Author: slietaert

slietaert https://wordlovekjl.wordpress.com
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What do you want to do when you grow up?

Our youngest of four is in the final stretch of her Senior year in high school. She has a matter of weeks before this chapter of her life is over and is feeling all of the emotions. Her days are filled with school, friends, and tennis, and her evenings are occupied with finishing scholarship applications. She’s answering questions regarding how she has spent these last four years, what accomplishments she has achieved, and what her goals are for the future. These applications and required essays are forcing her to reflect . Honestly, I think it should be a requirement for all of us – every five years or so – just a quick check in with ourselves. This form that she must fill out makes her pause and really look at what fills her time. How much of her energy is spent helping others? What is she doing to move herself closer to her goals, and does she even have clear cut goals?

Once we finish school, we tend to fall into a routine and not change much. OK, occasionally we will try a new restaurant or change laundry detergents, but for the most part we do what we have always done. I don’t think we do it on purpose. I feel like most humans find a rhythm of life and don’t look to change things up. We have a schedule, and it works for us, so why fix what’s not broken? But are we living the life we could be living? Are there things we could add or eliminate that would serve us well, move us forward, or help us grow? Have we accomplished the things that we had considered in our days of youth when we didn’t need 8 hours of sleep and 2 cups of coffee to start our engines? It’s not too late! We can still evaluate our lives and make the changes that we have been contemplating. We can start a new hobby, change our exercise routine, commit to reading more books or meeting up with more friends. We can find an organization that needs volunteers, donate to help a community in need, or write letters to our government officials regarding changes we’d like to see made.

I am energized as I watch my daughter prepare for this new chapter ahead. When her new adventure begins – a new chapter will also begin for us. I am prepared for change and the loud sound of silence in a house that has always been filled with music, conversation and laughter. The schedule we keep will change, the way we cook will change, and I anticipate that next year may be a difficult year as we adapt . But I am ready and willing to make the best of these changes and allow room for the grief process as well as I miss all the birdies who have left our nest. I’m writing my own lists and thinking about what I’d like to do, to change, and to eliminate as this new season of life arrives. So now, as I start to reflect, here’s my question for you… What do YOU want to do when you grow up?

I’m a preschool teacher…

When I tell people that I’m a preschool teacher, I typically get one of these responses: “Better you than me!”, or “Oh, that must be so much FUN – you get paid to play all day!”. Before I can talk about my actual position, I feel like I have to clarify that I do indeed have a college degree, I am not a babysitter , our program is educationally based and all activities encourage learning and growth, and yes -this job does require oodles and oodles of energy. I have always enjoyed the honesty, energy and curiosity of the preschooler. Once I had solidly landed on teaching as my career path – having also given Journalism and Social Work a semester’s shot at winning my heart – I knew it was the little ones that I wanted to teach.

When I get my roster each year, I am always so excited to see my student’s names. It’s fun to read a list of names and have no idea what the little person behind the name will bring to our classroom. Which one of these tiny ones will make me laugh the most, sweat the most, repeat their name the most ? I also love to count the boys and girls – for five years straight I had a boy heavy class, which required a bit of a shift in strategy – more movement, and a lot of strategies to discourage using the room as a race track and the circle time carpet as a wrestling mat. Girls bring a different need for social strategies – the “She’s not my best friend” and “They won’t let me play with them” variety. Mind you, I have had some very dramatic boys and some very energetic girls as well. I have 18 three year olds in my class and we do indeed become a family by the end of our nine months together. Preschool, like life, will keep you on your toes.

Establishing routine and schedules is crucial in the early childhood classroom, and as this is done, social decorum is also taught. It is not OK to bite people, when someone else is talking, we are listening, and if we drop food on the floor, it probably shouldn’t be consumed (I know that this one is heavily debated, but I can tell you we definitely teach this in school – our floors get DIRTY). The volume of our voices matter, sometimes we have to do things we might not want to do, and being kind is always important. There are so many things that we do, say, and believe as adults that we had to be taught as children. For example, you don’t remember learning to stand in line, do you? Or do you remember someone teaching you how to open your lunchbox or putting a straw in your juice box? In addition to teaching colors, shapes, numbers and letters, teachers of young ones also have the privilege of teaching daily living essentials – zipping, pencil grasp, waiting your turn, sitting still when necessary, and getting to the bathroom in time. I cuddle on rough mornings, open string cheese, and help put away the toys when it’s clean up time. We work together, cheer each other on, and encourage growth all the live long day! The school day is packed with opportunities and at every moment a social experiment is being played out – patience is tested, tempers are sometimes lost and tears are shed when there are hurt feelings or fresh boo boos, although loud voices and laughter are the most common sounds heard when entering our room.

