Listen To Your Heart

My daughter Mailey is in 2nd grade this year. Each week she brings home her rather heavy reading book that contains many short stories. One is read each week. This week's story is a Frog and Toad one. Have you ever read any of those? Well, this story really hit home to me for some reason last night. I'll tell you why. Or better yet, I'll give you a summary of the little story and then say why. Toad and Frog are best friends you see. One morning Toad goes to Frog's house to find a note on the door that says, "Dear Toad, I am not home. I went out. I want to be alone. Frog" What? Toad does not understand, and of course jumps to the conclusion that Frog is mad at him, or doesn't want to be his friend anymore. But once he finds Frog, after a series of events, he finds out that Frog woke up super happy that day and wanted to be alone to reflect on his good fortune of having a friend like Toad, and having a wonderful little life. So why bring Frog and Toad into this post you ask me? Well, in the past week I have had friends from all my walks of life say almost the same thing to me, "Jenni, how have you been? I haven't seen or heard from you in awhile." Or something similar to that. You see, I've always been one for alone time. And quite honestly sometimes I don't even realize that I have isolated myself until someone brings it up. But I can't apologize for this behavior because it is a part of who I am, a part of my growth. And honestly, Frog says it quite well when he said he woke up so happy he wanted time to think about how FINE everything really is. Because everything is fine. I wake up every morning so very thankful to have this life. It has taken several years of trying out different jobs, but man have I hit the nail on the head with this one. And my family, well we are all growing in such an amazing direction that I can't help but smile when I think of them. Now, it's not a perfect family, nor a perfect life. But challenges and growing pains are what make us stronger and make life full filling. Lastly my dear friends, well I am very fortunate to have each of you in my life. I know that you were placed in my path for a specific reason....each of you makes me more complete.

So this new little orange bird says on it, "Listen to you Heart." I don't know what led me to place those words with this bird on this stand. But it has all my favorites....my favorite color is orange, my favorite flowers are daisies, and my heart....well it hasn't failed me yet. And if you listen to your heart a little more often than your head, it will lead you places you hadn't imagined. So I challenge you to take a day and be quiet, still and thankful for all that you have. I think if you do you'll realize how abundantly you are blessed.