the little things.

One thing that I have learned about myself through the years is that I love memories.  Making them and then looking back years later and treasuring them again.  And the reason why I love memories is because they allow me to experience special moments over and over.

Like going through photos and videos from my freshman year of college.  The bathroom song will forever invoke feelings of anger and frustration and yet always remind me that the little things like clogged and overflowed toilets make for great bonding moments between suite mates and for lots of laughter.

Or like searching through my "under-the-bed" box and finding crazy and embarrassing items like my bright pink soccer goggles.  And remembering that the little things like being the only person on the undefeated team that never scored a goal on the Saturday before Mother's Day was still okay because at least I could see.

Or like spending this evening with my grandmother and my sister and my two cousins, Kels and Lina, and ending up singing songs we wrote in Puerto Rico nine years ago at the top of our lungs.  "My Little Girl," "Morning is Here," and "Because You're Special" are the little things that make me smile.

Don't be afraid to look back at memories.  I have learned that even bad ones make you a better person today.  Yes, we all have those pictures in extremely hideous outfits or ones where our smiles are just plain weird.  But, trust me, the laughter of looking back is so worth it.

The little things turn out being so much bigger when they are cherished.  I look back and come to this conclusion: it is the little things that make the best memories.