23 to 24 - All about living & learning

      It all went so fast, yet at times I felt I was frozen in time. One thing this hard year has taught me is to never give up. To never give up on your dreams, your loved ones, the ones you love and most importantly yourself. I have definitely found parts of me that I never knew existed and I came face to face with the coldest, darkest version of myself. There were days I had to look that man in the face when he told me to just lie in bed and cry, but I fought through that and struggled on. Despite March through May, my year wasn't so bad. I realize that I have the best support system a guy could ask for and some of the best friends ever. I, honestly, do not know how I got so lucky to have them in my life. As many of you know, I met the man of my dreams and was catapulted into the blissful world of being in love. It was like I was in a convertible sports car going 110 miles per hour down the windy road beside the misty ocean. I could feel the sun warm my skin and the smell of the fresh air breathing into my lungs. I finally knew what real love was. Unfortunately, like a fairytale, that sports car stopped my Buena Vista car ride had ended. I can write about how sad I felt and how destroyed I was or I can chose to tell you how gifted I am because of that love.

     I am, rather, blessed to have had the chance to love and love so unconditionally; and to have been loved by such a great man. Life is full of surprises and changes in plans. That is what 23 was all about for me. It was about life lessons and learning to adapt to what you have been dealt. I have grown so much from this past year and I am now stronger and wiser going into 24. I once read this article about how your early twenties were awful and full of confusion. Well I am here to say that no matter what you've done with your life (graduated college, met the love of your life, have a great job) it still is full of trials and tribulations. Heck, maybe that is the point of life - learning to adapt and continuously getting better at living this life. I am so blessed to be able to say that my 23 was about finding myself and falling in love and, in turn, being able to not always be the strong one and have great friends and family to fall back on.

     Happiness is a choice. In life we always have choices... You might encounter a bad situation, a sad situation, a hard time or even a catastrophic event, but what we have to do is embrace those feelings, learn from them, grow from them and take them with you as you move on a stronger, wiser person. So many of us make the choice to stay in our despair, unpack our suit cases and live there. What we don't realize  is that we are choosing to be miserable. Happiness is a choice and I am choosing to be happy. I have such a great life and have so many great people that are living it with me. I am not what has happened to me, but I am an overcomer of my circumstances. I know many of you are wondering what about love? And I say, "What about love?" Love is or it ain't - thin love ain't love at all.

XOXO