Our tiny students come to us fresh out of the arms of their parents. Most have never been in a group environment with same aged peers before this experience. We are truly an intro to education for them. They learn to trust, to ask for help, to try again, and to rest when needed. I am happy to be the one there to help with all of these important lessons. I have a job that I love and I feel that God has blessed me with the silliness to fit right in with these little ones. I get to sit around and talk with these brilliant young people. They tell me stories that are hysterical and that would make their parents blush. They give me the warm hugs that I so miss now that my own children have grown up and moved out. They give me hope for our future – they are loving, generous, compassionate and wildly capable. I am blessed indeed to be a preschool teacher!

The gift that keeps on giving…

It’s true that money can’t buy happiness, but it is necessary when making a purchase! I have always loved the act of gift giving – it’s fun for me. Thinking ahead of the event that calls for something special, and then matching likes, interests, hobbies or memories with the person that will be receiving the gift. It’s a bit like putting a puzzle together and finding the last piece is a perfect fit. Making someone happy is my favorite and gift giving is the perfect way to bring a smile. I am also a big fan of keeping to a budget, so it makes the whole thing a bit more of a challenge, thus more exhilarating when the “perfect” gift is found. I am beyond thrilled that my children have “inherited” the joy of gift giving. Watching them buy or create for each other on birthdays and holidays is the absolute best, and I love when they pull me into their plans ahead of time allowing me to see the entire idea unfold. As our children have grown into young adults, the gifts have become more thoughtful and unique with each special occasion. Last year at Christmas, for example, the four of them found a photographer and scheduled a day that they would all be home together (a gift in itself!) so that we could have family portraits done. Just the thought of it was amazing to me and the memories we made at the photo shoot are just as special to me as the pictures we received. I will treasure both the memories and photographs forever. For my birthday this year, my son got me something along the same lines that is now one of my favorite things!   

Years ago, we had a digital picture frame that we could stick my sd card in from my camera and would allow us to enjoy a  picture slideshow of sorts. It was about the size of your average 5×7 picture frame, and we all loved being able to see various pictures change out as we passed it throughout the day. Time passed and technology changed and now there are similar digital frames that offer a few more bells and whistles… enter my new gift. I received a picture frame 9 x 16 inches in size (which by the way, seemed way too big at first) that allows anyone you’d like to download an app and send me pictures! Not only do I receive pictures throughout the day from my children that live hours away (priceless!) they can also choose to write comments or give information about each picture which shows up at the bottom left hand side of the screen. On the lower right hand side of the screen, I can choose to have the time and temperature displayed – yes, please. And if all of this isn’t amazing enough, I can opt to have a sweet little “ding” notification when a new picture arrives – are you serious?! Yes! I want to hear the ding – bring on all the dings – it is now my favorite sound in the world and I have the volume turned up as high as it goes. I about break my neck racing down the stairs if I hear that ding, knowing it may be a picture of my grandcat in Cleveland,  a beautiful sunset in Grand Rapids, or a picture from my daughter who is in another country on vacation. Such fun, I tell you! Knowing that my family and photography are two of my favorite things, my son was able to present me with a gift that will allow all of us to feel close and connected for years to come.    

The idea that “it’s the thought that counts” still rings 100% true. Were you aware of the special occasion? Did you give yourself enough time to purchase a gift that would be heartfelt and meaningful for the receiver? Making someone feel special by giving them a gift that is unique to them is one of the best feelings around. And remember, more money does not mean more special. Years ago, my young daughter decorated a jar and filled it with positive handwritten quotes for me – I still absolutely love it and display it proudly. This past summer, my daughter brought me yarn (because she knows my love for knitting) from a country that she visited while on a mission trip and it is one of my favorite gifts to this day! Give your gift thought and really try to find something that will be treasured. Take the time and effort the next time a gift giving holiday rolls around – it will be greatly appreciated, I promise!

Effort – word of the year 2024

This is now my 12th year for choosing a word to focus on instead of a list of resolutions for the New Year. In the past, words I have chosen include perspective, peace, service, contentment, release, acceptance, focus, rise, enough, progress, and intentional. I truly respond better to a word that encourages rather than resolutions that may restrict. This year I chose the word effort. I’d love to explain why I’d like to focus on adding effort in all areas of my life and 2024.

