Life, in all its sweetness...

It's been a while since I sat down to blog, to open that tender, exposed vein and let the words and the emotions flow out of it. But I think today is a good day to give it a shot.

When I opened the front door this morning to take my youngest to school, I stopped and just stood there for a moment, letting the morning take me in. It's such a beautiful day outside today...not just nice and spring-like, but spectacular. The sun is shining, there's a light warm breeze coming from the ocean, just beyond the main road to the left of the house, and over the streets and trees beyond that. I closed my eyes for a second, and just breathed it in.

The sun was warm on my face, and I could hear the birds calling to each other from every direction in the trees above. The perfume of all the flowering trees is in the air. It's an incredibly beautiful morning. And I said a quiet "thank you" for the gift of seeing such a morning.

I must be getting sentimental in my old age. lol No, that's not true, I've always been sentimental. I think I'm becoming more....aware now. The last couple of years have been a huge trial for my family, with sadness and worry and insecurity to accompany every month that passed. But we made it through. And now, lately, I am feeling a new appreciation for life.

It's easy to go through this existence and to complain and be bitter and wish that we'd been dealt a better hand. We've all done it at one time or another, and as human beings, we will continue to do it. But while we're doing that, we should also keep in mind that this life is so fleeting, and the trials and problems we face now will do one of two things....make us stronger people who embrace what we have, or bitter, angry people who just can't. Which would you rather be? I know which I would choose.

So yes, I do get teased sometimes for being disgustingly positive, and to be quite honest, I take that as a compliment. It sure as hell beats being the opposite of that. I want to be aware of the beauty that is often hidden beneath the ugly. I want to watch less bad news and take more walks in the sunshine. I want to smile at strangers and say good morning, even if they ignore me and continue on in there own little unfriendly world.

I guess what I'm suggesting here, not only for myself, but for anyone who knows that the little nuisances and tribulations just won't matter at all in the end is this....

Embrace this life, take a walk in the sun, listen to the birds, laugh more, love more, smile at strangers, don't be afraid to look people in the eye and say thank you and mean it, don't be afraid of being judged or being silly...BE silly. Hug your children more, hold your lover's hand, kiss more, dance more, sing to yourself, swim in the ocean, draw in the sand.

And most importantly, and I can't say this enough, if you love someone...tell them. Don't be afraid that they may not feel the same. It doesn't matter. Just tell them. Life is too short to keep love to yourself.

Now go breathe in this beautiful day. :)