Dear Journal.

If you have looked back through my blog at all, I've always been kind of stuck. I want to blog more, I want to journal; but I am shy, and very highly critical of myself. I second guess everything I say-- I straight up suck at communicating. It makes perfect sense in my head, but something gets lost in translation to my fingers/mouth!!! #mumbler. It really is plain silly.

Anyway, I've had this Q and A Journal for a long time. [My BABE of a friend Liz Hasler Williams gave it to me for a birthday one year. Thanks Lizzie :-*] I admit first off: I have been SLACKING to say the least; but I decided to commit to filling it out this year. [Rando: It seems like I only tend to write in it on odd years: 2013, 2015, 2017..] Also, Dave and I recieved the couple edition as a wedding gift, and we have LOVED filling it out so far! In fact we loved it so much that we got almost all of our "couple" friends their own book for Christmas! :)

Such a fun gift, and a great way to journal without feeling completely vulnerable. I was reading back today, and I had to stop on this page: 

It just made me smile, and validate all that I believe in. I have always said I am a firm believer in the law of attraction, and I absolutely think that everything happens for a reason. If you want to be happy, BE happy. You can be anything you want to be, and do anything you want to do if you just believe it 100%. I think the same goes the other way as well though. If you want to be jealous or mean, you will always find a reason to be. If you feel like you have bad luck, you will attract more of it. Think positive! Thoughts have mass, and mass attracts things.. Make sure you're adding good to this world and you will get nothing but good things back at you. 

 

My Why [& Related Rambles]

My Why: I owe it to myself. To feel strong in my own skin. To feel alive and amazing. To conquer. To Inspire.

Has it been over a month or has it just been a day? If you "cheat" then you are on a "diet". I changed my lifestyle last month, and I don't regret those noodles last night>> I just worked out harder and ate better today. I feel great when I eat lots of fat, and lower my carbs; I feel like crap when I eat like crap. After sober November we celebrated too hard, I swear I was feeling it for a week! It messes with the nutrition, the movement, and the sleep! To the point I don't even enjoy it, it's not worth it. Cool-- glad we got that out our system.

Today I went to our apartment's fitness "class" or aka just this personal trainer/army/dude Brad ANNNND myself. Today's torture was "For Time" 50 pushups TRX, 50 pullups TRX, 50 sit ups, 50 leg raises, 50 squats TRX, 50 jumping jacks. My time was 20:27 so remember that is what I get to beat next time! The worst part of it was walking up the four flights of stairs after! Really though, it's like I have my own free personal trainer, it's great! :) I am still doing Yoga with Adriene-- day 15 of 30 (two yesterday and one today). Totally slacking/killing it in that department. I thoroughly enjoy my time with her-- she is always reminding me to smile, to open up my heart and to just breathe.

Current Reads: I'm listening to Keto Clarity, by Eric C. Westman, MD, Jimmy Moore on my first month free on Audible!

Favorite chapstick: Natural ice, no matter what kind-- it is the ONLY kind that works.
Currently doing a lot of Sudoku too..

"If you are trying to better yourself, you have jumped over the fence. You have chosen hope over hopelessness. If you did one thing towards good health today, you are winning."//Unknown

Oh, and a good pair of jeans does the body good! Go out and get a pair you feel good in, you'll feel more confident on your journey!!

So, I admit... I was totally blog stalking, and came upon this post. I HAD to share it.
It is actually a graduation speech by Baz Luhrmann, so credit due where credit due.

Ladies and Gentleman,
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…
I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked…
You’re not as fat as you Imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind.
The kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy;
Sometimes you’re ahead,
Sometimes You’re behind.
The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults;
If you Succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don’t Congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either.
Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body, Use it every way you can… Don’t be afraid of it, or what other people Think of it,
It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own…

Dance… even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Brother and sister together we’ll make it through
Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there
I know you’ve been hurting, but I’ve been waiting to be there
For you.
And I’ll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can.
Everybody’s free.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings;
They are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will Philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund, Maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you’re 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

RAW.

