I used to not be able to sneeze in front of people. I know. It’s weird and quite possibly concerning but the only time I could sneeze in front of someone was if I felt “comfortable” around them. (Hey, I never said I was normal – but I am unique. :) ) Everyone knows that feeling you get when you have to sneeze or you’re justtttt about to sneeze, then all of a sudden you can’t. I literally used to have that all the time. I would get this anxiety about sneezing in front of others and then I just couldn’t do it.

I have to say, I am SO HAPPY 2009 is coming to an end. This year has been FULL of ups and downs, tears, laughter, love, friendship, and family, but I am ready to scoot 2009 out the door and wave hello to 2010. As we all know, its prime time to start making those New Year’s resolutions of dieting, working out, quitting smoking, planning to travel, or saving money.

I flew to Virginia over the weekend to help one of my best friends plan her wedding. I’m in that “everyone I know is getting married” year (hers will be #5!)

I was driving up to Gainesville early this morning and it hit me that it’s really Thanksgiving again. Wow. Seriously? I’m not sure how this year has flown by so fast that we’re already worrying about holiday traffic and planning what time to set the coffee maker for the day after Thanksgiving shopping. Or how we’re already figuring out what color hand turkey we’re going to make and eating ourselves to a complete food coma just in time to catch some afternoon football.

I had a completely different post ready for you today and then with the drop of a dime, or really the ring of the phone, I changed it. On this phone call, we were talking about purging. No, not the kind of purging because we ate too much at lunch, or had one too many M&M’s, but more so cleaning out the closets, sheds, kitchens, or anything else you can think of and just getting rid of it. Saying goodbye to old things that are just taking up much needed and valued space.

Last week, reality slapped me in the face yet again. Five people were injured and one person died in a mass shooting in downtown Orlando, FL (where I live!) I know that this sort of thing happens everyday, everywhere…hell that shooting happened in Fort Hood just the day before. Children are kidnapped and killed, three young softball players drive into a pond and die in North Dakota.

Ahhh yes, my good friend, insomnia, has decided to grace me with its unwelcomed presence yet again this week.

My mind is constantly, C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-L-Y running. The events of the day, tomorrow’s to-do list, ideas, schemes, song lyrics, conversations (or lack there of)…worry, worry, worry…think, think, think. Does it ever stop? Am I alone here?

A week or so ago, I was at the gym with a good friend of mine, catching up, laughing, and burning off some calories when we got to talking about about her vision board.

My initial response: “Um…excuse me? WHAT is a vision board?”

Well, come to find out, a vision board is basically amazing. Descriptive enough for you? (kidding)

After last week’s post about life’s crazy twists and turns, I really got to thinking about happiness and life. It seemed like a good time to have a seat and try to figure out all this crazy curiosity and questioning.

Ever heard the saying “when one door closes another one opens”? Who am I kidding? Everyone’s heard that saying. And as much as I instinctively want to say “blah blah blah” after I hear that quote, I can’t help but to smile and nod my head in agreement. Lately I’ve really realized that success doesn’t just come knocking on your door saying “Hello! Your success has arrived!” You have to work harder than you ever thought you possibly could, sacrifice some social mingling (trust me, I know all the offers are hard to pass up), and believe in yourself more than ever imagined.