Hey Single Ladies, this is what I believe!

I can't stop singing "oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh...etc", followed by "if you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it". I love the beat of this song. It's catchy, it's exciting, it's a club hopping, tenny bobbing, young girls answer to fun and easy hip hop dancing. However, my gut reaction was, and I quote my thoughts "Beyonce, REALLY? There must have been warning signs that this guy didn't treat you right. Ending my thoughts with, "He seems like a jerk!" and "Why are young women so obsessed with marriage anyway?"

Okay, so yeah, this is a little too much analyzing for a Beyonce song! However, strangely, this tune triggered my thoughts on relationships and marriage. Here goes:

-I believe some women are so focused on getting married and having children before a certain age that they end up overlooking their happiness and what is important to them as an individual within a relationship.
-I believe the most important parts of a relationship are kindness, communication and respect.
-I believe I should wait for these important parts even if it exceeds my personal goals and time tables.
-I believe if I don't wait, I risk not getting the fullest out of life and love.
-I believe I would rather nurse a million broken hearts than spend time with a man that didn't treat me the way I wanted to be treated.
-I believe I will find love and I'm not scared to wait.
-I believe I am happy single and this will allow me to be happy in a relationship.
-I believe my gut instincts are always correct.
-I believe these are my thoughts and feelings and are right for me and the person I am.

So to all the single ladies, this is what I believe. Take from it what you will!

AND to end this lovely blog entry. I've added a few pictures of my friends and I pole dancing at Flirty Girl Fitness for Jen's "Still Hardcore at 34" birthday party. Don't judge me, it was a blast!


The single lady crew!

I might just be single forever, ha!
(I don't actually believe that) :)

"My Year"

ABC's Good Morning America just ran a series called "The Year that Changed My Life". I haven't seen the series but it got me thinking, have I had that year? I pondered and pondered and then I freaked the "f" out!

What if my year was:

1. 2005, the the year I broke up with my boyfriend of 2.5 years and basically flooded the Chicago River with tears.
2. 2006, the year my organization exploded from the inside out. I never lost my job but for a while I lost my spirit.
3. 2007, the year I had a third and forth major knee surgery and attended countless hours of physical therapy.
4. 2008, the year that I dated more men than I'd like to admit AND STILL ended up kissing air at a toddler party on NYE.

So yes, Negative Nancy was in full force while commercial footage of the GMA anchors holding babies, winning awards, and getting married appeared on my TV screen (really, do you blame me?). I fearfully shut off the TV, raced to my bedside and prayed to God that "My Year" was still to come. And then...

A few days later I decided I don't want a "My Year". Nope, one year, is not enough! I selfishly want a series of gradual changes. I want the joyful with the sadness, the exhilarating with the boring, the funny with the serious. Most importantly, I want it to be speckled throughout my lifetime like stars in a clear evening sky.

I realize now, the happenings of 2005-2008 weren't bad changes. They were learning experiences that have, for the better, shaped me and made me strong.

Thankfully, out of this "My Year" debocal I've reached one very simple New Years resolution.

Resolution 2009: Find something positive in all situations and be thankful for each and every day that you are living and changing!

Cheers to a Happy New Year!

The NYE 08 party crew! Leroine, Shonya, Liz and I