Manarola.

Places to see before I die: Manarola, Italy.

Summertime.

There is nothing that feels better to me than Summertime.
I spend my days working, wearing flip flops to the office, and clocking out by noon. I drive home with the windows down, my shades on, and Tom Petty or The Smiths blasting through my speakers. I spend the rest of my days either strolling around the town square with a Jones Soda in my hand, playing baseball and frisbee, road tripping to other towns, or staying in bed watching Season 4 of Sex and the City. Nothing feels better.
I'll run early each morning to catch the tail-end of a beautiful sunrise. I'll hike, bike, and climb my way to swimming holes and rushing rivers. I'll camp under the stars and run in the rain. I'll wear sundresses and sandals while I watch a sunset or two. I'll have late nights and early mornings. 
Once a week I'll cover myself in dust and eat my weight in hot dogs at the softball field. I'll sip on beer with my teammates in the dugout and celebrate our victory at the nearest bar. 
I'll fall in love once or twice. I'll laugh a lot, and cry a little. 
My skin will be bronze, my hair will be a mess, I will have dirt under my fingernails. I'll have scrapes on my knees and butterflies in my stomach.
I'll soak up the sun in cut off shorts and a tank top. I'll drink too much and sleep too little. I'll be wishing on birthday candles and shooting stars. I'll board an airplane. I'll cross state-lines. I'll go on adventures. I'll have the time of my life. 
Awaiting you, Summertime.

Live.

"This is your life. Do what you love and do it often. If you don't like something, change it. If you don't like your job, quit. If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop. They will be waiting for you when you start doing the things you love. Stop over analyzing, life is simple. When you eat, appreciate every last bite. Open your mind, arms and heart to new things and people. Travel often, getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once, seize them. Life is about the people you meet and the things your create with them. So go out and start creating. Life is short. Live your dream and wear your passion."

I believe.

           I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles.

Say "Yes."

       Don’t be afraid to be a fool. Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying yes begins things. Saying yes is how things grow. Saying yes leads to knowledge. “Yes” is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say yes.

Bicycle, Bicycle!!

Making Changes.

I've recently decided not to throw myself anymore pity parties. Thinking that I'm destined to fail will only result in failure. I have to get up and make the changes I want to see in my life, and I've already gotten started.

I'm throwing myself into things I would never have tried, to test myself. I'm going to be adventurous, daring, and scared shitless. You only get one life to live and I want to make it count!

I don't want to be 40, wishing I had taken the opportunities I passed up on when I was younger. I wan't to be able to tell stories of the places I've gone and the people I've met along the way. 

I'm going to put 100% into everything I do so that I can be proud of the results.

I'm going to change the world, even if it's just a little piece of it. I'm going to make a difference.

Dearest, Dysfunction.

"We could just acknowledge that we have a screwed up relationship, we stick it out anyway. We accept that we fight a lot and hardly have sex anymore...but we don't want to live without each other and that way we could spend our lives together...miserable, but happy not to be apart."


You know the sinking feeling you get when you realize the walls are closing in and dating begins to feel more life suffocation. That no-turning-back moment when you realize it's over.That all too familiar feeling that you aren't "happy" anymore. Breaking up is much more difficult than it is to pretend things will go back to being wonderful and you'll talk yourself into staying, all to realize a few months later that you still feel the same way. This is the dating game.This is dysfunction.