Disclaimer: I took this photo when we visited New York for the first time ever. I had heard they were closing FOA Schwartz on 5th Avenue. I decided now was the time. 📸 J.L. Locke

A partial bucket list experience was met when we flew to New York. To dance on the Big Piano.

📸 J.L. Locke

I want more than a visitation. I want to live there. Immerse myself in all that New York has to offer. Get to know its secrets and write a love story with a city I’ve only had an affair with.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to this photograph. 📸 Unknown.

I want to experience tulip season in the Netherlands both on the ground and in the air. Simple stunning!

To live is the rarest thing in the world.  Most people exist, that is all.  ~Oscar Wilde.   

This quote is currently living in my head rent free.   Living in the moment has become my favorite pastime.  No matter where you are, no matter who you’re with,  or what you are doing… soak it in.  Put your phone down and just enjoy the ordinary.  Because the life you’re living is extraordinary.  

I took this photo in New Mexico about six years ago. I don’t remember the exact location, but it was close to the Colorado boarder. These structures exist all over the state. I always wonder what their stories are. What history was made there. And if any of those historical souls still walk the floors of those old walls.

The world will strike a match to lure you into the light only to blow it out and force you back into the darkness.  People love to see you succeed as long as they can take credit for your success.  The saddest truth is that people submit themselves to all of the above willingly believing that they are not worthy of amazing blessings because someone convinced them otherwise.  

Social media tells me that jet setting around the world playing the role of a perfect partner and parent while I live in my million dollar home (which is always perfectly clean)is who I need to be.  Society tells me I need to fit in and follow.  I’ve never been one to follow others.  

Time is the only currency you can spend never knowing what your balance is.  Use it wisely.

PSA: Photographer is unknown

No one prepares you for how hard it is to rewire your brain to accept amazing things after experiencing some of the worst.  To have to convince yourself that you are worth it because someone told you over and over again that you weren’t.  It wasn’t explained that insecurity would be lurking in the shadows waiting to steal your confidence and replace it with doubt.

Life will happen at our highest and our lowest points.  Good days don’t always have to look like lotto wins.  And bad days, well, it’s okay to sink into the bad days every now and again.  Allow yourself to feel what you need to feel but don’t let it consume you.  Always know you are worthy of great things happening to you.  For you.  You are worthy of the amazing blessings coming your way.  Today might be difficult, but tomorrow is a new beginning.

PSA: This is not my house. I took this photo on a back road somewhere coming back from East Texas circa 2006 or 2007. It seemed fitting for this blog post.

There was something about today.  I felt it when I woke up this morning.  I felt it on my drive in.  I felt it when I parked my car.  I felt when I logged on.  It was a mood.  An energy.  And while nothing spectacular occurred the mood remained.  

It doesn’t take long after my head hits the pillow for me to fall into a dream state. I just woke up startled by a dream. My only recollection is me in a lushly soft white bathrobe, a white towel wrapped around my wet hair, a very dimly lit room, and the lighting had a yellow hue to it. My towel touched what I assume is a light hanging from the ceiling. For some reason, the towels wrapped around my head was a couple feet tall. When the towel hit what was hanging, there were sparks. Two bright lights and the loudest electrical crack. It was loud enough to wake me up from a dead sleep.

And for a split second I thought it was a gunshot. I checked on my kids, they are both sound asleep. I haven’t been able to close my eyes. So I am laying here in bed listening to the wind.