Lost but not gone

Today my life consisted of loads upon loads of laundry, cleaning and so much packing. However awful that sounds, there was a silver lining... I managed to find $150 and the below letter. The letter was my favorite part.

As part of my senior psychology class in high school we had to pick two people to write a letter to introduce us to the class, and Jess wrote one of mine. I think the exercise was to reveal our friends perception of us and how well it correlated with our own personal identity.

Finding this letter again happened at a really good point in my life. I've been going through a period of self discovery and this note describes exactly who I've found myself to be again. So it seems that maybe I was never gone, perhaps I was just a little lost. This letter also reinforces that I will always be me - faults and all. Life isn't about fixing our flaws, it's about owning them. Regardless of how I got here, it feels good to be back.

Because the pictures are a little blurry, I'm going to type out the note for your reading pleasure.

As a side note: I moved my senior year to a new house, and my new bedroom was a little boys room. I had a multi-colored football fan and dinosaur wallpaper. My walls got repainted my sophomore year in college, and I am still currently looking at my multi-colored fan. I wish I was kidding.

"Dear Psychology Class,

Now that you've heard the lovely "I'm the boyfriend and what I say must be flattering" note from Alejandro, we can get down to the real Julia Harris. I've known Julia since the beginning of middle school and ever since I saw the Wedding Singer she's been Julia Goolia to me. Julia is someone who speaks her mind and says whatever pops into her head no matter the relativity to what's going on. When she's bored, you know it. When she's angry, you know it. When she's happy, you know it. She wears her emotions on her sleeve and tells it like it is.
If you ever need advice, she knows just what to say and how to make you feel good about yourself afterwards. She also takes teasing and taunts extremely well, at least from our core of friends... the occasional pale joke, fat joke (even though she's not but thinks she is), and the jokes about her bird call laugh... she simply smiles and tries to come back with a "haha you're stupid" or "well you have concealer on your butt!" But for some reason, reputation and how other people view her is a BIG deal to her. She's always worried about how her actions will affect people's view of her and acts accordingly.
Overall, Julia's a fun loving girl who will sing any 80's song right along with me or will be first to propose plans, even if it's,"fatty needs food." Although the move from one house to another has been tough, she'll persevere and learn to like the dinosaur wallpaper and football ceiling fan that this new house and life will throw at her. (Explain the wallpaper and fan cuz that won't make sense.) She just needs to watch out for poles and keep on keepin on as the happy, positive person she is. Don't mess with her or she'll either draw on your car in the middle of the night or get Dylan to beat you up.
Let me know all of the silly things she says in class because trust me, there will be plenty. Word for the wise, Thanksgiving is not on July 4th...

Sincerely,
Jess Johannesen.

P.s. Do the angry gnome dance for everyone!!!"

Build me up buttercup

So let's talk about gossip. What is gossip? Please allow me to define that for you:

Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

Remember when you were in elementary school and your class played the telephone game? The first person and last person never heard the same word or phrase. Gossip is very similar, the words start to bend and transform as they go from one mouth to another. 

But hey, no big deal because everyone does it and it's human nature to be curious about other people's lives. After all, curiosity only killed the cat... right? Maybe.

I read a psychology article about gossip yesterday. Research shows that people who gossip tend to be less liked and have fewer personal relationships. One would think it is because he or she is not trustworthy, but the study actually found it was because people tend to attribute the negative gossip to the individual who repeats it. People don't remember what he or she said, but they remember the negative connotation which causes them to dislike the gossiper.

Please talk to me about anything except for what my friend said about her boyfriend, who slept with who last night after the bar, how someone isn't reaching their potential or that so and so is a liar.

How about we talk about a book you read? Or that article that you thought was really insightful? Or what about that funny video you watched? That great pair of shoes you almost bought? Those jeans that make your ass look fabulous? That party you're really excited about next week? A vacation you can't wait to take? All the places you want to eventually visit? Your best memory? Favorite band?

Look at all the things you miss out on learning about people when you get caught up talking about things that don't matter. 

To be honest, if we spent half as much time building each other up as we do putting one another down, the world would be a much better place. 

Human

This is a wonderful song. Whether it's about love or friendship, there is so much truth within these lyrics. Accept and expect imperfection and never apologize for it. You're human and you're alive and damn that's awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPd1GIwjRFM

"Glass"

Trying to live and love,

With a heart that can't be broken,

Is like trying to see the light with eyes that can't be opened.