Say that you are joyfully married to your soulmate and best friend. You live in a good space that you absolutely love to call your home. You have your dream job of helping life into this world. You have a strong supportive family spine. You have come to accept the fact; that you have the prettiest long, thick, red hair everrr. Just had the best wedding of 2016 and married your king.
You can add a very traumatic experience to that, and hey if you looking for negativity, you can find a lot of things that bring you down.

But overall you choose to be happy!

You are the the happiest, nicest, caring person that people know! You love people, and people love you. You are surrounded by everything happy, positive and perfect-- and you totally love your life!

And then your therapist says to you: "It sounds like you have depression."
Then she continues on how the word: "depression" has such a bad stigma. It is simply a chemical imbalance caused from all your stress.
[ie nursing school, moving, wedding, death]
Let's be honest here: your lifestyle choices, relationships, and coping skills matter too.

You are in denial, but you start thinking that in actuality.... you have felt a little off, a little disconnected from the world's energy, a little down on yourself for this and that-- you're even very fat for you. You have pushed away some best friends, withdrawn to your head and sometimes you try too hard to fake that smile. You give it a second thought and read up on this word: "Depression"... "that feeling of impending doom" <- Those new anxiety attacks that you have to breathe yourself through. Your lack of interest in even getting dressed, let alone leaving the house for any reason. Drinking often, and way too much. That tossing and turning at night, caffeine not doing a thing. Shoulder shrugging, large scrub wearing, minimal make up wearing zombie.

Hmm.. maybe you have let yourself just slip through the cracks.

I am taking this as my: "wake up and feel reality call."
#choosingtobehappy

Here are my short term and long term goals for myself:
CHECK THAT POSTURE GIRL!! [posture checks all day, working out and stretching that back and shoulders.]
Stop with the constantly saying sorry-- [unless I really need to be sorry of course!]
Be confident and be assertive-- FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT.
No more of this withdrawn crap [I'll save that for my zen time]
Coping with conflict <-- This might take some research and time..
Save $$$$
More green tea, much less alcohol. [Sober November]
No comparing yourself to others, just yourself yesterday.
Blog more -- lucky YOU :P
Give at least 5 compliments and 5 genuine thank yous a day.
Spend more time with the grandparentals.
Quit pressing snooze, or at least only once-- haha.
Backpack through Europe. [Planning on our honeymoon November 2017]
Go back to school for my Bachelor's degree, but let's enjoy two more quarters off first ;)
BE HEALTHY!! [the gym was a good start today, but I want to nourish this baby maker.]
Diet-- meal and dinner plans weekly!
Volunteer monthly.
Be more involved in the world and news-- still not politics though ;).
Spend more time outside in nature!
At least 3+ road trips this year!! [Yellowstone/Jackson & Pacific Coast Highway!]

From this older, happier post:
What are you feeling especially blessed or thankful for today? If you are feeling down and out, I challenge you. Every night when you crawl in bed, think of three things you are thankful for today, and three things you want to accomplish for tomorrow. Think happy thoughts, then sleep on them, and make the best of every day.

keep on growing.

You grow.

You can't not change. 

That's just the way it is. It's how things work. 

Therefore, in order to stay comfortable as you grow, you must flow with the changes and not attempt to remain the same--just as you buy a new pair of shoes for your son or daughter when their feet have outgrown the pair they've been wearing. 

It's not reasonable for them to continue wearing their favorite shoes when they no longer fit. You get rid of the old ones and buy a new pair. But the reason you need new ones is that their feet have grown. 

Growth has occurred. 

Their foot grew, the shoe became to small, their foot hurt. 

Pain is not an inherent part of being a foot.

 Nor is it an inherent part of growth. 

you go girl!

Have you guys read: "Dear New Girl at the Gym" ?

A friend of mine shared this letter on Facebook the other day, and I absolutely loved it.

I recently canceled my membership to the amazing Xcel facility. It was hard for me because I have been going there since I was 15, and I have been grandfathered in at a killer rate of $24 a month (and if I ever go back rates start at $79 a month--ouch). I decided to switch to Vasa fitness for the option of more locations, better hours, and to feel a little less out of place.

