I've Got Sunshine On a Cloudy Day

Yesterday was one of those days where I was able to spend some quality time reflecting on all the good in my life and feel confident about where I am at this exact moment. I count my blessings very often and commit myself to a prayer of thanks and gratitude on a daily basis. Every single day I have something to be grateful for, in fact I have very many things, both tangible and intangible. Yesterday was a day where things connected, memories replayed themselves in my mind, and songs brought back emotional recollections from days past. I was both nostalgic and fulfilled. I woke up on a chilly autumn October Saturday feeling relaxed and excited. I prepared a few things around my apartment that smelled of cinnamon and by early afternoon I was in my car headed down to Long Island. The brilliant blue sky was accented with bright patches of orange, yellow, and vibrant red as I cruised down the highway during the almost-peak of the foliage season. We've been lucky to have an extremely v

I wanted to quit my job in October. I wanted to walk away from teaching and declare that it was far too challenging for me to continue my career. I brainstormed other career options, talked to people in different fields, and decided maybe this wasn't the job I thought it was. I've quit a few things in my life; playing the flute, playing softball, and running outdoor track in high school. Except for those few instances, I've never voluntarily said "I quit" to anything else in my life. I've been someone who will stick it out, keep an open mind, and cross the finish line, even if I was in last place. But in the fall, I wanted to up and leave, quit and walk away. I had a fantastically hard working team of teachers around me, I had some strong admins, and I had, technically, landed my "dream job" only two years prior. Would I regret leaving? Would I care? The disrespect I was dealt on a daily basis would make anyone want to walk away. Or fight back.

It seems like Easter is a fitting time to reflect on life, death, and what love truly is. As we reflect on Jesus and all that happened to him when he died and rose again, we realize how quickly people come and go from our lives. Life can literally be taken away in an instant. It could be death or it could be a metaphor for death if someone's mind were to vanish or personality were to completely change. We are still left feeling empty, sad, and though sometimes at peace, our hearts still sting. Just two days ago I attended a funeral for a beautiful woman, someone who lived a long, happy, and complete life. We wished her to the heavens with prayers, flowers, and fond memories. The very next day I was at a baptism, welcoming new life into the church and into God's family. Life and death. Dying and living. It was powerful to me to reflect on the proximity of these two events and how meaningful they both are. Though separate, I found such a connection on these two things occurring b

And just like that it's 2015. Since I was in elementary school I have loved writing. I love writing poetry, creative stories, and sometimes even a good research paper. As I've mentioned, my blog has acted as my sanity, a source of release, a therapy of sorts. However, time and time again I am challenged with the daunting task of finding something to write about. I want readers, followers, fans even! But when I come on here to type, it's always the same thing. Positivity, gratefulness, being blessed, the obsession with my friends and family, etc. I don't try new recipes and write about them. I'm not on some crazy diet and stop in to report results. I'm not in a book club where I post discussion questions. I simply write what's on my mind and those things are obviously frequently the same. How do I just pick a topic? How will I ever complete my life long goal of writing a book? One thing, I will say, that I have become ever so passionate and consistent abo