Rants | Sam from Amsterdam

is what I am… I remember sitting on my room as a teenager dreaming about the future. I was gonna live in a house with a porch and a big yard with trees. Slowly but surely I’ve come to match my life to the dreams I’ve had as a kid. My dreams are coming true! I love days like these where I sit and take it all in. I’m the kind of person that is always wanting more, always pushing, so much discipline and drive. Which on paper sounds great! In practice I’ve realized it can also take appreciation out of life. I always strive for more. But sitting on my back porch today I realized how far I’ve already come, at just 25. I know I’m no millionaire, or scientist or anything brilliant. But my life is perfect.

I’ve always been a dreamer. A bit quiet most of the time, but always have gotten along with everyone. I remember a trip to the usa I took with my parents and sister, from Arizona, to Nevada, to California. One day, I thought, one day I will have my own car and drive these roads myself! I will have a house here with a porch and rocking chairs and some dogs. And here I am, I thought today, the dogs running around playing and me sitting here with a book, listening to the wind move the trees. I slowly saw the sun set behind them and went inside.

Doing yoga for the past month has really helped me to just take a moment out of the day to not be doing something. To just tell my brain to shut up and shut down for a little while. I love it! It makes me realize that the giant to do list I keep in my mind is really not all that important. It’s good to completely relax every now and then. I’m loving this simple country life, as long as there’s food on the table and smiles on everyone’s faces, life is good. I never looked at things that way before.

I’ve also learned to not compare my life to anyone elses. Each person has their own goals and beliefs, there’s always going to be someone smarter, funnier, prettier, and more successful than you. Everyone has their own journey. And I’m loving mine.

support.. Everyone needs it, but can be tough to get sometimes, since Everyone has their own opinions and ideas. There’s so many reads about being a strong independent person. I believe that only makes you happy to an extent. I’m not saying not to be independent, but it’s nice to have someone that is proud of you and talks with praise about the things you do. Any new project I take on, I know that I can rely on the support of my family, my best friends and Charlie. For example, training for a marathon can be brutal for the people who are around the runner. The constant tiredness, and planning everything around it. Charlie doesn’t get running, he said he’d only run that far if his car broke down. But still he’s there for me and rubs my feet after a long run and makes me a nice dinner. For my first marathon I worked full time, so we’d only get some “date” time on the weekends. Sometimes I’d have a bad run, and just wanted to lay down and go to sleep. He never complained once, and was more than happy to get some take out and eat in bed. Just like my parents who came to florida for a relaxing vacation, but rode their bike for 17 miles with me, from which their butts hurt for days!

This goes for everything! Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can just do everything alone, I’m sure you can, but you don’t want to, believe me.

For example now that I’ve started to get into this yoga thing, Charlie’s got my back on that too. I get so excited when I get better at a new pose, that of course I want to share that.

Even doing little projects around the house. Of course I do it for me too, but it’s nice when I finish a craft or something that he’s excited about it too.

The point is that honestly, Charlie could care less about crafts, or marathons, or yoga, and I’m sure many more interests of mine. But he’s always extremely supportive. It’s the best feeling to be able to share every aspect of your life with someone. I feel so lucky!

I know me and Charlie have been together for only 4 years, so I’m not gonna preach about how your relationship should be. I just want you to be sure that you’re with someone who supports you. Someone who asks you how your day was at work, someone who is proud when you get a bonus or a raise, someone who will be there for you no matter what! Not to sound cheesy, but material things really don’t mean anything. If someone tries to constantly give you expensive gifts, it’s a distraction from what they’re lacking. How much someone cares for you shows in their actions!