Yeah, we both carry baggage,

We picked up on our way, so if you love me do it gently,

And I will do the same.

We may shine, we may shatter,

We may be picking up the pieces here on after,

We are fragile, we are human,

We are shaped by the light we let through us,

We break fast, cause we are glass.

Cause we are glass.

I'll let you look inside me, through the stains and through the cracks,

And in the darkness of this moment,

You see the good and bad.

But try not to judge me, 'cause we've walked down different paths,

But it brought us here together, so I won't take that back.

We may shine, we may shatter,

We may be picking up the pieces here on after,

We are fragile, we are human,

We are shaped by the light we let through us,

We break fast, cause we are glass.

Cause we are glass.

We might be oil and water, this could be a big mistake,

We might burn like gasoline and fire,

It's a chance we'll have to take.

We may shine, we may shatter,

We may be picking up the pieces here on after,

We are fragile, we are human,

And we are shaped by the light we let through us,

We break fast, cause we are glass.

We are glass.

Because I said so!

How fitting... I turned on the TV to find a movie on that was titled "Because I said So," so I decided to pull some quotes from it. Enjoy!

Daphne: Johnny, you have too much pride.

Johnny: I prefer to call it common sense.

Daphne: It's pride, and it's a quality you and I share. It's an admirable one, until it becomes a wall. "Well, yes, I am alone, but at least I have my righteous anger to keep me company at night." Come on, that's not a life, and you know it.

Maggie: I swear, by the third time I was so loud car alarms were going off and dogs were barking. 

Daphne: What? Three times? Is that... is that normal? 

Mae: Oh, come on, we all know I hold the record in this family. 

[holds up seven fingers, Milly Smirks] 

Daphne: Milly, honey, why are you so quiet? 

Mae:  'Cause she's doing the oompa-loompa with two guys, mom. 

Daphne Wilder: God couldn't be everywhere so that is why he invented mothers. 

Maggie: What? That was on a Hallmark card we gave you 

Milly: The truth. Where is the truth? Where is the truth, because you've been living a lie and I've been lying to you Jason. 

Jason: Yeah but that doesn't change anything. 

Milly: How does that not change... everything? 

Jason: Because you're here. I think you already made your choice. But if it helps I'll say it. Stop seeing him. Then you and I can get closer. Close enough to spend the rest of our lives together. I knew I had you the day I met you. 

Milly: How could you know something like that? 

Jason: Because you were so nervous you laughed like a hyena, in that beautiful polka-dot dress of yours. 

Milly: Really? I'll tell you one thing though. You did not have me the moment that we met because I'm not even sure I liked the fact that your friends talked about you behind your back at the dessert table. And excuse me but truth be told I didn't like anything that you ordered for me on our first date except the calamari. And ok fine, yes, it was nice to not have to think for a change. But who wants someone that doesn't think? Look! And sometimes you laugh when I cry, and you say "huh" when I make perfect sense. And never ever in my life have I burnt a chocolate souffle until now, and that in and of itself... oh my god... should have told me I don't feel like myself around you. And I would have decided that. A long time ago if it weren't for my mother. Because who wants someone who laughs like a hyena in a polka dot dress that my mother made me buy. 

Jason: I love that dress. 

Milly: Take her out. 

Johnny: Even before I met you I had an instinct about you. Once I saw you were a woman with profound static cling I wanted to be that force around you. I love that when I breathe you in you smell like cake batter. And I love that you have this insane way of talking in circles that makes perfect sense. 

Milly: I do? Cause sometimes I feel like nobody understands me. But... 

Johnny: Me. I get you. 

Cute animals

But let's be honest...Chloe (pictured below) wins this contest.

Yum

Literally, it's miraculous that I don't weigh 500 pounds. I'm pretty much always hungry and always eating. If I'm not, give me an hour and I'll get grumpy and need a sandwich.

I'm not really a connoisseur of restaurants or food, probably because I'm not a picky eater. I was chubby as a kid and now as a runner I pretty much still live by the "see food, eat food" concept.

However, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate something that looks good or tastes good.

If you could name your favorite food, what would it be? Would it be something super extravagant or easy and simple.

