¤}} The Meaning of Life {{¤

Here was the book that caught my eye of course AFTER I checked out at B&N yesterday...soooo I got myself some starbucks and sat down with the mini-book...fell in love with it...and HAD to take pix of some of the pages bc they were so inspiring.
The upsetting thing is that I couldn*t take pix of every page...so when you read through them, some of them dont flow or make sense...but if you pull back on each one and just focus on what each page is saying...you will understand. I*ll try to fill in the parts I missed for you...



It starts off by saying how "Im sorry, I*m guessing you picked up this book bc you thought it would have all the answers...well it has questions instead..." my heart sank like they were expecting it to...haha...bc everyone i know already has gone over those questions in their head a million times...for me at least...a million times each day! But...Bc of the cute pictures...I continued onward...







How AMAZING to think about...how AMAZING that fact really is...we really are made up of the exact same materials...idk...it just gave me a feeling of empowerment...i don't think anyone gives themselves enough credit for what they are truly capable of...

It goes on to say just that...why do we cut ourselves so short?...why do we marvel at great mountains or things that are larger than life..."powerful people in powerful positions...movie stars...huge skyscrapers or waterfalls..." when it is the little things that make all this possible and it is the little things that make the BIGGEST difference...he shows a picture of an ant...





He goes on to list the different popular opinions or suggestions to the answer of the meaning of life...to reproduce, to learn...etc...but then goes on to say that all these circle around love...it comes down to love.



(That one just touched me and sent chills down my spine) The fact that no matter how down you may feel at certain times...it*s that fire in your heart...even if its dwindled down to a minuscule flame...that slowly and calmly talks to you and tells you that it still believes in you and believes you can make your dreams come true...it KNOWS you deserve happiness and are 100% capable of grasping it and holding it for eternity if you just don*t give up.



It talks about how rewarding it is to just help someone else who may feel down or may be struggling...








..it says some people just have to go to a quiet place and think...ask themselves truly..what makes them the happiest...what has in the past? Doing what in the past has made you the most happy? Do you want that again?...It says to some...this question is already known...easy...and for some...it is very hard...(me, i thought)...instead of saying the usual..."give it time" though...it tells you to take this seriously...focus on this question as if your life depended on it..."bc it does"...and REALLY ask yourself what would make you happy in your opinion RIGHT NOW??...







Pretty powerful stuff...*i was going to include one of my favorite quotes of mine that i had forgotten about till now...but i will wait till the end.







It*s hard to admit, but God, this guy is RIGHT on.
He pulls back a little and goes on to say...now calm down...yes...it is so important to go for you dreams...but pay just as much attention to the everyday...HERE AND NOW...have fun with it...DO what you have fun with...DO what makes you HAPPY EACH DAY...whether it be dancing, singing, cooking, hiking, crafting, painting, being with your family...






DONT get mad at yourself for waiting so long to go after what you love...and DONT get mad at yourself if while attempting to reach your dreams you meet some setbacks...



This was also a big one for me...bc i always felt so torn between what i thought my dreams were...and which to go for...and why...it really does take inner focus and silence within yourself...really ask yourself...what is it...I want to do...and wait for an answer...wait. if you have to ask yourself again...ask. And wait.

He goes on to talk further about how once you get the answer...dont let anything stop you...no matter how crazy your idea may have emerged...how impossible it may seem...dont let any event, or person stand in your way...find your way around it...THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY AROUND IT!!...











Really let that sink in...bc it makes SO much sense.












It*s true. Everyone wants to leave this planet feeling like their life was "MEANINGFUL" like they made a difference...This is much easier to do than you think. You may think well...I want to impact people by the thousands...I want my voice heard...I want to be able to help the entire world...well...you CAN. Even if it*s simply by knocking over that first domino. Knock over at least one a day...and imagine how many people you will have effected by the end of your life?? Millions. Your kindness will have changed MILLIONS of lives.








Beautiful. True. Inspiring.

And now, here is one (wait two!) of my favorite quotes I was also reminded of yesterday...sayings you must ALWAYS repeat to yourself when you are feeling weak...

"...Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly."

and...most importantly...

"GO confidently
in the direction of your dreams!!
LIVE THE LIFE YOU*VE IMAGINED" - Thoreau

Cold Hands & Silly~Bands

Well, it*s been a rough past week for me...(Dj is of course, strong and steady as ever)

I feel like it*s been months since I was Nannying and pulling in an (impressive) income. I loved contributing...it was the best feeling throwing in 1,000 checks into our bank account...now...nada.

I have to figure out things to do to keep myself occupied and not feel like a waste of space on planet earth...
...we had a couple days under 95 degrees so Rambo and I took those opportunities to go out for some long walks exploring around our area...it*s going to be SO nice when the temperature starts going down...I cant wait to experience fall here.
...I*ve done numerous crafty projects...and given some needed attention to wedding planning. All of this kinda sux due to the fact that I*m all alone. I can*t drive to a friends house, I can*t drive to just hangout with family...it*s tough. Dj leaves around 6:30 and comes home around 8 every night...6 days a week...sooo...he*s busting his booty...and I*m here searching for things to pass the time with. It feels horrible. The gym still has not gotten back to me even after me calling to follow up...so not only do I not know if they will be able to find a job for me there, but I*m not signed up for the classes I really wanted to sign up for. I think I*m going to go in Tuesday to get a 7-day pass to test it out there and sign up even if they haven*t gotten back to me. I also was waiting to sign up for volunteering till i found a job and would know my schedule but I think I*m going to have to go ahead with it without knowing. I just need something.


My b-day is NEXT WEEK...and Dj got us both bikes so we could ride around DC together finally...we just couldn*t wait any longer and had an AMAZING time. I think we must have rode down every street of DC at least 3 times..it was insane...if you want to figure out streets and your area..get a bike.
It looks like we are going to be able to come home(NY) for this long weekend...and we will have a LOT to fit in as always. But we are both looking forward to that.

Today Dj and I drove up to Silver Spring for Dj*s first training session...where they went around in a circle and said how many hours each member pulled in the day b4...the other guys answered...8...10...18... "Wow guys, great job!" It comes to Dj*s turn..."Well...40" ..."Wait, what?!...you know that's nearly impossible right?" "Well, we are down a couple guys, so it had to be done." They were extremely impressed, as am I with how tireless he is. He really blows me away everyday with how hard he works and how he comes home everyday with a huge smile on his face. The training session was catered by panera and Dj brought me back a sandwich that just rocked my world...while he was in the meeting I drove around exploring...I wanted to go see the Nat Geo building but that was too far...I DID get to a star bucks though and had my first pumpkin spice frap of my year...I cant even express how glorious it was. I had forgotten.

Other things i had forgotten...that i have been reminded the past few days...through different things...was how no matter how tough i think MY day is going...i have it EXTREMELY easy. EVERYONE is struggling. In one way or another...i*m not alone. During this time of "nothingness" I have actually turned on the TV for the first time and watched Extreme Home Makeover...yes, i DID yell out "Move That Bus"...in case you were wondering. I also read about 500 inspiring short stories on Gives Me Hope.com...it really puts everything into perspective and reminds me that even if i feel like I*m doing "nothing"...i can take that time and do even ONE small thing to help someone else...and that makes the time more than worth it. I have a HELL OF A LOT to be grateful for...and while sometimes I feel useless...life Isn*t about proving yourself all the time...but you CAN always find ways to brighten up someone else's day, which will in turn, make yours.