Dreams have only one owner at a time. That's why dreamers are lonely.

Do you believe in magic?

I use to believe in the magic of Santa, of the Easter Bunny, & fairy dust. Now I believe in the magic of the human spirit, the human touch, and the human heart. It's my hope that we may always be young at heart. Not because we believe in pretend things from when were young, but because we believe in the power of people to rise above.

The magic doesn't lie in reindeers and a man with a burly beard, nor is magic the colorful eggs we awoke to find on Easter morning or the money that we obtained for our lost teeth. The magic lies in kind words from a stranger, compassionate hearts, and thoughtful, loving people.

Although I don't believe in Santa, or the Easter Bunny, & fairy dust, I still believe that magic for me has never really changed. Magic still defies what most people don't see. My magic comes in knowing, that people, at the core of it all, are really good at heart. People can rise above. And, against all odds, they too, can begin to see and begin to believe....

"Loneliness does not come from having no people about one, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to oneself, or from holding certain views which others find inadmissible."

I remember January 8th, 2008 like it was yesterday. Sometimes I remember that day, and some of the days to follow, so vividly that it is haunting. Why is that I can remember the bad so vividly, but not always the good? It might sound strange, but as the 8th passes each month, it brings me a little bit of pain. It is another month that I have not seen my Dad. Another month that I have not heard his voice. Another month, living with a makeshift patch over my heart. I can't believe that it has been two years. The time, hurts more, makes it more real, in this strange kind of way.

I don't know that grief ever gets easy. People expect you to pick up the pieces after years have passed, but the fact is tragedy changes us. We can never be completely the same, so how can we pick up the exact pieces that were shattered? I don't think that we can. I think we find ways to mend those holes, but the patches are makeshift.... they never completely hide the holes and they never feel completely secure.

I miss my Dad. I miss my Dad for a million reasons. And, although I wish I had time to write them all, I will share just one. My Dad always made me feel proud. I know, out of all the things, it might sound trivial, but it is not.

In the past two years a lot has changed in my life, and although there has been a lot of pain, there has been a lot of good too. But for some reason, I don't feel the same pride and sense of accomplishment that I use to. I don't feel much pride that I graduated from college. I don't feel much pride that I moved up to DC to take a "dream" first job. I don't feel much pride for workouts I finish. Or much pride in my dreams that I am chasing. The thing is, my Dad was always my biggest supporter. He had a sort of tough love about him, but above all, the love and support won.

As I reflect on all the things I accomplished while my Dad was alive, and the sense of pride I felt about my life and dreams, I realize a lot of what I felt was because of the unwavering support my Dad showed to me. He was my coach in life, on the track, and with accomplishing my dreams. If my heart was set on something, my Dad would help me find a way to accomplish it. He never had to motivate me, he just knew how to SUPPORT me. My Dad never lived his life through me, but he certainly live his life FOR his kids and his family. I felt pride, because of the pride my Dad felt for me. Because when I told him about a dream, he listened, and would help me scheme. Because when I told him that I wanted to do something, he didn't laugh, but would help me take action. Because he never told me what was RIGHT for me just because it was what he wanted. My Dad shined when I made my dreams come true. And when he shined, I shined too. It felt good to make him proud. I just wish, he was here, to see me now.

I know that with death, we must keep moving forward. Love does not die, it is carried on by our lives. I know that the only way to honor my Dad, is to keep chasing my dreams. But, I always miss my biggest fan and the one person who made me feel, that the world was at my hands.

Life is a cycle we don't understand,and although we try, we can't always make plans .But through it all, we will meet again, in a better place, in a far off land.

I don't mean to sound cynical or anything, but I have never quite understood the whole New Year's Resolution. Sure, New Years has always been a fun "holiday" to spend with family and friends, but I have never ended the clock to strike 12 am at midnight to change the direction of my life, or to wish good things to my family and friends.

Maybe as I get older, I become even more cynical about New Years. I have realized life is way to short to wait around for one day to "turn things around". Everyday is a chance to turn your life around. Everyday is a chance to accomplish your dreams, and your goals. Everyday is precious and too often, "everydays" are wasted.

When you really want to accomplish a dream, or change something in your life, you don't need someone to life a fire under your butt. You might need SUPPORT, but you certainly don't need motivation. The things I have accomplished in my life that I am most proud of I accomplished because I had a burning passion for those dreams and the LOVE and SUPPORT from those around me. I didn't accomplish the dreams because the clock struck midnight on December 31st and I stated to everyone around me my resolution. There has to be more motivation than just "a new year".

