"Every beetle is a gazelle in the eyes of it's mother"

Today is mother's day! I probably can't make this post as long and poetic as it deserves but I have a short story for you all, in honor of my own mother.

In the above picture, I'd like you to take special notice of the strand of pearls around my neck. They are very important to our story.

These pearls used to be my mother's pearls. I used to borrow them all the time. They're the perfect length, hanging right at my collar bone. They also make me feel really classy! 

I borrowed my mother's pearls so much that I started asking for a short strand of pearls just like Mom's at Christmas time and birthdays. Then, one Christmas (probably a few years after I began my persistent asking) I finally got what I had been asking for. I was so excited to open the little box that contained my own strand of pearls.

The thing that took me a moment to realize was that this strand of pearls I was now claiming as my own were in fact the same strand of pearl I had so long coveted. My mother had searched far and wide, keeping her eyes peeled as I continuously and probably obnoxiously asked for pearls just like hers. And yet, in this endless quest, she couldn't find what I was looking for.

Instead of calling it quits, my mother did something that all loving mothers do. She made a sacrifice for me. She gave me her pearls because I am her daughter and it was something I wanted. She's a wonderful mother and I am so blessed that she is mine. She takes care of me and my two sisters. She looks out for me and wants me to succeed. She is everything I could ask for and more. I can count on her to always be there for me.

And someday, when she no longer is physically standing by my side, I will always have my mother's pearls.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

So I know it's been a ridiculously long time since I've written on my blog. It was a really rough couple of months, especially April.

I got pneumonia in February and through my lack of stopping and stress and such, I then got mononucleosis. That was a big rough spot. I even spent a night in the ER because of it. I was going to be staying at school through the summer in attempts to sort of get ahead but because of my unfortunately timed illness, I am home for my foreseeable future.

On top of my terrible health, I met the end of yet another relationship. Shockingly, this one really snuck up on me. I don't understand what happened or why so I can't explain. I am working hard to not think too much on it and just pick up my pieces and carry on.

From the beginning of April to the end, it was especially rough since that's where the majority of my hardships have fallen. Because of this, my life motto right now is (like the title of this post) "April Showers Bring May Flowers."

I know that life won't be sunshine and rainbows from now on just because I say so. I wouldn't want that anyways. I'm simply deciding to change my attitude and go forward with a bit of a plastered smile. I am going forward with the intent that things within my control will be different-- this much I can do.

I am going to throw myself into being the best me that I can be. I'm doing this because, in my experiences, this is when things are the best. When I am my best self is when other things fall into place, life is golden, I'm happiest, and people with only positive things to offer come into my life.

I have decided to put off former bad habits (this is a rough work in progress) and to pick up a few more positive ones.

I am not perfect and I know I'm a work in progress. The important thing is not that I recognize my faults but instead where I'm working on those faults. This is a new beginning and nothing will be the same. I am changing for the better, I hope that you can keep up.