A New Day.

 I have recently been striving to rid my thoughts and actions of negativity, but my weariness got the better of me, and I was quite rude to a classmate on Thursday night.  Later that evening, the ugly scene replayed in my head over & over.  I was embarrassed and disappointed in myself.

Friday morning, I read something that I had heard before, but this time it had greater meaning.  "God's love and mercies renew each morning."  As I pondered that thought, it made complete sense to me...Of course they do - I'm a new person every morning...forever changed from the experiences of the previous day, therefore God's love would be different and for that I'm thankful.

Later on in the day, I came across this beautiful quote:

"You decide every moment of every day who you are and what you believe in.  You get a second chance every second."

How perfect is that?!?  Every day we can make the decision of who we are & what we stand for 86,400 times...

 I feel liberated by this concept of self-forgiveness & compassion.  If I don't get it right one minute, it's ok, I can try the next.  I don't have to dwell on my mistakes, but learn from them and change. And in that change, In the power of recognizing that we get to choose who we are going to be every second, I think that's how the world is going to change.

(sorry for the "ramblyness", it's late!)

Friday :)

I am oh, so very happy it is Friday!  What a weeeeeeek. No big plans for the weekend, and that's just the way I want it :)

In this moment, I Am:

Feeling: a food coma coming on! eyelids need to stay open for just a few more hours...please

Tasting: Ice cold water

Seeing: messy piles on my work desk...indeed, it's Friday.

Smelling: Nothing in particular...

Hearing: "Stop This Train" - John Mayer...appropriate as I take a moment to stop to be present!

Have a rejuvenating weekend!

Caiti

Fan Mail

My dad used to write fan mail ALL the time.  Not only was he a gifted writer, but he felt it was important to let someone know if you appreciated them.  Thus, fan letters to sports broadcasters, novelists, baseball players, you name it.  Occasionally, he would get replies.

Tonight, I wrote my first "fan letter".  As stated before, I am a pretty big fan of Tristan Prettyman.  And as I was reading one of her blog posts this evening, I thought about how much she would enjoy "I Am"...so I wrote her an email telling her she should see it, as well as thanking her for her years of "support" in my life ;)

Who knows, it may end up in an inbox with a bazillion other fan emails...OR...We could become best friends forever and ever....

Nonetheless...energy spent on the positive ;)

Too Cute!

I love this video...I especially love the message at the end...relates to every, single relationship/friendship!

Celebration

Rumi once wrote, "Even in grief there is celebration."

I full heartedly agree.

Earlier today I heard a song that immediately took me back to what have been the hardest days of my life.  In that instant, the emotion started to well up in me.  A tear slowly rolled down my face...and met a smile.  It's almost impossible to look back on those days and not see the love.

As the song played on, I thought about that crazy time...how painful it was, how confusing emotions are, how sometimes it is still hard and I still miss him.  But I also thought about how thankful I am for everyone who was with me at that time to let me scream, let me be silent, make me laugh, hug me, and most importantly, love me.  And for those who are still dancing with me!

Even in grief there is celebration.

a friend used to take my hands into his and sing these lyrics to me, which would inevitably bring a smile to my face :)

Exhausted.

It has been a very long day.

I woke up early to make my mom go to the gym.  After studying so much about stroke, I am determined to get her into shape.

I worked all day between outpatient rehab & TA-ing for a professor.

Then, jumped right into Autism clinic this evening.  My sessions went great, but afterwards I am DEAD.

Now, I'm taking a quick break before diving back into a daunting night of homework.

Although today was painstakingly long and energy depleting, I am thankful for it.  This week will be one of those weeks that I've heard about from students ahead of me in the program - the times when you think, "Can I do it? Can I juggle everything?!?" But I will look back and know - Hell yeah I did! Not only did I do it - but I kicked that week's ass!!

Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. 

Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it.

Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it

-unknown