Gators galore

Louisiana definitely has spectacular wildlife, and on Presidents' Day we decided to go explore! We went on the Cajun Pride Swamp Tour in the outskirts of New Orleans. Now I've seen plenty of gators, turtles, snakes, and creepy crawlies since I've been here, but never while floating down a swamp. The open air, the ease of the boat, the sound of wildlife, the picturesque backdrops and the ridiculously awesome Cajun tour guide all made for a memorable day. If you're ever in Louisiana PLEASE do one of these tours. Yes, you can see some gators and wildlife yourself while walking along nature paths, but there was just something about having someone else escort you and spot all the interesting sites with a trained eye (some that I definitely would have missed if I was by myself) that made it all the more enjoyable.

Also, I know raccoons aren't really what comes to mind first when you think about the back road swamps, but these little guys followed our boat all the way down the waterway--they even risked their lives next to the gator in order to snatch up a good marshmallow.

Here are some of my favorite shots from the day:

Love is not stupid

I've recently realized that when people say "Valentine's Day is a stupid holiday" or "We don't celebrate Valentine's Day," it really irks me. I understand that you should show your love for people every day, and believe me I support that, but that's true for many other holidays. We have a holiday for mothers and fathers, even though we should celebrate them every day. We have a holiday remembering those who served our country, even though we should remember them every day. We have birthdays even though we should celebrate life every day. We have a holiday for giving thanks, even though we should definitely be giving it daily.

So why are people so opposed to celebrating love? It's one of the most important components of life, however so many people are against actively celebrating it. This doesn't mean that you need to celebrate with your boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife. There should be so many people you love, whether it be your family, your friends, your co-workers, or yourself. There are so many people that you can make feel loved, however everyone just focuses on the Hallmark aspect of the holiday filled with cute teddy bears and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate.

Valentine's Day shouldn't be about getting the biggest bear or the most chocolate. It should be about making a person you love (or all the people you love) feel special. It should be about saying an extra "I love you" or giving a prolonged hug. It should be about reconnecting with someone you miss. It should be about cooking a homemade dinner and spending quality time together without the hustles and bustles of your regular schedule. It should be about postponing your to-do list in order to sit down with someone who means so much to you. It should be about writing a meaningful letter to someone important just to let them know you're thinking about them.

There's so many things that this holiday is about, but sadly that has been lost in translation. A holiday that should be centered around celebrating your love for the world around you and the people around you has been manufactured as cheesy or "stupid." When really, genuine love is neither of those things. It's beautiful, and it should be spread. Because I know when someone tells me they love me, it means the world, and I think that's something that should be celebrated.

I received a valentine card today from the children of the Salvation Army saying "Happy Valentine's Day! Thank you for your service and may God bless you!" It was signed by one of the homeless children who's lives I try so hard to improve. To me, this is a symbol of what the holiday should be about: changing someone's day and adding an extra smile. It made me feel loved and it made me feel appreciated and there are arguably no greater feelings than those two.

I hope everyone makes someone else feel special today. Anyone. It could be a stranger or someone very close to you. Spread love. Make someone smile. Do a random act of kindness. Leave a love note for your boyfriend, call your parents, visit a children's shelter and spend time with them, or visit a nursing home and play games. It doesn't matter what you do, just make someone's day better.

+1 For Optimism

If there's one thing I need to be everyday, it's optimistic. People come and talk to me and tell me their saddest stories and their toughest situations every single day and what they want out of me is of course advice and help, but also a beacon of hope that things can get better.

It's hard to stay positive when you hear what some people are going through. It's hard to tell them that things will get better when you're not quite sure if things will. But nevertheless, that's what I'm here for. I'm here to offer every resource I can that will assist them, I'm here to map out their goals with them, and I'm here to help them achieve those goals.

Today I was reassured that being positive pays off. One of my clients who I hadn't seen in months stopped in to say "hello." He initially came to me following some difficulties with a long, drawn out divorce. He was married for twenty-something years and following the divorce she came away with everything--the house, the money, etc. He actually wanted her to have everything because he's the kind of man to put other's needs before his own.

So he packed his things in his truck and headed to New Orleans from Mississippi. For about a month he was sleeping and living in his truck trying to figure out how to get out of his slump. At 64 years old with a bad hip, he had no business sleeping in his car (not that anyone does).

We talked for about an hour and a half, about everything from odd jobs to his love for ping pong. His job status was pretty much nonexistent as he was a construction worker and his bad hip was causing him excruciating pain to the point where he couldn't hold a steady job.

I wanted him to find a place to live. He had the sweetest heart and the kindest soul and knowing that he didn't have a place to comfortably sleep was tearing me up inside. I recommended a few programs, a few senior homes, and he was on his way. I spoke to him once since then when I called and checked up on him in December (he initially came in early November) but he was still searching for a place to stay.

Today he came into my office, clean shaven and well dressed, with a big smile on his face. He updated me on his new apartment in his senior home. He spoke with pride about his new neighbors and friends--all the while beaming with joy. He also informed me that he's getting a hip replacement next week, as it was visibly obvious that his limping had worsened.

He came to thank me for being the light that kept him going, for being the motivation that told him that he could do it. "When you have someone who believes in you, you believe in yourself. I come to you with a gracious heart," he said. And right then I knew, it's OK not to have the ability to change everyone's lives, but for those that I do change, I'll carry those with me.