Selfie

per Wikipedia...

"A selfie is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone. Selfies are often shared on social networking services such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. They are usually flattering and made to appear casual. Most selfies are taken with a camera held at arm's length or pointed at a mirror, rather than by using a self-timer."

I moved back home about 2 1/2 weeks ago. The first morning as I lay awake in my bed and heard my parents up and about on the other side of the house, I thought to myself, how nice to hear other people around. The transition back home has been smooth. I've spent a lot of time reflecting on my normal routines and patterns that have been created by living by myself. I did a lot of things on my own. I watched TV shows on Netflix while I cook, I read on my couch at night, and I come and go a lot. I'm mostly content to do so. I had been looking at it from the point of view that there is something wrong with enjoying my alone time, like how dare I relish in the quiet with only myself for company. This weekend however while my parents were both out of state and I had a lot of Tamara time, I came to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with my lifestyle. Now if I sat around all alone 24/7 and lived totally selfishly, then there would be need for a course correction. Between seeing my patients, working out in a lot of group exercise settings, time with family, free babysitting a few times a month, and a handful of interests and hobbies, life is productive enough to not have to feel guilty of enjoying time all to myself. The most important thing is to live well balanced and being in the moment, whatever that moment may be alone or with delightful company. For 2015 I am going to stop the self guilt.  I will enjoy my "selfie" time with me, myself, and I, and I will be present in the moments when I surrounded with other wonderful souls. 

Hook'em

NKOTB Concert 2009

Cruise 2010

Trip to Idaho to see Shaleen

With Faith, aka Prim

Nauvoo with Grandparents

Me and my bad self about to go to Body Combat

Melissa's first food trailer

Cutest Nephew in the world!

Dad and Mom's first Trail of Lights Fun Run '14

Hanging by the fire at Whole Foods

Cuddling time!

Holi Festival of Colors '13

dried cement from witnessing a total knee replacement in '10

Grrr, proud of my biceps, they are really just for show

Moving myself and all my richness

Well, 12345 Lamplight Village Ave, Apt 1014 has served me well for 4 years. Four years? Can it really be? My first place by myself. I grew a lot while here. Especially materially! Gee whiz!  I've been packing for months in anticipation of being super organized and ready for a smooth move into storage and my parent's home. (I'm going to the folks, 80% of my stuff is going into a garage.) I stressed out a lot this week about the transition, the chaos in my usually spotless apartment, leaving the Elizondo's, the Romney's, and Melissa Smith, and the imposition I am going to be invading my parent's space. I had sad moments of leaving the apartment where there are memories of the last boy that I loved (cracked shelf he build wrong, dancing in the living room, watching movies on my couch). I admit I probably freaked out a little with the prospect of buying a home in the hopefully near future, alone! But really I'm not alone, so my fears are totally irrational. Needless to say, it's been an emotional few weeks for me.

Today I had the thought over and over again- look at all this stuff you have not as a burden, but as physical evidence of how rich you are. I am indeed rich. Yesterday the W.H.O organization announced it is running out of money to feed the 1 million plus Syrian refugees in Turkey. That is a real world problem. My organizing my stuff is a rather insignificant "problem" to have. I am a very wealthy woman by the world's standards globally.

And not only am I rich in material things, but as my friend pointed out- "rich with love, rich in giving, rich with spirituality, and rich with qualities".

So apartment 1014, you have served me well. I am off to my next adventure as my cup runneth over!