Look Back

She stood on a hill, then turned around.
And it took her breath away
to realize
how far she had come.


Sometimes, I think we get so caught up in the road ahead of us,
and how much farther we have to go,
we forget to look back -
we forget where we used to be
and how much we've accomplished.


bravo, friends, bravo <3

a Stranger's Words

I am leaning out of the drive through window, pictures in hand, stretching out to the elderly lady in her van.

I've just arrived at work, traces of happines still lingering on my clothes from home. I am curly messy hair, turquoise earrings, and smoky eye shadow.

As she takes the pictures she looks at me and says, "You are so pretty."

And I, in my glorious awkwardness, find myself blushing and tongue tied.

I flash her my smile - the special one I only use when I'm really, truly happy, the one where my eyes crinkle up. "Oh thank you, thank you."

I am shrugging my shoulders and turning my face away, not sure what to say.

"You're a good thing to see," she tells me before driving away.

I close the window and turn to walk away - remembering how, on the drive back to willmar I'd just been thinking - I wonder if a stranger told me I was beautiful, I would believe them?

It turns out, I would...a little bit :)

anticipation

just a few more hours....

and i can stop holding my breath.

being with family feels like taking giant gulps of cold air -

so refreshing,

but i can never get quite enough.

maybe

Maybe,
every time you've told yourself
"you should be more"
or
"you are not enough"

it was a lie.

Maybe,
every time someones told you
"you're beautiful"
or
"i think you're awesome"

they meant it.

Maybe,
you are an inch closer to loving yourself

than you were before.

Phenomenal.


(sometimes, someone says something to you, and a curtain falls away. Suddenly you can see things a little bit clearer than you could before.)

The Hermit Life

This weekend, when I wasn't working, I was in my apartment.

Alone.

Perfectly, alone.

Crime shows. Pizza. Pictures.

All I really needed.

Watched Tv. Cleaned the apartment. Read a book.

I didn't talk. Or Listen. Or think. Or Worry.

It was beautiful.

Sometimes I revert back to my Hermit ways,

but only when I really need to :)

play it brave

Wear the dress.
The one that makes you think you might just be kinda sorta slightly pretty.

Put on the heels.
The ones with the bows on the end that make your legs look good.

Do your makeup.
Not the, i only have 5 minutes makeup.
like, real makeup.

Play your favorite praise song on repeat.
And sing along - every single time.

Spray the perfume on your collarbone.
That one from your brother that one unexpected time.

Don't forget the turquoise earrings.
Becuase you're you, and that's what you do.

Leave your problems behind you at the door -
you won't need those at work.

And smile. Today is a new day.
play it brave.

You

i miss you.

you are a dull ache along the edge of my heart.

i'll wait for you,

right here.