In 2023, my word was intentional. I was more deliberate in scheduling visits with friends and family. I made time to enjoy reading, knitting, and exercise in my weekly schedule. I took more control of the things I had power over -my food and water intake, sleep schedule, screen time, etc. -and tried my best to not complain about the things that were out of my control. Basically, I looked at my day and made my best attempt to fill it with the things that would help me live my happiest and most productive life. Obviously, it didn’t always work out that way, but the intention was always there!

This year, I’d like to see what I can achieve if I throw in some extra effort. I learned that my life definitely improved with more intentionality, and I know I will see progress, growth, and development in several areas if I add effort -it’s a given. I have goals I’d like to meet, but without effort, there’s no way that they will happen. By definition, effort is “exertion of physical or mental power”. Making sure that I throw in some extra resolve to reach these goals will only benefit me. Pushing a bit harder towards a challenge will also help to keep me focused and moving in the right direction. Adding effort into my daily life will only help to improve my relationships, health and overall happiness and wellbeing – and I’m here for it!

So bring it, 2024! Go ahead and blow those “winds of change” that I see in the forecast! I will be doing my very best to make it a great year adding effort in all the areas of my life that matter most. Cheers to an amazing New Year!

It’s been an intentional year…

I chose the word intentional for my word of the year for the year 2023. I wanted to feel more in control of what was happening (and not happening) in my life. So as much as this word prompted me to plan and prepare, it also helped me to feel comfortable saying no and not feeling guilty. It helped me to look at why I was responding to life the way that I was, and how I could feel differently if I changed my ways. It was a good year.

The first thing I wanted to focus on for the year was to insure that I’d be reading more. I’ve always loved to read, but as the years passed, I found myself reading less and less. I decided to make it easier for me to pick up a book and read by always having them available in my home. I ordered a few books with some gift cards I had received for Christmas. I went to the library every few weeks. I asked my friends on Facebooks for recommendations of their favorite titles in different genres.I read before bed instead of scrolling on my phone. I put my book in my purse so that if I had to wait at an appointment I could read a few chapters. I had a basket that I would keep full of books “to be read”. I kept a running list of each book title (and author) that I had finished. And because of all of these things, I finished 32 books this year. I chose to make those changes, no one else would have done any of those things for me. Being intentional about reading more and then planning accordingly helped me to succeed in my goal. I know full well that many people read far more than that in 12 months, but I am proud of myself and so very happy that I was able to jump back into a hobby that brings me such joy.

Another goal for 2023 was to continue my hobby of knitting winter hats and donating them to local charities. I enjoy knitting, but other than creating gifts for others, I didn’t feel I had the reason or resources to knit throughout the year. I especially enjoyed knitting hats, both for children and adults. Years ago, my children took an annual short missions trip with their youth group to help sort and distribute both food and clothing to those in need. Knowing that the trip was in November, I would knit all year and donate my hats to those they were helping. A few years ago, these trips stopped and I had to find new places to donate. It’s been fun each year to find winter hat/gloves drives and donate to them as I could. I let all of my friends know that I am knitting all year long and could use any yarn that they might want to provide. I posted on local Facebook “free pages” and explained what I did and was offered bags of free yarn. I take my knitting everywhere – on car rides, to the lakehouse, and I am never in front of the TV without my knitting on my lap. I also listen to books on tape as I knit on the couch. It’s a calming activity for me and I love that fact that in the end it is helping others, too. This year I have once again donated over 100 hats. I couldn’t do it without the generous souls that give me the yarn to work with, and I am so grateful. But once again, these hats could easily not have been made – I have to be intentional about keeping yarn stocked and having my supplies nearby when I have the time to knit. I’m feeling good about the donations I’ve made and the hats that were given to those who needed them.

I have other victories this year as well. I have seen more friends, taken more small trips, continued and changed my work out schedule, and focused on seeing the positive during difficult situations – all because I was doing my best to be more intentional. This blog has also been effected – I was able to write 12 times this year – once a month. It may not sound like much of a success story, but for as long as I have had this blog – over 8 years – that has never happened. I would run out of time, wasn’t able to think of something “worthy” to share, or life just got in the way. This year, I watched the calendar and tried to schedule an afternoon to write. I’d keep notes on possible blog topics on my phone. I’d let little things in life prompt a post, and I wouldn’t worry about blog length like I have in the past. I’m so excited about reaching this goal – it may be the thing I am most proud of this year regarding taking a bit more control back in my life.

