Love 364 days

Yes I know. This was not posted on February 14, the day of love. There are methods to my madness! I am not going to lie, I love Valentines Day and while I have never actually have had a legit Valentine, but that doesn’t change my view of the holiday! I think it’s absolutely adorable when guys give their lovers flowers, balloons, or especially chocolates (Lindor chocolate preferably J) The girls reactions are the best. Not that I just creep around all day spying on everyone’s love fests….however, the girls faces are the best! While I do love this holiday I also hate it. I hate how harsh girls are to themselves on this day. Just because they don’t have some guy delivering them flowers and such doesn’t mean they aren’t loved! Hearing things like, “I woke up this morning crying,” or “love is stupid, it should die” or yes even, “Im a loner…and I always will be!” make me wonder if we understand the true meaning of the holiday. 

Yes it is most definitely the holiday of love but I believe it’s a little more general, it’s a holiday meant for recognizing all things we love! Family, friends, animals, cars, crafts, music, art…whatever we love we should show our love for it!  So I would like to take this time and show my love, for the things I love!

Family: I love you all with all of my heart! I could not imagine being apart of any other family! You have all had such a major impact in my life! Always supporting me in my new adventures and staying positive! Thanks for putting up with my weird personality and me! I love you to the moon and back!

Friends: What would I do without you?! I love thinking about all the crazy, funny, sad, unforgettable times we have had! The great late night talks, the spastic adventures, and of course the heart to hearts! I care about you all so much!! Whenever in need of someone, I have your back!!

Track: Thank you for pushing me to my potential! I feel like I am just hitting the outer circles of that potential but I absolutely love you and am willing to work to reach the center! I never thought I would love this sport so much but I have grown to love it unconditionally! While I am still very new to it and I honestly don’t know what good times are, or what certain terms are, I am learning! Thanks for helping me gain the confidence in myself to do hard things.

Dogs: yes….I love dogs. Although I never had a dog, I have learned a lot from that experience. While I have used 11:11 wishes and birthday candle wishes wishing for a dog as long as I can remember, I learned something very important! Having a dog has been a lifelong wish. I know that one day I will have a dog because I want it soooooo bad! If you want something bad enough you will be willing to put in the work required to achieve your wishes! Dogs and I have a special connection, I have cried in every dog movie known to man, from Lassie Come Home to My Dog Skip. Dogs of the world, I love you! I will one day own one of you!

The Gospel: I honestly have no idea where I would be without you. I owe you everything, quite literally everything good in my life. My love is unconditional. 

I love, love! Yes, I believe in love! Lets all try to remember love should be shown all year not just once! We all deserve to know we are loved! Just know, you are. Love is in the air….all year round!! XOXO

Dirty shoes.

I believe....in dirty shoes. There is something satisfying about slipping your feet into a well worn pair of shoes. Lets face it, I’m a shoe-aholic but I absolutely hate breaking in new shoes. To me shoes tell a story. The brand, color, and make of the shoe all tell me something about the person wearing them. Everyone has their own shoe style whether they like to admit it or not. They may wear heels everyday, like a girl I knew in Jr. High, I personally don’t believe in putting my feet through that kind of torture. Some strictly wear sandals, whether sunshine or snow, sandals are the way to go…that to me is crazy, nothing more attractive than a strappy tan line across your foot. I contradict my shoe style so much I confuse myself. I will obsess over a different style every few months, unfortunately being a poor college student I can’t always indulge in my wants. Through the years my shoe obsession has kept my shoe collection well stocked. I have 8 pair of heels, have 7 colors of vans, 3 colors of toms (soon to be 4 when I get some expected money!), 1 pair of converse, 1 pair of boots, a collection of sandals and flats, and my newest edition…my pair of gorgeous leather Oxfords!!  While I have all these shoes I often feel like a wasteful person.  As I get ready in the morning and look at my collection of shoes, my hand immediately goes for my black Toms, a staple in my shoe diet. These Toms are beginning to turn from black to gray, the soles are wearing down, and holes are beginning to appear. Most would toss them insignificantly in the trash realizing fully that there purpose has been served and their life is over. Me….I cant let them go. I have to many great memories in them, 1^st day of college, dancing in the rain, hot tubing, hobbit-ville, Gateway, insane dances, making new friends, hot cocoa, night games, hours of studying in the library, happy times, sad times, crazy times, tearful times. They have molded to my feet, when I put them on they fit exact. Their not my friends, my families, but mine. These shoes are filled with memories. So yes, I believe in dirty worn shoes. It’s a symbol of living. Going through each day step by step. As Bill Murray said while playing his wonderful role as Bob, baby steps.  I prefer taking life a step at a time. Enjoy whats around you, wear out your shoes with adventure! Lets all take baby steps together, taking each step in the mud to get those shoes worn and dirty!