 I am a little uncomfortable in my own skin right now, but I gained enough courage on Tuesday night for my first yoga class there. I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved the atmosphere. I realized that there are always people more fit than you, and always people less fit than you. We are all in this journey together, and the only person you need to be better than, is the person you were yesterday.

Anyway, this letter says it better, enjoy:

"Dear New Girl at the Gym,

You stand across from me in boot camp or on the treadmill next to me or a few bikes over in spin. I have never seen you before, but here you are. I can tell by the look on your face you are embarrassed. Embarrassed that you can’t do a pushup or don’t know how to adjust your bike or that you walk on the treadmill when the girl on the other side of you runs for a full hour at the speed of a cheetah. You look around and wonder what on earth you are doing here. You glance at me and I smile, but you look away pretending you didn’t see, because that would mean I noticed you. Maybe you are discouraged. Maybe you tell yourself this was a huge mistake and you’re going to ask for your money back. Maybe you wonder if I’m judging you.

I am not.

I want you to know how proud I am of you. You see, even though it might not seem like it, none of us are judging you. Why? Because so many of us were just like you. We know what it is like. We know how hard it is, especially in the beginning. Really we do. Maybe you woke up one day weighing forty pounds more than you did five years ago. I have been there. Maybe you stepped on the scale at the doctor’s office, had the nurse cluck her tongue, and then had the doctor say something like, “Now let’s talk about your weight.” I have been there. Maybe you recently had a baby, and you wonder if there will ever be a time when you don’t have to tuck your stomach into your pants. I have been there. Maybe you get half way through the warm up in a group fitness class and wonder if you are this out of breath now, is a full hour going to kill you? I have been there. Maybe money and time are tight and the idea of spending $30-$70 a month and an hour a day on yourself feels awfully selfish. I have been there. So many of us have.

You see us running or biking or lifting weights, and may feel discouraged or that we are judging you. Please, please, PLEASE know that we are not, because so many of us have been in your same shoes. You see us for what we are now, but many of us started out just like you, on a journey to find our best selves.

Please come back. I know it is hard, but it will get better, I promise.

And then you will wake up one day and wonder when you became that person. You know that person who can jog a few miles or do a whole spin class or even do boot camp without being sore the next day. And you will be the one, standing across the room, smiling at the new girl hoping she knows how lovely and wonderful and brave she is. Hoping she knows she is worth all the work. Because you are. You are so worth it. You deserve to be your healthiest self.

Now there might come a time and a place where someone will judge you, even someone at the gym. Maybe they make rude comments or give you that look. Maybe they have never known what it feels like to struggle with their weight. Maybe they have low self-esteem. Maybe they have never eaten an entire pan of brownies by themselves (I have) or an entire bag of Halloween candy before a single trick or treater came to their door (I have). Maybe they forgot what it was like to be the new girl. Please, don’t waste your time on them. You are on a journey to be your best self, and they don’t belong on your journey. Find people and a place where you can begin where you are.

Come back. You are so worth it."

A bump in the road..

Uhhg. I've been "held back."
I'm so bummed.

I was looking forward to peds for so long, I freaking love kids!! I was even thinking about doing something pediatric related when I become a registered nurse.
I don't know what it is about it, but that class is one of the hardest classes I have ever taken-- even worse than pharmacology!!

I need a 78% to pass any class at Fortis, and I got a freaking 76.3%.
I missed it by 1.7%!!! [insert red face emoji here]

So instead of increasing my load this semester,
(I can't handle five 12 hour days in a row, and 0 days off).
It is with a heavy heart I am prolonging my graduation date. :(

Instead of being done this September, I will be graduating in December.
[8 months 2 weeks]

You know me, trying to see the positive of this situation:
+ At least I will still be a nurse by the end of this year!
+ I will have an easier load this quarter-- all to enjoy the summer with ;).
+ I will have an advantage this semester! [Peds & OB booooyah]
+ I will miss cohort 16, but I love cohort 17 as well!
+ It will be nice to have a break from all those clinicals and sims this quarter.

