Do I tell her she will make mistakes?

I often wonder what I would tell the younger version of myself, if time travel were possible. How far back would I go? And what would I say, to the happy little girl that still feels like her childhood was idyllic.

Do I tell her she will make mistakes? I don't want her to be afraid or not trust her gut.

I could let her know that when she was in 2nd grade and that dark-haired boy that kept yanking her pigtails, was doing so because he liked her. I won't say boys are dumb. That's not true. But at *that* age, they often don't know how to show that they are fond of you. My mom set me straight on this, so maybe I won't have to tell her.

I think I should tell her that sunscreen is important. And that she is worthy of having herself surrounded by like-minded people, that truly care about her. I want her to know that real, true love, comes easily, and often without fanfare. It just *is*. That doesn't mean that relationships don't require work. It means the *right* relationship, is worth the required work.

I should probably mention that the circle of life can be hard to witness and accept at times. And that her grandma and 'Pap' are in a better place, until she sees them again. It's also really, really hard to lose a pet. She will learn to accept her new normal, but it's still hard.

Honestly, what I want her to know most of all, is that she has no reason to be hard on herself during anything *trying* that may be going on in her life. Don't freak out. Just breathe. You know what to do. You need to trust yourself and your decisions.

And finally, you will be lucky to grow up with a big, loving extended family that tries their best to keep in touch.
You'll fiercely support every single friend and family member, no matter what.
You will show up, and ask, 'what can I do?' when it's necessary. Because they do the same for you.

When you stand at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, you will be moved. Enough so to write about it.
Just like seeing the turquoise water in Cancun, and the view of Hawaii from the top of Diamond Head. That you just climbed! And you thought you were afraid of heights, ppsshh.

Okay you're still afraid of heights. But you will logically talk yourself out of the fear, should you find yourself zip-lining in Jamaica. Trust me. You won't die above the jungle. Also, don't pull on the pulley. Your glove will get stuck and then you'll have to be rescued.

Be present in the moments. Even the seemingly insignificant ones. Please. They will soon become memories and I want you to be able to remember them fondly.

Oh and write in a blog. Then you can look back and read what your thoughts were, from years past.

I'm thinking of these things because I'm gifted with another year wiser on March 30th.

Thank you for being here friend(s), I'm lucky to have you!
Tiffany

P.S. Breakfast at Tiffany's continues with fresh fruit, protein, and a hand-written, carefully thought out plan, for world changing ideas. Or maybe just a short list, I never know for sure. 😁

Oh and the birthdays? Embrace, celebrate, and enjoy every last second of the celebration of you.

*picture at top, on left, me on my third birthday

Celebrate You

"I want to grow old without facelifts. I want to have the courage to be loyal to the face I have made."
— Marilyn Monroe
 
Yeah it's me. And its the picture that hangs in my hall, you've seen it before. I woke up today, with a song from the Sound of Music stuck in my head. *commence eye roll in three.....two......one. I can't help it, I love that movie.
"What will this day be like? I wonder......What will my future be? I wonder....." The song? "I have confidence" Maria sings it. I'm not sure why this movie is on the brain, probably because they show it on t.v. around Easter every year. I own the DVD, but still.
Today is my birthday. I had no idea what the day would bring, usually I'm thinking about all of the glitter and confetti my *cute* coworkers toss all over my desk at work. I say this lovingly. But I STILL find confetti in the oddest places from LAST year. I'm just sayin.
Quite frankly, today isn't the first day I've woke up with this song in my head. It has been happening for a few days now.
Why not wake up with wide-eyed wonder about the day? I still say you decide what kind of day you're going to have. It was gorgeous weather this morning, and stayed that way all day. Perfect day to celebrate the day one was born. I thought about the past year, and everything that came with it. So many gifts, too many to count, and not the ones wrapped with big shiny bows, although I did get a few of those too. The year was sprinkled with new friends, old friends, best friends, good news and some not so pleasant, new responsibilities at work, new babies in my extended family, renovations where I live, a few mistakes here and there.....I'm human. Except when I wear that superhero costume, but don't tell anyone I have that okay?  Lifelist revisions, some dreams have changed, others fulfilled. (Bonjour Paris, with your pink skies and le tower de eiffel)
 
As Maria sings, "I still have confidence", I do too. And, as Marilyn wants, "to have the courage to be loyal to the face I have made" I do too.
 
And my birthday?

It couldn't have been better.

Celebrate YOU every day. I do. I'm glad you're here. And I'm very glad you stopped by today.

Four day weekend looming, I'm free for breakfast, lets do it!

I'll see you soon,

Tiffany

Trust yourself

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when their right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."— Marilyn Monroe

This picture is hanging in my hallway. I think she looks as though she may be contemplating some of her decisions that she's made along the way. I do this quite often, not always believing I've done the right thing. I would like to think that I trust myself, but I don't agree with the statement above one hundred percent because I think you have to trust others as well as yourself. Believe lies? Well that's up to you. What is a lie anyway, just something that you wish had a different outcome?
At the end of the day, the decisions you make, form what will happen next in your life tapestry. I do believe everything happens for a reason. And of course people change, they grow, they become better, sometimes worse, but we all learn new things as each day unfolds. Doesn't that make us a changed person? I think it does. I'm different than I was a month ago. And I'm glad, it means I've learned more about myself, what I like, and who I want to be. Every person we talk to brings something new to the table, if we're listening. 
"Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together" well I've discussed that phrase a thousand times. It's that perspective thing again. A friend once wrote a social media status update: "Perception is reality".

I liked it then, and still think about it now. A three word status update, written months ago, yet I think about it often. Pretty cool.
You notice that Marilyn is also smiling in this picture. It could be that she's not contemplating anything at all, she's just happy. Someone asked me once if I was really smiling all of the time, really as happy as I appear to be, or sound. I told them, if I'm smiling and sound happy, I truly am. You can't fake that. Now that doesn't mean that I'm "bubbling over"  24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even Cinderella had to wash all of the clothes and do all of the chores, come ON. But she sings when she's doing it, doesn't she?
And so do I. =)
You choose what kind of day you're going to have, for the most part. Yes, things are going to happen that you can't control, that may bring unfortunate yuck to your day. That's life. I think the key is what you DO with that "yuck". Develop a skill set to handle it if it happens to roll around again? I think so. Thats what I choose anyway.

Today brings February 2010 to a close.
What shall we do with March?

Until next time,
Tiffany

PS March is my birthday month. Yes, I said month. Why not celebrate me all month instead of just one day. But Breakfast at Tiffany's on the 30th, okay? Bring the noise blowers, I'll make the coffee and breakfast tortilla rollups.