relationships - the most important thing in life

January 13, 2006

While I was in class over the winter break, my teacher pointed directly to me, in the middle of class, and asks me….”Andrea, whats THE most important thing in life?” I answered, “love,” and he just started laughing. I asked him what he was expecting me to say……and he told me that relationships are the most important thing in life. He continued to discuss how relationships effect your entire life, from birth to death. His words haven’t left me since that day in class. I remind myself of what he said everyday, and it makes me look at my life and how my relationships effect me. I can break it down in groups…..intimate relationships, friendship relationships, and family relationships. The past year of my life, I’ve had to overcome many obstacles in my life, and its relationships that has helped me through it all.

I’ve also come to the realization that everything happens for a reason. Sometimes its really hard to believe it, but looking back, there just seems to be this path laid out for me. People come in and out of my life and manage to bring that “spark” back each time. I am so thankful for everyone that has influenced my life. The list ranges from my parents, to an innocent child I saw at the mall who was lost that I helped her find her way. I’m still trying to figure out my purpose, its extremely frustrating, I feel like I need to make this great difference in the world. Being a 27 year old girl from Illinois doesn’t seem like that might be possible, however, doing one small thing everyday for a stranger, maybe one day I might be that one thing in their life that brings back a spark for them.

I wonder how I ended up here, but I just keep going to see where life takes me next.

Rascal Flatts - When the Sand Runs Out

I spent the morning at an old friend’s grave
Flowers and Amazing Grace, he was a good man
He spent his whole life spinnin’ his wheels
Never knowin’ how the real thing feels
He never took a chance or took the time to dance
And I stood there thinking as I said goodbye
Today is the first day of the rest of my life

I’m gonna stop lookin’ back and start movin’ on
And learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I wanna leave something here

Go out on a ledge, with out any net
That’s what I’m gonna be about
Yeah I wanna be runnin’
When the sand runs out

‘Cause people do it everyday
Promise themselves they’re gonna change
I’ve been there, but I’m changin’ from the inside out

That was then and this is now
I’m a new man, yeah, I’m a brand new man
And when they carve my stone they’ll write these words
“Here lies a man who lived life for all that its worth”