For me, New Years is more about reflection, than about resolution. And, although right now I feel to drained to reflect back... I promise I will. Just give me a week. :)

Happy New Year Everyone. I'm not that cynical, I promise. I just wish people would see that EVERY DAY is a chance to chase you dreams, make a difference, fall in love, reach goals... not just the strike of midnight on 12/31.

Ladies & Gentlemen, the blizzard of '09 has arrived. And along with the blizzard comes cold hearted people with major road rage. But with the blizzard also comes people who are more than willing to lend a hand. Let me explain.

Tonight I ran out to the grocery store around 9:30 PM, right as the snow started rolling in. Thinking that I was still ahead of the game, I got in my car and made my way (very slowly) to Giant. Being a complete newbie to driving in the snow, slow might be an understatement of the pace I was driving.

I arrived to Giant safely and in one piece; I fought the frantic crowds at the store (it seems that snow, even in DC, means the world is coming to an end); and I got in my car to make my way back home

So far so good.

I was less than .3 miles from my house when I turn left on the road my apartment complex is off of. Something, suddenly isn't right. There are taxis in the middle of the road with their flashers on, cars aren't moving, and it is hard to tell the difference between the road and the sidewalk with the snow. The road is slightly up hill, but I can't figure out if there is just a stalled car, accident ,or if people simply can't make it up the road. People begin to turn around, a few trucks and cars make it up the hill, and now I'm up next. Decision time: Do I stay or do I go? There is a car behind me on my butt, so I decide that I will try, very slowly to make it up the road.

Failure.

Within in one press of the gas, I can already feel my car slipping. I am inexperienced in snow and not a good driver to begin with. This guy is on my butt, honking, and impatient... I give it one last try. There is no way.

I put on my emergency break and put my car in park. I step outside in the 26 degree weather and approach the car behind me. No one else is behind the man, so I figure that I can just ask him to back up his car and I will turn around. Problem solved, right?

The man rolls down his window and I asked him kindly if he can please back up some. He refuses to back up. I plea with him, his wife and kids in car, asking him to just back up so I can turn around. I tell him that I don't want to hit his car, that there is no way that I can make it up the road, and that I have never driven in snow. His response, "I don't care if you can make it up, my SVU has 4-wheel drive and I can make it up the road. I will not back up." Now I am in tears, standing in the middle of the road... my car is stuck... and I have a mean man behind me that is ready to ram is car into mine at any minute.

Right as I want to curse the city of DC and the cold-hearted people in it, a man approaches me and proves me wrong. He asks me if I am stuck and if I need help. He offers to push and guide me up the road and now I am in tears at this nice man who comes to help me. We leave my car door open so he can talk me through the process the whole time as we get my car up the road. Teamwork.

By the end of the .2 miles my car has shut off and the poor man is literally pushing my whole car up this snow filled road all by himself. I can't stop apologizing and thanking him for his generous effort.

He is just happy to help.

I can't make it into my apartment complex parking lot, but thankfully there is a side parking spot that I don't have to parallel park into. He guides me into the spot and I step out of the car. I give this stranger a hug, because it is the only way I know how to thank him. I am so happy. Although probably a little strange to hug a complete stranger, it was my first initial reaction to the gratitude I felt. We shake hands and the man tells me to take care of myself.

He walks away, still a stranger, and although I wish there was some way I repay him for his generosity, I know that was not what this man was looking for. He was simply a compassionate person, who was more than willing to lend a hand where he could. I have much to thank for this man, because I really do believe I would have been in a wreck if it wasn't for his help.... and if not in a wreck, I would have had emotional trauma from trying to make it up the road with this angry man behind me all by myself.

When faced with a situation where people let you down, it is nice to know that there are people who do care. We must keep in mind that a stranger is a friend you just haven't met and that when we see people who need help, we should reach out. That man not only made my night, but he could have made my life. Maybe I am being overdramatic, but in that moment of standing in the middle of the road, with the man behind me who wouldn't turn around, I could only picture the awful wreck I was going to get in when my car slipped and I lost control... (dramatic, I know)

For that stranger, who disappeared back into the blizzard of '09, I will forever be grateful

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little,drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom,but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more

computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything

from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

Remember, to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person might not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind."

— Bob Moorehead

"You're young and free and gorgeous and inviably laid back. We've seen you: the young woman passing by in the little skirts and the two tank tops (explain that some day) and flip flops: ka-smack, ka-smack, ka-smack. And the guys, with shaggy, curly hair, and knee length cargo shorts, ka-smack, ka-smack, ka-smack. It's like they all grew up down the creek from Dawson. There is a party in progress. Something lazy is going on. They live in some catalogue setting, somewhere else, not here. Their happiness and cheerfulness is sickening, but that's because you have sweaty feet and sore calves." - The Washington Post