"Sunshine"

Tim's Eagle Nest

There are days filled with sunshine, warmth, and happiness. By the same token there are also days filled with rain, cold, and sadness. It is on these days that I think of you and all you have done for me in my life. I think of all the lost sleep, tears cried, and energy spent on me and I am truly grateful for the person who you have helped me to become. When I look at you I see the warmth and heart I try to bestow onto others each day. I try to live each day of my life to the fullest not only to experience it all but to honor you for all the lessons youve taught me. Being away from you is hard sometimes but I look around at other people my age and just have to laugh. Many of them don't have a clue yet or sit around whining about things that arent important. It is at these moments where I smile and am proud to have you in my life, having taught me the lessons some of them will never learn. I truly can't imagine what my life would have been without you! On these cold, sad days I think of these things and I think of you and how lucky we all are and the day turns into a warm, joyful one. I love you very much and think of you often. Never forget that!! Thank you for my life. It's off to a wonderful start thanks to you.

Written on October 4, 2000

This piece is one which is very close to my heart. Before writing this it had been almost 2 years since I'd written just for the sake of writing. This was the begining of attaining the connection I now possess with myself. On the morning of this particular day one of my classes was cancelled and I went to breakfeast at the dining hall alone. I sat in the sun having breakfeast and a few sentences entered my head. What made this day different was that after I was finished I put pen to paper and recorded these beautiful words.

I later mailed them to my mother and a very dear friend who has always been like a mother to me. I'm told she carried the letter around with her in her purse for many months as a source of strength and reminder. It was amazing for me when I thought of the power my simple words had in her life. A small part of me was not surprised and knew I would one day do that for many more.

And so this letter was the begining of the next greatest phase of the journey I had no idea awaited me. One month Neil and I found each other in this life. Neither of us has ever been the same again. Whenever I write now I think of what he told me the first time I told him I was going to write..."Write to remember who you are at this very moment." I've never forgotten those words and shall continue to record this great story of mine!