Observations

I find that there are times when I have to just stand back and take in the view. Not just of the world, but of the people in it. Sometimes I get so caught up in my life, I forget to look around me. I forget that everyone else is experiencing things too.  I forget to understand them, and what they may be going through. Some of my observations lately...

Most people are doing their best. Sometimes their best fluctuates, but most people try to do their best with their circumstances.

Most people try to be kind, and the majority of them have NO idea they could have just offended someone. Granted there are people who are mean just because they can be, but most people aren't out to get others. Most of the things we humans get offended by were never meant to offend us.

There is a bright side to every situation. To be fair, there is another side to every situation. And there's usually a little truth to both sides. I like looking for the bright side on either side. Sometimes I have to really look for it. But I feel like it's a great exercise to engage in.

This is a biggie for me: EVERYONE gets overwhelmed! A-ha moment!! Even the dynamic, energetic, have-it-all people get overwhelmed. It's part of being human. I have viewed this in myself as a character flaw, but I realize it's actually normal. I need to remember this.

There are times that a thank you can make or break a situation. Maybe even save it.

No one is perfect. It's a worthy goal, but clearly unattainable in human form. I think forward is a wonderful direction to be going in.

Life is good. For every bad there is a good. For all the junk that gets reported in our world, there are acts of kindness, miracles, happiness, and good deeds going on all over the place that we never see or hear about. That gives me great comfort.

It's a Gusher

Okay....I've got to fangirl a little. So I'm going to gush-just a little-again.....about one of my favorite bands. I love American Authors. I just do. They make me happy. They are positive and upbeat. And I met them!!!

So as a little background, I bought tickets to see American Authors in August. Chad, Meghan and I have been so excited! You know I have to be excited about a band to buy tickets to see them on a Monday night, and a school night to boot!

We got in line outside the venue about 4:30 pm-and the doors didn't open until 6:30 with the concert starting at 7:30. As it was general admission we tried to be early so we could be as close to our guys as possible. We met fun people there in line, and were probably among the first 50 or so to get in. So we scooted right up front and center. Actually there were two rows of people in front of us, but it was an awesome view.

The opening bands were pretty good (until one of the bands decided dropping the f-bomb during one of their songs was a cool thing to do) and though we knew almost none of their music it was enjoyable-until the lead singer jumped off stage and the crowd rushed the stage with wrecking-ball force. Now keep in mind, I'd been wrestling teenagers all evening to keep my spot near the front. I was kicked, called names and jabbed in the ribs repeatedly, but I was determined to stay up there so we could see our heroes up close. Well, the stage rush hurt all of us, and sent Meghan into a full-blown super asthma attack; one that we couldn't get back under control. So we had to fight our way out of the crowd and into the back to save our kid! It was heart-breaking. Once she could breathe again, we could see how crushed she was to be that close and then have to be hauled away from her heroes. When American Authors came on stage Meghan cried a fair bit through the first few songs, but soon we were able to settle down and enjoy just being in the same room with them. THEY ARE AMAZING! Some bands just don't sound as good live as they do on the radio-well this band surpassed all expectations. So good, so happy, so positive and fun to be with!

Though I was reveling in the fact that I was seeing these guys live, the mother in me was a wreck about Meghan. I felt so bad I had to pull her out of there. I knew I had just squashed one of her dreams. So I prayed. Yup-prayed. During the whole time my band was playing and I was dancing I prayed that something could happen to turn our night around. And it did. During the last song, Zach Barnett announced that if we could just stick around for a bit, they would come out and try to meet some of the fans. I've never moved so fast to get in a line in my life! And we met them. And they're wonderful. They are warm and kind and fun and genuine. They turned our night back around completely. I'm a grateful mom, a grateful wife (Chad supported this even though he had to be up at 4:30 the next morning) and a grateful fan....

Best Day of My Life!

Dave, Zach, Meghan, Me, Matt and James

To the Masses

This one goes out to....well....everyone. This entry is dedicated to all the people who have touched my life. I'm grateful for each and every single one of you.

I've had a week where I have repeatedly doubted myself. I have felt intimidated and ignored and unimportant. I realize this is something I do way too often, and I'm hoping by the time I have "grown up" I will have grown out of this a little bit.  When I get feeling this way, sooner or later I realize it is time to put things back into perspective and re-set my thinking. I like to be happy! One thing  that helps me with this process is to concentrate on the people in my life, and what I have gained from them. The messages they have given me and the lessons I have learned from them. And how I feel because of them.

First and foremost, I feel loved. Because I truly am surrounded by amazing people in every aspect of my life, the truth of the matter is that I shouldn't doubt...but I am human after all and this will happen from time to time. Nevertheless, I am grateful to be reminded of who I am blessed to have near me.

So thank you to each of you. Thanks for letting me be someone that you know. Thanks for your friendship, your acceptance, and encouragement. Thanks for loving me, teaching me, and associating with me. Thanks for caring, thanks for checking, thanks for setting me straight when I don't get things right. Thanks for thinking of me, for acknowledging my existence, and validating my presence. Thanks for teaching me who I need to be, and who I don't want to be. Thanks for helping me learn lessons, even if they were hard and I had to come to the point where I knew I had to move on. Thanks for helping me to realize I am far from perfect, but that I want to get closer to perfect than I am. Thanks for helping me be happy with what I have and realizing what I do have. Thanks for criticizing me so I can make improvements and for thanking me when I do things right. Thank you for shaping me into me. I can't do it without you. I depend on you, and I'm grateful.

Thanks to the man who loves me through it all!

Everyone is Beautiful

I am a self-professed people watcher. I love watching the diversity, variety, behavior, mannerisms, personalities,  and habits in people.  I love being in public places (airports, theme parks, beaches, etc) and watching with curiosity,  wonder, awe, (and sometimes horrified fascination) the human race. I love the fact that we are born to be individuals, and that it was divinely constructed to be that way.

Something that occurs to me often is that people are beautiful.  Everyone is beautiful...and not just "in his or her own way". We were all born with the Light of Christ,  which is a beautiful thing in and of itself,  but each individual spirit is beautiful too. I love searching for beauty,  and especially in people.

I have found,  however,  that one thing that makes a difference in a person's beauty is their behavior.  I can meet a person who is beautiful,  and as soon as that person does something kind and selfless they immediately become even more beautiful than they were before.  I realize this is my personal perception, but I'm betting many people have witnessed this phenomenon. I'll admit this can go the opposite direction.  Watching people be mean can change my perception of their beauty as well. But  I believe that most humans are generally good,  and so their  beauty increases more often than not. I'm hoping this happens with me as well. I hope that each act of kindness I do will give more space for heavenly light to shine from me,  and that I don't succumb  to unkind things very often. My goal is never,  but as I'm human I know I will have to be vigilant about it.

 I think everyone wants to feel beautiful...and there is a way to add to beauty every day. I am surrounded by absolutely beautiful people,  and I'm grateful.