I flipped through the pages of the journal, till a number 7 playing card slipped out from its pages. A gentle smile washed over my face, an awareness softly came over me. The seven of hearts… a familiar reminder, resting in a book full of reminders. A book full of words that exposed the very shades of my heart and soul. Butterflies gathered within the center of me, and a chuckle whispered between my lips. I closed the book of last years stories and put my words down, with a deeper sense of me.

I took a deep breath in, and looked at all of the photos and paintings in front of me. My mind travelling with each picture; each painting inviting me back to a moment of past tense. Within seconds I travel from the heat in St. Lucia to a bathroom in Portugal, from our wedding to our friend’s wedding, from a crazy Phish show to my nephews painting in the kitchen on a spring night. And I became filled with the elation of sweet memories.

There was no longing to go back, no pining in the pit of my stomach. In this moment, I found myself in the embrace of true reflection. The beautiful echoes of my past swept me off my feet and flooded over me with infinite comfort. The colors of my life leading up to that very moment, the shades and soft edges of every moment that lead to that one – were all absolutely perfect. My life – my story – my movie … an absolute perfect compilation of bewitching moments – that are mine, and mine only.

I become giddy and my heart feels wild as I sit, melting into the memories that are my life. And I say thank you. Thank you. Thank you. To the overwhelming feelings of pure love that I have for all of the experiences that have brought me here. To this moment. This moment of reflection. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. To the mistakes, the lessons, the sorrows and adventures. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. To the words on the pages in the book that is my life. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. To this golden life that is mine, all mine. Perfect with perfect imperfections.