Washington is beautiful x2

These were all taken within 2 miles of my house :)

Get a tissue

Because you're going to laugh until you have tears after you watch this.

Billboard for your life

Throughout my adult life, I've been really aware of how different companies/products advertise and market - which is normal since I studied and currently work in marketing.

More recently, I've been more aware of how people advertise and market themselves - more importantly how I advertise and market myself.

The way I am - the way I act and talk and treat other people advertises and markets myself more than anything else. I am the billboard of my own life - I am a billboard for what is in my heart and soul - not just me but the energy that I exude. The clothes I wear, the things I watch and read, the activities I participate in that fill up my time - all of those things say more about me than anything else ever could.

There are only a few more days of November - the month of Thanksgiving. I could/should list the things I am thankful for for days and days. The thing that I am most thankful for is the ability to live the kind of life I want to live. I am so thankful that I have the ability to choose everyday - or every moment if I am going to be happy or sad, grateful or ungrateful. I get to choose if I am going to work hard or not, be honest and true or not, challenge myself or not. I can decide if I make the most of situations - even the hard ones, or not.

I am thankful that I can live the life I want to live.

I got this from a friend and loved it

It is an excerpt from an Anne Lamott interview.

Enjoy.


"I'm much calmer as I get older, but I'm still just as capable of getting that strung-out stressed-out feeling of mental and spiritual unwellness. But for the most part every year has brought with it a little bit more wisdom or a willingness to throw out the trunks and brown boxes I've been lugging around psychically all my life. I want to throw that stuff out of the plane that keeps me flying too low. And really getting more comfortable with my body and really going easier on myself.

Age has given me the gift of me, it just gave me what I was always longing for, which was to get to be the woman I've already dreamt of being. Which is somebody who can do rest and do hard work and be a really constant companion, a constant tender-hearted wife to myself. It's given me more patience, though I'm not a patient person. Age sort of forces you into loving and accepting yourself, because what are the options? I'm not a Hollywood type, and I don't have any judgments-not very much-about people getting cosmetic surgery or Botox or liposuction, but it's not my style, it's not going to happen.

I want to bring people hope and laughter and a ferocious commitment to self-love".

Thanksgiving

I love today. I love everything about today. Today is a day that is about family and friends and reflection of blessings. And I love that.

I am ending my day on my couch. with my dog. I am completely content. I feel peace. I wouldn't say I feel happy. It's something much more than that. It's peace.

This year has been crazy. There has been so much stuff - too much to write in a novel - lots of happiness, lots of pain and lots of learning and self discovery. Truth is, I have never felt so good in my life as I do now. I am completely comfortable in my own skin. I am happy about who I am and I have no desire to hide any part of myself. I feel peace. And that is why this Thanksgiving might be the most memorable Thanksgiving I've had. Or maybe it's memorable because it's today....

Long day

:)

So many things have been on my mind recently. I feel like I could write a novel.

Everyone is special because everyone is a child of God. But we aren't special when we are trying to be like anyone else. God didn't make me to be like anyone else. I was created to be me - to bring my gifts and talents to the world - so I need to get busy being myself and loving myself and stop trying to be someone else  - that is when I will reach my full potential.

November is my favorite month. I think it's my favorite month because of Thanksgiving. I have always loved Thanksgiving. It seems people are nicer and more aware of the blessing in their lives. People say that we should have the Christmas spirit all year round. I disagree. I think we should strive to have the Thanksgiving spirit all year round. Being thankful changes the world.

Statistically, the majority of people aren't happy. Ernest Holmes said that you can't truly show love toward other people and be happy until you learn to love yourself no matter your situation. I wish people would love themselves more. People are amazing. I am amazing. You are amazing.

Perhaps I can't change everyones world. But I have the power to change my own. I can make my world and my life whatever I want. And I am so thankful for the life I have created. I do good things. I am around good people. I laugh. A lot. And cry a lot too. I like doing both.

I am sooo thankful for Harley Boy. He makes me smile everyday. We got a few pictures taken last weekend. I will leave you with a handful of them.

Life is beautiful. I am thankful. Even when it is POURING outside.

I hope you are too.

I was on the radio

I was on the radio yesterday. I talked about gay marriage/ref 74 with two of my friends/coworkers/lawyers from the law firm I work for. It was fun. It was a little scary - but mostly fun.

People tell me that it is really cool that I talk about so openly about why it is so important to me that gay marriage is now legal in Washington State. I don't necessarily think it is cool. But it is necessary. It is necessary

Here is a little preview of the show.

Wicked

I went to see Wicked last night. Oh man, I absolutely loved it. I cried. A lot. I kept taking deep breathes trying to let the essence of the story change my life. It is such a beautiful story. 

As my favorite song, 'For Good' was sung I was thinking of certain people in my life that I wish I could sing it too. There are a lot. There are so many people that have changed my life for good and I am so thankful! In return, I hope hope hope that no matter my personal circumstance, I can always share my light and influence people for good.

 

Enjoy!

Thank you

Dear Friends, Family and Potential Strangers,

I sat down to write a letter a few weeks ago asking you to approve Referendum 74. It passed. Thank you. Thank you a million times.

I am kind of in shock. I don't know how to handle my emotion so I keep telling jokes about exercising so I can look good in my wedding dress - and I won't even wear a wedding dress. I danced on the streets on Tuesday and I've participated in the banter and celebration on facebook and other social media sites. But something unexpected has happened inside of me. Something that I have a hard time explaining.

I want to hug everyone. And thank them. And cry. And scream. And smile. I feel like I am going to explode.

I have always been an independent person. I am determined and driven and don't usually rely on other people to make things happen for myself. But in this case, in my ability to have the possibility of getting married and live the life I have always wanted to live, I have had to rely on other people - on people I don't know. It has been a completely humbling experience and I'm overcome with emotion.

In the last couple days I have had flashbacks to my second grade class - to the day Mrs. Bagley, worlds best 2nd grade teacher, told us we could grow up and be anything we wanted to be. I've thought about daydreaming in my 8th grade history class about changing the world and making it a better place. I've replayed countless conversations with my mom as she pleaded with me to see the beauty in myself.

To most, Referendum 74 might not mean that much. To me, it means everything. Really. Everything. Other people voted that I am normal. It means that other people feel that I, and my potential marriage, is worth celebrating. Referendum 74 means so much to me because I have always felt less than.  I have never felt normal. Or equal. Because I haven't been.

People say that it shouldn't matter what other people think of you. Maybe it shouldn't. But it does. A lot. The way people view you can create or destroy confidence. Other peoples perception makes some walk in the clouds while it makes others take their own lives. It will always matter to me what the people in Washington thought - because their collective opinion about gay marriage gave me one of the greatest gifts in my life.

Thanks you. I promise to cherish the gift you have given.

Sincerely,
Chelsea