Thursday, December 6, 2007

Walking the Winding Path of Self Discovery

I'm still reading The Secret and it told me to make a list of things that I am grateful for and that seems like the type of thing I should put on here. It didn't give me a number, but I'm going to say that every person should be able to think of at least 10 things that they are grateful for so that's what I'm going to do!

1. I'm grateful I have my family. As much as Momma gets on my case, yells at me, or tries to fix my hair or clothes before I leave the house, I know that she does so much for me. She pushed me way to hard to get into college, but look where I am today, I love being here, I'm doing what I want to do, honestly, sometimes it's a bit surreal to me to think that one day *I* will get to touch an Orca Whale. That speaks to me. The only reason I've done as well as I have so far is all thanks to my mother! I'm grateful for my Dad, Steve. He was not a very big part of my life for awhile, but since he came back, I don't know what I would do without him. He is such an amazing source of information that I don't really want to know, but can't help but be curious about. I love hearing his stories about his dad, his mom, his childhood and everything since then. Yall think his blog is something, try living with him! He thinks of these stories and the way he tells them is, believe it or not, so much better than the way he writes it! Even Rip, who gets into all kinds of trouble all the time, I'm so glad I have him! He was my best friend for the first decade of my life. I still love him more than I know. Dr. Carrot-Top is such a special little boy. He makes you realize all the small things in life that truly matter. He asked my grandmother one day "Nana, What do you call the holes in your nose that boogers come out of?" Adorable.

2. I'm grateful for my friends. At any given moment, I can call five different girls or three different guys and they will talk to me, when I'm sad, when I'm happy, when I'm-so-bored-out-of-my-mind-that-if-I-don't-talk-to-
someone-this-instant-I'm-gonna-go-crazy.

I love my friends so much, and I'm so very grateful to have them. I'm not sure how sane I would be today if it wasn't for them.

3. I'm so happy I met Red. She wasn't supposed to be my rooommate. When she came to get her apartment, they changed them around and kicked another girl out of the room so that she could live there. I'm so grateful that they did. If I hadn't met Red I'm pretty sure that both of us would be in tiny little pieces on the kitchen floor somewhere right about now.

4. I'm grateful for music. I love music, it has given me and so many people I know so much happiness. From me and my friends sitting around listening to music, having it become a part of my life in band all the way to Mother of Invention's song that she wrote and sang and is now all over the web on youtube! Music helps people cheer up, breaks the ice, validates their emotions, helps with focus, and setting the mood. When you hear a song that was very important to you at a certain point in your life, you remember what was going on, you remember how you were feeling and some of the problems. We all have a soundtrack to our lives and I'm so thankful for that!

5. I'm thankful that I get to go home. I'm so lucky to be able to fly home for holidays! Some people don't get to do that. I take for granted everything my parents do for me and I'm oh so very thankful that they do, without my approval and sometimes to my distaste, my mom and dad take care of me, every day. Momma sent me a package in the mail with baked potatoes, these amazing chocolate lava volcano things and fillet mignon, all frozen and ready to cook because she "Wanted to make sure you, Red and Houston were well fed for our finals." I talked to Daddy while I was crying, wanting to come home, very upset about being alone, and he asks me for my friend's number so that I can have my flute, that they bought me, because it makes me happy to play it for him. This all seems like it's being grateful for my mom and dad, but I have to be grateful for them because everything I do leads back to something they have taught me.

It took me a few days to write this, but I think it's worth it, I didn't make my goal of 10 but these 5 will do quite nicely, maybe I'll come back and write 5 more, but I got stuck on how amazing my parents are, how most people's parents are. Even as teenagers we cry and whine and act like small children, we all do it, at more appropriate times than small children, but we do. I'm sure that every once in a while, even the most adult of grown-ups feels like throwing a temper tantrum. I'm so glad I have my mom and dad to let me cry over silly things sometimes.

6 comments:

Mother of Invention said...

Wow! I'm impressed with this list! It really is way more than 10 when you read into the details, sub-headings appear and between some lines as well. I was struck with how similar the list is with mine, despite the vast age difference! (I'd just have husband in there big time!)

Our family and friends is what it's all about for me and music is definitely one thing that centres me and makes me feel happier. Thanks so much for the plug and I am so honoured that you like my song too! (I haven't checked YouTube for awhile!)

Your mom and dad, even though they've had some set-backs as individuals and as a couple, sure have their act together as far as you. It is so evident that your dad thinks the world of you a nd his heart is brimming and bursting with love for you. That is so tender and touching for me to be able to see and feel that across the miles and through cyberspace! Pretty amazing really.

Yes, you are very lucky and the best part is you know it and appreciate it. You have a Gratitude Attitude!

Blog on! They've been great!

Barbara said...

Most kids your age aren't willing to admit, especially publicly, that they parents are important. I hope and pray my two children feel as grateful as you do because they have never told me so.

I love the fact that your fractured family has healed and come back together, supporting each other in so many ways.

I hope your flute brings you the same comfort and enjoyment my piano has for me. Just be glad you can carry it around! And play with a friend or two. There's something so magical about making music with others.

Before you know it you will be graduating and swimming with the dolphins or whales or some other exotic animals. You remind me of the Little Mermaid, always a favorite in our household!

bulletholes said...

What?
What information you don't want to know?
Like how the moon is made of Cheese and is on average 250,000 Miles away from Earth?

i'm so glad you don't see your Mom as just a Suitcase Bomb waiting to go off , but as your biggest proponent. she will make the heavens and Earth move for you.

These posts you are doing are really very grown up, Young Lady!

GrizzBabe said...

I see why your dad is so proud of you. You have such a good head on your shoulders and you have such a mature perspective and that comes through in your writing.

Can't wait to read the next 5!

GEWELS said...

I agree with MOI- I was surprised at the end that it was only 5. It seemed more like 10 to me too.

You are one amazing kid. Not too many would feel the way you do about family, let alone be able to express it so well.

You've inspired me to stop and think and do a list too. I know I forget way too often the things that are important in my life.

Water Baby said...

Mom, Thank you for visiting! I'm glad you enjoyed my list, I think the things I mentioned are things that everyone should be grateful, it's just nice to sit down and think about why we should be thankful, so we can really understand why it's so important! My mom and dad try so hard, harder than I think they should have to, but I'm really glad they do! Thanks again, I hope you are feeling better!

Barbara, yall keep telling me how mature I am and that makes me so happy every time I hear/read it! Thank you so much, I'm sure I'm not as mature as I come off... lol! All kids appreciate our parents, sometimes we just have to sit down and really think about everything yall do for us before we really get it. Red plays her clarinet with me, it's much fun!! That's why I'm the Water Baby. I'm always in the water or thinking about being in the water! Last night it was warm enough to go swimming at a hotel!

Dad, thanks! I know that sometimes mom is a bit... stressed out? I think that's the best way to describe it, but I know it's just cause she is trying to help us. I try!

Grizzbabe, Thank you, I try my best since I know that most of the people reading are older and have more experience writing than I do. It's so great that yall think I'm a mature like that, it means so much to me!

Gewels, It felt like 10 to write at first! I kind of got stuck on being grateful for hte people in my life because that is what I'm missing, the next list will probably be less focused on people! It's great that you're doing a list, that was one of the reasons I did it, to help others think about what they are grateful for!