The Reacher and The Settler

Well hello blog world! I am sorry that it has taken me so long to update my blog. I will try to do better. I feel like I have a good excuse though since I just got back last Sunday from the most amazing trip to Australia! Seriously a dream come true and one of the best vacations I have ever had! I will have to post some pictures and give you the highlights some time soon!

While on my trip with my friends, Carrie and Emily, we had some interesting conversations to say the least. Some of them with drunk people on the train (Emily and Carrie, insert drunk lady's dirty quote here), Aussies on the street, and some just with each other. There is one conversation that sticks out to me and has left me thinking about it more and more. Carrie and Emily told me about their theory of the The Reacher and The Settler. They explained it me that there is always someone in a relationship that reaches to snag someone way better than anyone would expect them to or better than they deserve and then there is the settler who settles for someone beneath their potential. Now I am not sure if I agree completely with it since I have so many amazing friends that married the most amazing people, but it does have some merit I think in certain situations.. I know there are some people I see and I think how on earth did they end up together? What does he see in her? Or why would she put up with that? Well, one reached and one settled. I tend to think that some of the men and women that settle do it on purpose. They like the control and want to have someone who reached (and knows they did) so that person feels lucky enough to be with the person that they will just bend to the settlers will and like what they like and do what they want. Then it got me thinking do more men or women settle? Interesting thought. Not sure on the answer. I personally prefer to reach and find someone who when I am with them, I want to be a better person and it makes me want to reach higher for both of us. But I do see so many people settling. Maybe it's easier than being alone, I don't know. There are worse things than being alone though. So let me pose this question to all of you, are you a reacher or a settler? Do you believe this theory even has merit? Please let me know what your thoughts are and don't worry you can be honest. Which are you or are you one of those amazing friends I just talked about that married someone just as amazing as you? :)

35 Lessons Learned

I am sorry that it has taken me a few weeks to post again. I have had a nasty sinus infection and my head felt so full that I really didn't have any thoughts in my head for a bit :). There are a few things I do want to talk about, but am just trying to formulate my thoughts to post them. Look for them soon.

Today is my birthday and I won't lie to you. It is kind of a hard one for me. I thought turning 30 was tough, but that had more to do with things going on in my personal life at that time. This one is tough in a different way. 35... aren't you half way to dead at that age??? Just kidding. I have joked with many people about officially hitting cougar status this year. But really isn't age a state of mind anyway? In my mind, I am still twenty something and I think I will stay there for awhile :). As I have reflected the last few days on getting older, I have thought about what I have learned in those 35 years of my life and I thought I might share them.

Here are 35 things that I have learned in the last 35 years:

 1. Growing up in a small town can be a great thing.

 2. Not everyone has parents as amazing as mine.

 3. You can hate your siblings and yet love them at the same time

 4. Good friends are the ones you can trust with your darkest secrets.

 5. Laughter is a necessary part of every single day.

 6. Children know just how to make you feel loved.

 7. Life isn't always fair.

 8. Bad things do happen to Good people.

 9. Life isn't a fairytale no matter how much you wish it was.

10. Sometimes people promise forever and they really don't mean it or they change their mind.

11. When you are heartbroken, your heart really does feel like it's in pieces and that does change you.

12. Life will throw you curve balls.That's a guarantee.

13. You are stronger than you know you are.

14. The greatest strength needed to overcome things does not require physical strength.

15. Spandex is never a good wardrobe choice no matter what people say.

16. Dogs really can be your best friend.

17. Competition isn't always about winning, but about doing your best. (Took me a long time to learn this one).

18. It is the little things that matter.

19. People are more important than possessions.

20. Music is healing.

21. The World is amazing and beautiful.

22. We are all Children of God.

23. Forgiveness is as necessary in life as breathing.

24. Who you were in high school is not who you will be years later.

25. Each day of life is precious.

26. Death is as beautiful as life.

27. Sometimes it is more fun to be an adult when you act like a child.

28. Love is Eternal.

29. Karma really is a bitch. (Sorry for the language).

30. Hard work will take you further than intelligence will.

31. Kindness does begat kindness.

32. Your actions do affect others.

33. It is important to challenge yourself.

34. Who you think you are now is not who you will be in another 35 years.

35. Faith and family are the most important things in this life.

Now I am curious which ones you agree with and what life lessons you have learned. I would love to hear your thoughts and hope you share yours with me. What have you learned?