Well... what did ya learn???

So growing up, I always heard from my father, "Well... what did ya learn?"  This week has truly been a learning experience for me.  Not only did I get to learn all about the Oregon Trail and the pioneers, I've learned that I'm a pioneer in my own life's journey.  I'm setting out on uncharted adventures, ready to see what comes my way.

I learned this week, that I have AMAZING friends everywhere that will do anything for me.  They pick me up when I'm feeling down, they tell me the truth, and they rejoice when I'm having a BLAST!  This week has been filled with TONS of excitement, laughs, and fresh starts.

Not only was Wednesday night a good night with friends, but it helped me realize a lot.  One friend asked me, "Hey, how's your husband dealing with you being away all this time?"  I stopped... and thought... and was like.. hmmm... he doesn't know.  I shared with him the dramas of the last few months.  He told me that if I didn't just shock him, like I just did, he never would have known.  He let me know how special I was and that I didn't deserve what happened.  He let me know what an amazing woman I was and that he was proud to call me a friend.  Talk about a wow moment.  I am truly lucky.  Stacey, backed him up by saying, whatever I need, they're there.  Again, wow... These are people that I goto class with once a month.  People that I get to take amazing trips with during the summer and see nonstop for almost two weeks, and they've got my back... It just really feels great.

This week, I've heard things that I haven't heard in a while.  I was told by one friend that I was beautiful.  Now I'm sitting here, after hiking, and all day on a bus... and he thinks I'm beautiful.  This is something I haven't heard in years.  It's so sad to say that, but it's true.  The last two years have been so hard.  We were just going through the motions.  We were more roommates than partners in a relationship.  I thought, I don't need to hear things like that.  I thought that, I'm fine.  But you know what, it felt damn good to hear.

I also realized how much of life I wasn't living.  When you're with a group of people, who you know, but don't get to hang out with all the time, and hear their stories... something just clicks.  It makes you think, why have I wasted so much time not being happy.  Well, as Britney Spears says, "I'm stronger than yesterday, It's nothing by my own way,"  I am ready to get out there.  I'm ready to see and have life changing experiences during the Summer of Steph.

I'm ready to live!

Now all I have left is a days worth of flights back to CT.  I'll be home for less than 48 hours before I leave for the Civil Right's Trip and New Orleans!  For those that hike with us, we're going to hit Sleeping Giant on Sunday at 10.  Then I'm off to the airport early Monday morning!  I love you all and thanks for checking in on me on the Summer of Steph World Tour!