I am now thinking and praying about my new word for 2024. I can’t wait to see how it will help to make me a better person in this upcoming year. If you have not tried this concept, I highly recommend it. Having one special word to lean on for 365 days is a great learning experience and can encourage growth in so many areas! I’m looking forward to continuing writing , and I will do my best to keep the streak alive – see you in a month 🙂

Traditions…

The month of November has always been a favorite of mine. Thanksgiving is my second favorite holiday and as an adult, the month became even more amazing as we welcomed two of our four babies home, one on the 6th and one on the 16th! My love language is words of affirmation, so gratitude has always been on the top of my list of importance. My Mom set the precedent by making sure we wrote thank you notes for any and all gifts we received as children. I have done the same with my own children and have been so saddened to see that writing thank you notes (for many – not all) is becoming a lost art. Showing gratitude is so very important to me, as I understand with my whole heart the value in being thanked for an item, your time, or your involvement in a situation. I have yet to meet a person that would not appreciate being acknowledged, seen and known for what they have done. Not to say that being thanked should be the reason for doing a good deed, but it surely can bring a smile. November is a monthly reminder for me to send a quick text, or card to mention my thankfulness.

Traditions are big in our house. They help to keep our family close, create memories, and build excitement for each holiday. Knowing what to expect brings security and if it’s a fun thing we are expecting, well, you know, even better! Each Thanksgiving, our extended family meets at my sister’s for breakfast. We all arrive around 9:30 AM, pour some coffee and begin our holiday together. When the kids were little, the tv would be on and we’d watch the parade and scream with delight when they saw the Clifford balloon, or Hello Kitty made an appearance . My Mom started the tradition when they were babies of getting each of them a book on Thanksgiving. As they grew, they were even able to request a certain title and were always thrilled to receive it that morning – several years those chapter books were started before we even left Aunt Tonya’s house! The picture books they received as tiny turkeys were all kept together and brought out every year and read during the months of November . Most of the books were written about the topics of the season of Fall, the idea of thankfulness or the holiday of Thanksgiving. I now read many of those books to my preschool class each November and they are still big hits! I look forward to continuing this tradition once my children have children of their own.

After breakfast, we typically head home to digest and take a nap or watch our first holiday movie of the season. Later in the day, we would head to my In laws for more food and family time. At this point, we are now gathering at my Sister in Laws and it’s different but just as wonderful. That’s an important thing to remember about traditions, quite often they don’t last forever. Sometimes it’s simply impossible to continue them (a restaurant closes or part of the family moves 3 states away). Often, the interests of the group change as they age and it is just not fun or eagerly anticipated any longer. Perhaps an event is too expensive to attend at this point. There are many reasons why plans could change after being set for years and years. And that’s OK. One of the worst parts of having a tradition is not realizing that it’s time for it to end. The coolest part – you can find something new to do together instead!

The day after Thanksgiving is also a special time for our family. This basically marks the start of the Christmas season for us. When the children were younger, they would go to my Mom’s house that Friday and help her decorate, bringing up the boxes from the basement, setting up her nativity scene and making a batch of cookies. My current college age children continue to stop by and make sure that she doesn’t need help on this day. After decorating/shopping/visiting friends all day, we head to our local zoo for their annual amazing lights display. Being November, we never know what the weather will bring. We have walked through the zoo enjoying 60 degree conditions and raced through in the rain. The years that it has snowed during our visits always made us extra happy! We then finish the night with a delicious dinner at Spaghetti Wharehouse.

As the children have aged and now have significant others who also have family traditions, it has become increasingly difficult to keep a few of our traditions going – and again, it’s OK. If we want something to continue, we will find a way by changing the time, day or location. But discussions are already happening that have suggested new ideas for us to consider. In the end, I am blessed to have family that understand the importance of time together and the joy it brings my heart.

Blessings to you and your family as you acknowledge the joy and love in your life today and everyday!

My turkeys, many years ago ❤️🦃‼️

Don’t strive to make your presence noticed…

Once again, I have found a quote that really made me think. This time, I was reading and came across the wise words – “Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, but your absence felt”. After thinking about this statement, I must say that I really like the concept. I’m not sure if most people feel the same way, but living life in this way will truly impact those around you.

I’m fairly certain that we have all felt (at one time or another) as if we were unnoticed or under appreciated, whether it was at our place of employment, within our friend group, or even at home. I will admit to times as a Stay At Home Mom that I felt the things I was doing each day could have possibly been accomplished by just about anyone and that I wouldn’t be missed if I left for a few hours. This was not at all my typical headspace, but when things got especially monotonous, I had to force myself to regroup and think about my reasons for being home in the first place. What did I bring to the table that someone else could not? How did my presence benefit my children in a way that would be missed if I truly wasn’t there?

