Day = Difference

This post is going to be therapeutic, so read at your own risk. I have a lot on my mind.

I have been thinking a lot about the difference a day can make. It actually makes me think about my friend Kathy who died last year. When she was diagnosed with cancer (on top of having CF), her Facebook profile had the line (or a very close iteration): "What a difference a day can make." Her life was transformed in a single day -- the day she found out she had leukemia. Her life changed in that very instant. Most change throughout life is gradual and can't be pinpointed to a specific moment. It's like, all of a sudden you wake up one day and realize that a transformation happened so slowly that you don't even recall how you got where you are. Then, there are other changes that happen so instantaneously that you can't possibly process the information as quickly as necessary.

A nurse I knew died last week from stomach cancer. She had no advanced warning, but went to the doctor complaining of stomach pain and found out that a) she had cancer, and b) it had spread to her entire body. She died three weeks later. I find it nearly impossible to grasp the concept that she was in a hospital more days than not, yet was unaware of the cancer.

Moments like these remind me exactly how precious each day is. It's so easy to get lost in the concept of the future -- living for it, preparing for it, dreaming of it. Sometimes we get so focused on the future that we lose sight of today. I realize I'm not making any never-been-heard revelations here, but this has been weighing heavily on my mind and heart over the past few weeks. No, we shouldn't get so caught up in today that we make reckless decisions that jeopardize the future. However, we also shouldn't harp so much on the future that we deprive ourselves of the things that bring us today's happiness.

Each day is meant to be cherished.

____

Disclaimer: Blog posts like this annoy me sometimes, but I wrote it for myself. So STEP OFF!

A change will do you good

Well, I started my new job today. It's crazy to take the life you've known for so long (2 years, 8 months to be exact) and venture down a new path. Today was exciting -- meeting new people, learning new stuff, exploring a new building, etc. Yes, the information overload can be quite exhausting, but I know I'll be in good hands. It's funny because I'm resistant to change in some respects, but I love it in others. Cheers to new beginnings!

The biggest adjustment for me is the routine I'd come to know. Interestingly, though, I'd come to know a life without much routine. So, lack of routine was the routine. When I was working at Emory, I was in the office three days a week and at home the other two. Also, the start and stop times were very flexible in that some mornings I went in at 7 and other mornings at 9. That being said, it's crazy knowing that I need to get up at the same time each morning. It's good, though, because I think I was able to better regulate other areas of my life (like exercising, sleeping, etc.) when my days resembled each other. I didn't quite accomplish the exercising feat this morning (no surprise there), but I'm hoping to get in a quick workout in the morning.

I was at the beach last weekend and had a great time. The weather was beautiful, the company was amazing, and I just enjoyed every minute of it. As I've said many times before, the return-to-work-from-vacation day is usually about as tough as they come. It probably didn't work to my benefit to get home around 8:30 p.m. yesterday, so I imagine tomorrow might be a bit easier than today energy-wise. I also didn't drink any coffee today. What is the world coming to these days?

I guess it's off to bed if there's any hope I'll work out in the morning. I hope everyone had a wonderful Tuesday!

Take out da papers and da trash

Greetings!

There's not a ton I care to share, but I figured I'd stop by since it has been so long. I've been staying pretty busy lately. It's been quite exhausting, but I've enjoyed it for the most part.

My floor still isn't fixed... and by "not fixed," I mean that the contractor hasn't even started replacing it. Basically I'm in insurance limbo right now -- hovering between my homeowner's insurance coverage and my condo complex's master policy. I probably sound more intelligent than I am, but I'm just kind of waiting for the proper person to say that the work should begin. It's been almost two months without floors (Can you believe that?), so I'd be lying if I said I was in an extreme hurry at this point.

What else? My sister got engaged, so that's exciting! I'm going to be her maid of honor. I'm not sure how all of this wedding stuff works, but I'm very happy for her and know that she's found a keeper. This is how we do it! She got engaged just before the Braves game on Friday, July 1, and I went to that Braves game, too (with KS). I can't believe I've been to so few games this season, but it was good to put another win in the books!

I'm hopeful that some positive change is on the horizon. CHANGE!!!!!!!

Well, I'm pretty sleepy, so I'm going to hit the hay. In summary, life has been pretty good, but I know that I've put some important things on the back-burner. I intended for them to be very temporary, but it feels like it's going to last a bit longer than I anticipated. Everything will work out, though; it always does.

In closing, I'm lucky to know so many wonderful people. Life is good!

Purple streak, purple streak, she's purple streakaaay

Please sing the title of this post to the tune of "Super Freak." Thank you. [After the fact: Who would have known that "Super Freak" was in the dictionary? I had it as one word and SpellCheck zapped it.]

I got my hair did on Tuesday and, as you may have inferred from the title, I got it dyed a darker brown with some burgundy-esque lowlights. It's a pretty drastic difference, but it's pretty cool, if I do say so myself. It made its first public appearance yesterday, and I'd say it went well. It feels pretty fitting. My friend Stewart did it at a salon near my parents' house. I just adore it!

This week has been pretty unusual; I've just had a lot of change on the horizon. I don't really need to get into detail because I don't feel like it, but it's amazing how much can happen in a week. Life sure has a funny way of happening all at once...but I'm still feeling cheery.

Today was a little weird because my face felt as though I'd never even had sinus surgery, so that was lame. I'm hoping it was caused by something totally random because I don't need to be dealing with pain again ALREADY!

I'm just writing because I felt like I was overdue, but now I'm going to dry my hair.

REBORN

Well, today I bought a new car. It is cute. I will make it look good. My mother said that I was a great negotiator - I am emotionless, shrewd and stoic. Heck yeah! These are all of the qualities I strive to achieve on a daily basis. Just kidding, but it helped in the car-buying arena. My mother said that people should take me with them to buy cars. Looking back on it, I am surprised at some of the things I said. I remember being like, "Look me in the eyes right now." It was quite emasculating and I enjoyed it.

I got my hair did today. It looks cute, like usual. I feel a lot cuter than I did yesterday. It's amazing how sometimes the littlest things make me feel so much better. Now, if I could just enjoy some time outside without choking on pollen and ending up in the ER. The warmer weather always gives me a boost of energy and motivation. It's so easy to get blaaaah in the winter.

I think maybe I should begin hibernating in the winter. I guess I do to an extent, but the winter months always drag for me. I did better this winter because I stayed pretty busy and had some exciting things going on, like a new house, new job, etc.

Speaking of those new things, I cannot believe my birthday is in a week. I am not a birthday person AT ALL, but this has been the longest year of my life. Seriously. I have lived three different places (apartment, Gran's house, my house). I have had three different jobs - (marketing assistant, marketing consultant, programs coordinator). I have had two different cars (old, new). There have been a TON OF CHANGES!

I am excited to use this next year of living to make more changes to my life now that I'm settled into a house, a job and a car. It's time to get a move on, children!