{Simple Daisy Birthday Reflections}

Hello. We finally made it home from Puerto Vallarta around 2am last night.
I ended up with a really nasty bug from the water or something in Puerto Vallarta.
We spent the afternoon in the emergency clinic today, have been in severe pain all day and have had ...well...other things going on too:(

What a way to spend my birthday. No solid foods for 36 hours.
Take it from me....when they say don't drink the water on vacation....DON'T drink the water!!!


But since it is my birthday and I haven't talked to you in over a week.....I thought I would do a happy little blog post!


I know many people get really bummed on their birthdays...NOT ME! I love birthday's! There is something so beautiful about getting older. There is something so magical about getting another year under your belt. I know I am so different from the 20 year old version of myself and I can't wait to see what every year...decade...has to teach me.

I am so thankful that I am the person that I am.....it's so wonderful to be comfortable in knowing you are comfortable in your own skin...that you are comfortable with who you are! I couldn't have said that at 20.

{ps...all the upcoming photos came from Puerto Vallarta. I love the beach...but you already know that:) }

I have learned so many things in my 36 years on this earth...I can't wait to see what I have learned at say 85 years.

This has been by far my biggest learning experience thus far in the past 36 years......

I have learned over the years....that I am completely happy with who I am .... just as I am...and if ever i'm not....I choose to make a change! But I don't change based on others opinions of myself!

And I have learned that I am beautiful just as I am....not when I am 10 pounds thinner or if I were a little taller...more muscular.....etc. Right here and now......I am beautiful and so are you:):)


I have learned that....it's so very important to appreciate the little things in life.
I can tell you the whole time we were in Puerto Vallarta....we slept with the door to our room wide open! I appreciated....I mean REALLY appreciated sleeping to the sound of the crashing waves each and every night!
It's the little things that make up a lifetime.

this one....really took me some time to learn....and I think in some respects I am still learning it!

I believe you are 100% who you surround yourself with.

People should make you happy to be around and if they don't.....well....I think you might have to rethink the relationship!

We went to Puerto Vallarta with my step brother and his family as well as 2 of their friends.

I can't say enough about these beautiful people.

I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in all my life. It was needed and I think we all really appreciated it!

We talked about my step-dad....we remembered him...we asked why....but mostly we laughed and I think each and every one of us had a beautiful clarity that life is just to short to not appreciate each and every second of it.

The guy there in the blue shirt...his name is Simon....never met him before in my life. He came along on vacation with my step family and I can say he is hands down the most interesting person I have ever met.

I love learning people's stories...their struggles...their successes and what makes them tick.

He has been all over the whole world...but was a foster child and lived on his own since the age of 13. He could have turned his life into a giant negative....but he is one of the most positive...fun...uplifting people I have ever been around.

I am thankful I had the pleasure to meet him and have a ton of fun with him:)

And again....
It really took me some time to learn that everyone has a story.
Each person that you encounter in life has a lesson to teach you....be open to learn.

 

Yes....make friends wherever you go. It has taken me some time to ease up....to be a happy person that loves others. I now know...it's much better to make friends with people and to laugh with them and learn their stories.

 

Well...you know how I feel about journaling.
It is a big part of my life.
I am sad to admit that I used to throw my journals away because I felt ashamed of my feelings. Now I realize that everything is imiportant. Every feeling...thought...crazy dream....they all matter. They make me....me:)

I now save each and every journal.

Oh yes....love the one your with.

I am so thankful to have such an amazing husband.
and even when I pass the most handsome man on the street...I am smart enough to know...the grass isn't greener....just a different shade of green! This is true of most things in life!
Appreciate what you have:)

I love photography and definitely try to spend time each and every day photographing anything and everything that makes me happy:)
It's so important to have creative pursuits that make you happy!

Happy New Year to you! I hope you have a lovely, ceative and beautiful year ahead of you:)

Onwards and upwards to appreciating what 36 has to teach me!

Cheers to the New Year! I'll stopping by to see what you've been up to too:)

And I'd love to hear what you've learned over the years!

Do you love and appreciate your birthday too....is it a time of reflection for you!?!?

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential.  ~Ellen Goodman