MORNINGS WITH KAILEY.

09 September, 2016 MORNINGS WITH KAILEY.

Some people have asked me, “Steph, what makes you the happiest?”

Meet Kailey. We asked each other this question a few weeks after we started hanging out. She knew her answer immediately. It was short, sweet and to the point – her friends. She lights up when she talks about the people most important to her. She tells stories about how they get each other going to the point where they can’t even continue talking because they are laughing so hard. Of course, my answer[s] included a long list of things ranging from the heater on my feet while driving down PCH with the windows down smelling the ocean air mixed with bonfires to watching people in their element to dancing to motown in the kitchen while cooking and the smell of the lumber aisle at home depot. Yeah the list goes on and on. All the details. But I’d have to say one of my favorite things is the sound of someones laugh when they are happy. You know…that one that comes from deep down and can’t be contained. Their eyes light up and you can feel IT. The best part is when I can stop that exact moment in time and make a tangible memory. I got to do that with her…it also involved a rainy morning, champagne and really good music. There was absolutely no way for this day to suck.

Over the last couple of months I’ve gotten to know Kailey pretty well. Some friendships happen unexpectedly and when they happen it’s like that person had somehow been there all along. We just clicked. We found ourselves having conversations that lasted til 4am with our feet in the pool. Laughing, crying…happy talks and hard talks about the past. Nothing was off limits. 2016 has been an interesting year for me. Lots of time spent on my career but more importantly was the energy I spent investing in myself personally. All of that to say… most of my life has been spent PLANNING. Worrying about the next step. When that happens, I get caught up and sometimes forget to breathe and appreciate the moment. It’s nice to think a few steps ahead and have a plan but I am realizing that there are times when it’s a really good idea to just plan to be surprised.