Important to Keep in Mind

Things, people, relationships--all of it--only have the value that you ascribe to them.

Therein Lies the Problem

Qualities I'm drawn to fiercely in guys: immaturity, emotional unavailability, often physical unavailability as well, not having one's own shit together, flakiness disguised as adventurousness.

Qualities I fiercely hate: all of the above.

Qualities I'm most likely so drawn to because they are my qualities too: all of the above.

Reasons I want to move back to Europe/become European

better healthcare

no gun craziness

no open container law

super easy international travel

more liberal society

crazy awesome ethnic foods

sweet public transit

accents

multiple languages for your kids to be brought up in

more exercise/walking around/walkable cities

better social services (i.e., counseling, crisis centers)

ridiculously cheaper higher education

the ability to dress like a slut without being labeled a slut

regarding family back in the states: absence makes the heart grow fonder

richer history

In defense of disturbed souls

I trust people who have experiences and are a bit messed up from them more than I trust people who are normal but don't have experiences or stories to tell.

Nothing is more important than developing self-confidence, or faith in yourself. Without first having this, you can't develop faith in anything else. And, as Brittney said so eloquently, you have to believe in yourself before you can ask someone else to.

It's not just unfair to yourself to stay hung up on an ex; it's also hugely unfair to other people who come into your life, people who might be looking for just you. You know your ex has made a definitive choice to go, but you don't know who might be waiting to make the choice to come in or stay. Let the door be closed. Give them the uncompromising exit they asked for. "If they're dumb enough to walk away, be smart enough to let them go."

I wish there were a computer search engine capable of combing through all of my old online conversations and picking out the most brilliant things I've said. Then again, if a machine were capable of detecting brilliance, it probably wouldn't be long before it also developed the capability of manufacturing brilliance. If that were to happen, brilliance would lose its value.