“Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know.”

– Blue Man, The Five People you Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

My friends tend to laugh at me because when I meet a stranger, there is a pretty good chance we will become good friends and stay in touch, no matter where we live.  But friends are more than just friends to me. Once you become my friend, I consider you family. I don’t really see the difference to be honest. Family and friends are synonymous in my mind. I have more sisters and brothers and moms and dads, than I know what to do with. The more perspectives and positive energy, the better!

I can’t help it, I genuinely like people and LOVE meeting someone new!  Every person you meet has their own story and we have so much to learn from the experiences of others.  I love getting to know new people and learning about where they are from, what they have done and have been through, their cultures and points of view.  It is SO important to branch out of your comfort zone and meet new people. You never know what you’ll learn about yourself in the long run! So, next time you have the chance to talk to someone new, do it, you just never know what will come out of a simple hello and a smile!

‎’and when the night is cloudy
there is still a light that shines on me
shine until tomorrow, let it be…’

This will most likely not be the first time that the words of Paul McCartney and John Lennon will show up on this blog.  That being said, I didn’t think I would use a verse from my FAVORITE song so quickly, but then a good friend of mine found comfort in the words the same way that I do, and today felt like the perfect day.

If you know me, you know I have trouble letting things go, letting them be, and you also know how important this song is to me. I think it may actually be written on my soul because I’m pretty sure the notes run through my blood. This verse in particular is my favorite. There will be dark nights, and some pain will seem so inescapable that you aren’t sure how to catch your breath, but there is always a light. Whether it be a friend, a song, a poem, a memory, maybe even a stranger, something will get you through, hold you up in a way that doesn’t make sense and remind you that if you ‘let it be’ all will work itself out in the end. There are some things, especially loss, that are simply out of our control.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself; life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

When I decided to move to Spain in 2006, I told my dad about this decision in an email. I knew that there was no way I could say it to his face because, if anyone could keep me from going, it would be him. So, two weeks later, when he met me in the Marshall’s parking lot (go figure, my father in a Marshall’s parking lot haha) he looked at me, realizing how important his support was, and said that he supported me. BUT, immediately following that, he asked me a question that I never understand until right now, “Is this about you ‘finding yourself’ again? Because you have to stop trying to do that.”

I said no because that’s what he wanted and needed to hear, but I was lying. I really thought that I was going to do that and, until today, I thought that is what happened over there. Not until about 5 minutes ago did I get what my father meant. I couldn’t find myself, I wasn’t lost. I was right there and I had control over who I was and my own happiness. I didn’t ‘find’ myself in Spain, I created myself, like I have continued to do day after day since then.

Life is about creating yourself. You don’t have to find who you are, you have control over the person that you become and if you reach your goals. You ‘find’ yourself within yourself.  We are the only ones that have control over who we are. I work every day doing everything I can to become the best person I can. I may slip sometimes, but I will never stop moving forward with this process.

“Leave room in your busy life for those who adore you just in case you ever question your magic.” – Nancy Drew

I have been pondering all day about which quote should be my first.  I’ve actually rewritten this post 5 times already, but I think this is it. This is one of the most important quotes in my books that I live by.

Less than a month ago I got to spend a long weekend away back in Georgia celebrating the marriage of my best friend. I got to spend 3 to 4 days with my oldest and best friends in this world and my mom and grandmother. Only one weekend later, an amazing group of Chicago women came together to celebrate my birthday. Then, just 2 weeks later, I was able to spend a weekend back in Knoxville, Tennessee with my college friends at my first Vol football game in years. After these three weekends with 3 separate groups of friends, I was reminded how important it is to make room for those people in life that love you for who you are and think the world of you and your friendship. The ones that hold the keys to your past, are celebrating your present and helping to create your future.

Life gets busy and things get tough and, at times, stressful, but you HAVE to surround yourself with those that love you and be reminded what happiness, true friendship and real love really are. It’s these people that help you to remember memories and moments that will live within you forever. Because, at the end of the day, everyone needs to feel loved and important. So, to all of you that I adore, thank you for being a part of my life and if you EVER question your magic, I’m just a text, email or phone call away to remind you how truly amazing and special you are!

10/13/11

Hello all!  So I’ve decided to start a blog. For more explanation as to why, please see my ‘About’ section!  I will begin with my first quote on Monday, October 17th, upon my return from Knoxville 🙂  Have a WONDERFUL WEEKEND and REMEMBER the message below…

Lauren