Monday, March 29, 2010

so i just celebrated my 23rd birthday. crazy right? feels like just yesterday i was hitting a ball of a tee and tying up my ballet shoes. 23 years of my life have gone by and as i sat at the table in the bar, celebrating my birthday with my friends, i realized how fortunate i am. i've always known i had the greatest friends in the world - as i am sure everyone believes this is true of their own. however, i really do have the greatest friends - some new, some old but regardless, they really are the best in the world - no joke. they have been here for me in more times than i could ever count and they make me laugh when no one else can. throughout this past school year, i decided to take the trek, pack my bags & move to the island. knowing no one but my roommate alicia & bailey - i decided that i was going to do this for me, get out there and experience the world on my own (well, partly). little did i know this year would bring about a heck of a lot more stress, anxiety, fear... the list goes on, than i could have ever imagined. i mean yes, it wasn't that bad since im still able to type this excerpt at the moment. but trust me - it was bad. from countless arguments & struggles with the landlords, to living in a house infested with bugs, to renovations that were never completed, to robberies and stolen laptops, to catching robbers on our back porch, to roommates peacing and at not paying, to family being in and out of the hospital, to brothers being in car accidents.... and trust me the list goes on. i don't mean to sit here and complain ANYMORE by any means but just to give you a taste of what i have been through in the past 6 months. through all of this my friends never left my side. although a ferry ride away they, and one in particular, supported me and was there for me in more ways than i could ever thank her for. she is truly the most amazing person in the entire world - her heart is larger than anyone i have ever known and her strength and independence is undoubtedly remarkable. if she knew i was saying this about her she would be saying "oh my god no.. thats what i'm here for-thank you for talking to me". She is so humble and so genuine that anyone that is able to have her in their lives is better because of it. She has travelled to endless places in this world and of all - her main goal is not to do it selfishly but to help others along the way. from helping children in kenya and uganda to , well you name it-shes done it. she is truly one in a million and i am so very thankful that i have her in my life.... i love you mariiiika. you are the greatest person and the bestest friend i could ever ever have & i love you so so much. these 23 years of my life have been wonderfuuuul but they became truly better when we became friends! thank you for everything - i love you forever! - when you move away from home you really do realize who are your true friends, who will call you, who will be there for you & ive really realized that over these 6 months. i realized that the friends that are there for you and that treat you with the upmost greatest respect are the friends to keep around. people who pretend to be this but then you realize one day that they really aren't who you thought they were - those people are not worth keeping around. the good ones, the ones like marikkka are the ones to keep because those people no matter what will have your back in anything you do. so, with all that said - that has been my greatest lesson learned over these years - that true friends are in fact true friends and that anything else is just not worth heartache and hope. so heres to friends and the happiness they bring to your life ! :)


- a great feel good song -

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