“Let’s pretend, just for today, all day long, throughout our every thought and decision, that life is easy, that everyone means well, and that time is on our side. Ok? And let’s pretend that we are loved beyond belief, that magic conspires on our behalf, and that nothing can ever hurt us without our consent. All right? And if we like this game, we’ll play again tomorrow as well, and the next day, and the next, and pretty soon, it won’t be a game at all, because life, for us, will become those things. Just as it’s become what it is, today. Thoughts become realities, too.”

Anyways, the point is that this passage is great. It reminds me of the famous line by the Buddha. A line first introduced to me during a theology course in college, that has stuck with me ever since.

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”

It was actually this Buddha quote that prompted me to begin my blog, exactly two years ago. Let me get something off my chest. At the time I was crazy. A few years out of college with a decent job and cute apartment, my life was fun and my relationship… well, intense. Passionate, loving, but intense. I was living a seemingly normal existence for a 23 year old but my mind was running wild. My emotions were all over the place, off the charts, and my soul was aching for something more. Instead of running, throwing everything away and trying to start over, I decided to listen to the teeny, tiny rational part of my head.

I stayed put in Boston, kept the same job (for awhile at least) and continued to move forward in my relationship, falling even more in love with the boyf. But I told myself it was time to take control of my life. Of my thoughts and emotions. So I recalled the quote from the Buddha and said to myself, something along the lines of: Jesus Christ, just be happy. Just try. Think about it. Act like you are. Enjoy life, find happiness in the little things, and start convincing yourself that your life ain’t too shabby! You’re blessed beyond belief with a family that loves you unconditionally, a boyfriend who adores you, friends that will never, ever turn their back and a steady job in the middle of an economic crisis. Life is good. Life is good. Life is good.

After all, in the words of good ole’ Buddha, “With our thoughts, we make the world.”

So where am I going with all of this? I told you how I spent New Year’s Eve with Heather and baby Clara, but I should also share with you some of my goals and resolutions for the new year. But since I haven’t thought those through yet, I thought I’d share a little passage that I saw on Facebook today. A passage that reminded me of a favorite quote. One that took me back to where I was two years ago, and one that will hopefully lead me into the new year with a hope-filled heart and a smile on my face.

Happy new year, friends.

“If you want to be happy, be.”
- Leo Tolstoy

• a successful trip to NYC
• a fabulously thrown “surprise” birthday party
• a few trips home to Maine
• plenty of quality family time, and
• … a new job. A new job? Yes, you heard me right. I had been searching for new positions for quite some time, and by quite some time I mean over a year. But just recently I actually started applying, and even more importantly, following up with my applications. I interviewed with a few companies, had three job opportunities cookin’ at the same time, and baboom! An offer fell into place.

So more on that later. I just wanted to check in and say I’m alive, and well. The last month has been rather tumultuous emotionally, mentally and even physically (hello exhaustion) but it’s all been for the best.

Remember this? I know you’ve been good. You’ve checked off a few of those items, but let me remind you of the rest. A month ago you started an “I will list.” It read:

• I will apply to the Junior League of Boston
• I will run in both a 5k and 10k road race
• I will finally attend a Boston Cares new volunteer orientation meeting
• and subsequently I will begin volunteering at least once a month
• I will step back from each argument with my boyfriend and count to 10
• meaning I will engage in nearly 95% less arguments than the last year
• I will drink water (from the tap) every single day
• and therefore I will enjoy feeling hydrated, less tired and happier!
• I will purchase a sewing machine, and use it
• I will successfully and with great enthusiasm, tackle my book list
• (…to be continued)

How’s that 5k and 10k road race coming? Have you even gone for a jog once this year? Didn’t think so. Yea, yea, you’re drinking more water now, but how’s that book list looking? Have you picked up a library card? Or even stepped foot into the public library? And now, most importantly. Take a look at this one:

• I will step back from each argument with my boyfriend and count to 10
• meaning I will engage in nearly 95% less arguments than the last year

Yea. About that one. You’re never going to become the person you’d like to be if you’re so stuck on being a miserable, argumentative, pessimistic person. Go step outside and take a look up at the sky. Smile, laugh. Have fun.

Love,
You, me, Whitney

I think the happiest part of today is that it is the first day of the second month of the ‘new me.’  Today I realized that I’ve tossed a lot of my goals and resolutions right out the window.  Remember the challenge?  The bracelet that kept switching wrists?  Yea.  It’s sitting on my window sill.  I haven’t worn it since the first week of January.  And I complain.  A lot.

I’m upset about having no money, stressing over my relationships and keeping myself up until 2 in the morning with a long list of anxious thoughts.  Today I reminded myself why I set out on this journey, my journey towards a happier life.  And maybe February will be a successful start.