...because i am here not there

i am usually the kind of person that wants to be everywhere.  in the past, in the future, in the present.  in egypt, turkey, or costa rica.  in wyoming, oklahoma, or michigan.today was meaningful because i took a second to think about last year.  its not good to live in the past, but it's also important to know where you are coming from.  the past can tell us where we have been and where we want to go.  but remember, you can't learn from the past if you are living in it.  you only need a second to look at it and then move forward.  so that's what i did.without going into any details, a lot of amazing things happened last year (2010-2011). i learned how to be less stressed, how to not let the little things bother me. i made some amazing friends.  i learned not to compare apples to oranges.  and i learned that i can always be better.  i also learned that people can care for you in different ways, even if its not the way you want them to.  i learned to never settle for less than i deserve.  and i learned that actions will always speak louder than words.  i learned how to forgive people that never said sorry.  and i have learned that if something feels wrong, it is probably wrong.  while i had an amazing year last year, i was also constantly aware of the fact that i could be better.  i could do more.  i could focus my energy on t things that matter.take a second to think about your last year.  what did you do right?  what did you wrong? how did you learn from it?

 because it doesn't really matter what happened then, what matters is what you are doing now. 

this year is different.  this year is even better.  last year was a year of learning by trial and error. this year is about improvement.

today was meaningful because i realized where i am, and more importantly, that i like where i am going.

i am here. right here.  i am so unbelievably happy. and so in love with a boy who makes my world a fairytale.  i get to spend every second of every day doing something i love.  and i am surrounded people who make me want to be a better person.  i am months away from graduating.  i laugh on a daily basis.  i appreciate the small things.

just take one second to look backward.  and then spend the rest of your time looking forward.  challenge yourself to be better.  not tomorrow...but right now.  make a list of all of the things you have yet to accomplish, all of the places you would like to go, all of the books you want to read, all of the talents you want to develop.  and then do more than just make a list...start working towards crossing things off.  one day, i bet you'll wish you had started sooner.

start today.

and stop letting the past hold you back.