And so the summer came and went....

There are so many things that have happened this summer and fall. Highs and lows- but learning what joy is and how to achieve it even when the times are bad. The key I've discovered is in the moments. Find your joy in the little things, the sun rises and sets- the beauty in the leaves of the trees- the way the wind blows across the water. The sounds of silence, the smile of the stranger, the laughter of friends, the cloud that looks like darth vader. When you start seeing the moments of joy in your day, they start adding up... and you realize how much happiness there is around you. When circumstances fail, when people disappoint, when heartbreak happens, the moments of joy are still there, it's just a matter of seeing them. It keeps you from a spiral of despair.
I quit my job at the bagel place in September and took another job at the pier café. Yesterday they offered me management, which I declined. I don't want to be in the restaurant business for the rest of my life and if I get sucked in to managing a full scale restaurant- it will be hard to have a life outside of that. To me- life outside of work is the most important part. My life is not defined by what I do. I do what I do because I enjoy it and it pays the bills. Soon hopefully the job will change again. One of my best friends is starting his own business and I will help him run an adventure sports shop. Kiteboarding lessons- kayaking, standup paddleboarding. It will be so awesome and a perfect change for me.
I've started learning how to kiteboard finally. I have been going to the cable park with the boys and still trying to make that first turn on a kneeboard or waterskies. It's so hard! But it's so much fun. :)

I've gone on a couple dates- epic fails, but dates nonetheless. The one in Miami that I've been crushing on ever since I met him over 2 years ago, we had a moment, but he doesn't want a relationship again right now. He's just out of a long stupid one... maybe in time he'll change his mind, but if not, no worries. I'm not waiting for him.
I turned 29. That was intimidating. even now it's weird to write that. I'm not sure when I got old. But it happened. I was talking to my brother about life and how I've done it backwards from everyone else - ever. When I was a kid I pretty much spent all my time reading- and raising a family and then working my life away and raising a family, and now I'm just playing a lot- and working when I have to. Everyone else plays a lot and works when they have to as a kid. then they work and raise a family and then they just read. hahaha

So, the basic nutshell of it, is I'm happy. :)