Thank you notes

So today I made an effort to cross one item off of my bucket list. I know it has only been a day since I published it, but what better time to start than right now! I decided to go for something easy, but also something that I've wanted to do for a long time. I was particularly inspired after meeting with friends for happy hour this evening. No, I did not have a drink or indulge in amazing, but highly caloric, appetizers. But I did get to catch up with good friends, which made it a very successful "happy" hour! So when I got home tonight I decided to write little thank you notes to 10 of my closest friends.

I kept the notes short and sweet, which is a challenge for me because, as those who know me can attest to, I have a tendency to be very wordy. The gist of the notes (which in this day and age took the form of emails or facebook messages) was that I am so grateful to have wonderful, supportive friends in my life. Although I am doing what I can to live positively these days, I've had my share of depression. But I have friends that not only stayed by me during these times, but helped me get through. I will always love them for that, and I am so glad that I can now share the happy times with them too. So to all those who have been there for me in big or little ways, I say "thank you."

Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!

~ Amanda Bradley

Introduction

My name is Christina and I am 30 years old. Four years ago I graduated from law school. Instead of working as a lawyer, I am currently doing data-entry for an online school. Because of my monumental school loans, I am living back at home with my parents. These are all facts, but this is not all of who I am. Recently, I realized that everything in life happens for a reason. So I am using my less than ideal circumstances as a spring board to learn everything there is to know about myself, and to take the knowledge to make myself a better person. This blog is about my journey to find "me" and to be more zen in the process.

I am calling this blog "The Next Best Thing" because a) although I am not currently living out my dream, I feel like I am living the next best thing and b) I am systematically trying out new things to enhance my life so I am searching out the next best thing for me. The main goal in my quest for self-improvement is get the things I want out of life, but I'm finding that there is happiness to be found in every step of the journey, and I am loving this unexpected side effect. So no matter where the ride takes me, I will enjoy every moment. I challenge every one of you to do the same!

Since this is my first post, I decided to make it about the things I would like to do (my "bucket list" so to speak, except that this list is more immediate). I have always been a more timid person who has trouble stepping out of the proverbial box. I have lived this way for the past 30 years and I have decided that I don't want to any more. So I have made a list of the things I would like to do in the near future, including both items of self-improvement and items to push me out of my comfort zone. Hopefully I will be including these items in my blog as I check them off my list!

(Thirty things, in no particular order)
  1. Read "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle
  2. Take a photography class
  3. Get my own apartment
  4. Run a 5k
  5. Volunteer
  6. Visit Alaska
  7. Get a puppy
  8. Fall in love
  9. Do yoga
10. Blog on a regular basis
11. Plant a garden
12. Meditate
13. Work as a lawyer
14. Travel to Europe
15. Lose 100 pounds
16. Make a mix tape for someone
17. Adopt a child
18. Take a latin dance class
19. Climb a mountain
20. Learn to cook
21. Join a CSA
22. Take a train cross country
23. Photograph a spectacular sunrise
24. Attend some type of Marshall Arts classes
25. Write thank you letters to my closest friends
26. Learn spanish
27. Finish "The Brothers Karamazov" by Dostoevsky
28. Teach a class
29. Hold someone's hand
30. Learn to love myself