"Some people think that the physical things define what's within; And I've been there before; And that life's a bore; So full of the superficial"

Sometimes people just need a day to themselves to do things for themselves. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? Think about the last time you had a whole day to yourself. What did you do? What did you enjoy about it? How did it make you feel? Why is it we don't do this as often as we should? Some people may not like the idea of spending a whole day by themselves, but I love it. It rejuvenates me.

I think this quote expresses exactly what I feel when I spend time alone doing the things I love doing that I don't get a chance to do often enough...this is such a sweet and real quote.

"I have, as it were, my own sun and moon and stars, and a little world all to myself." - Henry David Thoreau

See I'm all about them words Over numbers, unemcumbered numbered words Hundreds of pages, pages, pages forwards

Today I am very thankful for truth. Pure and simple. There is a lot of power in the clarity that truth provides. There is no doubt that finding truth can be a very painful thing, yet the liberation that comes from truth is the clarity we receive from it I think. Things are revealed to us until we are ready to see them clearly.

Clarity allows us to make better choices for ourselves and sets the standard by which we live and by which we set the standards for the way others treat us. I am only now discovering and using clarity for the first time. 'Using' clarity has a lot to do with acknowledgment of the things about ourselves that we don't want to see and hoping that others won't discover. I've learned that these things we run from, tend to catch up to us in other forms. That form may be another person. It may come as an 'unexpected event'. It may even come through the difficulties of a stranger. Whatever the form, the manner in which we embrace it or resist it, matters. It matters because our action or inaction could be the difference between going left or right---a life-changing moment. Or it can be a part of a series of steps that will lead you to somewhere wonderful that you just aren't aware of yet. I have learned: things aren't always revealed to us when we want them to be or when we think we deserve them to be. It is a lesson of faith.

There is much cleansing that comes from truth and facing the hurts and the joys it brings. I think sometimes we hold on to hurts in our hearts and we just don't want to let go of them because we think that place it has in our heart can't be replaced by anything else, let alone something good. We fear the loss and we fear the feeling of emptiness. So we hold on even though we may know that what we are holding is stale and over. What we don't realize in the moment is that it prevents us from giving and receiving. Specifically, it holds one back from loving. Until one day when we are ready and find our clarity, we make the decision to let go. It's a bittersweet kind of moment. But at the end of the emotion there is triumph. There is a peace in knowing that you are a better person. It allows for more loving; of oneself and towards others. It allows others to love you better. It brings shape to your life. It reveals to you the strength of your spirit. Most importantly, it shows you that you have the power to heal yourself through self-love. I think its one of the most important lessons to learn in life. I feel thankful to know this tonight.

"A few times I've been around that track So it's not just gonna happen like that"

I think a lot in the car. I just realized that today as I was driving. I think about everything, sometimes things just pop into my head like, 'I like so and so'. Or I come up with a great idea. Or I think about someone I know who is struggling with something or I think of my own struggles and how I can work on those.

Speaking of which, prayers are sure answered in funny (as in ironic) ways. I had one of those funny/ironic lessons yesterday. Just a warning: ask to be humbled (as I have been for the last couple of days) and the resulting possibilities are endless. Things of the following nature might happen to you: being approached by salespeople in the middle of a parking lot trying to sell you something when you've had little sleep and food, not to mention you have dirty clothes and bad hair as you've spent the last few hours working in a dust factory. The main thing on your mind is 'I want to go home'. Meanwhile, you're trying to muster up as much understanding you can and not be rude to someone who's trying to do their job, granted not in the most convenient location or timing for you. Plus, you're not enjoying the person's sales tactics which includes talking a lot and not wanting you to talk, but just agree with what they say. To top it all off, the salesperson let's you know that you don't look very excited at the prospect of their 'awesome deal'. Although this ordeal took a mere few minutes of my time, it sure was significant because it made me feel inadequate and powerless. I can look at the situation now and find it amusing, but in that moment there was nothing to laugh about. It was just an awkward moment in which I felt I didn't handle very well. Later I realized that I did the best I could in that situation and that is a lesson I have been trying to learn for the last year or so. And that my friends, is definitely humbling.

Moral: Ask and you shall receive. Oh, and also, timing is everything.

"Oh simple thing where have you gone? I'm getting old and I need something to rely on So tell me when you're gonna let me in;

I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin"

Sometimes there is this need to express. I have this need often or else I become stifled in my thoughts. I wonder what the world would be like if people were restrained from expressing......

So, what I will do now is say a farewell to a friend of mine who is moving away. I will say that there are few people in this life who have a natural ability to bring light into peoples' lives. She's the kind of person who remains true to her values. Always ready to laugh. A good girl. I'm going to miss a lot of things about her. Most of all though, I wish that she will have a wonderful spring/summer in her new home! Now, let there be cheesecake and tea in the name of Elmo!