I didn’t realize it then, but I was actually trying to live this quote out. I was trying to be the best I could possibly be -the most encouraging, affectionate, compassionate, involved and invested… I wanted there to be a void when I was gone. I wanted to be missed. I didn’t need the praise, accolades and recognition while I was there (although I would have been grateful for it). I just wanted to know that when I wasn’t there, it wasn’t the same. Once again, I don’t think I’m alone in this. The tricky part in creating an energy that will be missed when you are gone is not going overboard while you are there. Does that make sense? I didn’t need to be the “main character” but I did feel the need to make things special and keep things organized and allow the house to run smoothly while the 6 of us led our lives together. It’s very much like how a substitute teacher feels when they are trying to run a classroom that is not theirs while “That’s not how Miss Suzy does it ! ” is shouted out repeatedly throughout the day. Miss Suzy has created a flow, she had a vibe that can not be replaced. Don’t we all want to be Miss Suzy and have people miss us when we aren’t there?!

I love that we have the chance to “leave our mark” each and every day with everyone we encounter. I love the idea of leaving people and things better than when we found them. Smile and encourage others when you can – you will be remembered for it – I promise. And it’s always nice to be thought of when we aren’t around 🙂

Do you have a favorite room in your home?

I absolutely love the house that we call home. We chose to build our house and moved in over 21 years ago – with only two children at the time. We have since added two more children, said hello and good bye to several well loved pets, changed vehicles, jobs and hairstyles. We have grown, celebrated, mourned and hoped in this home. Our neighbors have become friends, I have a walking route I use daily, a grocery store and favorite restaurant nearby and family is within a short drive. I have always loved decorating each room for each season and holiday, creating memories with our children along the way. Time spent together is treasure here, and I always breathe a sigh of relief when I walk in the door.

I recently saw an article on self care that spoke on the topic of having a special spot for ourselves. I thought about it for about thirty seconds and knew where mine was right away. It’s actually the first room on the left as you enter our home. As you arrive through the front door, you can see the first wall of this room – with the letters H O M E on the wall. Another sign reads “Best Family (in the history of ) Ever. It’s a “den” of sorts, that I have claimed as my spot. In it sits a comfy beige sofa in between 2 dark brown end tables. Each table holds a lamp and a plant 🙂 A wax melter sits on the table closest to the window, and it is always on heating the scents of the current season – today’s scent is cinnamon maple. There is a coffee table that has a lower shelf crammed with books, bibles, journals and more. On the top of the table sits a plump pumpkin that I bought over 25 years ago when I worked at Hallmark. On the wall there is a shelf from Ikea that holds dozens of scrapbooks and photo albums. Twenty eight years of pictures and memories on those shelves. On the opposite wall is a corner shelf that holds skeins of yarn and my knitting looms and supplies. The bottom shelf is where I stack the hats that I knit and donate. Under the window is a soft brown bench that holds – you guessed it – more books, plants and hats waiting to be donated. Daily, our cat Ron sits on this bench, snacks on the plant and watches the birdies that sit on the tree in our yard just a few feet away. There is a basket filled to the top with soft blankets and pillows, unless it is Christmas season. During that time, I place a miniature tree covered with white twinkly lights, causing me to love this space even more. The light pours into this room through the Northern windows, and I rarely have to turn on the lamps, but when I do, the room feels extra cozy and inviting. I sit on the end of the couch by the window and read, write or knit. On the couch next to me, Ruby buries her nose in her “softer than anything I’ve ever felt in my life” dog bed. When I’m on the couch, I can see both outside into the neighborhood, and inside the first story of our home and anyone going up or down the stairs. It truly is my favorite room in the house.

Do you have a room in your house that makes you extra happy? A room that you retreat to when you need to be productive, or just sit for a minute without interruption? I truly think we all deserve a spot like this, and I’m so grateful for mine. Let me know where you go in your home, and why it’s extra special to you!

You don’t know what you don’t know

Let’s be honest. Nowadays, courtesy of social media, we all feel entitled to a bit too much information. And rightly so, we are given detail after detail of people’s lives, without asking for any of it – and I am guilty of this, too. And many of these people that we are watching are complete strangers. We have never met them, nor will we ever meet them. Bizarre, actually, that all of this information is at our fingertips, and literally watched for entertainment. What was eaten for breakfast, how the pantry is organized and maintained, where the school shopping was done (links included) and how long it took to put the patio furniture together (including high speed video showing the craziness that ensued when the missing screws were finally located!). No longer do we watch TV before bed. Instead, we scroll for an hour watching 3 minute clips until our eyes begin to blur – or at least this happens on occasion in our house. A strange phenomena that is now completely normal in 2023.

