"Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder"

     If there is anything I have learned in the past month or so of my life, it is that a long distance relationship can tell you more than you could imagine about the things you want in life. Really, there are two options: 1) this person means so much to you, and distance only makes the heart grow fonder and want to be where they are, or 2) the timing is off and you are just not ready for what is happening. Each of these options are perfectly fine conclusions to come to, but it is amazing how fast they can come about and what else comes with them.
     My long distance relationship has, to my surprise, already brought me to one of these conclusions. I have found distance between my boyfriend and I to make me become so much more appreciative of what I have with him. There is another thing that I did not expect, though. Although there is nothing more that I want right now than to be with him, in a sense I am happy to be on my own. I feel like I am getting to know myself all over again, and I am finding passions in life that I perhaps forgot about because it is so easy to get totally consumed with your relationship. I feel that now, discovering myself all over again, I can imagine not just a fantasy of our relationship but I can also imagine him fitting into my passions and dreams like never before. I know this sounds cheesy, and maybe doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it is almost as if I can imagine real life with my relationship because I have to work on myself and my goals while working on maintaining my relationship. This is, after all, what it comes down to in the end: work. I guess that is the best way I can describe it.
     Maybe I am not making a whole lot of sense because I do not fully understand it myself. All I can say is that I have learned so much about what I want in life in just a little over a month of a long distance relationship. It is so interesting too because so many people say that these relationships are doomed from the start, but I do not believe them anymore. I think that if something is worthwhile and meant to be, it will be. I try to live by that these days, and my relationship in a way feels better than ever so far. For me, distance truly does make the heart grow fonder. 

Fundraising for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

     I recently signed up for NAMIWalk Washington 2012 in order to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding mental illness. This cause is extremely important because so many people with a mental illness do not receive help due to stigma about going to therapy or receiving medication. Reducing this stigma could save so many lives and make our world a better place!!
     Leading up to the 5K walk, all registered walkers work to raise money in their communities for NAMI. I post this here because I ask all of you out there to be please donate if you can, anything helps! I will post the link to my fundraising page below as well as a link to NAMI's homepage in case you want more information about them. Thank you!!

My Fundraising Site
namiwalks.nami.org/rebeccascheurich

NAMI's Homepage
nami.org

Appreciation

     It is truly amazing how having something for a long time changes your perspective and appreciation for that thing. For me, that has been where I live. I have always dreamed of what it would be like to live in a bigger city on the east coast, with a completely different culture from the northwest. I never realized how lucky I am to live in Washington until now, though. Since my boyfriend just moved to New York City, I feel like I get a little bit of perspective every single day. I am constantly reminded that hardly anyone gets to enjoy nature the way I do, and I'm sure not too many people are able to drive downtown and take a run down to the waterfront. I am so lucky that every day I can wake up to the gorgeous trees that surround this area, and in a few short minutes by car I can be either at the bay or at a lake. And you can say hi to any person you see and get a friendly wave back. I am realizing that I need to take a step back and realize that what I have is incredibly special, and I need to savor every moment I have. I intend to do that from now on!

Just a few photos I want to share as well so you know what I am talking about...