what 24 taught me.

when you're ready to move on, you will. and once you get there, once you finally let go of the person or thing holding you back, the next great thing walks right into your life.

own your independence and be confident you'll attract the right person at the right time.

sometimes you fall madly and deeply in love...in a second. be careful.

open up enough to let love in, but not so much that your heart is completely exposed. that requires a lot more time and trust.

don't be afraid to get hurt and don't be afraid to hurt others.

don't compare new people to anyone in your past. everyone is different.

learn your lessons before you move on; they could spare you major heartbreak in the future.

you can only give the same advice so many times- let your friends live their lives and either love them or leave them for it.

stop holding grudges. let go of the past.

under the right circumstances, you will always shine. your will, your dedication, your drive...they will all be noticed eventually. don't worry about the people who never see it—they don't matter anyways.

do your best to keep doing your best.

a restaurant is the best place to work if you want to learn about courtesy, sympathy and respect for others. (and european tourists are the worst tippers)

you can't fake the feeling—when the chemistry is there with someone, you know it almost immediately. trust your gut and don't bother entertaining people you know it won't work with.

a first date is acceptable. a second date is earned.

the right opportunity doesn't always present itself as the right opportunity.

family and friends remain the most integral and important part of your life. maintain them with love, care, patience and a great deal of time. nothing pays off more than having them around.

a credit card won't turn me into a shopaholic.

working 2 jobs, seven days a week for six months is not only difficult, it's not healthy.

my body never fails to let me know i've overworked myself.

a job that doesn't pay but makes me happy is one truly worth keeping.

feeding my friends makes me happier than shopping for myself.

planning ahead is the most important job as an editor.

a best friend can become one of several best friends. you grow closer to friends, you drift apart from others...time continually changes the dynamics of all relationships.

if you've done your best, there's nothing left to do.

disabling work email from your phone once a week can be the healthiest thing to do.

if you're healthy, you really are wealthy. there is nothing worse than hearing bad news from a doctor.

don't act on impulse when you're upset. say as little as possible to get your point across—it makes more of an impact.

always forgive your mother.

find things to be thankful for and remind yourself of them when you feel you don't have enough.

rice, cheese and wheat can be hard to digest. quinoa is an excellent replacement.

have confidence in your skills and ability when you are appointed to a position of leadership: others already do.

don't keep your enemies close. keep your friends close; they will take care of you, feed you and keep you safe when you need it most.

nothing matters more than your sanity and happiness. do not sacrifice these for ANYTHING. EVER.

regular facials and pedicures are very important.

a sense of humor can save you under many different circumstances.

make time to talk with dad...he always knows what to say.

losing a phone is not the end of the world.

somehow, you'll manage to get by...even when you think you won't.

have faith in people. we're all the same at the end of the day—we have the same thoughts, the same intentions, the same hopes and fears.

march on.

they say when you try and fail, you should fail again and fail better. i agree.

you can't live life afraid to fail, but sometimes that fear is entirely too overwhelming to make progress. when that happens, i stop. i stand still and i listen to my heart. i hear my fears, i harness them and i do my best to find the strength to combat those fears. this process can take a while. i let it.

this year has felt so much longer than 3 months. it feels like i've been through so much within the first two months alone that it's almost incredible we're not in june already. january i was so high, february i was so low and now, i'm happy to finally be finding myself again. i guess the only way i can sum it up is: the boat got rocked. it's finally leveled out though, and im feeling much better about moving forward.

this month i get to fly home for a week, in 18 days actually...and i simply can't wait. it's been 6 months since i was last home with my family- thats like when you've driven your car so far without gas that the light is BRIGHT RED. ive been running on empty since a couple of months back, so this trip will refuel me and give me the energy i need to keep fighting. amazing what family can do for you. thats all we really have, when it comes down to it. family.

anyways, at this point im trying to be grateful for experiences i've had, whether good or bad or like my most recent experience, incredibly good and bad. bittersweet, if you will. why? why do i want to focus on being grateful? because, what is my alternative? i figure if i can't find gratitude and peace i'll be left with a feeling of failure and anger. everyone has suffered little downfalls, slip ups, failures...the difference is how we react to them. some people let these bumps in the road turn them into bitter, lonely, pessimistic souls. others, build on these experiences, learn, grow and live happily because of it. a or b. those are the only two options.

i choose b. moving forward and advancing.

"there are far better things ahead than any we leave behind" -c.s. lewis

clouds.

all of a sudden, i find myself floating. my feet don't touch the ground anymore, i can't feel the cold concrete as i walk around my familiar city. the chilly winds feel like a warm breeze. im somewhere off in a paradise...a dream land where i am the most beautiful woman alive. i am the smartest, the funniest and the most powerful, amazing woman in the world. ive been taken far, far away and i hope i never come back.