Bisous et Bonbons

Happiness Is…

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren’t old enough and we’ll be more content when they are. After that we’re frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with, we will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is there’s no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when?

“For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But then there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.” Alfred D Souza.

This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way, so, treasure every moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time…and remember that time waits for no one.

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you’ve had a drink, until you’ve sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy…Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

So…Work like you don’t need money. Love like you’ve never been hurt and Dance like no one’s watching.

Author: Crystal Boyd

Happiness is your choice no matter what the circumstance. You may not be able to change the problem but you can change the way you view it. This is something very real to me right now and if it’s not to you at this moment, chances are that it has or will be.

Thirty, Fabulous, and Thriving

The BIG 3-0… I never thought the day would actually come for me, but it’s come and gone and here I am. 30 has defined me in so many ways, it’s marked a milestone in my life that words could never give justice. Since this day pictured above, saying that I’ve experienced change is an understatement! I celebrated my birthday lunching with the girls at PF Changs by day then dinning at Havana 59 with the besties by night. I prepped for the parties with a spa day that morning, feather extension and all! A fabulous day filled with all of my favs, it was a great birthday!

Less than a week later I found myself on a plane and life as I knew it was over. Just me, my dog Jackson and 2 suitcases, this would be my life. I had lived in Richmond, VA for 10 years at this point, married since the age of 18, worked at the same job and had the most amazing friends and family surrounding me. A comfortable life to say the least. 

After years of trying and many ups and downs, my marriage ended earlier this year. Around the same time my position at work had changed. In a time of marital trouble my work was where I turned to identify myself. Consequently, at the beginning of my marriage I identified myself with my husband. I was his wife and the military knew me as his last four (SSN). So there I was, nobody’s wife and without a title. Who was I and where did I belong? OK God, I get it! It’s not about a title, other people or what I can do. I had it all wrong for so many years. 

So here’s to life… single, 30 and living my dreams. From the big city to a small town and some world traveling in between.  Trying to figure out this thing called life, who I am and where I belong. Thirty, fabulous, and thriving.