Honestly, my guilty food pleasure is a giant burger and fries. Weird, right? Girls are supposed to be dainty and use utensils, but nope, I want to use my hands for the entire meal.

I also really love seafood. Lobster is my favorite, but I have a hard time ordering it because then they boil it in the kitchen... which sounds super painful and makes me super not hungry. Ugh, I try to save lives when I can.

Dessert is probably my favorite part of any meal. I saw in a movie once that you should always eat your dessert first because you could die before you get to it. Morbid, but interesting. I prefer to use it as a main meal source. Wrong, but so good.

Enjoy the pictures. Yum!

Quotes round two

I find that a great quote has the ability to say so much in very few words. Great quotes are not like all the books you read in high school that you spent weeks writing papers on trying to explain the symbolism and metaphors. Brilliant quotes don't need to be pulled apart because well versed thoughts need no explanation. I appreciate things you can take at face value. 

“Senses of humor define people, as factions, deeper rooted than religious or political opinions. When carrying out everyday tasks, opinions are rather easy to set aside, but those whom a person shares a sense of humor with are his closest friends. They are always there to make the biggest influence.” 

― Criss Jami

“Sometimes I guess it just feels better to know that you have someone to help you when you can’t even help yourself.” ― Rebecca Gober

"When a friend does something wrong, try not to forget all these things they've done right. No one is perfect." - Unknown

"True friends are the ones that have nice things to say behind your back." - Unknown


“Maybe the thing to do after you roll the dice-and lose-is simply pick them up and roll them again.” ― Emily Giffin

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." - Dr. Seuss

"I would rather be happy than dignified." - Jane Austen

"I may dissect each little thing and put myself out there so much but at least that means that I still care. You think you won because women are expendable to you. You may not get hurt or make an ass of yourself that way but you don't fall in love that way either." 

“I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.” 
― Marilyn Monroe


“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” 
― Albert Einstein

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ― Oscar Wilde

“But I am learning that perfection isn't what matters. In fact, it's the very thing that can destroy you if you let it.” ― Emily Giffin

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ― Mae West


“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt


“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  ― Maya Angelou

“Saying 'I notice you're a nerd' is like saying, 'Hey, I notice that you'd rather be intelligent than be stupid, that you'd rather be thoughtful than be vapid, that you believe that there are things that matter more than the arrest record of Lindsay Lohan. Why is that?' In fact, it seems to me that most contemporary insults are pretty lame. Even 'lame' is kind of lame. Saying 'You're lame' is like saying 'You walk with a limp.' Yeah, whatever, so does 50 Cent, and he's done all right for himself.” ― John Green


“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson


“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” ― Thomas A. Edison


“There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally.” ― Sarah Dessen


“Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

“I've been making a list of the things they don't teach you at school. They don't teach you how to love somebody. They don't teach you how to be famous. They don't teach you how to be rich or how to be poor. They don't teach you how to walk away from someone you don't love any longer. They don't teach you how to know what's going on in someone else's mind. They don't teach you what to say to someone who's dying. They don't teach you anything worth knowing.” ― Neil Gaiman


“Life's hard. It's even harder when you're stupid.” ― John Wayne

“The world is not that black and white. There are no moral absolutes. It is complex.”  - Emily Giffin

Five people

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. 

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."
- Mother Teresa

Have you ever read the book "The Five People You Meet in Heaven"? If not, you need to. It's a fantastic book. It is not a religious book as it would sound; if anything it's is a lesson on humanity.

The concept of the book is that there are five people on this earth who are only here to help you reach your destination in life. They are not close friends or family, but rather they are people you barely know or meet for a few minutes. However, these people have a giant impact on your life. According to the book, when we die, we get to hear the stories of the five people.

Sticking to this idea, you'd have to assume that you are one of five people to another person as well. You are here to help someone along their journey and then you leave. Some of us have long journeys, while others have very short ones. Some journey's end abruptly. 

I think this book made life and death beautiful regardless of your beliefs. It's as if we are all here to help one another. Death is sad but this notion adds dignity and grace to the tragedy. Maybe we are all more connected than we think. 

Do you think you've met your five people yet? Who knows, I think that's part of the mystery. It's unsuspected and unprompted. It's a true test to your character because you never know who it might be.

The real question is what will your five people tell you and will you be proud or embarrassed?