Makin' Fasha proud..

...and yes, before I get all sappy on you, that is me. With my shirt around my neck.
Why? I don't know. Let's just hope this post doesn't get flagged for child pornography.
Moving on.

I think most kids, starting from a very young age, strive for their parents' approval. 

At least to some extent, right? 

"Hey Mom! Dad! Look at me! Watch this! Did you see that?!" 

I was definitely no exception; constantly making up songs, dances, or skits and wanting to perform them for my parents, just so I could bask in their applause and pride at my amazing talents.

Being almost 26 now, I can pretty much tell you that not a lot has changed.

Except, instead of saying, "Hey! Watch me do a handstand in the pool for 30 seconds!", 

it's more along the lines of, "Hey! I got a promotion at work!", "Hey! I got this new apartment and I'm paying for it all by myself!" or "Hey! Meet my new boyfriend, isn't he great?"

...

Let me tell you a few things about my Fasha.
He is the most ambitious, goal-setting, over-achieving man I know.
When he puts his mind to something, he goes for it with every ounce of energy he has and he excels.
He has taught me that I am just as capable to do the same. Whatever that may be.
So throughout my life, when I accomplished something, however big or small, I always wanted to tell him about it to make him proud and in a way, prove to him that I too can succeed.

...

The other day, completely out of the blue, Fasha asked if he could take me to lunch,
just him and me.

I was a tad curious as we don't usually just go to lunch on a random Thursday.

We sat down and ordered, then Fasha pulled out his laptop and said he had something to say to me.

He began to read the following:

Dear Michelle,

Here are 20 Reasons why I think you are so wonderful and I am so proud of you:

1. I am proud of you because you are super-intelligent and smart. 

2. I am proud of you because you are beautiful and outgoing.

3. I am proud of you because you are funny and witty.

4. I am proud of you because you care about people.

5. I am proud of you because you are fun to be around.

6. I am proud of you because you care about our family so much.

7. I am proud of you because your personality is so wonderful and bright. 

8. I am proud of you because of your transformation.

9. I am proud of you because you are athletic: (i.e.) Cycling, Marathon, etc.

10. I am proud of you because you are so musically talented.

11. I am proud of you because you are more beautiful than Jennifer Aniston.

12. I am proud of you because you are a happy and joyful person.

13. I am proud of you because you can accomplish anything that you put your mind into.

14. I am proud of you because you are bold.

15. I am proud of you because you have integrity and keep your word.

16. I am proud of you because you appreciate Life.

17. I am proud of you because you have a boyfriend you love and like.

18. I am proud of you because you have good people skills.

19. I am so proud of you because you are authentic and straightforward.

20. I am so proud of you because you are full of vitality and energy.

Needless to say, I was leaking tears all over my cobb salad by the end of it.

Which then made Fasha leak tears and it was just a big tearful mess.

But it made my day. It really did.

Especially #11. Take THAT, Jennifer Aniston!

...

xoxo