Chapter 30: This is why I WRITE [& take photographs/videos] & this is why I SHARE

Corfu, Greece—Summer 2011

I write to remember.

I share to motivate. To encourage. To inspire. To love.

Ever since I was a little girl, I've always enjoyed 'documenting' moments. I'd write in a journal, take photos, or record myself talking about my day in one of those mini tape recorders that actually required tape [not the digital ones]. I would label the tapes 'Darlene's World'. I know... not very unique, but you get the point. My sister's would joke, "you look like an Asian tourist!" during family events/vacations when I'd whip out all my gadgets & gizmos of plenty! iPhone, Polaroid, Flip camcorder, DSLR camera... I have at least 2 on me at all times. I've always been a sentimental person.

Social media is used in different ways. Some people vent [which is perfectly fine, but only to an extent]. Some people share their happiness. Then some people harshly judge those who seem to mostly post about happy things. I've heard this quite a few times, but I've never understood it. Why hate on happy? The response I always hear is, "it just seems so fake. Their life can't be that perfect!" All I have to say to these kind of people is.... Don't we already know that no one's life is perfect? Don't we already know that life throws everyone obstacles? Don't we already know that everyone is faced with their own hardships & battles at different points in their life? After knowing all this... why hate on happy?

Maybe it's just me, but I'd much rather read posts about happy things going on in my friends lives instead of post about friends constantly complaining about something [or someone]. No one likes a Debbie Downer! I love being spiritually & emotionally moved by other people, stories, quotes, photographs, music, and art of all forms—which is why I want to help emit those same feelings in others.

I'm a hopeless romantic & I've always been one, but there's more to why I share me & my husband's love stories...... Ever since we started dating in 2007, we faced many obstacles being in a long distance relationship & then also being a military couple. We still had the problems normal couples deal with when dating as well, but somehow we managed to come out on top of it all. We've been told many times by friends that our relationship inspired them. Hearing this always means so much to us, because we're so glad that we can help others in some way. People would often say, "I don't know how you guys do it!" A few girl friends would tell me that they were worried their relationship wouldn't survive long distance once their boyfriend moved away for college or joined the military, but my relationship helped them have the strength they needed to have faith in their own relationship. Seeing how strong we were helped them believe that they could be strong too & that long distance relationships CAN work, because my husband & I were living proof of it.

Most people know by now that we were in a LDR for 5 years before getting married & moving in together. It wasn't easy, but we did it. Why? How? Because I earnestly believe that true love does in fact prevail.

In other words:

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."

—1 Corinthians 13:4–8a

In closing... please continue to share the love! Continue to share your happy stories about your marriage, relationship, family, friends, promotion at work, weight loss, etc... Share them all because I ♥ love, I love reading happy things, & because you never know who you could be inspiring ♥

Corfu, Greece—Summer 2011