Kindred

"What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined to strengthen each other, to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories."-George Eliot

There are some connections that can't be fully explained. There are some relationships that are just organic. You can't explain how you got close so fast or imagine life without them. You think alike. You finish each others sentences. You communicate effortlessly. They just get you. Cherish these individuals. Celebrate these relationships. Love your kindred spirit!

"What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined to strengthen each other, to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories."-George Eliot

Great

Today is my 36th birthday, and I can admit that 36 does not look the way I thought it would. In my mind, I thought I would have done more, been more, have more. It's amazing how we can be so critical of ourselves. The truth is I do have more. I am happily married to a man I adore. I have two beautiful daughters. I quit a job I hated. I am happy. I have more love, more peace, more time, more freedom, and more joy. Today is a great day because I am not defined by my accomplishments. I am discovering that who I am is defined by the more I have yet to become. There's more. 36 is good, but 37 will be great. Here's to greatness....

"There are two great days in a person's life, the day we are born and the day we discover why." -William Barclay

Vow

 "For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part"

Isn't it interesting that marriage requires you to agree to something before you have knowledge of it? Marriage makes you say, "yes" to the unknown. Most of us have a problem with this level of commitment. We want to weigh all of our options. We want to make an educated decision. We want to pick and choose our vows. Not possible. We will never know what the "worse" is, or what "poorer" really looks like. We can only value the gift of our spouse, and choose to honor our vows regardless. We have to remember our vows when challenges occur in our relationships. We have to "love and cherish till death do us part."

Relax

One of the first things I was told in premarital counseling was "take time to take of you." Imagine my surprise. I thought marriage was all about turning my "me, myself, and I's" into "we, us, and ours." Don't get me wrong, it is definitely about that too, but our counselors wanted to stress the importance of self-care. If you do not take the time to take care of yourself, you are no good for anyone else. So, you need to relax. You need to go to the gym. You need that time in the barbershop or the nail salon. You need that girl's trip. You need that fishing trip. All of your responsibilities will still be there waiting on you. The laundry pile will be waiting, and the to-do list might be a bit a longer. Relax. Take a moment. Breathe. Chill. It's ok. I promise. 

Loyalty

"Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses." -Ann Landers

There is a reason that wedding vows include "in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health." It speaks to the human condition. We are naturally selfish. We don't tend to put someone else's needs, wants, and desires before our own.  When things get rough, we innately want to leave. Loyalty is about ignoring our instincts. It is about being selfless. Loyalty is about enduring the vicissitudes of life. It's about mutual respect and love.   

Connect

"When you connect to someone on a human level, and you get to know about them, you can begin to love the things that make them different. That's when fear dissipates, and that's when we can live the life that we're all supposed to be living."-Ruth Negga

We have more in common with each other than we have differences. It's always easier to identify what's different. We exist in a series of adjectives instead of nouns. We are all human. We all have blood flowing through our veins. We all need love. We are all the same when it counts. Our adjectives cease to matter when we choose to see how we connect. Tragedy connects us. Experiences connect us. Life connects us. 
 

Elated

When was the last time you felt pure joy? When was the last time you smiled from ear to ear? When was the last time you felt elated? Life is full of moments that make you smile. Life is a gift. Don't take your existence for granted. Anything can happen. Tell your family you love them. Send that text. Pick up the phone. Write that letter. Give that hug. Tomorrow is not promised. Do what makes you happy. Be elated.