Unapologetically

Hey! Happy Tuesday!

I'm gonna go ahead and get right into it today.

You know those moments you have, when you're alone, in your car, or your room, or the bathroom (don't judge) and you just have a realization of how much YOU rock. How great you are? How kickass you are at life?

I know you've had them. I know you have.

I'm here today to suggest that perhaps you have more of those little moments. A lot more. Like maybe just rock that vibe 24/7 and wear it like your favorite t-shirt.

Rock. That. Shit.

You're amazing. You are. I know you are.
I know how good your intentions are, I know how hard you try to do the right thing, I know you're getting a sweat on as often as you can get your ass out to, I KNOW you are trying. I know you're doing your best. I want to congratulate you on that. Like a real, honest, pat on the back for being you.

It's hard, right? To be you, AND to love you? It's hard sometimes. Especially when other people's silly perceptions of you come out. What is that, anyway? No one knows you better than you. No one.

YOU know the great lengths you go to for other people, YOU know how much self control you've exhibited lately, YOU and only YOU know how much life progress you've made (minor mess-ups, or not).

I'm sure a lot of you caught wind of Taylor Swift's new song today, or recently:

Talk about a feel-good jam. I can't turn that shit off. I can't. It's literally on repeat right now and I can barely contain my desire to get up and dance and SHAKE IT OFF.

Stupid, idiotic, annoying stuff happens to us every. single. day. It's never fun. It's never easy. It's always super disruptive to our zen vibes we try and maintain. But it's always worth it to take Tay's advice and "shake it off".

So the next time your coworker, or your family, or your BFF, or your bf/gf is just

HARSHING YOUR MELLOW

I want you to cool it. I want you to remind yourself that they, too, are doing their best. Sometimes people's best's are not stellar. We all have those moments.

Forgive them and move along. Forgive them and then have that thought.
That thought that reminds you that you're killin it. You're rockin it.

There's no one out there doing it like you. Not one single person who could replicate what you bring to the table. You're a class all your own and you're at the top.

Go ahead, take those positive affirmations! Take them and run! Give yourself a damn hug!

Be unapologetically YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

Heaven on Earth

Would you look at that, we already have a second post. I'm as surprised as you are.

This may go a little long, but I promise if you bear with me, we'll get there.

This morning, as some of you may have seen, I posted a photo on social media along with a sweet little quote I found recently. "Heaven on earth is a choice you must make, not a place you must find."

I wholeheartedly believe those words. Inside and out. Your slice of heaven, your nirvana, could be absolutely anywhere. It could be here in this very moment if you'd just close your eyes and remind yourself of how lucky you are to exist as you do. I think so often we get caught up, snagged and tangled on unfortunate happenings. We blow them out of proportion. The stupid, silly things.. They don't deserve your lasting attention.

The setting for the picture above is the sidewalk I walk every morning to get to my car. It's a busy street. I have to park a block away from my house, and while it makes carrying a full load of groceries home a little difficult, I don't choose to focus on that. I choose to focus on how dreamy the dewy, lush, green grass looks in the morning as the brand new sunshine bounces off of it. Every morning I walk that path really slowly. Taking in that scene. I'm positive that photo exists on sidewalks across the nation. I'm positive there are other people enjoying a view like that, like I do.

I took myself and a car full of my belongings across the country two months ago. I was thinking I would be gaining my "heaven on earth" by being in Colorado. In some ways, I have. I see more of the natural world, I am having more adventures, I am constantly out of my comfort zone. But I didn't need to do that to be happy. I was happy. I am still happy.

What I am trying to get at here is the simple truth that where you are right now is the perfect place to be wonderfully happy. Where you are right now has all the same abilities of providing you with joy as another place you may be dreaming of.

Because your happiness, your heaven on earth, it's something you create. Something that comes from within you. Something you can bring on every journey you ever go on. You can take it to the grocery store, the DMV, dinner at your in-laws, and that mountaintop. Your heaven on earth is yours to provide for yourself. No one else, no other place, could ever be as reliable as you can be for you.

Choose to the view the world like you would that daydream you drift in to when you need an escape.
Choose to see the world, as the world you wish you could create.
Choose joy, and continue to choose it every day.
I love you.




** Disclaimer:
I'm as guilty as the rest of the world for daydreaming about another land like it might solve all my problems. I do it daily. The key is to come out of the dream reminded that you can make your life whatever you'd like it to be. Your heaven on earth is yours to create, and no one else's.

Inaugural Post

Hi, Hello, Hey there...

I've been thinking about creating a blog for what feels like centuries. Alas, here I am. I have no plans for this venture to lift off to any special heights. Mostly, what I am looking to gain here is an outlet to speak my mind, and more specifically, to the group of humans I left at home, and miss terribly!

If you're here, thank you for visiting. I appreciate the interest!

Today I officially became a Colorado resident. I surrendered my MA license and everything. It was bittersweet. On the one hand, I miss my friends and family and that crazy/wonderful state. On the other hand, every person (and there were many) at the Colorado DMV was an absolute peach today. I kid you not, these people acted like they were actually pleased with their lives. It blew my mind. I even LAUGHED few times. Did you guys know people laugh at the DMV? I had no idea.

Now that I've been here for what is rapidly approaching on two whole months, the insanity of my day-to-day has died down. In some respects I love this, in others it feels overwhelming. I enjoy that I have nights to just BE at home. It's nice, and it's helping my little apartment truly feel like mine. I adore my little home and would not trade it for absolutely anything. The flip side is that the distance is hitting me. I feel how far away you people are. I love you, and miss you, and I know you miss me too... but it doesn't change the fact that I can't call any of you up to get a drink with me on a random Tuesday night! It's a process of reminding myself of WHO I am, WHY I am here, and WHAT I want. I think that has been one of the most beautiful parts about this move. I've gotten very real with myself about what I like and don't like. What I want to do and what I don't want to do. And on some fronts I am still feeling flexible, but on others, I am happily picky... it has been a nice experience to gain a little pickiness :)

Tonight I am headed out for birthday drinks for one of my friends here. The bar is .3 miles from my bedroom... I couldn't be more excited about that.

I hope you've all had great Fridays. I'll be home 12 days!



Always Looking Up: Tip #1

You are worthy. Own that fact like it's the only one you've got. YOU. ARE. WORTHY. Worthy of the life you desire, worthy of the love you want, worthy of the joy you seek. If you believe nothing else, believe that. You are worthy. Believe that and other people will, too. Believe that and the whole universe will, too.
I love you.