Reflection

Packing has become ritualistic for me as it probably becomes for most people.  I don't consciously sit down and think about exactly how I am going to prepare for a trip, but I always end up recreating a similar scene as the last time I packed and the time before.  And I always end up feeling reflective--reflecting on where I've been and what I've learned since the last time I filled my suitcase.  So I'll share a few of the things I was thinking about while I packed to fly stateside tomorrow, little tid-bits of advice that I've collected from new friends, old friends and experience in the last few months.

1) Life is filled with reason.  If you didn't get the job that you wanted, you just got dumped or you missed the train by a second, look for the reason.  Sometimes it's hidden, but it will be there.

2) Have the strength to believe in your own path.  When you get to your mid-20's, everyone your age is following different paths, going different directions.  Sometimes it's hard not to compare yourself--actually, sometimes it's impossible not to compare yourself.  Should I go back to school? Should I be pursuing a career? Should I live in New York City? The West Coast? The beach in South America? Should I have a boyfriend? Should I have a fiance? Should I have a husband?...STOP!  Everyone travels a different road.  You are on yours for a reason(see #1).  Be proud of it.

3) Most hurtful things that people do and say really have nothing to do with you, it almost always is an internal issue that they are projecting onto others.  So if a stranger yells at you or a friend says something hurtful, don't take it personally.  Show a little compassion to both sides by forgiving them and not blaming yourself.

and most importantly

4) Learn to love who you are.  Through good times and bad, you will ALWAYS be there to keep yourself company.  Push yourself to do things out of your comfort zone, congratulate yourself when you achieve small victories, and comfort yourself instead of put yourself down when you fail to achieve what you had hoped.  In other words, be your own best friend.

Today, I'll leave you with a quote that permanently resides on a sticky note on my Mac dashboard, from the one and only Miss Carrie Bradshaw:

"Later that day, I got to thinking about relationships.  There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started and those that bring you back.  But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one that you have with yourself.  And if you can find someone to love the you that you love, well, that's just fabulous."