Coming down from the saddest and most stressful weeks to date, I have not spent much time out of an office or a car or a bed. Today, I got up, spring cleaned and stepped outside only to discover . . .
IT'S SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!! The willow tree in my back yard has bright green little buds coming off of its previously bare whip-like stems. Green grass is tickling the dry, dismal corpses of its former state. Flowers are popping up in all their brightly colored splendor.
It's a new week. Just like spring is a breath of fresh air and the sign of new beginnings. So, I cleaned myself up (always a requirement after cleaning the house--woof) and took myself out into the sunshine.
I went to the place that forever gives me a smile--the Callahan House. Which, if you recall, is where Patrick and I will be married in the fall.
I've just loved seeing the transformation of this beautiful place. When we first booked the place, all the statues were still covered in plastic to preserve the growing vines underneath. The yard was dead and not a flower was to be seen.
And in its dark and dreary state, I saw the beautiful potential of this fantastic little garden. I cannot wait to see it in all its glory in the summer and early fall.
If there is one good thing that comes out of death, it is the realization that life is short and precious. Nothing should be taken for granted while we aimlessly wander this glorious planet.
It is always so important to remember not to sweat the small stuff, but not to ignore the little moments in life that make it worth living.
And for what felt like the first time this season, I walked around this budding garden and I smiled. I breathed in all the beauty that surrounded me and let my nerves tingle over the excitement of what was yet to come.
I let the sun beat down on me and the light, cool breeze comfort me. I let my toes tickle in the newly growing grass blades and took in all the glorious sounds of birds chirping, children playing and water trickling in the fountain.
Today I wore one of my favorite bracelets. When I had the baby shower for my daughter, my sister orchestrated it to where every person would bring a bead or beads to the shower so that my then sister-in-law could make them into jewelry for me. This bracelet was from some beads my mom contributed--they say
wish, inspire, believe, laugh, love and live.
What beautiful words to live by. How much we take for granted the need to
wish--to have a dream, to aspire to be someone and to live a certain way. This comes so easily to children--to wish upon a star--and how quickly we forget to wish every now and again when we are all growed up.
How magical is it to
inspire or be inspired. Aesthetically, we fashion bloggers are inspired all the time from people on the streets, looks in a magazine, a flower, a candy, another blogger. But we are all inspired everyday in our jobs, our families and our friends. Even if we don't think we are inspired. Even if our inspiration is to be working toward a different path.
What faith it takes to
believe. To believe that things will be ok, that a certain someone will be ok, that (perhaps) we are not the only ones that can control what happens in life and to believe that it is ok to let go.
What a joy it is to
laugh, to make others laugh, to hear your child (or any child) laugh. To laugh to the point where tears roll down your eyes and your stomach hurts. To release stress, to lighten a mood, to make a memory.
To
love. Is there any force more powerful than love? Love can motivate a single mother to have to energy to play Bingo with her children, even after working for 14 hours straight. Love can make you crazy with worry when someone you love is in trouble. Love can control every other emotion that we have--sadness when we loose someone we love, happiness when we are with those we love and even anger when we are hurt by someone we love.
And, to
live. Oh what a brilliant gift to be able to live. Regardless of where you live, the house you live in and the money that you use to live. You are alive. You are able to take a walk around the neighborhood, to run through sprinklers, to have a coffee with a friend, to make a phone call to your Grandfather.
So often we forget about all these little things that make life so grand. We take for granted the fact that we can breath spring in.
Too often we are too busy with worry or bills or work or other mediocre activities to really appreciate that we are here--regardless of why we are here.
We are here to live. We are here to learn. We are here to grow. And when the cold winter winds take a toll on us, just like spring, we will be back, just as beautiful as ever. And if we're lucky, we'll find ourselves wandering around a garden, taking it all in.
Striped Strapless Cotton Sundress-Charlotte Russe, thrifted; Cardigan with Flower Appliques-Fresco, thrifted; Nude Criss Cross Sandals-Marshall's; Bracelets-vintage and DIY, gifted; Earrings-gifted
That is such a gorgeous dress and you look so pretty in it. I love that photo by the rock. So cute!
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