I’m super busy this week but came across these 10 Valuable Life Lessons by Luminita Daniela Saviuc. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! Below is my favorite.

We Judge Others for the Things We Haven’t Accepted in Ourselves

“You have to change the way you think in order to change the way you feel.” – Robin Roberts

I watched a video message today from GMA’s Robin Roberts taken at the hospital after she  underwent a bone marrow transplant following her myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) diagnosis. She made the statement above and it is happens to be identical to something that I tell myself daily. I can’t expect myself to feel happy if I truly don’t think and believe I am. Our mind controls who we are and we are lucky that we have control over our own mind…We have no one else to blame in this world for our unhappiness but ourselves. People can do and say things that make us unhappy and life can throw us awful curve balls, but it is up to us to learn from these experiences and grow, remembering to always find our own happiness within ourselves. In order to feel better, you have to think better. In order to feel love, you have to think love. She’s such an inspiring woman.

I have linked the video below if you haven’t seen it (left). It’s very short and a little emotional to watch, but it’s raw and powerful…It’s real life! The video from the day on GMA she told the world about her new diagnosis is also linked below (right).

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” Earl Nightingale

You know what? I NEVER thought of this way! Hmm…well said, Mr. Nightingale, well said! I think I need to make a list of dreams and, even if I don’t accomplish them all, I’m still going to work towards them all….because the time will pass anyway, right? 😉 I think I’ll start my list right here with a couple:

Run my own business.

Complete a triathlon.

Fall in love again, and, if it fails, again, and if that fails, again…….And, in the meantime, fall in love with myself over and over again 🙂

What are some of your dreams? Have you actually ever stopped to think about them? Give it a shot. I think you’d be surprised what you truly aspire to do and be.

“Life provides losses and heartbreak for all of us – but the greatest tragedy is to have the experience and miss the meaning.” – Robin Roberts, GMA

I figured this was applicable today being that it is the 11 year anniversary of the attacks on 9/11/2001.  9/11 was the biggest day of loss and heartbreak my generation, and many others, have probably ever felt before. But as with any experience, it is up to all of us to not miss the meaning and lesson that came with such a loss and tragedy. I know what I learned that day, that life is short and precious. That reminding your loved ones how much they mean to you as much as you possible can is necessary. Most of all, I learned from the uniting of the citizens of this country as well as witnessing how other countries around the world united with us, that cooperation and unity is possible. That when we all start to look at one another as PEOPLE, with families and loved ones like the rest of us, things get accomplished and people work together versus against one another. 9/11 meant to me that Democrats and Republicans, Christians and Atheists, Homosexuals and Heterosexuals were all just PEOPLE. People that bleed the same, feel the same pain, love with the same emotion and passion and put their differences aside because they realize how much more we are all truly alike than we are different.

This is the meaning I got from the massive tragedy of 9/11. Our country suffered an indescribable loss, but I think it’s up to all of us to help each other through it and not miss the meaning and lesson it can teach each and every one of us.

“What do I believe that I deserve in this life? I think I deserve something beautiful.”―  Elizabeth Gilbert,  Eat, Pray, Love

This past weekend I witnessed multiple beautiful things in Salt Lake City for the wedding weekend of one of my best friends from college. On so many different levels my heart felt love and beauty as the weekend went by and I want to share these moments and experiences with you.

1. Nature: The wedding was at the Soltiude Resort in the mountains of Utah. I honestly can’t put into words how amazing it is there. The trees, the leaves, the wildlife, the stars, the moon, the clouds, the silence and the purity of it all take your breath away. I was in awe the entire time! I stuck my head out of the car window the entire ride back down the mountain taking it all in just one last time.

2. Commitment: My friend and her now husband were together for 8 years before they tied the knot and you can still tell how much they love eachother when they look into eachother’s eyes today. They wrote their own vows and they were beautiful! There wasn’t a dry eye in the place! They put into words what I think we all dream of in a committed relationship. All bases were covered: loyalty, commitment, love, honesty, patience, admiration, you name it. And, by the tones in their voices, and the looks on their faces you could truly tell they meant every word they spoke to one another.

3. A Mother’s love: My friend’s mother is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met! She lives life to the fullest, she has a wonderful sense of humor, she has one of the biggest hearts, she isn’t afraid to shed a tear regardless of what it represents and she raised the most beautiful daughter! Watching her all weekend and seeing her love for my friend pour out of every smile, every hug, every stare, every action was inspiring! I know that if I ever get married one day, my mother will look the exact same and I’m lucky to have a mother like that. That kind of love is beautiful and an honor to have witnessed.

4. Friendship: This weekend was full of old and new friendships. I nurtured 2 of my best and longest friendships and am about 20 friends stronger now that I’m home. I witnessed friendships of others and saw new friendships being created for them as well. It’s amazing how quickly you can relate to someone new and it suddenly feels like you have known them your whole life. You create a beautiful bond that fills empty holes that, prior to that moment, you never knew you had. With each thriving relationship and each new friendship you learn more about who you are, more about who you want to be and more about what you want from life.

5. Music: Music on it’s own is beautiful! But, I have to admit, listening to music for 3 hours during a reception at a wedding is one of my favorite things in this world because it allows you to dance, to express yourself as much as humanly possible and to make a fool of yourself in the meantime. Watching others do the same is beautiful to me 🙂 The happiness that exudes from someone while they dance makes me smile!

I could probably go on and on, but I’m going to stop myself. This quote above is from my favorite book. And I don’t think I ever really focused on these particular words until today. It’s true, I deserve something BEAUTIFUL…in every facet of my life. I deserve beautiful friendships, beautiful relationships, beautiful scenery, beautiful music, beautiful love! And I intend to live my life in search of only the beauty found in everything. That’s what we all deserve. Not all circumstance or realities appear beautiful at first glance, but I truly  believe that there is beauty in EVERYTHING if we look hard enough. Just writing this makes my soul come alive, I can feel it. Think of how much happier and more alive you can feel when you see the beauty in everything versus the negative.

Thank you Felice and Caleb for allowing me to realize all of this last weekend, to realize that I deserve something beautiful and for letting me be a part of such a beautiful and precious moment in your lives!Felice, it’s as if you were born to be a bride…you were as beautiful as the day is long my love! Your heart and your soul inspire me! Thank you for teaching me about love, friendship, beauty and commitment! I wish you nothing but a lifetime of love, happiness, beautiful memories and good heath!