Have a Heart

This month I made my most corny resolution yet.  I must admit that day one, the task at hand seemed pretty daunting.  Perhaps it was.  The main objective of a resolution though is to, in the end, find the truth.  My previous two months' resolutions were very blatant truths.  This month's wasn't as obvious to find until closer to the end.

For the most part, the month went as all others do.  You see a cute guy at the bar, you do the 15 minute song and dance of exchanging glances, and then it's time for the introduction.   This time though that part had to be done by me.  If I had to be honest, a part of me really hated it.  It forced me out of my enjoyable comfort zone, so that much was to be expected.  Through all of the awkwardness, I learned a few things about myself that I consider important to note on my journeys going forward.

Always take up a challenge.  This whole resolution was obviously quite the endeavor in and of itself, and was something I wouldn't let myself put to the wayside.  More importantly though, most people you meet in life will challenge you from small things, such as calling or asking for your number, to larger things like as moving away.  When they're matters of the heart or mind, I find it always better to take the longer road.

The best things come your way when being exactly who you are.    Extending your hand, offering your name, and possibly tossing out your number is all fine and good.  However, the the real butterflies will always come when you least expect it: when you're just living in the moment.

I have confidence in me.  The most attractive quality you can have is confidence.  Followed closely by style and charisma.  Always believe in yourself, what you stand for, and what you want.  Only when you do can anything, or anyone, truly love you back.

{Image Credit: Max Wanger}

Cross My Heart

Sometimes it's hard to tell, but most of our life is a constant page turner.  Constantly changing and ever engaging, it can be easy to get lost in the plot.  Just remember that when ever you make a turn to take your heart there with you.  Always search for your perfect ending.

“If it is right, it happens — The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.”--John Steinbeck

{Image Credit: Bloomize}

Playoff Season

The NFL playoffs is one of my favorite seasons.  It's the only sporting post-season that I can watch with enthusiasm even if my team(s) is not in it, which is quite often the case in recent years.  It also further reminds me just how important it is that I find a good guy who is highly capable of screaming at the television in his team's colors.  Otherwise I'll just look downright silly.

{Image:  someecards}

Serious Contendor

It's one of my most favorite times of the year for two reasons:  the holidays and Oscar contendors.  Kicking off my movie season was The Descendants.  It is a very honest, sincere, and at times humorous movie of the human spirits and our many flaws.  Not to mention, it stars George Clooney.  It's worth the view for anyone, no matter your moviegoing style.

This Is Dedicated to the Ones I Love

Wishing I were at Homecoming this weekend with some of the best people I know.  

M-I-Z!

You've Got the Love

Sometimes, when you're walking down the street, the darndest things happen.  Like tonight, on a very ordinary walk back to my aparment from Michigan Avenue, passing the dispersing happy hour crowds, a man with a round face, glasses, and bow tie (no, not Frosty the Snowman) was walking right toward me.  It was instinct to look right at him in the eyes.  No reason, just instinct.  It might have been instinct for him then as well to very frankly state to me "I'd spend the rest of my life with you."  Then once again, right on cue, we both let out a laugh and kept walking.  It was quite clear we were not meant to be.  Nevertheless they were just the right words I needed to hear at that moment.  For now, I'm ready to go head first into my day tomorrow.  Because you never know who you could be a "game changer" for.


{Image Credit: Southern Weddings}

Coming Home Again

One of the best treats in life is watching great friends marry great people.  Congratulations, Julie and Ross!

Storing Up Treasures

I'm beginning to get the feeling of being followed. This past Saturday we received a sneak preview of spring. Having felt the itch to walk my neighborhood park for sometime now, I seized the opportunity to pay a visit. Normally I just walk the perimeter of it and take in some great people watching. On this particular afternoon I had the sudden impulse to take the path through the middle of the park along the shallow sculpture pond. Shining right in the middle of it was a beautiful red mosaic heart sculpture. Continuing on a moment later I noticed something I stepped on. A simple white chalk drawing of four shapes: a triangle, rectangle, circle, and a heart. As I took snapshots of both images, I was reminded of a personal favorite quote. It actually comes from the Bible, and reads:

"But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."--Matthew 6:20-21

So for now I'll go on collecting these symbols I've come to treasure, in hopes of finding my real heart.

Mosaic heart sculpture in pond of Francis Park.

Chalk drawing in Francis Park. Artist unknown.

Post Script: Some times the best way to remember our heart is to go back to childhood. Whose first piano masterpiece wasn't Heart and Soul?

Change of Heart

"The heart has reasons that reason does not understand."--Jacques Benigne Bossuel

Perhaps it was the sea of red. Maybe even the copious amounts of corny cards. It could have simply been the fact that I had no reason to pay attention. Whatever the reason may be, Valentine's Day came and went without much notice taken on my part. Oddly enough though, a couple days after this niche holiday, its universal symbol, the heart, seems to be popping up everywhere I turn. The heart, has never been one of my favorite symbols or shapes. I was never that girl scribbling them all over her notebook or buying every which novelty item with its design on it. To me it's always been perceived as a tacky statement. However, the ones I've been finding recently have really caught my eye. Dare I say, they may have that certain element of chic to them?

Check them out...

A belated Valentine from Google

• My new favorite blog discovered this week is Garance Dore. Her URL icon? A simple little heart.

Diet Coke's new design to raise awareness for The Heart Truth

"What is a heart worth if it's just left all alone?"--Jack Johnson