Two

Love is dangerous. Well it can be to toy with. It can also be the most powerful emotion and action in the world. Two of the people that have professed their love to me are now engaged to other people. It is crazy to think about how much can change over time and what can change. Is it the people or the circumstances that change? Both I would argue.

What is the determining factor that decides that you want to be with someone forever? Is there one thing or is it the culmination of elements that are present in the person that creates the factor. The funny thing is that after both of the guys and I broke up, both came back to me later claiming they would have put a ring on my finger. Clearly, thankfully that was not the case. God had other women to place in their lives that they will be with forever.

Interesting. Crazy. Wonderful. I am so glad that God is the keeper of my map of life and He always has been guiding me in the right direction. Now more than ever He is flagging down my heart and is pointing me in the directions of my dreams. I just have to have the patience to slow down so I don't get a speeding ticket or a heartache.

Grill

One of my favorite pastimes and stress relievers is being able to cook. I absolutely love to chop, dice, fillet or grill anything. Something about transforming an ingredient using my imagination and creating something pleasant to the eyes and pallet. My favorite form of transformation is grilling. Being one with fire.

Tonight corn and chicken was on the menu to be sacrificed to the flame and I was quite impressed with the way it turned out. Something about a cold beverage, my dog at my side and the smell of food cooking is quite intoxicating in the summer.

Stress gone.

Honest

Being brutally honest can drastically change a situation. I am not a fan of playing games. Board games yes, emotional games no. Being honest in the work place can sometimes be difficult because political agendas can get in the way. Feelings may get hurt, but I am a firm believer it is always better to state your opinion and get shot down then it is not to state it at all. Everybody in America has been given the right to free speech; therefore I think they should exercise that right.

Like most everything though, too much of a good thing can also be detrimental. I will always tell the truth, but in some situations it is better not to vocalize your opinion because of the harm it could cause. Having discernment of the appropriate situations comes with time and situation analysis.

I am a pusher. I like to push myself to be aware of my missteps and ways to correct them. I have begun to look back at my life these past couple of months and am beginning to be honest with myself. This reflection has knocked me back to earth, because realizing that I am not perfect and I have issues I have to fix is hard, but necessary. (I totally have pj’s that have planets on them that my mom got me that say, “Why yes, I am the center of the universe.”)

Being honest, having integrity and being respectfully truthful to those around you, will in the long run benefit you more than any of the white lie people pleasing that can occur. When it comes to yourself, it does absolutely no good to make up excuses because in the end you will end up not only hurting yourself but others can also be affected. Honesty really is the wisest, yet sometimes painfully best policy.