26 years ago..

I entered the world, full of life and laughter, and I was ugly or as my mom calls me "the ugly duckling". She makes fun of me all the time, how I had split ends and a mullet to the big red marks on my forehead and upper lip, & my feet were turned inward. Even with the ugly remarks I love it when she tells my birth story, how she had to wait 8 hours to hold me (back then they knocked you out entirely for a c-section), and when she finally held me she examined me all over counting my toes and fingers and how happy she was to have such an ugly baby!

I have to say I am pretty happy with the past 26 years of my life, from my childhood to my crazy teenage life and to my present adulthood, I feel as I have really lived, I have accomplished plenty of things I didn't think I would be able to. I can't wait for the years to come. I read this piece from Anna Quindlen who wrote the book "A Short Guide to a Happy Life" and this made me think of all the things that I have yet to "learn how" to experience:

"Life is made of moments, small pieces of silver amidst long stretches of tedium. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won't happen. We have to teach ourselves how to live, really live...to love the journey, not the destination."

So I will continue to enjoy my journey and hope you join me in creating those moments of small sliver pieces. I don't want to feel compelled to get to the finish line, I just want to BE.. be me, be fun, be HAPPY!!

SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

I leave you with ...

Milena -1 year and 4 months old:





HAVE A GREAT NEW YEARS!!!!!