When Life Lessons Come Full Circle: A Personal Story

I’m an over achiever and a go getter. There’s a frantic, nitpicky air coursing through most of what I do. When I lived in Los Angeles, I shared an apartment with a wonderful free spirit. We contrasted well with her calming, almost floating presence.

I’ll never forget when she turned to me one day and asked, in her innocent, purely curiosity driven way, “What are you going to do when you’ve done it all?”

At the time, her question bounced right off me. Back then, fresh out of college, the only beatings I endured were from myself and generally, I saw no limits to what I could achieve.

Ironically (though probably not), she was the very person with me 2.5 years ago, when my world came crashing down around me. And although we no longer live together in Los Angeles, her question has haunted me throughout the years.

Today, 29 months and numerous universe inflicted battle wounds later, her words ring more powerful than ever.

While I’m still an over achiever and go getter, I now understand and appreciate the gifts of grace and presence, agents of change that my former LA roommate wisely knew all along.

Forever Young

Ah, yes. Youth.

People fight for it, live for it, die for it. What is our obsession with youth?

I would argue the value of youth is something we know instinctively.

For where there is youth, there is hope…

Where there is hope, there is wonder…

Where there is wonder, there is faith…

Where there is faith, there is chance…

Where there is chance, there is love…

Ah, yes. Alas, love.

We fight for it, live for it, die for it. And rightfully so.

A Poem I Wrote at Age 12

Found this in an old journal of mine and thought it was kind of sweet. It portrays a wise insight told from the eyes of an innocent, inquisitive, and observant little girl (me;).

“Size”

If all size is, is a number

that helps us choose which jeans to buy

then why does it matter so?

I mean why has it caused people to get sick

or sometimes even die

when their real size will never show?

If it’s a guy or friend

who’s telling you your weight is wrong

Then you definitely do not need them

Walk away, be strong.

So tell me if you would,

exactly what does size mean?

Is it the way people judge us?

Or the number on our jeans?

Now life is short

and bodies weren’t made to hate.

So please don’t let life pass you

because you’re worrying about your weight.

Age is Only a Number

“Some people are old at 18 and some are young at 90…time is a concept that humans created.” -Yoko Ono