So…this whole “love” thing isn’t working out so well. And I was getting really hard on myself, until I realized that I was trying to do the hardest thing of all- love people and situations and circumstances that I didn’t like. So I decided to take baby steps and start with good things. Then, suddenly, two good- no, great! things happened.
My best friend asked me to be a bridesmaid.
It was so sweet- she asked me and another friend to come to Starbucks as usual. I didn’t think anything of it because it’s such a tradition now. After we got tea and got settled, she handed us little envelopes and asked us to open them up at the same time. She had printed our names on cards with a cute design, and when we opened them we saw simply, “Be my bridesmaid?” in large letters on the inside.
I’m sure you can imagine the following scene. Squealing, excitement, OMG!, giggles, etc. She pointed out to us a couple minutes later that we hadn’t officially answered.
I felt loved. Although some girls my age are old hats at this sort of thing, I’ve never been a bridesmaid. I would have understood if she had a small ceremony and only had her sister as maid of honor. I would have been by her through everything. But to have her pick me was wonderful. To be invited into the inner circle to enjoy this time with her and to have everyone know that our years of building a friendship has culminated in me being right there on her special day to make it as amazing as possible was such an honor. I feel like she’s a sister and I love her and it still makes me a bit teary to think that she loves me too.
Then…
I received my first law school acceptance.
I can’t describe my relief. You can pray and say that you believe all you want, but there’s just something about that finality of knowing that it’s going the way you want. Of course, this is just one step in the line of things that has to go my way before, well, I die, but at least this door wasn’t shut. Just the opposite. I can move forward and push through the next level, down the next passageway and fight the next dragon.
In some ways, both of these instances will make life harder. My best friend will have less time for me. Law school will be tough and involve a million different situations working out just right to even get me there. The next year will be so full of trusting and patience and determination.
Here is where I can try something new or choose my usual option.
I’d usually try to find some way to dampen my joy. Think of something negative that’s completely unrelated, find out something that could throw the whole process into turmoil, or just generally be afraid of the future.
Or…I could just be happy and celebrate and rejoice because, it’s easier to do so when you have a specific reason. If I learn now, it will be even easier to continue the rejoicing even when I can’t remember why I’m doing it. I’m going to try to translate this into love, too. I can’t force myself to love people or circumstances that are making me miserable right off the bat. I’m going to focus on how much I love the ones who make it easy and remember why it’s good to have people around me.
We’ll work on the rest later.