A few of my favorite things..

Today was complete with: 

♥ fresh iced tea.

♥ lots of h2o.

♥ margarita pizza.

♥ yoga class.

♥ sweat sesh.

♥ clean hair. 

♥ kombucha.

& cuddles.

Happy Tuesday! 

be still my soul.

I recently have been trying to get more involved with meditation, especially with all the stress from nursing school. I found this little meditation exercise for beginners I quite like, & I thought I would share it with you guys.

It is called "Counting Backward" from: Yoga The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness
by Erich Schiffmann.

"In this exercise you will be counting backward from fifty to zero, synchronizing the counting with your breathing. You'll count the even numbers as you exhale and the odd numbers as you inhale.
Sit with your back straight and your eyes closed. If you can sit comfortably on the floor, do so, Otherwise, use a chair. Be comfortable.
Begin by breathing in gently, fully. As you exhale mentally say "fifty." As you breathe in again, mentally say "forty-nine," exhale "forty-eight,"inhale "forty-seven," exhale "forty-six".. and so on.
Count backwards on both the in-breath and the out-breath until you reach "twenty," then count only on exhales. Silently count "twenty" as you exhale. Then, instead of counting "nineteen" on the in-breath, do nothing, just inhale. With the next exhalation count "nineteen" and so on until you reach zero.
When you reach zero, stop counting, but stay aware of the natural flow of breath in exactly the same way as when you were counting. Watch the breath as though you were going to count, but don't count. As you do this, practice sitting absolutely still. But don't hold yourself still. Simply be so relaxed that no movements occur.
Be very aware of how you feel as you do this-how peaceful, energized, calm. Notice how pleasantly alert you are, how serene, fearless, at ease. Familiarize yourself with this feeling, with the feeling-tone of being centered and at peace, and rest here another two or three minutes. Absorb the stillness. then prepare yourself, open your eyes, and return. This will take six or seven minutes.
As you do this exercise, breathe normally. Do not do deep breathing or control the breath in any way. This is important. You are learning not to be in control. You are learning to get out of the way. Therefore, rather than controlling the breath, allow it to flow freely in and out at its own natural pace. Yet, stay aware of the breath. Keep track of the numbers. As the breath comes in, count. As the breath goes out, count. And when you reach zero, stay aware of the breath nonverbally. There should be no strain in your breathing as you do this. Keep it soft and easy.
As you count backward, you may be more aware than usual of your mind darting rapidly from one object of attention to another. You may be unusually aware of sounds, physical sensations, or thoughts. You may lose count altogether. None of this matters. All of these things are evidence that the technique is working. You're becoming more aware.
The value of this technique lies in its ability to help you notice where your attention is moment to moment, what's in your mind, and the contents of your consciousness. The counting is not only a centering device and a way of developing concentration, of training your mind to focus, it also acts as a backdrop on which your thoughts become very apparent.
For now, however, do not do anything with the various thoughts or sensations that arise. Simply be aware of them and continue counting. Gradually become more aware, more quiet within yourself, and increasingly dynamically still. As you immerse yourself in your stillness-and this is something that improves with each attempt- you will experience an unexpected and immensly satisfying sense of contentment and ease."

Feel the peace.

Quick thought.

I just saw something someone posted; they just got back from a week long vacation in California-- including a trip to Disneyland.. And the caption was: "What a great trip, how exhausting."

Funny thing is tho, your vacation you are looking forward to.. 

- it will be here and over before you know it..

As much as you are loving your first day, with that whole week off ahead of you..

- suddenly it's time to pack up & head home. 

#Enjoythenow. 

That moment you are in--right now. The one that you are wasting your time reading my silly little pointless blog...

I challange you to go outside and live.

Slow your breath down, and focus on this present moment... 

How does it feel to lie/sit down?

 How does your inhales & exhales feel? 

What is in the sky/on the ceiling?

 What can you do to push all your stressors away? 

#BREATHE.  

INNNNNNNNNN

& 

OUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.

