We Need to Talk...

Today, in Massachusetts, is Patriot's Day - better known to us New Englanders as Marathon Monday. The amount of grit and hard work those runners put into training for this ONE day is so incredibly admirable. Their paths have not been easy, training was probably brutal for most of the days they didn't want to run. It's cold and rainy here today too, which makes for less than ideal running conditions. These people dedicated time to improve their running, to get through those tough miles when they just wanted to quit. This is a perfect metaphor for life. There are going to be times you want to give up and quit because it's too hard, too much at once. Take a step back and evaluate what you have in front of you, and GROW from it. Be inspired by who YOU are and what YOU bring to the table. 

I went to an event this past weekend that reignited my fire. It gave me a reason to get out of bed every morning. It inspired me to keep living my best life. It surrounded me with some of the most INCREDIBLE people on earth. It gave me the spark I needed to get back to truly LIVING life. It gave me the ability to DREAM again. 

When I started this blog, I started it without any sort of idea or process in mind. I had no idea what topic I would center this blog around, no idea the impact it would have on some people. And to be honest, it's still very undefined. I was given an incredible opportunity to start fresh, and I took it. I took it because I needed it, not because anyone else needed it. Not because I wanted to be better than anyone else - that is not who I am. When I was in my early 20s, sure, I felt like life was the biggest competition known to man. I had to have it all and be better at everything. Let me tell you - it's the most lonely world to live in. I lost so many friends because of my arrogance, my ego, my inability to see outside myself. In fact, I still find myself having to swap my mindset - THIS IS A JOURNEY PEOPLE! 

So let's talk. 

I started this blog to create a positive energy that will radiate into the universe and hopefully come full circle. I am doing my best to live my best life in a world where it's so dark it hurts. I am doing my best to have a happy, clean heart and truly see the good in everything. I am sorry if you feel that I am attacking you - because I am not in any way shape or form. This is all about self discovery and self love. 

The things I discuss on this blog are close to my heart, and while that seems selfish, I would rather share from personal experience than pull from someone else's because the emotion and reaction wouldn't be genuine. So, if you're taking these posts as personal attacks, please reach out so we can discuss. I am happy to explain everything I've written, with zero hesitation. 

Back to the power of positivity - because that's what we are HERE FOR! 

So after the event on Saturday morning, I spent some time in the car, reflecting on the day. A few people had approached me (that I only see on a very rare occasion) and said "Oh my gosh Kat, there's something different about you!" I was a bit concerned, because the only thing different that I noticed was that my hair and makeup was done on a Saturday (anyone who knows me, knows that I would rather hang out in workout gear than get dolled up). When I asked for them to elaborate, they all said the same thing "You just seem SO happy!" - because I am. I cut off a large part of my depression and disappointment and have decided to shift my mindset. 

There have been some surprises over the last week or so that have forced me to reevaluate how I look at my life. One of the speakers on Saturday said that in order to be successful in anything, we have to shift our mindset. See the good instead of the bad. So I took the events of last week and adjusted how I am going to handle them. I could sit and have a pity party, because that’s the easy thing to do. But I have refused to allow negativity to creep into my thoughts as part of my self love journey.

Shifting your mindset is something that takes time, and I am DEFINITELY still training myself to do it. It's always easier to see the negative outcome on things but so much harder to see the good in every situation. Do I still get angry? Yup. Do I still get frustrated? Sure!  What I don't do anymore (and am still working on) is sit and dwell on whatever it is that's making me feel as crap-tastic as it does in the moment. Like I said in my first post - I am NOT the next Gandhi, I will never pretend to be philosophical or all knowing - I am sharing from my heart, to reach anyone who needs to hear it. 

It is exhausting being so miserable all the time, as I have recently learned. Nothing good comes out of being miserable. Life is meant to be LIVED friends, to the fullest. Create memories with those closest to you, and do it with love and happiness in your heart. Be present when you need to be, and don't let life pass you by. You are on this earth for a reason, and I want nothing more than for you to enjoy your life, to really live it, and to share all of the amazing things that happen with the world! You deserve it. 

It takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. Look at yourself every morning when you are getting ready, and SMILE at yourself. Notice how your overall energy changes. Tell yourself how great the day is going to be  - AND OWN IT. Your life is only as good as you make it - so be sure you put the effort in. Otherwise, you're on auto pilot, coasting through life and not really experiencing it! 

Your challenge, should you choose to take it... write down 10 daily affirmations you will say to yourself EVERY. SINGLE. MORNING. in the mirror while smiling. Put them on post it notes, in a journal, somewhere you have easy access to them - and make it part of your morning routine. Make the time in the morning to spend some time loving who you are, what your day will be, and how great it is to have this thing we call LIFE.

What you put into the world, you will get out of it!