Allow me to elaborate.
The movie starts off with this monologue by Hugh Grant overlaying scenes of loved ones in an airport:
Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion is starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion love actually is all around.
Sorry if this spoils it for any of you who haven't seen the picture, but it's a romantic comedy so I suspect that you've picked up on the fact that the movie ends in happily ever after. When the credits rolled across the dark screen, I almost had a panic attack.
It hit me all at once that the new year is less than a week away.
As you know, this sometimes happens around the holidays. Nothing can ruin a perfectly good mood like a Kay Jewelers commercial around December. Let me be the first one to say, don't give in to Norman Rockwell-esque propaganda. Yes, this time of year is great, but don't feel like your life should be a certain way just because of the date.
Last night for example, all I could think of were the negative things over the past year. Just as I was about to reach Ben and Jerry's level of depression, my phone went off with a text from a friend that for some reason snapped me into thinking clearly.
It hit me all at once that the new year is less than a week away.
Christmas is this weekend. This past year has been nothing but rubbish. What do I have to show for 2011? Absolutely nothing. I am watching a movie alone with my cat. I've gained ten pounds. Alone on Christmas. Alone on New Year's Eve. I suck.
It was like Cybill was in my head dropping pounds upon pounds of negative thoughts onto my brain.
It was like Cybill was in my head dropping pounds upon pounds of negative thoughts onto my brain.
As you know, this sometimes happens around the holidays. Nothing can ruin a perfectly good mood like a Kay Jewelers commercial around December. Let me be the first one to say, don't give in to Norman Rockwell-esque propaganda. Yes, this time of year is great, but don't feel like your life should be a certain way just because of the date.
Last night for example, all I could think of were the negative things over the past year. Just as I was about to reach Ben and Jerry's level of depression, my phone went off with a text from a friend that for some reason snapped me into thinking clearly.
I have had an amazing 2011.
Sure, it's obvious by my blog posts that I fell out of love. I learned it's okay to fall hard and forgive even harder. I learned just how big my heart really is. I found out I can't be jaded. I gained more from that experience than he ever did by cheating; or than I ever could have by staying in the relationship.
I put off going to school another year. This is okay with me. I am still nowhere near knowing what I want to be when I "grow up" but I'm a whole hell of a lot closer to knowing where I don't want to be. To be completely honest, something along the lines of Peace Corps is looking like the best fit at this point.
I'm just a waitress. Everyone thinks that working in the food industry is one of the worst jobs you can have. I strongly disagree. I love my job. I make the money in a weekend most people make in a week or more. But that isn't the best part. The crew I work with, though a motley one, makes every day a new experience. Not only that, but I've met at least one person that I know I will be friends with years down the road.
Work takes up eighty percent of my time. This blows. I'm not going to tell you I love working, no one does. But this year I have shown not only myself, but everyone around me that I can do it on my own. The day you realize you don't need anyone else is a great one.
I don't keep in touch with many of my old friends. Most of the people I considered friends were that of convenience. Naturally, they are going to get pushed to the wayside. I'm actually glad they did. This year I have met so many people by opening myself up to new experiences and getting out of my "convenient comfort zone." That cheesy quote every one Picniks on their pictures is true: "Here's to the nights that turned into mornings, and the friends that turned into family."
I'll stop rambling about the things I love about my life, and leave you with a last thought. This year I have grown more as a person than you would believe possible in just 365 days.
Learn the difference between needing someone in your life, and wanting them there. Stop making excuses for yourself and grab life by the face already. But most importantly, accept your life. It's yours. You aren't going to gain anyone's approval until you gain your own, probably because you won't deserve to. The only person holding you back from everything you want is you. Before you complain about something in your life, (job, car, house, phone) think of those who don't even have such things to complain about.
I put off going to school another year. This is okay with me. I am still nowhere near knowing what I want to be when I "grow up" but I'm a whole hell of a lot closer to knowing where I don't want to be. To be completely honest, something along the lines of Peace Corps is looking like the best fit at this point.
I'm just a waitress. Everyone thinks that working in the food industry is one of the worst jobs you can have. I strongly disagree. I love my job. I make the money in a weekend most people make in a week or more. But that isn't the best part. The crew I work with, though a motley one, makes every day a new experience. Not only that, but I've met at least one person that I know I will be friends with years down the road.
Work takes up eighty percent of my time. This blows. I'm not going to tell you I love working, no one does. But this year I have shown not only myself, but everyone around me that I can do it on my own. The day you realize you don't need anyone else is a great one.
I don't keep in touch with many of my old friends. Most of the people I considered friends were that of convenience. Naturally, they are going to get pushed to the wayside. I'm actually glad they did. This year I have met so many people by opening myself up to new experiences and getting out of my "convenient comfort zone." That cheesy quote every one Picniks on their pictures is true: "Here's to the nights that turned into mornings, and the friends that turned into family."
I'll stop rambling about the things I love about my life, and leave you with a last thought. This year I have grown more as a person than you would believe possible in just 365 days.
Learn the difference between needing someone in your life, and wanting them there. Stop making excuses for yourself and grab life by the face already. But most importantly, accept your life. It's yours. You aren't going to gain anyone's approval until you gain your own, probably because you won't deserve to. The only person holding you back from everything you want is you. Before you complain about something in your life, (job, car, house, phone) think of those who don't even have such things to complain about.
Find what makes you happy; and do it.
Happy Holidays.
Happy Holidays.
0 comments:
Post a Comment