Pause to take it all in.

2020

Our journal topic for this weeks clinical was:
"where do you see yourself in five years, and what steps do you need to do to get there?".

Have you stopped to think about that lately?

In five years, it will be freaking 2020!
In five years, I will be turning 31. :(
In five years I will no longer be living with my mommy.
In five years, I will be a wifey and a mommy too!
In five years, I will have an established nursing career.
In five years, I will be officially "grown up". #scary.

It got me thinking: today is the oldest you have ever been, and the youngest you'll ever be again. Soak up every last moment, because life keeps on going whether you are ready to live it or not.

Balance yourself.

I am in love with this:

☯Balance is the key. In everything you do.☯
Dance all night long and practice yoga the next day.
↬Drink wine but don't forget your green juice.
Eat chocolate when your heart wants it and kale salad when your body needs it.↫
Wear high heels on Saturday and walk barefoot Sunday.
Live high and low.
Move and stay still.
↬Embrace all sides of who you are.
Be brave, bold, spontaneous and loud and let that compliment your abilites to find silence, patience, modesty and peace.↫
☯Aim for balance.☯
Make your own rules and follow your own path and don't let anybody tell you how to live according to theirs.
#namaste.
☮♥☀

& F*ck cancer she did!!

My mom is beyond incredible. I am so impressed with her strength for the last few months. If I am half the woman she is when I grow up, I will have succeeded in life. I just love her more than anything, and I'm so happy she is getting better every day.

Walking into her last radiation treatment:

The radiation machine:

Ringing the celebration bell:

Her favorite techs.

Isn't she beautiful?

I'm proud to work at a hospital that delivered such excellent care, and I'm looking forward to my future in helping heal others.

Have to have your downs to appreciate your ups..

Today was an emotional roller-coaster for me... Ready for the ride?

In the wee hours around 5 am I went to brush the snow off my car, THIS HAPPENS: [Very low.]

I figured a little duct-tape will hold it together until after Christmas right? [Coasting]
I meet up with my bro around 10 to take advantage of all that powder.. [High hopes]

While loading our stuff in my trunk.. THIS HAPPENS: [all-time low] 

I literately cried the whole way up the mountain.. [Can I feel any lower?]

We get to Snowbird and this sweetheart asks if I will use his tarp so it doesn't snow in my car.. #blesshisheart. [On the up?]

The snow was GREAT. [Rising..]

It was 8°, and we couldn't feel our toes, fingers, or noses.. [Plateaued.]

As I was driving home from Snowbird thinking of all the negative captions I could use to share this picture: [Falling again.]
"Well there goes my Christmas."
"Poor me."
or the chosen: "FML" & yadda yadda..

 

  Driving home, we came around the curve where you get your first peek of the entire valley, and my breath was captured...
[Like when you are at the top of the roller-coaster, slowly coasting & you can't help but feel the butterflies..]
(& not just from the fridgid breeze from my non-existent back window.)

It was definitely an eye opener.

I realized in this moment:
Yeah, this totally and completely sucks..
Yeah, it couldn't have happened at a worst time..
Yeah, it is freezing and EVERYONE is looking..
BUT:
I am so blessed to live in such a beautiful valley.
I am so blessed to even have a car. (Let alone with a working heater.)
I am so blessed with the opportunity to snowboard.
I am so blessed with an incredible family.
I am so blessed with a warm place to call home.
I am so very blessed to be alive..
& everything is going to be OK..

and the tears start to flow again..[☯]

#blessings

Three things I am thankful for today:

1. Being able to love, and be loved
2. Gentlemen! The ones who still open doors, and actually respect us ladies.
3. My positive outlook on life. It takes work, but it's worth it. Just be happy!

Until next time. . .

Some good advice..

I don't think any one reads my blog, but here is some good advice for you anyway..
Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them. Not anymore. Starting today we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready? Here we go:

1. Give up your need to always be right.
There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for us and for others. It’s just not worth it. Whenever you feel the ‘urgent’ need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question: “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?” Wayne Dyer. What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?

