Finally see what it means to be living.

We're all here for a reason. Right? I truly believe that. We're entwined. Woven together to create this world we live in. The impact we have on others is huge. I believe we all have something to share with others. Some people feel they have no purpose, no reason to be around. I can't follow that, I don't seem to understand. I wish I could take every person that feels that way and wrap them in my arms and show them my love. Every day we need to be aware of the impact we have on every single person we come in contact with. Smile. Walk around and smile. Say hello when you pass by someone. Your smile could change someones entire day. I know from experience. I know that I have it good. So many people have a life that is hundreds of times worse than mine. All I want to do is make a positive impact on the people I meet. I am often told what a happy, postive, carefree person I am. I am told I inspire others. That's what I want. I want to change the way you think. We're all here for a reason. I truly believe that. I wouldn't be who I am today without all the people I've met.

I can't promise you that I won't let you down.

My mind doesn't stop turning. Quietness doesn't come. I haven't reached nirvana yet. I try the counting while meditating. Deep breath in "one", deep breath out "two", deep breath in "three", deep breath in "four"......what am I gonna do when I'm not nannying? I wonder where I should go next. This floor is so creaky. My nose itches. Ugh, now I have to start over, deep breath in "one", deep breath out "two".....and so on. One day I will be doing this with ease to one hundred.

I believe the closer it gets to my time to move on to a new adventure, the more nervous I become. I'm not one for plans. I enjoy going with the flow. I don't like to make plans too far in advance because I never know what may come up last minute. Right now though, I just feel the need to know more about what my future holds. Thinking about it now, my chest feels heavy. There are so many ways I can fail. Yet the abundance of opportunities that sit before me is unreal. I am incredibly lucky to have the family that I do. The support and love I am given is not something everyone gets when trying to chase their dreams. I still feel scared.

I'm young. My future is bright. Why do I feel this way? Sometimes I feel like I am letting my family down. Not continuing my education, getting a degree and starting a career. Settling down. My mind never thinks of that as an option though. I want to travel and experience new cultures. Meet new people. Learn daily. I don't want to sit still. I don't want to be tied down. I'm scared to even start a relationship at times because the chances of that changing my path. How do I know if it's meant to be or not? I've got to stop thinking so much. I need to just go with it. Things work out, they always do.

Right?

Nothing else matters.

As I lay in bed preparing to fall asleep on the bottom bunk and a little voice from above whispers "Auntie, we forgot to water our flowers", I feel 5 again. She brings me back to childhood. Being carefree. Relaxing. Taking it easy. In the middle of the day I take a second and play some music. She sits on the couch and watches me dance around silly for a few minutes, smiling. Finally she gives in and comes to dance with me. Nothing else matters in that moment. We go for adventure walks atleast once a day, usually 3 or 4. Finding bottle caps, paper clips, pretty rocks, string, pennies, pebbles, cool leaves. In those moments, nothing else matters. Playing at the park and seeing how high we can get her on the swing. Having a picnic and making up songs. Wondering why Auntie is "so slow" when she is on her bike. Giving kisses to her boo boos. Fixing her hair, two "balls", one braid in the back, one "ball" on top. Nothing else matters in these moments. Tickling sister. Getting sister to "fetch". Watching sister crawl so fast to follow us into the kitchen. Finding ways to make her laugh. Nothing else matters then. Being creative. Being happy. Loving. Sharing. Teaching. Growing. Laughing, Crying.

How could anything else matter in these moments? I realized how much influence I have on my nieces today. Watching them 5 days a week, for about 7 months now, I see the impact I've made. I see myself in Noelle often. I hear her say she wants to do things to be like me. She watches me closely, as I dance, brush my teeth, fix my hair, get dressed, play outside, talk, laugh. I have to be a positive influence. I have to teach her to be happy and to share happiness. To be open to meeting new people and constantly being friendly. I try to talk to people so she see's there is nothing to be worried about, yet still teach her that some people are bad. I want her to laugh and play, let her imagination run wild. I try to find creative things to make with her. Get her outside as often as possible. Play games she makes up. I want her to be honest about her feelings, never holding anything back. I want her to remember these days forever. I feel so lucky. I have such an amazing family.