To thine own self, be true....

From pen to page, keyboard to screen, or, in my head, I've been writing my thoughts since I learned how to form a sentence. It occurred to me today, that many of these stories, written or not, are the culmination of *the* story. My story.

I live the pages every day, and every night in my dreams. I mean, isn't each paragraph that we live, a high point?

Maybe not. We certainly don't choose to have things go wrong, when they do. Or, not go how we imagined, or wanted them to. Still, I've always believed, and often said out loud, that a person is the sum total of everything they have gone through, and experienced, until right now. Present tense. Today.

My birthday is coming soon. I always do a fair amount of reflecting before the day of celebration arrives. You see, this year is a milestone birthday. So they say. I actually think they are all milestones in a way. Good grief, we just went twelve months past the last celebration, that's cause for another big hooray, isn't it?

I've found myself smiling and thinking, 'you know what? I am actually, sincerely, proud of myself!'
I work hard on a job that challenges me, that I committed to twenty-four years ago. I don't love it every day, let's keep perspective here, but as a whole, I'm proud of my work.

That isn't as important as the rest though. It's a means to the good stuff. The real living is just outside the work bubble.

And I finally...get...it.

I had my epiphany!

'So, did you have yours?' the artist asked me, as he was preparing to create my favorite word, well, one of them, on my arm. I told him that I did.
He smiled without looking up, preparation takes concentration.
'Are you going to SHARE what it is? Or is it a secret?'

It's a very simple, stolen quote, that my mom has said to me, since I was an awkward teenager trying to figure out the why's and what for's of the world. "To thine own self, be true".

And now, I say it to you, dear friend. Be yourself. There is only one 'you'. You are unique. You matter. You count. You were made for a reason.

So I say, laugh out loud and especially, the deep belly laughs that bring tears because you can't stop laughing. You want to wear the crazy hat, or make goofy faces when someone is taking your picture? Do it! All of your friends love country music but you like classical? Pump the Mozart volume! You know I could go on and on, but I'm certain that you understand.

Just.be.you.

And share your gifts, the world would be so boring if we didn't.

I decided to do the thing that many girls do at the most random hour; tell the stylist to cut a few inches of my hair off, add some highlights and layers, for a new fun look! Oh I know, it's a girl thing mostly. We often take excitement with doing this sort of thing. Although, I do have guy friends that love to as well. Plus, Spring has mostly arrived in N.Texas, and Summer isn't that far away. It's a great way to stay cool outside, with a fresh, albeit shorter, hair-do.

Of course I had to do a selfie to be able to show my mom and sisters! And, as always, I was being silly when I took the picture, they expect this you see. I love laughing, and making people laugh, and smile. I am sure we can agree, that the world we live in today, needs smiles. And reasons to laugh.

I've come to realize that waking up and deciding to be happy is the best decision ever. It's not always easy, but the days I master it, are forming a pattern of a great week, which turns into a great month. On the days where it might he a struggle, I turn to my favorites. A good book, a conversation with my comedian son, a walk, a great movie, a random phone call from a best friend....

So as Spring arrives, and we turn the clocks ahead, do a little Spring cleaning, and shift our thoughts towards warmer days, I hope you are happy and fulfilled. And if you ever need a reminder that you have unique gifts to share, I'm here.

Because there is only one you. And,

You matter!

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

P.S. Breakfast at Tiffany's will have mimosas included tomorrow, I'm going to a Spa! Maybe I'll write about that next time. Until then, be kind to everyone you meet. Okay?

Live life out loud!

To thine own self be true
. 

My mom gave me this advice a long time ago, and years later I've found myself giving her that same advice. It's funny to see the shift in life, our parents teach us, and then we teach them. Rather cool.

I read a tweet the other day about a friend saying that his friends are always saying to him, get married, have kids, do the responsible thing. If I had caught it real time I would have just tweeted a response, but of as usual I was very late in the game. Oh twitter, I don't mean to forsake you. I actually love you, you are probably my favorite social media outlet. So easy and quick,  and gone are the fluff posts of anything-no-one-wants-to-hear or pictures of things-we-dont-want-to-see. Wellll maybe pictures we don't want to see, but I digress.....

So here's some of what my mom said to me, and what I now say to my friend and anyone else pondering this sort of thing:

First, your life is your own and I think you have the whole living it well, downpat. I think your friends say these things out of concern and love. Don't you? They equate happiness to the American dream. Two-car garage, two point five kids, white picket fence around the house.....you get my point. They want you to be "happy", and by their definition, that is where one finds the happy. I won't discount that these things, if you're with the right person, can in fact, bring the happy.

But if you want to kayak through Hawaii on a whim, or back pack through foreign countries on a moments notice, it might be easier if you're single and carefree. Actually, you don't have to be single per se, backpacking through Europe with a partner that you like or love would be awesome. But if you have kids and a mortgage, I'm not saying it's not attainable, but a little tougher to work out the details.

If you don't want kids, that is okay. You don't have to be apologetic for this decision. I actually applaud it, because I would rather someone speak the truth and then live it, instead of doing what they think that everyone else thinks they should do. Just because you don't have kids, and aren't married, in no way means that you are not a responsible person. Holding a job and living on your own and paying your bills speaks to this.

So back to the beginning. To thine own self be true.

And who knows, five years from now when you're married and have three kids, you'll think back to this discussion and marvel at the thought of it.

See what I did there? Ha! I kid.

Live life out loud! (I think you already are)

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS This also means that you can eat food for breakfast that isn't considered breakfast food. Break the rules! What rules? There aren't any rules, are there?