The Tide of Life

Life is so odd.

I have been in a state of happiness for the past 73 days for sure. This is a pretty darn long time for me. Its definitely due to the relationship that began, hmm, 73 days ago. Strange how that works. I, the girl who wants too much without really wanting anything, have found more than I could have hoped for. Sure, we're probably still in the "honeymoon" of our dating, where the other can do on wrong (except maybe break your glovebox) and even when they do wrong, you just smile and kiss and everything is better. I'm sure there will be disagreements and moments other than pure bliss, but he's the kind of guy that I wouldn't mind fighting with if it meant we got to make up later. Plus we're building up such great communication skills with each other that I can't see us not eventually smoothing out the edges.

So this is good news for me for sure.

But now that I don't have to worry about me, being the worrier I am, I've been looking around at my friends. I know that not everyone can be happy all the time, and not every relationship works, but I worry about, pray for, and cry for many of my friends. The relationships that seem perfect, are on their way to marriage, and then end suddenly for seemingly no reason. The women who are too afraid to let anyone close enough to ever find love. The ones who are too deeply invested to realize how miserable they are at the end of each day. The ones who are willing to start their life over to be with someone. The ones who no longer have the support of their mother and father to make it through the difficult times in life. The ones that are willing to settle for anything less than the right thing.

I find myself wishing, and sometimes trying, to fix everyone, tell them the best way to deal with situations. But I can't do that. I am very different than most of my friends. While many of our core values are the same, tolerance levels and ability to sacrifice varies greatly from one of us to the next. What is best for me is not best for her or the next girl. Plus, I don't have all the answers. I got lucky.

Besides, I've had my fair share of screw-ups and stupid decisions...maybe some of my friends just aren't yet to a place where they are ready to stumble upon happy.

My advice, to myself and anyone else, is just make sure you're happy. I don't mean that in a selfish way, but in a deserving way. We're good people. If you're unhappy, figure out why. Try to do something about it. If you can't directly solve the problem, find ways to bring greater satisfaction from the other areas of your life.

Don't settle for anything less than livin' the good life...