Anything about Everything

In a fast moving world, we are constantly  distracted. Whether it be our phones, our computers, TVs, or a personal battle - we're distracted all the time. While it's easy to say "that's just how it goes" or "it's just how life is" - there's no need for it. Allowing distractions to creep into your productivity and deter you from what you ultimately want to achieve is a surefire way to stop all progress.  How do you deal with distractions? How does it affect your day to day?  For me, personally, I am more distracted now than I was when I was in college. There is so much going on in the world, and while I try really hard to focus on one task at a time, I get distracted and find myself mindlessly scrolling the internet. I can't shut my brain down to just relax and enjoy life's simple pleasures like reading or just being still. I am constantly wondering what my friends are doing, what the latest giveaways are on Instagram, what people...

Before I decided to grab hold of my life and find happiness every day (harder on some days, easier on others!), I was not one to sit and relax. I felt like I was constantly being watched, feeling VERY unsettled. I felt like work was the only thing that would make me happy, so I busted my butt to stay running in the same circle. I felt like I had to conform to whatever everyone else was doing so I could fit in. I wanted to be included in everything all the time.  When the scenery changed, so did my view of everything I thought was true.  I no longer needed to conform to what others wanted, I no longer needed to stifle my likes and favorite things for fear of competition with "friends." I was no longer working myself into a tightly wound stress ball, yet I was (am) making more money and leaving work feeling so much less stressed.  I am so grateful for the opportunity I was given, even though it's not even remotely in either field I have my degrees in. Eventually, I w...

Hello there!  I apologize for my lack of attention to this blog lately. I decided to make September a month of growth and change, and it has been a rather bumpy ride. Anything worth doing/having wouldn't be easy, right?  For the last 8 months, I have been trying to get into a healthier mindset and head space that allow for complete and honest transformation. I had such a terrible 2017, that I wanted to make 2018 a million times better. I was in a dark place (as mentioned in a few posts) for so long, that seeing life in the light has been a bit terrifying. The dark place was where I felt most comfortable. I could be miserable and no one would judge me - just who I was. I decided to shake off the dark place and find a spot in the warm light. I was afraid to commit to any sort of growth because it meant leaving my comfort zone.   I was sick and tired of being blamed for other peoples misery, negativity, and overall bad energy. Sure, I had my own issues to deal w...

We have touched upon it before, but self awareness has been a topic that not many want to address. It's scary to take a serious look into who you are, what triggers you, what brings you the utmost joy, and what you need to adjust because it's not working with the rest of your world. It's hard, because it's a journey that you need to take alone - no one can tell you what you need to address to make the positive changes - they aren't you. YOU know what YOU need to do in order to make changes, it just comes down to biting the bullet and doing it.  I get it - it's freaking terrifying. Sitting alone with yourself, a journal, a pen, and your thoughts - super scary regardless if you've done it a hundred times, or never.  Some helpful hints for you to get started (or restart if you need the reset!): What has happened in my life that prevents me from accepting positivity and happiness in my heart?  When did this happen?  Why did it happen? What can I chan...

Sometimes in life, you just need to take a step back and reset. Disconnect from the world and get yourself back to a good space, mentally and emotionally. The last week and a half has been just that for me -  a reset and reflect chapter in my story.  I have touched upon this before in previous posts, but anxiety and depression are a part of who I am now. I do not like either of them, and try my best to push through those rough days when all the thoughts take over. In an effort to share my experience, I decided to do a little bit of an experiment surrounding possible triggers - and let me just say I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS MONTHS AGO!  When I told my close friends and family that I was planning to shut down my social media accounts for a weekish, not ONE person in that group questioned my decision. This, in turn, helped me make the decision to just shut them down. They all supported my reasons (more to come), and applauded me for making the choice. It's hard to cut so...

For most of the country, today is a day for BBQs and family gatherings. It's the day we close out summer and prepare for the next season - Fall!  Today is that day for me too, but it's being celebrated with an asterisk. Today would have been Garrett's 33rd birthday. We talked over the summer about how we weren't going to wait till Labor Day to hang out, and how grateful we were for each other after all this time. Today, I remember the amazing friend I was blessed with for 15 years. The friend who never judged, never mocked, and never made me feel like I was beneath him. The friend who, while we didn't talk every day, respected our friendship and never lied to me.  Since Garrett passed, I have tried my hardest to reconnect with friends I lost touch with over the years. I have been more in tune with how I react to things, how I interact with people. I try to enjoy more in every day - and just go with the flow. I am trying to let things roll off my chest easier, a...

If you've paid attention at all on this journey, you'd know that I am a pretty big book worm. I love reading - always have. It relaxes me, allows me to escape reality for a little while, and broadens my imagination.  In the last 2 and a half years, I have struggled to pick up a book and read it cover to cover. For something I love so much to be hard - something was wrong. I couldn't shut my brain off enough to enjoy what I was reading. I was not about to waste time reading and not enjoying it - no thank you. In the last month and a half, I have finished 3 books. THREE! From time to time, I will leave reviews and book recommendations on here to break up some of the heavier posts. Life is too short to be focused only on how to make changes. Focus on how to live a life you love, and watch your world change!  Beneath A Scarlet Sky  by Mark Sullivan          As any normal adult with a bank account and internet access, I find myself brow...