Such is life. Something about that simple sentence strikes at the heart. It's almost a devil-may-care attitude on some levels, a depressive statement on others, or it can be a statement on par with the-glass-is-half-full optimism. All that in three simple words.

Today is my c'est la vie day. Time to remember what I have, not what I don't. I didn't with the Powerball lottery last night. Didn't even come close. But that's ok. I didn't gain any money, but I didn't lose anything either. Sure, I would feel a bit better if I had the $2900 that would enable me to get the debt under control, pay for the wedding and have something for a rainy day, but I am no worse off today than I was yesterday. Oh well. I'm just being pointed down a different path. And yes, I am trying to give myself even more of a pep talk.

The possibility of winning a large sum of money got Plex and I talking. Yes, we realize that the odds of winning were astronomical. We just liked to think of what someone like us would do with $550 million dollars. The one resounding theme that we both came to was how much we would take care of people around us. Not just family and friends, but communities. How nice it would be to find a deserving high school student who would love to be a doctor, but just doesn't qualify for financial aid or scholarships and put them through school with the caveat that they remember this moment and pay it forward. To establish a safe place for kids to go to develop skills they can use for life that isn't the dreaded school they get picked on in. To help adults who lost their jobs through no fault of their own who fall between the cracks for benefits and are in danger of losing their homes/apartments or not being able to feed their families. Again, all on the caveat that it needs to be paid forward.

Yeah, I'm the gal who if all I had in my pocket was $2 to buy food for myself for the week and you came to me needing $1.50, I'd give you the $2. I've done it so many times, and will continue to do so. It's always been clear to me that I won't help you if you won't help yourself, but if you are really trying and just can't get it to work in your favor, I will give you a hand until it does. That's who I am. I don't know another way to be.

I've lost 36 pounds so far here on Sparkpeople. If you could hear me when people ask me how I did it, you'd think I was an informercial the way I really get into talking about it. It works! And I love talking to people here who have made their goals and maintained it. I love talking to people just starting out! I especially love talking to those who are on the verge of throwing their hands up in the air and giving up. Sometimes all they need is a hand to help them up, encouragement from someone who has been there, done that, and is STILL doing it, and a little kindness along the way. All the things I have been shown here, and in life.

So for me, paying it forward is the way of life. C'est la vie!