This never ending selection of information gives us a false sense of “knowledge”. We think we know. We feel like we know someone because we have seen these snippets of their lives. We think we know how they parent because we have seen pictures and videos (carefully created and chosen, mind you). We think we know what their house looks like because of the room reset video we watched (although the rest of the house looks like a bomb went off because all of the effort was spent in the room being recorded). We think we know about their cooking skills because we have seen the unique lunches they make for their children and post for all of us to admire. The fact is, we don’t know. We see only what they want us to see. We see the “highlight” reel. And if we are honest, that’s what we try to show others, too. It’s human nature. We take 17 pictures to get that perfect “candid” shot. It’s expected and accepted in 2023.

In all aspects, we don’t know what we don’t know. Until we meet others with different experiences, we assume that our reality is everyone’s reality. Until we hear about our neighbor’s divorce, we assume their marriage is as happy as their social media account claims it is. Until we find out about our co worker’s eating disorder, we assume her slender build is genetic and she can eat anything she wants to and not gain weight. Until we find out about our cousin’s anxiety, we assume he didn’t like family parties and had better things to do than to spend time with us. So much of what we think we know is actually assumed from bits and pieces of information that we have gathered. Part of this is due to us genuinely believing what is put out there for us to see. It is also easier to glance quickly at a person or situation and form an option, without taking the time to ask questions. But, as the saying goes, things are not always as they appear.

I’m not suggesting that we all throw our devices out the window and boycott all social media. I believe that having these accounts can help raise intentional, compassionate people that are able to communicate well and can discern fact from fiction. I am suggesting that we start to put more of a filter on what we are watching and posting. There is always a backstory to every post. It’s especially important to teach our children to be aware as they are watching and posting. We don’t have to watch everything just because it’s available and “everyone else” is watching. I am doing my best lately to minimize my own screen time as well. Although I’ll never turn down a good pantry clean out !

Thanks for reading-

We like because. We love despite.

While watching a movie the other night, the main character was giving a toast at an engagement party. She mentioned a quote that I had never heard before, but will surely never forget.

“We like because. We love despite.”

Six words. They made me think, contemplate, and evaluate. Like and love are words that are used daily in our society. I like mornings. I love coffee. I like French fries. I love e my husband. Arguably, both words are often used a bit flippantly, without concern of their definitions. “To like” is to “take pleasure in, find agreeable”. This quote makes perfect sense in claiming that we like because – something is funny, a class is easy, something is convenient, a teacher is lenient, a food is tasty, or a kitten is adorable. We tend to like what is comfortable, familiar, easy to understand, and sustainable. We often like what is popular, available, and promoted. Again – these are generalities. I have plenty of unpopular opinions – examples – I don’t like campfires, bubble tea or convertibles. When you like similar things as others, there is an instant camaraderie. Friendships are often created by finding out commonalities including music, movies, or sports teams a person may like.

We love for different reasons. By definition, love is ” a strong feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection”. Love often happens when we wish it wouldn’t. Love grows despite distance, inconvenience, personality differences, and most logic. I love cheese despite what it does to my stomach. I love my husband despite his snoring that keeps me up all night. I love my cat despite his inability to vomit anywhere but the carpet. I love my job despite the low pay. I love the area I live despite the high taxes. I love winter despite being terrified to drive in the snow. I continue to love something because it brings value to my life, makes me happy – despite the negative tag alongs. Although sometimes, love fades to like – the negatives begin to outweigh the positives. The resulting upset stomach doesn’t trump my desire for more cheese. Basically, we all get to determine the level of fondness for anything or anyone. But, if we love something that we also like, the odds are in our favor. That’s the coolest thing about a person marrying their best friend, for example. Despite the few things that he/she does that drive a spouse up the wall, they also have a lot of positive attributes and characteristics of their special someone that can be pulled out of the back pocket when necessary. Those will save you. In fact, it might be helpful to write up a list of those likes so you can glance at it when needed 🙂

“We like because. We love despite.”

Seriously, I can’t stop thinking about these six words. Bring this quote up in a group and watch the conversation take off. Who doesn’t love a great conversation?!