In Abundance

A few weeks ago Favorite Husband was off to have drinks with some friends. And I felt jealous.  Not that he was leaving, but mostly because I didn't have the same kind of opportunity.  My lack of friends nearby has often made me sad.  Besides FH (favorite husband of course!) my bestest (yes, I know that's not a "real" word) friends live thousands of miles away.  I do know a lot of people here and have my fair share of acquaintances but it seems everyone is in this parenting/marriage stage of life and we all don't have much time to pursue friendships.

After focusing on it for a long time I came to the realization that finding new friends is like dating.  It involves trust, patience and hoping you have the right chemistry.  It also requires being vulnerable and letting your guard down.  Was I ready for all that? 

Instead of lamenting about my lack of friend outings, I started to focus on myself. I started to do things that made me happy (reading, writing, crocheting! -More on that later!).  Sure, I thought, it might be a lonely time, but I do have my husband & the kids.  I have a very supportive family back home and the few friends that I do have (even though some are very far away) are of the highest quality. I decided that was enough.  And just like that my focus shifted from what I wanted to being grateful for the awesome people I already had.

And then abundance appeared.  It appeared in the form of a Bountiful Basket gifted & delivered to my doorstep by my dear friends at themoreonesows.blogspot.com.  (Thank you for all your kindness Sari & Erick), a lunch date with a friend I hadn't seen in awhile, a play date with one of Ayden's friends and his family and then SURPRISE! a new friend appeared.

Driving today to meet said new friend I thought about how really blessed I am.  It's a good time in my life.  I have everything I need and most of what I want.  I am living in abundance and I couldn't be more grateful. 

Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?

We have spent a mere 9 days in 2014 and already the winds of change are blowing.  It's amazing to me how much people take for granted and are willing to sever ties to be "right."

I used to be a huge fan of Dr. Phil (about 10 years ago) and I will always remember him saying "Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?"

Life is short.  I want to be happy.  It is that simple.

It's been a not so pleasant week, so last night at around 10pm when a friend posted about going to Portland to get doughnuts it seemed like just the kind of adventure I needed.

At 11:30pm we left Kitsap on our way to Portland's famous Voodoo Doughnuts.  It's a mere 3 hours and some change away.  And yes all we did was drive there, eat some delicious doughnuts (as well as brought a box- or 4 home with us) and drive back.   We got home a little before 7am.  Although today proved to me that a) I can no longer stay up all night without feeling hungover the entire next day - even after a 4 hour "nap" and b) I will always appreciate an adventure.

As a wife and a mother I don't get to do too many spontaneous things.  My  life is structured and planned, so it was a nice reminder of the girl I used to be.  Life is in these small moments of gratitude: in not just finding a friend who is willing to drive 350 miles with you for some doughnuts, but finding someone who is willing to share their time (and love for food) to make silly memories and in the reality that at the end of the day I am blessed with warmth to come home to.

Life as I know it is changing around me, I can resist it or I can embrace it.  I can be right or I can be happy.  I choose happiness.  (and doughnuts... lots and lots of doughnuts)