I Ain't Settling.

"I ain't settling for anything less than everything."
Ah, it's music to my ears - quite literally. That Sugarland song is extremely catchy!

I have been struggling lately on what it means to make a concession and what the challenges of settling are. Back in September, I wrote a post on compromising. My thought process may have shifted a bit, but if you're wondering if I still believe in compromise, the answer is yes, I do.

Let's preface this a little. To a large extent, relationships are full of compromise. When two people merge their lives together, you're going to get an array of personalities, desires, and demands. With that being said, you can expect some work ahead. It's important to be flexible in your relationship and to be open to some negotiating here and there, but make sure you remain true to yourself and refrain from wavering on issues that don't need compromising.

The essence of who you are. 
This shouldn't even be up for debate. Your personality and your dreams should be respected and appreciated by your significant other. If you find yourself feeling like you have to sacrifice things that make you distinctively you, you are having to compromise too much of yourself.

Your basic moral system.
These morals and values are placed deep within our soul and should be held and honored there with the utmost respect. If you give up on these values, your conscious will suffer. It is then that you will resent your partner. There's a very good chance that you can find someone who shares your same moral system and the two of you can use it as a guide throughout life.

How you feel about yourself.
No woman should ever question her worth. If your self-esteem is being diminished or your flaws are being acknowledged, then it's time to reevaluate this person's place in your life. You should be appreciated. And admired. And loved. For everything you are.

Individuality.
It's imperative that you maintain your own personal interests and personality quirks. It's normal to experience some co-dependency in relationships, but don't let it get so far that you forget how to function as an individual. Celebrate those differences that you all have in the relationship, but never sacrifice your individuality for someone else.

* * *

If compromising lessens who you are as a person, or makes you feel taken advantage of, then you've reached an unhealthy level of compromise. The ability to compromise effectively requires a mutual respect, honesty, and good intentions. Don't let making concessions diminish either person as an individual, but instead let it strengthen the relationship as a whole. The right amount of compromise leads to a happier and healthier life for you and yours.

The R-Word.

March 6th may be just another day for some, but for others, it's much more than that. Only a select few of us in this world have the joy and honor of knowing, and loving, someone with special needs. Those of us who have this privilege know what remarkable individuals they are. Each and every daughter, son, brother, sister, cousin, and friend bring to the table a particularly unique skill. They teach us things like patience, determination, and unconditional love on a daily basis. It's time that we take a stand for those we adore by helping.. 

Having a little brother with Down syndrome, it hits a little closer to home. My heart is full of love for Austin. His well-being and his feeling are, naturally, my ultimate regards.
I'm so proud of Austin and all of his accomplishments. He has to try harder at some things, but he doesn't quit. It's a characteristic that is admired by many. He inspires me to never give up, so I won't. I won't ever give up on advocating on his behalf. He deserves all of my support!

If you want to brush up on some more of what Down syndrome is, start with this post.

If you're interested in reading more about the International Down Syndrome Coalition, go here.

If you would like to read a powerful essay by a girl with Down syndrome, go here.

Last year, I posted some facts about Down syndrome, and you can find them here.

Of course, there was a letter that I wrote to Austin. To read it, click here.

And if that isn't enough, you can join me in learning to appreciate it all, here.

The annual day of awareness is today.

Today we take the pledge.

Speak up. Be heard. Eliminate hate. Educate others. Lead by example. Love, embrace, appreciate. Find good reason to support this cause and help those around you feel accepted.

"Our campaign asks people to pledge to stop saying the R-word as a starting point toward creating more accepting attitudes and communities for all people.  Language affects attitudes and attitudes affect actions.  Pledge today to use respectful, people-first language."

Heart Attack.

Life is a long series of choices, outcomes, and consequences. There are times when our hardest decisions become our best and our best decisions are the toughest. Life goes by so fast. We hardly have time to make mistakes. But we do, and we will; we will all make mistakes. And the reality is that with each obstacle we face, we learn and grow and conquer something that we have never surmounted before. And so how do we get to that point? It's fairy simple, really.

Listen to your heart. I repeat, the importance of listening to your heart has never been more imperative. Heart intelligence is the most profound wisdom that we know. It leads us, guides us, and gives us an understanding about who we are and what our purpose on this Earth might be. Our heart has the uncanny ability to answer questions about what is best for us.

What is best for us may not be the easiest, or most obvious. What is best for us may take hard work, dedication, and loads of patience. But we can't let opportune moments pass us by, because if we let enough of them slip through our grip, then we will have wasted precious moments. Live with an open heart and live with an appreciation for all that it is capable of.

Life is demanding and rough, but it's also beautiful. So don't hope for an easy life. Instead seek strength and perseverance to conquer a difficult one. Let your heart lead the way.

Insta v.16.

In life you are going to make mistakes, you're going to fall down, but it's the getting up that counts. Just like in baseball: you'll get a few hits, but most likely, you'll strike out more than you'll get on base. Don't quit. Find your focus, relax, take a deep breath, give it a good swing.

Now, here is a little of what I've been up to lately, via Instagram, of course.

^ This little chunk keeps getting cuter by the day. This little chunk also "got hot at school" and decided to cut up his jeans with scissors.

^ Falling more in love with Jennifer Lawrence. She's got the greatest personality.

^ Safe Haven (the book) gets two thumbs up. The story was suspenseful and emotional, and the twist at the end was the cherry on top. And Silver Linings Playbook is definitely one of the best movies that I've seen. The chemistry between J. Lawrence and B. Cooper is incredibly moving!

^ I got my CCW and you can bet that if I'm present in the midst of a mass shooting, I will do everything in my power to make sure the person(s) next to me remain safe. Austin has my back.

^ Looking through my baby pictures. I was cute. Speaking of cute, Bailey sat in this position for about ten minutes before I snapped this picture. She loves attention.

^ The Pathfinder showed signs of trouble in the future, so we made a little swap. Thank you Greg. I am seriously in love with this car. Even more so than my Xterra and Pathfinder combined.

^ Randoms: Nick got me this watch and I wear it 24/7. And this picture of Austin is just one of the many things around the house that he likes to help with.