My Life Could Not Be More Different

Something occurred to me at the Mavs game. As I was laughing, joking, cheering, smiling, running around asking to take pictures with the Mavs Maniaacs, having a blast with six new friends, and a boy that makes me happier than any feeling I even knew existed... it really hit me just how much my life has changed in the past six months.

Running a lifestyle blog allows you (and everyone else in the world) to look back on your journey, from where you started, to where you are now, at just the click of a button. I look back at this whole string of #VTIMBeBrave posts, and even this post about how to enjoy your city solo, and it really opened my eyes to just how sad and lonely I was for so many months in Dallas, even though I never really admitted that to myself. 
I feel very very lucky, heck I'll even say it.... blessed... with the life I've been given. I've experienced my fair share of loss, like when I lost my dad at 19, then lost my uncle, who I was very close with, exactly one year later. Although I was sad and even quite angry at times, I don't remember having that, "but why me" attitude. Once the initial pain from a loss like that subsides, it is all about the attitude you take from that moment forward. I've said this before, but I like to think that I'm actually pretty damn lucky because my dad is up there not only watching out for me (see also: the outcome of this accident) but also bringing people my way when I need them the most. 
Let me tell you a little story real quick. When I was growing up, we were fortunate enough to take so many wonderful family vacations. The one downside of being an only child is that you don't have built-in friends, appearing in the form of brothers and sisters, to play with on vacations. My dad was notorious for sneaking away on trips to visit the local WINGS and buy up all of the pool toys. He would then scatter the pool toys all around me, to attract the other kids to come play with me. 
He knew I was shy, and would never make the first move. He also knew I would be the life of the party if he could just bring the friends to me! So that is exactly what he did. He found a way to bring the party to me. 
Let's fast forward to September 1, 2012, the day I moved to Dallas with no friends, but confident that I would make them in no time. I went to sorority alum club events, college alum club events and even began volunteering for one of the local animal shelters. All in the name of making friends. After each failed attempt, after each time I would leave an event without any new phone numbers or future plans for a happy hour get together. I slowly but surely started to give up even trying.
But then, right when I was the saddest I've been in years, or maybe ever, my dad stepped in and brought me pool toys, and the rest was up to me. 

I think this is a fitting song to link up with Helene today.