What Really Matters Most In Life

Funny story how I captured this bird flying across the
beautiful setting sun: the guy to my right was tossing Ruby's
french fries at the birds.  I share this for no reason other
than it makes me laugh every time I see this photo.

My friend is planning her wedding.  

She’s cool, calm, collected. In other words, the exact opposite of Little Miss Crazy Pants (aka me) during my wedding planning.

I was determined to have the Most Perfect Wedding Ever (because, you know, that’s the point).  

Especially when it came to my bridesmaid dresses.  And so began The Great Quest for the Perfect Purple Dress. I spent weeks searching—I trolled dozens of bridal sites, visited 9 salons up and down southern California, called stores in neighboring states—but no one seemed to carry The One.

Me: Excuse me, do you have deep-lilac-not-quite-aubergine-slightly-cerulean-above-the-knee-strapless bridesmaid dresses?
Store Owner in New York: [silence]
Me: Hello? 

It’s funny, because now, I could give a hoot. 

Maybe a bridesmaid dress seems like a silly example, but it led me to a larger truth: 

There is so much in my life that I thought was important, that’s just not.

Here are the things I always thought I needed to be happy: 

• Married
• 2.5 kids
• A big beautiful home
• VP at a stable company

And you know what? I have none of these things. None. Zero. Zip. 

And I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.

I’ve not only accepted, but I’m reveling, in the right now.  Because this is it.  This is my life— my one precious life.  And it’s a life I’m incredibly grateful for.

Don’t get me wrong, I still want most of that list (except the VP thing—been there done that, no thank you very much).  But I now realize that my focus for so long was on trivial things, not the things that truly matter.  

Here are the things that now are most important to me:

• My Faith
• Family (this includes my dog of course)
• Friends
• Career

It's pretty easy to be grateful for this little one. 

And striving to be the most loving, joyful, fun, authentic human being I can possibly be.  

To quote a legendary coach, in honor of one of my favorite sports seasons of the year (don’t you just love March Madness?!?  I’m such a sucker for a good Cinderella story- Go Lumberjacks!): 

Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.  John Wooden 

I also love this sweet sentiment: 

You know, all that really matters is that the people you love are happy and healthy.  Everything else is just sprinkles on the sundae.  Paul Walker 

(Yes I worked in a Paul Walker quote.  You’re welcome).