2. Give up your need for control.
Be willing to give up your need to always control everything that happens to you and around you – situations, events, people, etc. Whether they are loved ones, coworkers, or just strangers you meet on the street – just allow them to be. Allow everything and everyone to be just as they are and you will see how much better will that make you feel.
“By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning.” Lao Tzu

3. Give up on blame.
Give up on your need to blame others for what you have or don’t have, for what you feel or don’t feel. Stop giving your powers away and start taking responsibility for your life.

4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk.
Oh my. How many people are hurting themselves because of their negative, polluted and repetitive self-defeating mindset? Don’t believe everything that your mind is telling you – especially if it’s negative and self-defeating. You are better than that.
“The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.” Eckhart Tolle

5. Give up your limiting beliefs.
Your beliefs about what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. From now on, you are no longer going to allow your limiting beliefs to keep you stuck in the wrong place. Spread your wings and fly!
“A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind” Elly Roselle

6. Give up complaining.
Give up your constant need to complain about those many, many, maaany things – people, situations, events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed. Nobody can make you unhappy, no situation can make you sad or miserable unless you allow it to. It’s not the situation that triggers those feelings in you, but how you choose to look at it. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.

7. Give up the luxury of criticism.
Give up your need to criticize things, events or people that are different than you. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to be happy, we all want to love and be loved and we all want to be understood. We all want something, and something is wished by us all.

8. Give up your need to impress others.
Stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not just to make others like you. It doesn’t work this way. The moment you stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not, the moment you take off all your masks, the moment you accept and embrace the real you, you will find people will be drawn to you, effortlessly.

9. Give up your resistance to change.
Change is good. Change will help you move from A to B. Change will help you make improvements in your life and also the lives of those around you. Follow your bliss, embrace change – don’t resist it.
“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls” Joseph Campbell

10. Give up labels.
Stop labeling those things, people or events that you don’t understand as being weird or different and try opening your mind, little by little. Minds only work when open.
“The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.” Wayne Dyer

11. Give up on your fears.
Fear is just an illusion, it doesn’t exist – you created it. It’s all in your mind. Correct the inside and the outside will fall into place.
“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

12. Give up your excuses.
Send them packing and tell them they’re fired. You no longer need them. A lot of times we limit ourselves because of the many excuses we use. Instead of growing and working on improving ourselves and our lives, we get stuck, lying to ourselves, using all kind of excuses – excuses that 99.9% of the time are not even real.

13. Give up the past.
I know, I know. It’s hard. Especially when the past looks so much better than the present and the future looks so frightening, but you have to take into consideration the fact that the present moment is all you have and all you will ever have. The past you are now longing for – the past that you are now dreaming about – was ignored by you when it was present. Stop deluding yourself. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life. After all life is a journey not a destination. Have a clear vision for the future, prepare yourself, but always be present in the now.

14. Give up attachment.
This is a concept that, for most of us is so hard to grasp and I have to tell you that it was for me too, (it still is) but it’s not something impossible. You get better and better at with time and practice. The moment you detach yourself from all things, (and that doesn’t mean you give up your love for them – because love and attachment have nothing to do with one another, attachment comes from a place of fear, while love… well, real love is pure, kind, and self less, where there is love there can’t be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot coexist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words.

15. Give up living your life to other people’s expectations.
Way too many people are living a life that is not theirs to live. They live their lives according to what others think is best for them, they live their lives according to what their parents think is best for them, to what their friends, their enemies and their teachers, their government and the media think is best for them. They ignore their inner voice, that inner calling. They are so busy with pleasing everybody, with living up to other people’s expectations, that they lose control over their lives. They forget what makes them happy, what they want, what they need….and eventually they forget about themselves. You have one life – this one right now – you must live it, own it, and especially don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from your path.

from this website

#Blessed.

I am not angry.
I am not bitter.
I am not sad.
& I am not lying.

I am strong. [More so than I ever thought possible.]
I am honored [I got to experience real love.]
& I am happy.

It's overwhelmingly surreal just how much life can change in a moment.


Today, more than normal, I feel blessed.