Life is about...

Life is about the choices we make and the people we'll never forget.

This came to me yesterday while I was just pondering what life truly is about. Life shouldn't be measured with bad moods or awful events, but celebrated with happiness. Life consists of all of these things...good days, bad days, heart-wrenching news, and joyful celebrations. Ultimately, it is what you do with these every day events. The choices you make with what is given to you. The way you choose to handle something with optimism or pessimism.

So I hope you choose optimism. I hope you look back and don't regret. People are sent into your life for a purpose; whether to teach you something, be there for you at a certain time, or just meant to be with you forever. You get to choose how you handle the things life throws at you and the people it sends you. Choose wisely and choose the things that make you happy and make you shine.

Sometimes I wish...

....I wasn't such a worry-wart.

Today in my car I had to honestly stop myself and say (outloud...yes I am crazy I guess, hehe!) "Lauren, stop worrying. Stop obsessing about hours from now and just live in the moment".

I'm constantly doing this. No, not talking to myself! ;) But obsessing. About my plans for later, what I'm going to eat, if I'm going to drive somewhere or the other person is. How I'm going to feel. What will happen in the next few minutes, few hours, few days. My mind is always on my schedule. Sometimes my mind is just a constant planner that I find myself shouting back to my mind: "Hey wait a minute! Enjoy what you're doing NOW!"

Isn't this one of those crazy human problems? We are given whatever amount of time we have but we don't know how long. And instead of enjoying feeling healthy, young, or happy in that moment...we worry if we will still feel that way in a day, a month, or a year from now. Maybe we all need that little voice in our heads to stop us from obsessing and planning and dreaming and scheming and live in the moment. Sure, we always need the planner in us or we would never get anything done. But sometimes, we just need that part of us to quiet down...if only for a moment so we can enjoy something.

Love is Watching Someone Die.

Love is watching someone die.
Who's gonna watch you die?

I thought the picture went along with those lyrics. Both are beautiful, yet haunting to me. Something you don't want to think about too often. Occasionally, I am griped with fear that someone close to me will die. This of course, is true.

But doesn't this just make you want to cry? We don't like to think of our lives or the lives of the ones we care for most with an expiration date. We want to be with each other forever and the thought of being separated at any given date is scary. But also, this can be a good thing. This fear can really allow you to live if you let it. Instead of feeling crippled by it, let this knowledge help you embrace life.

Spend more time with the ones you love instead of letting work or excuses get in the way. Do things you want to because you may never get another chance. Live every day like it is your last. That fear of dying just may cause you to live.

Back from Vacation!

Just arrived home late last night from my vacation in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. I must say I am happy to be home but not so happy to be back to reality... it is always nice to get away for a while. Here's my vacation in a nutshell:

Went to the beach every day to swim and tan. Rocked around in a little inflatable boat while everyone made fun of my facial expressions.


Spent a lot of time with my 3 favorite boys... my boyfriend, Kevin, and my two (almost 12 year old) neighbor boys.

Watched the sunset on a pier.


Went to Myrtle Beach for my birthday. Bought a lovely purse. Went to a nice dinner and did one of those crazy putt putt golf games.


Watched movies, relaxed, ate, tanned... all the things that make you sit back and enjoy life. Vacations are there to release you from the daily grind and to let you do whatever it is you really want to do. Throw in two very.. I mean very... long car rides which throw you off a bit, and you'll have everything you want in a getaway. That is what I found.

Anyone else been on a great vacation lately?