Did you get it shut all the way?

And with that my fingers that were so desperately holding on to the only thing I knew were smashed firmly in the door. It's as if the act of inflicting pain were not enough!  How can the pain be intensified?  Hey I know!

Awww heck. Never mind. It's my personal struggle. I got here so I guess I will get back out.

Still growing

At this age you'd think the lessons would be learned. And perhaps they already are. 

Maybe this is the part of life you unlearn the lessons that stuck by accident and you focus on the ones that benefit hearts instead. 

Somehow thinking like that makes it a joy to be learning. 

Some things require less thought

If you wait long enough you are no longer waiting. 

If you are spontaneous every day you are no longer spontaneous. 

And if you wait for spontanaity you are bound to miss it. 

Martyr. Victim. Pffft.

Here's the deal...if you are pretending to be someone you're not and someone wrongs you, you only have yourself to blame. Perhaps you even got what you had coming. 

...if you are being true to yourself and someone wrongs you and you do nothing and say nothing you only have yourself to blame. 

...in other words - take responsibility for yourself. Be strong. Be resilient. Be brave. Be bold. 

Hiding

Seems like everyone has something to hide. From leaders in top positions to everyday Joe's on the street. It has not only become the way we live privately but it is accepted as the public norm. 

Relationships, conversations, actions, thoughts, purchases, trips, habits, gifts...the list is endless. I am not excluding myself from this practice by writing this. I am merely proposing the question - when did hiding our own secrets become the driving factor in how we live?  Is it even possible to live a truly transparent life?  Or have our daily lives become so intertwined with each other that it would be entirely too complicated?

What is there to fear?  Judgement?  Resentment?  Conviction?  Guilt?  Exposure?  I think it has a ton to do with the responsibility that follows suit. If I come clean with my secret I run the risk of exposing you. If you are exposed you may get mad at me. If you get mad we may not be friends. But are we really friends to begin with if our friendship crumbled due to honesty?  

Hmmmm. 

Less than a week

Five more days. That's all that remains of 2013. Just a few moments left to play out the last bit of the year. How do you finish your year?  

What haven't you said that you wish you would have?  Perhaps, I'm sorry I hurt you or those three magical words, I love you. 

What haven't you done that you need to do?  Pick up the phone, put down the phone, speak to the person in the next cubical or say hi to that cute guy/girl on your morning commute. 

There are literally millions of scenarios playing out all over the world that could have been handled differently. I have my own personal list. But I am determined not to live in the past. I own my stuff. I also am going to boldly step forward right into the thick of 2014 with anticipation, hope and wonder at what awesome and rare thing might take place. 

So be brave. Be spontaneous. Live while you can. No regrets. This is your year. Use every bit of that special stuff that defines you. Create what you want to create. And never forget, 2014's got nothing on you! 

Yes, the phone is on and charged.

Years of growth, determination, conviction, self confidence and worth, discipline and success cannot possibly be boiled down to whether or not the phone rings. 

Oh wait. Yes it can.