Today my goal was:

Find My Happy Place

Some days that's an easy goal, but lately i've been struggling. I have so many things going on or happening around me and I feel like each one is falling apart just a bit, or is eating up all my time and energy so the other rest suffers from neglect.

Today I took on the challenge, vowing that even a meeting couldn't keep me from my happy place and you know what? Mission Accomplished.

I took my time this morning, putting a little more energy into getting ready (new skirt, necklace, curled hair).

After dropping Jesse at school I went to a coffee shop, splurged on a grande latte (thanks bag of spare change and gift card!) surfed the web for free and worked on thank you cards.

Then a little old man came and sat by my table. As I packed to leave he started talking to me. He told me about his kids, we talked about computers and Spokane and then... when I least expected it, I found my happy place. This is how it happened:

One minute we're talking about technology and then he suddenly says "Do you know what the secret to having a successful life is?"

"You gotta marry the right person."

BAM!

There I was stressing out about everything and missing the main point of it all. I have FOUND the right person and we ARE getting married. I stopped packing and looked at him and said "That's great! Because I'm marrying the right person in May!"

He told me that you also can't be afraid of the world. You have to be willing to go places and try new things. You can't stay in the same place forever. So I said "I'm moving to a new state in a few months!"

And then he said "You also have to keep on learning. I was a student for 24 years. You've gotta stay sharp!" So I told him that I'm going to grad school this summer.

At that point I was packed up and he left me with #8 on his long list of things that lead to a happy life. "Persevere, persevere, persevere. It doesn't happen overnight, in a week or even a year. Everything takes time and you've gotta just accept that and go with it."

I had the biggest smile when I left and I knew that I had reached my happy place.
Thank you little old man in Starbucks. I know you won't be reading my blog, but I pray that God places someone in your life the way he placed you in mine this morning :)