i’m an aries
Day 7 of the 30 day challenge is to discuss my zodiac sign and if I think it fits my personality. Well I was born on April 12, 1981 and so I am an aries. I don’t read my horoscope or really pay attention to astrology. But when I read the traits of an aries I think it describes me perfectly. I am definitely an aries (the good and the bad) down to the letter.
Aries and Independence:
Aries personalities are independent. Being the first of the zodiac signs, they venture out and are go-getters, often leading the way. Their upbeat and magnetic personality often entices others to follow their lead because Aries personalities bring excitement into others lives.
Aries and Friendship:
Aries are good friends, they always look out for their friends with caring and generosity and will protect them should the need arise and encourage them with their natural optimism. If confronted, Aries can turn to be quite childish, they will fight back with their aggressive nature and are known to have temper tantrums should they not get their way.
Aries and Business:
Aries are activists. If a business idea comes their way, they tend to plunge right in. Aries are more than willing to take a gamble and follow their dreams and goals. However, if success is not immediate, they tend to lose interest and give up easily. Aries are notorious for not finishing what they have begun. This is due to the low tolerance for boredom and lack of patience. If the excitement is gone from their business idea, they go off and search for it elsewhere.
Aries Temperament:
Independence is key to Aries astrology, they do not like to take orders from others and enjoy getting their way. They can get childish or moody should they be given orders that they do not like. Aries easily take offense to comments made. Aries are self-involved and can be self-centered, if they do not pay attention to the feelings of others, Aries can easily become spoiled and resented by others. In order to get their way, Aries will tell a lie if it seems advantageous to do so. They are however, not very good liars and other people can usually see through them.
Aries Deep Inside:
Underneath the strong, independent surface may lie insecurity. This is due to the intense drive to succeed and Aries put too much pressure on themselves, thus resulting in self-doubt however, the natural optimism and enthusiasm overtakes this and the underlying insecurity may never be known to others.
Aries in a Nutshell:
Aries is the first of the zodiac signs. Aries is the sign of the self, people born under this sign strongly project their personalities onto others and can be very self-oriented. Aries tend to venture out into the world and leave impressions on others that they are exciting, vibrant and talkative. Aries tend to live adventurous lives and like to be the center of attention, but rightly so since they are natural, confident leaders. Aries are enthusiastic about their goals and enjoy the thrill of the hunt, “wanting is always better than getting” is a good way to sum it up. Aries are very impulsive and usually do not think before they act – or speak. Too often Aries will say whatever pops into their head and usually end up regretting it later!
What’s your sign and do you think it fits you?
fun facts & best vacations part III
First I have to start by saying (or possibly yelling) THANK YOU for the amazing comments I got yesterday on my post. I was a tad nervous about posting all of that but I figured if I was going to be 100% honest and 100% me that means giving it all.
Thankfully today is a lighter day on the 30 day challenge. Day 6 is to write 30 interesting facts about yourself. Okay I am gonna take the cop-out route here and redirect you guys to my About Page because I listed 100 fun facts about myself there. I love that page because I feel like it so perfectly reflects my personality. So if you want to know some fun things about me, head there.
So moving on. I am going to go ahead and do part III of my best vacations series. Did you miss Part I or Part II? The month of April I am recapping some of mine and Keith’s best vacations in honor of our upcoming 5 year anniversary at the end of the month.
A little history. Keith and I did the long distance thing for a little over a year. In fact we started our relationship with him living in Dallas, TX and me living in Austin, TX. Dallas is about 3 hours north of Austin. It was H.A.R.D. But like most good things in life it was 100% worth the effort. So for the first 16 months of our relationship we were both taking mini-vacations quite frequently to and from Austin and Dallas.
So here is a slideshow with some pictures from our Dallas and Austin weekenders. Enjoy!
Have you ever done the long-distance thing?
it’s my life
Day 5 of the 30 day challenge is to talk about a time when you thought of ending your own life. Geeze…the topics are HEAVY! I am ready for some lighter questions for sure.
**As a note…I want to say that I added a 30 Day Challenge tab above so if you missed any of the previous questions you can find them there. 🙂
First I want to say that I could never kill myself because honestly, I don’t have the guts. So I have never actually seriously entertained the idea of committing suicide. But I can think of two times in my life where I was at a real low point. Times when it sometimes seemed like it would have been easier not to have to wake up every single morning:
I mentioned before that I dated the same guy for about 4 years (on off through high school and college) and we ended up breaking up (the final time) right around the same time my parents were getting divorced. This was my sophomore year in college and I was very very lost. I felt like everything I had known as “normal” was all of a sudden falling apart. This was a hard year. My dad ended up finding me a fantastic psychologist that I met with every week until I felt able to deal with (and except) the changes in my life. That was probably the best thing that I ever did and having someone to talk to was essential. I sometimes think there is a stigma against seeking professional counseling and I wish there wasn’t. It was a really helpful tool in getting me back on my feet.
