Fortune-It

As Beth Moore would agree, a great week means the menu has included Mexican food at least 3 times. (Clearly my favorite) My third favorite cuisine is any type of Asian and everything else ties at second place. Therefore, you can imagine my vast, utterly indescribable enthusiasm when I was informed that a bachelorette dinner for my friend Jennifer got moved from Uncle Julios to P.F. Changs.


As everyone’s order was being taken, I simply asked for a cocktail and four fortune cookies. As our waiter, Matt, questioned if that was all I wanted, I answered yes. Thinking the conversation was over, he informed me that normally there was a STRICT policy of only ONE fortune cookie per customer. I simply replied in my sweet, southern voice, “But Matt… I would like to be fortunate enough to choose my own fortune.” And so guess what? He brought me 5! And all five were pretty cliché- Bummer!

Since telling my friends of this event and my new love of fortune cookies, each time they order Chinese food, they are sure to pick up a fortune cookie for me and either deliver it or take a picture and text me my fortune. Last night was one of those times. Allow me to be completely transparent with you, my life has been a whirlwind of mass chaos and lots of tough situations. I even prayed (despite feeling as though I am on mute most of the time) that these decisions would work itself out because the stress and challenge of correctly assessing each one laid before me was simply too much. Then a series of events started to occur, similar to a domino effect, but in the worst of worse ways. I should have learned from Teddy Roosevelt’s shoe dilemma that when we allow the cobblestone to make choices for us, we end up having one shoe with a round toe and the other toe a square. I didn’t though.

So last night, once again wishing a magician would make my troubles disappear right along with his white, fluffy rabbit and thanks to friends ordering take out, I opened a fortune cookie. It read, “nothing is more difficult and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.” My jaw dropped faster than Usain Bolt can sprint 100 yards. It was most certainly a wake up call and about as pleasant as one. Looks like those cliché fortunes that P.F. Changs was gracious enough to make an exemption for, will come in handy as they read,

1. “you discover treasures where others see nothing unusual”

2. “a true friend in the market is greater than money in the purse”

3. “don’t put off till tomorrow what can be enjoyed today”

4. “emotions can be sweet and sour, so can your meal” (or drink,in my case; a cherry vodka sour)

What happens next is the scariest part- the recoil, aftermath, and damage to be incurred by those affected. The bright side, being able to decide while I am still fortunate enough to have some grasp of control. Not to mention, last time this same wave of excitement came crashing down on the shores of my reality when receiving tragic restaurant news, I discovered the greatness that is a fortune cookie.

And so the fifth fortune (that I was surprised with) will be my action plan, “time heals all wounds, keep your chin up.”

Better Late than Never

I know what you’re probably thinking… TIMEOUT! {in Zack Morris voice, of course} this is February not January. We are already a month into the New Year and you are just now posting this?! The answer is yes. I chose to take an entire month to reflect on E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G that is happened over the course of the past year. I have established a lot, but what I want to share is lessons learned and goals that will help aid me in forward progression to the person I desire to be.


Ten Lessons Learned in 2010

1. The hottest fires create the toughest steel.
2. If I don’t make a decision, someone else will make it for me.
3. A heart can be broken, but will beat just the same.
4. It is an heiress biggest sin to be boring.
5. I will hurt the people I love the most.
6. Forgiveness is a big word and so is love.
7. No matter how much I change, I will pay the price for the wrong that I’ve done.
8. Disclosed feelings and open communication lead to stronger relationships and more happiness.
9. It is never okay to give up apart of myself to become a part of someone else.
10. The start of faith is at the end of my comfort zone.

Eleven Goals for 2011

1. Use the word love sparingly {thanks, Claire!}
2. Take the time to understand myself.
3. Be diligent in devotionals daily.
4. Save more, spend less.
5. Simplify.
6. Don’t major on the minors.
7. Find a career path that aligns with my values not my lifestyle choices.
8. Treasure relationships, and allow others to break down walls I have built.
9. Take one day at a time. And I really mean just one not 10 or 15.
10. Keep my car cleaned out.
11. Start running again for me. {know it may be cliché, but I just had to include it}



Note: I have discovered that while I post this I am being somewhat of a hypocrite to myself because just the other day I told a friend that I was simply only going to make monthly goals so that I actually attain them. However, I feel it’s just as important to have overall yearly goals too. Creating more opportunities for success… can one really argue that philosophy?! {rhetorical question…don’t answer that!}