped make you the person you have become. And you are a pretty amazing person.
Love, Cora
It was also inspiring. What would I say to my 16 year old self?
So.
many.
things.
I could probably sum it up in two words. Resilience and perseverance.
But here's the rest of what I would say:
Dear Cora,
You are stronger than you have ever given yourself credit for. You have seen more pain in your short time than most people see in their whole lives. Keep moving forward. The gifts that will be awarded you for doing so will be beautiful.
The friends you have now that you think are important to you, will just be faces on Facebook in fifteen years. (don't worry, facebook hasn't been invented yet, but it's cool) The friends that you would lay down and die for, those are the ones that you will meet in college and after. They will introduce you to your husband and you to theirs. And it's not who you think it is. You never even talk to him after high school.
About relationships. You will have some doozies. Losers, jerks, and assholes as the saying goes. You will even date a guy who doesn't own pants. Seriously. But be patient. When you least expect it, a wonderful man will come back into your life and it will be obvious to you that he is the father of your children. And that will freak your freak, but don't let it. And sex? I know you're all nervous about it now but you shouldn't be. You will wait a long time to lose your virginity, which quite frankly was a bit too long (it should've been Ed), but it seemed important to you to wait so go with your gut. As cheesey as it sounds, sex with someone you love is incredible. Anything less is like bad chocolate-it seemed like a good idea at the time.
You will grow up to have two beautiful girls. They won't come easily to you, which means you should appreciate them even more. They will forever change your life in ways you couldn't possibly imagine. And you will learn to embrace the color pink.
One last thing: right now you feel like tragedy defines you. It doesn't. It has helped make you the person you have become. And you are a pretty amazing person.
Love, Cora
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Must have.
I am a lover of Anthropologie and often stalk items until they go on sale. I am so in love with this new beauty that I might even pay full price for it. And I still need I diaper bag. But I think this could be a good diaper bag substitute. What do you think? Yellow or green?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)