Real Love

At work today, I ran into a bubbly young lady who absolutely lit up my day. Actually she wasn't young, she was in fact a grandmother, but she had the energy of a 13 year old. Her vibe was absolutely contagious. I told her how great her spirit was and she said her mother told her that if you can't put a smile on someone's face every day, then you might as well be dead. She then brought over her husband who was just as affable. He and I spoke for about 30 minutes about his flight and then about his wife. He told me that he had met his wife when he was interviewing people to be his assistant. He said that by the end of the interview, he knew she was the one and actually gave her a kiss on the cheek and said he would call her the next day. Needless to say he hired her and the rest was history. He said his wife told him to quit his job and start a company. She said he would make a little less money the first year, but after that he would make more money than he ever had. He was scared, but he trusted her. She helped him start his company and sure enough everything she said came true. He ended up by saying that he owes all of his success to her and has been very happily married with her for 42 years and counting. He said he loves her as much today as the first time he met her.

Just meeting those two made me hopeful. After spending 5 minutes with them both, you could tell that those two were just MEANT to be together. I hope to one day have that kind of love for myself. While "dating" is fun for a while, I know the happiest moments in my life have been the ones that I have been able to share with a significant other. I believe that kind of love is out there for everyone. I guess you just have to be ready for it when it comes along. I hope I will be...

It's Gettin Cold Outside...

Family

I'm currently in Ohio seeing my family (most of us are in Ohio). Everytime I come back, I get an overwhelming sense of self-confidence and reassurance. As far as self-confidence, I don't think outwardly I have any problems with it, but I know that sometimes my self-confidence comes across as arrogance and that is an internal issue of self-confidence. Internally, self-confidence isn't spoken, it's felt. I know we could always use reassurance, especially when we are at somewhat of a crossroads in our lives, which I feel like I'm in right now. Seeing family reminds me that no matter what, whichever path I choose, however I may feel about myself, there are those that love me absolutely unconditionally. It is my goal for this year to strengthen my communication with them while I'm away so I can tap into those feelings when I'm not around. When I see them, I see me. I see six of us sleeping feet to head in a twin bed. Baths in the kitchen sink. I see times where all we had was our love for each other and us being together to make it through. I see how my cousins' faces light up when they see me, the one in Atlanta "doing big things." I feel my need to make it happen not only for me, but for them. I see my little brothers, who are so excited to have an older brother and want to follow me everywhere I go and never want me to leave. I see a lot of things. But the most important thing I see is the love we all have for each other and how I know that love is NEVER going anywhere.

"What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories." ~George Eliot