Dear Tiffany

I have random thoughts that come to me all day long, sometimes to the point of not being able to concentrate on the task at hand. If the old saying "An idle mind is the devils workshop" is true,  I am totally safe. I often say, "I wish I could turn my brain off!" but that statement is usually uttered during a very busy day at work, where I'm mentally juggling several "balls" at once.
Today a thought occurred to me. If I were going to send a letter to myself, either going back, or forward, in time, what would the letter say?
Dear 3 year old Tiffany, do NOT cut your bangs. Leave the scissors alone. You're getting your picture taken in a professional studio in just a few days, this is so not a good idea. As I type this I am contemplating calling my mom and apologizing for being so "adventurous". I believe my mom would replace adventurous with ornery, but I'll save that for the mom interview post. Yes, there is a picture of this "adventure" for proof, I will have to find that and show you some time.
Dear 7 year old Tiffany, tomorrow is picture day at school. You're going to forget, and wear a t-shirt with a Koala bear on it, and pull your hair back with a handkerchief bandana. Dear GOD don't do it. I beg you. Could you, at the very least, take the bandana off before you say cheese? If you think I'm posting that picture on the internet you're crazy. Wait. I apologize. You're mistaken, not crazy.
Dear 13 year old Tiffany, you cannot suck up vast amounts of water from the carpet with a Kirby vacuum. You have to use a wetvac for these things.
Dear 15 year old Tiffany, pay more attention in science class. Your being quiet is a good thing, yes, but ask questions, participate more, you will get a higher grade.
Dear 19 year old Tiffany, (and current Tiffany) listen to your mother. This encompasses everything, just do it.

Ah well. I could go on. If time travel were possible and we could go back and fix all of the times we went left when we were clearly supposed to turn right, that would make for a very clean slate wouldn't it? But a clean slate doesn't bring the life experience, which always brings not only the lesson, but the skill set to handle future occurrences. Attempting to go back might possibly bring an even bigger faux pas.
So, I'll step forward. Carrying those decisions I made with me. Then, when I see something resembling that left turn, guess which way I'm going to go this time.....

Tomorrow we're having a free pastry at Starbucks, on them. Don't forget to print out your coupon. What? You're not on the email list? Well, I know people in high places, stick with me. (But get on that list, just sayin)

Talk to you soon,
Tiffany

PS Before I forget, if you're picking me up for breakfast, and the pond with ducks in it is on your right, turn right into my complex, not left.

What you want, and what you need, there's a difference

Self satisfaction, where does it come from? I've been asking myself this question for several days. Obviously the answer is going to be different for everyone, we're all unique right? It seems to be a trend that we want what we can't have or what is hard to achieve. The impossible, is attractive in a lot of ways. I would like to know for sure, that I won't ever get so caught up in the unattainable, that I miss something lovely that's right in front of me.
Rarely do people take into account what they really need to be happy individually.
This can be applied to many things, career, possessions, relationships....
I have a friend that wants to keep climbing that corporate ladder, all the while complaining that the higher they go, the less fun their daily job becomes. I don't want to say that I don't have goals, and that my job is a perfect existence (we'll save that for another post, I can ramble on about it) but I'm happy for the most part, right where I am. Does this appear complacent? I'm not sure that I care if it does, I'm happy in what I'm doing. I'm good at what I do. Now feel free to ask me about this again soon as work is absolutely insane right now, not enough people to do the work. Yet another trend I hear.
I know a few people that are never quite satisfied with what they have regarding their possessions. That 52 inch flat screen isn't quiiiiiite big enough, lets get a new 62 inch. That brand new vehicle is so nice but I really want that one -------------->. Cell phones and furniture and laptops and jewelry and ......you get my point. Don't misunderstand, I am all for having nice things. But I don't want them to own me, I would rather own them, within reason. I also don't want them to define me. I would much rather be defined by what I say and do.

I think being happy requires knowing yourself. Sounds simple doesn't it? I've found that it isn't at times. But if you don't know you, how can anyone else know you?
I always tell my close friends that I wish for them, their every desire. I really mean that when I say it. But what I want to add, but don't, is:  as long as your every desire is good for you, and something that won't hurt you.
I think there is a “stereotypical dream” that we have regarding what we think our lives should look like and be. I can only hope that we all are paying attention when new and unexpected opportunities for happiness present themselves and not discard them because they don’t look like the stereotype we have envisioned for ourselves. There is an unfortunate idea that society and culture should dictate what our lives are supposed to look like. The result is a lot of unhappy people who got exactly what they "wanted".
 
I really do want you to have exactly what you want out of life. Just think about what you really want, and no matter what it looks like, go for it like there is no tomorrow.

I will too.

Breakfast tomorrow should be omelets I think, a variety of whatever we want, mixed in one pan. Just like life.
Until then,
Tiffany