Appreciation and Thankfulness

Webster defines these two words as:

Appreciation: an expression of admiration or gratitude

Thankfulness: acknowledgment of having received something good.

The past few months, since August actually, I have began to appreciate the people in my life and give thanks for the blessings I have been given. I began to have a different outlook, to LOVE like never before and to SHOW it and tell those who I care about that I love them. I don't know how or why this new idea came to me, but it did. So though my friends may call me the "baby" of the group because I cry when I hear beautiful stories, or kiss their foreheads when I say good bye to them, or even text them randomly saying I love you....this is my letter to you. To those who have been there since the get go, and have not left my side. It became known to me who I belongs in my life these last few months, and who is just a passer-by. Thank you, thank you, thank you for loving me and listening to me friends. You all know who you are, and I hope you know you are no longer an accessory in my life, but a necessity.

I appreciate my friends now more than I ever have before. The older I get, the more I see what some friendships are truly about and I am thankful for those that are built on genuine trust, love, and respect..things that I have come to realize is not common in this world.

I appreciate getting to know that one friend more over the past few years than ever before. I'm thankful because you have been there for me in my darkest, saddest, UGLIEST moments and  you STILL continue to be there. You've grown more and more since we've first met and I am amazingly proud of you. You make me a better person.

I appreciate where I am at in my life. I'm beyond thrilled because I can really feel that the steps I am taking, are completely 100% directed by the Lord, and THAT is the greatest feeling anyone can ever possibly feel. Thank you God for those doors you closed even though I felt as though I was trying everything little thing to keep them open. Thank you for being so merciful when I completely felt like giving up. Thank you for making to promise that 2010 would be a phenomenal year, because "phenomenal" does NOT even truly describe how great it was.  Thank you because 2011 is going to be an even better year...and so is 2012, 2013... :) Learn to appreciate those in your life, and be thankful for them.

New Life

       I've always been curious about this idea of "love". What is it? How do you get it? Do you have to look or act a certain way to obtain it? What are the benefits? These are all questions that I have asked myself, asked others, and experienced through my own experiences and others. And in my 21 years of life, there is no other explanation than 1 Corinthians chapter 13..."Love is patient, and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.."
      The main word that sticks out in this verse is patient. We are in SUCH a hurry to find our soul mate, that we begin to lose ourselves in this journey after them. We forget to focus on ourselves. Patience. THAT is the key, not because it is some sick-torturing device used to ALL single people, but because through patience we are perfected and refined. I find it sad that many people are involved in relationships only because they do not want to be lonely. How foolish we are to think singleness is a curse, rather than a blessing.
      This is my life. This is my choice to be single. This is my time to focus on myself and become the BEST version of Anneliese that I can possibly be. This is my promise to not settle for anything that comes my way "just because". I choose to make every decision not solely based on emotions, but rather in faith. In "everything has it's perfect time", I live my life, knowing that while some doors must be shut in my life, others MUST be opened. Here's to the lessons we learn, becoming a better person, being comfortable with oneself, loving yourself, loving others and enjoying life for what it is, NOT for what we think it is.

                                                                             Cheers!