As some of my closer friends may know, I am obsessed with Emily Giffin and her novels, Something Blue and Something Borrowed. These are two books that Amy Passiak gave to me when Mike and I broke up in college and I think they changed my outlook on life and relationships. She has had five books now, her newest one called Heart of the Matter, which came out last week. I just finished it last night after three nights of staying up past my bedtime. Emily is best known for her mastery of character development. The main character is typically a heroine stuck in a battle for love. Love that has been lost, love that is blind, love that is not even there... but throughout the book, she gives the heroine such real world qualities that it is hard not to cheer for her despite her imperfections (and some of them are HUGE!)
Her latest book was not my favorite. Actually, it was my least favorite due to the abrupt ending and lack of fruition in some of the characters. However, it really struck home to me as someone who has been in a relationship now for a few (several?!) years. It reemphasized to me that possibly one of the reasons that my relationship is strong is because of my individual happiness and my partner's happiness as well. It is not only coming together with a firm commitment while sharing a life, but also it is finding your own joy.
This week as Mike was out of town, I kept reiterating what a wonderful time I was having with my girlfriends (as I blogged about last time). Saira pointed out that I could always do this whenever I want, which is true, but I think what made me really satisfied this week was learning that I am independently happy. That my happiness is of course because of Michael, but also because I have such a wonderful family, loyal friends and a great career. It is truly something to look back at the last three years since I graduated and be proud of what I have accomplished. Sometimes I get down on myself, as I know everyone does, for my faults and failures, but in reflecting, I have so much to be thankful and grateful for each night as I lay down.
So tonight, as I lay myself down to sleep (as Geno would say...), I want to say thanks....
for my family, especially my parents, for my friends both near and far, that Arpena's surgery went well and that she is recovering, that my dad is coming into town just for one night to see me, that I can wake up each morning looking at my godson's smiling face in the picture on my desk, that I have two loving pets who hate one another, that I got into school (I am telling them tomorrow!), for my career, and...for my pink PJs that are so darn comfortable right now!
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