back to my roots: why i write

I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving. Scratch that. I can't believe it's already fall. Where did time go? Five months ago today, Jamey and I got married. THAT to me is insane. So much has happened since that perfect day, and yet I haven't documented even half of it all. Now, let me clarify something first. I don't believe I need to document every little moment for the world to see. Frankly, I enjoy keeping some of those moments to myself; for my own head and heart to know. But, when I think about the reason I even started this blog being to document my life, and all of the precious moments, it makes me sad to know that I haven't done the best job at it.

I recently read a post that inspired me to write again. Sometimes I can fill my head with nonsense and lies about why I shouldn't write. I'll tell myself, "no one reads it anyway", "you're nobody special. Everything you write about has already been written, and probably said better than you", or "People will think you're obsessed with yourself". I say these are lies, because no one has ever told MY story. No one can understand what my life is like, because it is mine. 

A friend of mine recently re-posted a statement that hit home for me. It said, 

"You should write. Even though everything's already been said beautifully. Even though there's nothing new under the sun. Even so. Because there may be nothing new to say, but if you haven't spoken up yet - then there is a new VOICE to hear. That's all we have - our voices. No two are the same. No one sees the world QUITE like you do, and no one else can tell us your story QUITE like you could. You are our only chance to know you. You're it. If you yearn to use your voice and you don't - we will all suffer for it. Be brave. Be audacious enough to consider that your story is worth telling and your voice is worth hearing. Your story and your voice are worthy of occupying some space in this world."

I want to be a consistent writer. Not because I want to make a lot of money doing it, or because it happens to be the hip thing to do nowadays. I want to write because I feel it deep within my bones to express my thoughts. I want to write so that my children, and my children's children can reflect back on my life and have an understanding of where they came from. 

I want to document the joys and the pains to maybe, just maybe, 

inspire someone to believe that they are capable of doing great things. 

five months ago, I married my better half

I want to stop feeling as if there are boundaries or rules to the rhyme and reason I write. No one is holding me back, only myself. It's time to break free of those lies, 

and begin to write when I want, and what I want.

I love you all, and I appreciate your support while I walk through this sometimes rugged journey.

XO

Brenda

bucket list

I've never made a bucket list, but I have always wanted to. 

There are things that I've had on my "mental" bucket list, 

but I figured it was time to actually write them down. 

I believe when you write you dreams out on paper (or computer), 

you become more motivated to actually see your dreams come to fruition. 

Once I started, I couldn't stop! So many new & exciting things came to mind. 

I don't plan on stopping at just 40 things to do before I die, but it will do for now. 

I think what I will do is revisit this post and add things 

as well as cross them off my list as I complete tasks. 

1. Write a Bucket List   7/26/2013
2. Bungee jump
3. Skydive
4. Visit every state in the USA
5. See Death Cab For Cutie live
6. Publish a book, &/or a piece of my writing
7. Have complete tattoo sleeves on both arms & have both of my thighs done
8. Go in a hot air balloon
9. Learn to sew
10. Travel the country in an RV with my husband (& kids, if applicable)
11. Eat pizza in Italy
12. Drink Framboise in Belgium
13. Get over my fear of the ocean
14. Take up photography as a hobby
15. Spin a globe, point my finger & travel to the place I've landed on
16. Have a pen pal
17. Go to a shooting range
18. Hang glide
19. Spend New Year's Eve in Times Square
20. Raise a family 
21. Climb Half Dome (Yosemite)
22. Be a professional Blogger
23. Go on a cruise
24. Go to Israel, and walk where Jesus walked
25. Live in another state
26. Go sailing
27. Climb up the Statue of Liberty
28. Graduate from College
29. Learn to make candles &/or soap
30. Learn to garden
31. Eat a meal & talk about life with my favorite author, Shauna Niequist
32. Retire comfortably
33. Have an all-natural, at home (or birth center) delivery
34. Have a home with a wrap around porch
35. See the Northern Lights in Iceland
36. See one of my favorite bands from backstage/side stage
37. Have a White Christmas
38. Go to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day
39. Be fluent in American Sign Language
40. Visit where my ancestors are from in Romania
41. Plant an Avocado Tree

>>>>

Do you have a bucket list? 

If you end up writing one, share a link in the comments below so I can see!

XO

Brenda

chasing passions, chasing dreams

Passion.

I have been hearing that word float around a lot lately. Something I love about this life is building relationships with others who inspire you. My mom always told me that the people you choose to surround yourself with reflect on who you are as a person. 

I think that is a beautiful perspective to have on relationships. It really helps you to weed out those who bring you down, and invest in those who lift you up. 

Ever since my early teens, I have always been a passionate person. I have my mom to thank for that. My passions often shifted. At times I was passionate about befriending the lonely at lunch, and at other times I was passionate about N'SYNC (can you blame 13 year old me?). I am the type of person who finds something, or someone, I love and I give it my all, my everything. 

To me, that is what being passionate is all about. 

You give everything you have to see something you love or believe in come to fruition. 

No matter the cost.

This is why I love surrounding myself with people who are passionate. It continues to inspire me and it pushes me forward. I love that my closest friends are all passionate about a variety of things. I have my wonderful husband who is passionate about creating music. Whether he is writing, performing or listening to music -- he gives it his complete attention & focus. That is passion. Then there's my best friend, she is a hair stylist. She is passionate about giving someone a perspective shift on themselves. I love that. She treats her career as more than just hair cutting or coloring; she takes each opportunity to impact someone's life and make them feel beautiful. I have a friend who is passionate about sharing Jesus with the brokenhearted, and a friend who takes everyday to help children who are disabled experience day to day life, just like any other child. I could go on and on and on. My friends are passionate and they inspire me to be more and more passionate about life.

I have another good friend who also inspires me. We've had several conversations about finding that one thing you just love to do; something that excites and challenges you...a passion. What I love about this friend in particular is that she surrounds herself with passionate people as well, and that has motivated her to find her own passion. I think that is so beautiful. That is what life is about! Maybe you don't have a particular passion, but it doesn't mean you can't ever have one. Find it! Make it up. Try something new until you find that one thing you can't live without. Maybe it's cooking, maybe it's working out, maybe it's traveling! And maybe it's all of those things. Don't limit yourself to one passion, but at least find one thing that drives you. 

Something that brings even just a little bit of joy into your day to day life. 

In my twenty-six years on this earth, 

I have come to the conclusion that the most beautiful and awe-inspiring people 

are those who are driven by their passions.

What am I currently passionate about?
Being a wife to the most amazing man I know.

>>>>>>>

What are you passionate about?

XO

Brenda