I also mentioned before that I was married before Keith. This was probably one (okay THE) biggest and dumbest mistake of my life. Following along with what I said above after I went through counseling and began to feel normal again I met another guy in college. I was still coming to terms with my relationship break up and my parent’s break up and I was extremely vulnerable. I jumped into a relationship with a guy who on the surface seemed perfect. He was loving, attentive, had a real close-knit family and seemed to have everything that I needed. We dated my junior and senior years of college and quickly got engaged. I realized very quickly into the wedding planning that this guy was not for me. The relationship excitement had started to wear off and I started to see a lot of flaws and things I wasn’t sure I could live with. But the dress had been purchased, the invitations had gone out and all the while I felt like I was standing in the middle of a room screaming and not one person could hear me. My family and friends knew I was making a mistake but everyone was waiting for me to say something. It was a bad situation. I went through with it and cried for most of my honeymoon. The relationship turned quickly abusive (both mentally and physically) and I felt so trapped and so alone.
Keith and I had been friends while I was in college. Meaning we talked on the phone and developed a friendship outside from our families. It was nice and deep down my crush still loomed but I didn’t ever think he and I would actually be together due to the age difference. When I got engaged Keith was a little upset and at that point I realized how deep his feelings were for me. But I felt like it was too late. At that point any friendship Keith and I had died right there. Then one day about 6 months after my wedding, Keith called me. He called to tell me that he was happy for me and that he was sorry for the abrupt way he ended our friendship. I started bawling and how unhappy I was came pouring out. He was the first person I ever told that I was unhappy. He listened and he quietly told me that he was sorry. He urged me to call my parents immediately. But he also told me that I needed to figure things out and he could not be the person I talked to throughout this. He wished me well, told me would pray that I could get myself out but that I just couldn’t lean on him. I needed to leave for myself and not for him. I cried myself to sleep that night and in hindsight, that was the wisest thing Keith could have ever done for me. He forced to me grow up and take control of my own life. And I did. Nine months after I said I do; I walked out. My parents packed me up and moved me home. I picked myself back up. I got a job, saved some money, and moved into my own apartment and not once did I call Keith. But I thought about him. A lot. Once I was back on my feet and my divorce was almost final I called him. And would you know that 21 months after that phone call I married him.
That 9 months of marriage to the wrong person was awful. Everyday was a struggle and at times I didn’t know how I was going to survive. But I did. I made it through and I got my life back on track without a man. I did it as a single girl who had come to believe in herself. And in the end, I married my soul mate and the person that never once held that adolescent mistake over my head.
the heavy religion post
Day 4 of the 30 day challenge is all about my views on religion. I am Jewish. My father is Jewish but my mother is not. She grew up a Methodist. However when they got married they agreed to raise me and my brother in the Jewish faith. I had a Bat Mitzvah when I was 13 (my Torah portion was actually the Ten Commandments) and my brother had one as well. I taught Sunday school up until I left for college in the fall of 1999. Keith is also Jewish and so it works out well for us when it comes to raising children and having similar beliefs.
I grew up in a very Christian (and mostly Southern Baptist) part of Texas. There were actually no other Jewish kids in my school and sometimes it was not easy being the odd woman out. I had my share of bad experiences from people who didn’t understand my religion. Parents wouldn’t let their kids be friends with me and I had a number of people tell me they were praying for me. My saddest memory from my childhood was when I was a little kid. I used to say my prayers every night and ask God, that should the world end tomorrow, would he please make an exception in Heaven and let me and my family in because we were good people too. I was young…maybe eight…and was listening to other kids tell me that I was going to Hell because I was Jewish. That was hard. BUT it taught me a lot and those experiences shaped me and the beliefs I have today. Beliefs that I believe are still in line with my Jewish roots and upbringing.
I personally believe that the idea of religion was (and is) a man-made entity to worship a God. I don’t find anything wrong with it. I think religion is a good moral backbone for kids and teaches a lot of really good principles about right and wrong and about God. I do believe that there is one God and all the religions of the world have different names for and different ways to worship that one God. I will never ever say that my way is the right and only way because I just don’t believe that. I can’t judge someone and say that just because you don’t believe in my religion that you are doomed. I just don’t believe that AT ALL. I think religion is a very personal and spiritual relationship that people have with God and at the end of one’s life no one knows what happens except God. I will not ever say that a Hindu, or a Muslim, or a Christian or any other religion out there is wrong. I think all religions are beautiful and meaningful to the people who practice those faiths. Some people find God in nature, some people find God in the bible, some people find God in the Torah and some in their own hearts. But no matter what someone believes it is not for me to ever judge or find fault.
This is simply my opinion on a deeply personal matter for many many people. I know some of you may completely disagree with me and that is okay. I welcome your thoughts, should you feel comfortable, but I just ask that we all be respectful of one another’s comments.
What Kelly Said 