Soulmates

The other day I was in Sephora (a makeup store) of all places looking at shower gel. There's this brand of bath products called 'Philosophy,' and on each bottle they have the 'philosophy' of the particular name. Some are really silly like "Margarita" and the philosophy is a margarita recipe.  

But the one that made my jaw drop was the one on Soulmates. (It was, oddly enough, a grapefruit shower gel.) But it was the most profound writing on soulmates I've ever seen! Here is what it said:  

"you don't need to look for love, you only need to wait, for soulmates always find us. and just like a left foot needs a right foot, we all need a soulmate, and not unlike having two feet on the ground, it helps to be grounded before they arrive. and yet even if your goods are a little damaged, a true soulmate will always love you just the way you are. and remember...soulmates come in all shapes and sizes. they are family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and at their best they are our true loves."

It's amazing how by simply being oneself and by doing what comes 

naturally a person can so profoundly change the world.

It's easy to forget how simple it truly is to live a life of peace and joy.  

Perhaps because it is simple we feel like we have to make it harder.

Why do we make life harder?  

It doesn't have to be hard to bring joy to the world.

I hope to bring joy to everyone I meet, to make them feel deeply loved 

and respected.

Thanks, IZ. May you smile to know your joy keeps on giving long after you are gone.

Word:  Balls, as in the gown and handsome prince variety, are REAL in Austria.

First of all, I have the best puppy in the world.  Already she barely cries at night anymore, is recognizing her name, and is getting good at coming when called.  Only one accident inside.  She is a total sweetheart, giving kisses to everybody.  She'll just sleep in my lap when I'm on the computer (like right now), but is really playful most of the time.  Even Shawn's heart of steel is starting to crumble, and she's the best person, er, dog in the world for cheering you up or to get your cuteness munchies on.  You know, when you have to just kiss something all over because it's so irresistably cute!  

Second, I'm on this extreme social kick.  When I am not in human presence, I immediately start to feel lonely.  Granted, puppies help to curb the loneliness, but I still get lonely quite often.  Not sure what to do about it.  Start a new hobby?  Except I'm no good at sticking to hobbies.  I have probably 19 hobbies that I've started at some point but then have lost interest in them in a week.  I feel a bit sensitive and thin-skinned right now, too.  Not taking criticism well.  I need to work on not viewing criticism as a personal failure, but rather as room to improve.  

Third, I'm proud at my succeeding efforts to think positively.  It makes life so much better.  Around this time last year, I believe, I started reading the book The Happiness Makeover.  One of its key points is positive thought (among many other jewels of wisdom; HIGHLY recommend it to anyone).  I'm proud at how far I've come.  

Fourth, I feel like my ability to make decisions is paralyzed at the moment.  For some reason I'm stressing over having no real plan upon graduation.  I'm reminded of how much I've wanted to travel in the past.  Except there's no place I just have to move and no job I just have to do.  New York is okay and London would be fun, so would New Zealand or California or wherever.  I feel a bit apathetic.  This bugs the heck out of me to not have a plan.  And then fitting Shawn into it is even harder, and that's a whole other topic I probably shouldn't discuss online.

Fifth, I REALLY don't want to start school.  : (

Sixth, but life is still good.  It has its ups and downs, but there's nothing I can't face, and maybe even enjoy the highlights and the little things that make it all worthwhile. 

Lulu comes home tomorrow afternoon!  Hooray!!!!

Other than that:

~I've been working all weekend.  Bleh.  However, money is always nice to have.

~Friends from TX came to visit last week and we had a blast!  

~Got in my first car wreck ever Thursday.  Boooo.  : (  But I'm thrilled that nobody was hurt.  You can always fix/replace things, but people you can never replace.  It's funny how events like this put everything into perspective.

~Life is pretty darn good, though!

~Swimming with Shawn tomorrow, whoopeee!

~Is it sad that it absolutely made my week to hear that the purse I've lusted over and over about at work wasn't removed at all--it actually hasn't even been released yet!  Now I can maybe get it for Christmas!!  I'm pretty sure I'm the only one at work who still doesn't own one of the purses, haha, I'm such a hardballer.  ; )

~Oh, and I think I may read Why Men Love Bitches again.  My coworker and I realized tonight that we both have read it.  It was a good one.  It's about not being a doormat but instead being confident and why that attracts men.  I read it last summer flying home from Europe.  Although I didn't get through the whole thing, reading parts of it was definitely a turning point for me.  Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus is good, too, but I want something with a bit more sass at the moment.  

~I wish I was more of a music nerd, but that may never be possible. 

~You should check out the link to the left under Cool Links entitled "Joe's Website on Gay Marriage."  Regardless of what you believe about the subject, it's a videoclip worth watching.

~Did I mention I'm getting my puppy tomorrow?!!!!  : )