Homemade whole wheat chocolate chip banana pancakes with strawberry butter.

As I'm sitting here eating my breakfast and listening to Frank Turner, I am thinking about how extremely happy and appreciative I am with my life: my friends, my family, the things I do, the things I see, and everything in-between. It's not perfect, but nothing ever is, nor do I want it to be. Honestly, what would be the fun in that? Every day I learn something new.... I've learned over the past year more-so than ever that I don't need some guy or anyone else for that matter to fulfill any type of "void" in my heart.... It's up to me to do that, I'm not depending on anyone else. I'm in charge of my own life and my own feelings, not other people. I know that one day someone will come along, or, heck, maybe they already have and we both just don't know it yet... we'll love each other just as much as we each love life and the things that we do.... and we'll be happy, together, not because we feel obliged to or because we're looking for someone to fill some void in our lives... but because we'll both know how to love ourselves before any sort of relationship or commitment. How can you love or be totally committed to someone or expect them to love you or make you feel some certain way if you aren't content with your own life and/or don't really know what makes you happy or what you want? I'm not in any rush; I know what I want, and I am definitely not going to settle for anything less than that. Fuck yeah, bro.

TRUTH.

Coins for Haiti.

Yesterday a 2nd grader donated her entire piggy bank full of dollar bills and coins to the people of Haiti for the earthquake relief fund at school. Thank you to selfless kids like her who give me hope for our younger generations.

I WON'T BUY INTO YOUR SHIT, I'LL JUST BELIEVE IN MY FRIENDS.

Sometimes you don't get what you wanted; you get something better.

Side note: I've been listening to a lot of the same "mellow-ish" stuff repeatedly for the past few months. I don't know why, it just seemed to fit my mood.... but I think it also made me feel relatively lifeless. I've been constantly listening to nothing but hardcore and metal for the past few days (well, despite the Christmas carols here and there to lighten the mood and Chamberlain when it's bedtime) and I am reminded of why I am so proud of who I am, the choices I make, and the people who I call my friends.

I have an awesome life.
I have awesome friends.
I can do anything I want to do.
I can be who I want to be and go and see the things I want to see.
I'm happy to be me.
And no, I didn't mean for that to rhyme.

Top of my "To Do" list:

Truth taken from the bathroom stall in Wildwood:

Never Too Old.

Susan Boyle - Britan's Got Talent

This woman makes me so happy and I think that she's completely adorable.
You're never too old or imperfect to make your dreams come true.
I think that the reason why people don't live out their dreams is because deep down, they're too afraid to even try. They make excuses for themselves as to why they don't think it'll ever work out in fear of failing. But you can't get something out of nothing and you can only be as happy as you think you are.

I think people can learn a lot from this woman.
Sometimes it really is scary to think, "Well what happens if I fail, or what happens if it doesn't work out?!".... but I think it's even scarier to think about looking back years later and saying, "Man, I regret not taking that chance when I had the opportunity".

There's always a way to make something work out. It's just a matter of persistence; of how hard you're willing to try.... and the attitude you have. If you truly believe that nothing's impossible, you'll always be able to find another way around that wall you have in front of you that's stopping you from doing what you really want to do.