Guest Blog- Kayla

Dear Monster,

   You have not met Miss Kayla. You probably will never meet many of the people that I considered friends throughout my life because life changes and people grow apart. However, the more I reconnect with people the more surprised I am at how easy it is to drift. We say things like, "Our life just went in different directions" or "Our views and needs in life just changed" but in the end it is our responsibility to maintain contact and show our loved ones how much we truly love them. Your father and I will have to have this conversation with you one day. We'll have to explain that friendship, like everything else in life, takes work. But for now, I'll let you smile at everyone, forget people, remember people, cry when people hold you, make people uncomfortable by just staring at them, and make "baby friends" because right now is the only time that you will be aloud to be flighty with people and have them think it's adorable.
~~~

Hello readers! Today will be my second Co Blog! We have Kayla from over at Exposed Imperfection! Kayla and I go way WAY back. Middle school was one of my least favorite times in my life but I always remember Kayla being kind, gentle, and caring with everyone around her. Throughout our lives we drifted apart and have just recently had the wonderful opportunity to reconnect. Like Miss Alyssa, Kayla is at very different place in her life than I am. She has been through entirely different struggles and has come out the other side a completely different person than who I remember (in the best of ways of course!). She is all grown up and living her adult life! So wonderful to see! So, without further ado, Kayla:

Howdy lovely readers!! I am Kayla. I am a wife to Brian and a dog mommy to two weimaraners. Courtney is a friend of mine all the way back from middle school and has asked me to guest post. Oh boy was I excited when she asked as I love her blog; she’s very inspiring to me! Thanks for stopping by and reading! Life is an everyday adventure and always about learning and developing as a person. Even though I am not wise in my years I have learned some lessons along the way that have changed me. Here’s a little of what I wish I would have known:

1.  If I knew then what I know now, I would have stuck with extracurricular activities in high school. I feel like I missed out on some amazing times and friends when I stopped marching band and soccer.
2. If I knew then what I know now, I would have been more careful about who I gave my heart to. Even though I learned from my mistakes, there are pieces of my heart and self I wish I would have saved solely for my husband.
3. If I knew then what I know now, I would have not screwed around in college and worked my butt off while my parents were paying for school and had a chance to live at home. This is a big one for me as I would have been way done by now. However, in life I think we have to learn things the hard way sometimes.
4. If I knew then what I know now, I would not have hurt friends of mine back in high school. I let some amazing people slip away from life for immature, selfish reasons!
5. If I knew then what I know now, I would have not moved out right after high school graduation. I thought I was grown up and wanted out of my parent’s house but I was still so young and was nowhere near ready to be on my own. Learned lots of life lessons though.
6. If I knew then what I know now, I would have gone into the military. I always had a passion for the military but let boys and people’s views get in the way.
7. If I knew then what I know now, I would have chased after my dream harder. Out of high school I thought becoming a nurse would be handed to me. That’s not how it works and I should have started working my butt off for it in high school.
8. If I knew then what I know now, I would have never stopped volunteering after high school. I loved to volunteer and still love it! However, life is so crazy now I have trouble finding time.
9. If I knew then what I know now, I would have taken so many more pictures. I would never take pictures when I would go places or do things with family, friends, and Brian. So I look back now and wish I had pictures of all those things and people I love.
10. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have taken my family for granted. I have an amazing family and I never spent enough time with them growing up. And didn’t care for a relationship with them when I was younger but I cherish everything I have now and continually try to make those relationships better!

Being an adult. Where did that word come from anyways?
I realized I was an adult the day Brian and I moved 1,900 miles away from everything I knew my whole life. I had been around my hometown, family, and friends for over 20 years and all of a sudden they were hundreds of miles away. I realized I was adult in those 6 months as I depended on myself and Brian only. It was a great adventure and learning experience! Honestly though I don’t think we are ever really an “adult”. I don’t think there is any specific task, age, or thing that makes us an adult. I think the definition of being an adult changes with experiences, mistakes, and maturity.  

Life is a rough but fun journey. Life is never an easy ride and it takes every part of your heart, brain, and soul to travel the road. Mistakes are made along the way but they don’t define who you are. Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual, it would be boring that way anyway. However, if you wake up every day thankful for the last and try to be a better person each day, then that’s what life is all about! Along with some smiles, laughs, tears, hugs, and kisses along the way! Enjoy your own journey and have a blast doing it!!!!