bedtime. i LOVE sleeping. and it's even more fun with a significant other cuz then i get free cuddles too!! what could be better? :)

i don't really like the fact that the first thing that popped into my mind when i saw this question is "o god, don't even get me started.." and i think there are so many things that i am judgemental about because i've recently started paying attention to that part of me and i'm trying to infuse it with a bit more compassion. a concept which is waaaay easier said than done, as i'm discovering! but i notice that i really come down hard on myself about it too, so i'm trying to infuse that with compassion as well. argh!  perhaps PATIENCE is the infusion i need, lol! ah well. 
if i had to pick one thing i'd have to say i'm really judgemental of people who hurt my friends&family. i can be very one-sided, tunnel vision-ish and sometimes downright nasty when someone messes with my loved ones. i can somehow make them out to be horrible people, even though i know they're really not...well, most of the time, haha!

the retirement party for our company's former CEO. this man was so well loved by his employees and fellow executives. it's a small company and he always treated us like family. so much integrity, caring and compassion went into how he ran this company, and the party we threw him was a true testament to that. the speeches that were given caused equal parts embarassment and pride, but were always heartfelt and fond. i can only hope that when my retirement day comes, i have done my job in a way that inspires such a memorable love-filled event. it was truly fantastic.

i'm grateful for the shift in perspective that has allowed me to forgive my mother for allegedly screwing up my life. all my life i'd wanted to be a dancer, and my mother steadfastly refused to allow me peace of mind at any time i considered pursuing that.  'you wont make any money, you'll get hurt, your career will be over so early, you'll never make it,' etc. i pursued other interests-- some to please her, but ultimately others to please myself, of  which she also disapproved. DROVE. ME. CRAZY.  i was so angry with her for so long about it. but this past summer i did a lot of self reflection, and realized that my mother never physically stopped me from dancing. she never threatened to kill me, cut me off, disown me, any of that. i bought into the idea that i couldn't do it--i agreed with her. and that's why i'm not a dancer now. through a rather rough process, i was able to see my mother's actions for what they truly were, and my reactions for what they truly were, and grieve the loss of a dream appropriately. and celebrate the birth of a new and truly incredible dream that i am chasing with joy and faith. and i'm trying hard to not agree with anything or anyone who doesn't believe in this new dream. tough lesson, but hopefully well learned. :)