Homemade Vegetable Pizza! One of my delicious, partially healthy splurges before I begin my Dukan diet on Monday. Blogs to come, logging my journey. Wish me luck!

Excitement Stirring

Lately, with all the planning taking place, I have been nothing short of giddy.

It’s amazing to talk to people with experiences I hope to have. REAL life experience. College has been amazing, I have grown, learned, experienced, but I still feel like my full 20’s in corporate America are going to shape me even more. 

Every person I talk to about me graduating and entering the workforce has asked me one question, “Aren’t you scared?! You’re so young!”

Let’s start off in real talk, I may be 20 (yes, 20), but in my soul, I should be about 28. Fun loving, driven, mature, yet relaxed. I am a “go with the flow”, yet “I do what I want”, type of person. I have been for my entire life. Nothing but challenges that I have yet to encounter are what await me once I graduate. 

So to answer that question, “No, I am not scared—the world has way to much to show me. To be scared of it is only going to limit me. Now why would I ever want to be limited?”

"Even now, all possible feelings do not yet exist, there are still those that lie beyond our capacity and our imagination. From time to time, when a piece of music no one has ever written or a painting no one has ever painted, or something else impossible to predict, fathom or yet describe takes place, a new feeling enters the world. And then, for the millionth time in the history of feeling, the heart surges and absorbs the impact.”
― Nicole Krauss, The History of Love"

One of my all time favorites.

Actually listening.

I am 20 years old and I know what love is. I’ve known what it is for quite some time now, 10th grade to be exact. This love I know has been through one single person which is not very realistic in some people’s minds. 

After two hard break-ups, trying to learn the in between of official to friends, and countless prayers for direction, I have learned more about myself than through any other trial. I have transformed from a cowardly, innocent 16-year-old to a strong, bold, and respectable woman. I have learned to stick to my guns and never back down from what I know I deserve. 

To this day, I have preached to myself about knowing my worth, knowing how to demand respect, and yet, this one person with whom I’ve trusted my heart to, still has a way of breaking that armor and getting to my heart, quick.

So what do I do, how do I deal? I’ll tell you. For the first time, in our 8 years of friendship, I have simply told it like it is. How easy should this be? To be brutally honest with what your feelings are, put the outcome in the hands of God, and let it go. Leave it alone and allow them to take it for what it is. 

There has been no regret, no anxiety, just the peace of knowing I was true to myself. I was honest with him and I’ve put our friendship in his hands. It’s no longer anything that controls me. The outcome depends on his realization of what I have been to him.

Nothing but the best.

tumblrbot asked: WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST HUMAN MEMORY?

Surprisingly, I remember a lot of little moments in time. My mom’s singing is always the first to come to mind. She had a voice of an angel. 

Time goes on..

It’s a wonder I have made it this far.

From Day 1 of my life, obstacle after obstacle have been placed in front of me, yet I still find the strength to move past and grow. I have a lot to thank my father for, that’s for sure, but it truly has been a wonder just how many people are willing to step in and take care of you.

I will be the first to say it hasn’t been a cake walk, but I do laugh at how “terrible” life was. As I grow up, I find it interesting to listen to my advice. I like to think of myself as an example and a light, but I also see how bits and pieces of my encouragement are from words of others:

• my dad, friend’s parents, friends, and teachers
• quotes(my goodness so many quotes)
• the bible

Honestly, I love to see how I have been molded and made into this person, who in all honesty, I am very proud of. 

What I am getting at, is that is everyone should realize their opportunities to guide, shape, or advise those around them. It’s not only by words, but example. Taking each day for what it is and moving forward in all that is set out. 

I’ve made it this far

"What is sad for women of my generation is that they weren’t supposed to work if they had families. What were they going to do when the children are grown - watch the raindrops coming down the window pane? -Jackie Kennedy"