[null, {"document_url": "http://ichoosegobig.blogspot.com/2009/01/hopeless-to-hopeful.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lIrma7KY3Fw/SXtwPUAg8xI/AAAAAAAAAlo/C1unmYX4tKI/s400/proposal.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lIrma7KY3Fw/SXtwPUAg8xI/AAAAAAAAAlo/C1unmYX4tKI/s400/proposal.jpg", "formatted_filename": "proposal"}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]



postsecret really got to me this week. forgive me for being a romantic at heart on this post. used to be, back when i was (seemingly) blissfully single i'd get all choked up at romantic gobbledygook. engagement stories of friends. sappy, cheesy chick flicks. blockbuster hits with that love story thrown in to appeal to a broader range of moviegoers. i'd silently sit, with the knot in my throat or that half a tear welling up in my eyes, with the thought racing straight from my heart to my brain and back again, "why not me?"

more often than not, it hit me after a few pints. still amped up and not tired, but alone in my room after a long night. stories of exes hit me hardest. so-and-so's engaged. really? super! one thing i finally learned in my years of trial and failure in the dating regime was that until i was truly happy alone could i truly be happy together with anyone else. even in relationships, these feelings beleaguered me at times, taking my head and heart out of any new attempt before it even got started.

so, i set out to focus on that which enriched my happiness and avoid that which prevented it. live music. climbing. writing. reading. traveling. surrounding myself with good people and limiting negative influences. even prayer crept back into my life. all things began to line up, and i truly was a happier person. moving here didn't do much to change that, despite starting over with the stresses of searching for a job, a place to live, places to climb, fun things to do, a new cadre of friends to spend time with. at that point, happiness sought me out. i wasn't searching for happiness. i created it, and it grew within my life to the point where i currently am. no longer a hopeless romantic, i favor the hopeful side of things. where those old triggers used to drag me down, i'm more optimistic in my tone of thought. that knot still rises in my throat and the tears welling are out of happiness rather than regret.

Posted by Mr. J at 7:28 PM Labels: adjusting, change, character, growing up, happiness, hope, life 
Oh, so the backstory on the postcard on Postsecret. Since Frank will be replacing this one with new secrets tomorrow, here's the story.

It couldn't have been better. The date is set for March 13, 2010 ."

January 24, 2009 at 7:53 PM 
I thought that was a really sweet proposal, especially since from the story it seems they look at the secrets together a lot.

I also laughed at the top one with the Obamas, mostly because when we were stuck in traffic on the way home on Wednesday, we were speculating on whether they had christened their new house the night before hehe

January 25, 2009 at 12:58 AM