"go confidently in the direction of your dreams! live the life you have imagined!"

Today, I was checking the comments on my blog and came across one written on Friday:

I don't know who you are, or how old you are, but I want to tell you that I stumbled upon your blog back in November, and have REALLY enjoyed checking in with it over the last few months.

I've bookmarked your blog, because you remind me a lot of a Younger Me. And I find it nice to be reminded of that younger person whose enthusiasm and love for life is still very much alive in me. Just wanted you to know ;)

Fyi, I am a 30 year old yoga teacher living in Toronto, Canada. And actually, I wrote about you and your blog on MY website back in November. Here is the link to that post: http://www.yogaforthepeople.me/entries/general/i-get-by-with-a-little-help-from-the-internet

 Seeing this post made my day. I couldn't believe that someone who I didn't even know had been reading my blog for almost three months and had been inspired by my posts. It felt amazing to know that my posts were actually reaching others in personal ways. I'm so grateful that she took the time to let me know that she had been reading, because now I'm more determined than ever to continue this blog and to stay positive through the ebb and flow of life. I can't wait to explore her website and learn about her inspirations, dreams, and hopes for the world. Here's a link to it- yoga for the people. 


Also, here is the post she wrote on her website when she came across my blog. Like I said before, her words mean so much; I am going to print this post out for a constant reminder that expressing my thoughts and inspirations is worth it.

Confession: I've felt in need of a little inspiration lately, so I googled it. Oh, bless the internet. I first stumbled upon some inspirational quotes, many of which I was already familiar with, and then remembered a card from a dear friend of mine that I have sitting at home. It's displayed front and center in my apartment on top of my bookshelf. The front of the card features a picture of a small child walking (confidently?) down a long country road and also includes that famous Henry David Thoreau quote:

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you have imagined!"

At this point in my travels through world wide web I've decided that I am going to write a blog entry about the above quote, so I set about google-searching for images that I might be able to re-post on here that would illustrate it nicely. I type into google "go confidently", select the 'images' search and after clicking through a few different pages I find myself getting lost in the lovely words of an upbeat young college student in Illinois, on her blog which you can go to and enjoy for yourself by clicking HERE.

I smiled as I browsed through this young woman's many optimistic blog posts, featuring a pot-pourri of inspiring images and enthusiastic words of gratitude, because she reminded me of myself a few years ago. I smiled because (having recently turned 30) I'd been thinking lately about "that girl" that I was in my early twenties, how energized "she" was with ideas and plans and hopes and dreams for 'the future'. My dear friend Alison, loves to remind me of how I used to exclaim "I'm so excited about our future!!"And again, I smile remembering "that girl" who was, and really still is, me. I feel it was rather serendipitous that I should stumble upon the blog of this anonymous young american college student today, when I am feeling so in need of that youthful enthusiasm and drive that I feel I once possessed. Reading her words has helped me to reconnect to that "inner 21 year old" who still lives inside of me, and whose energy, hope and determination I am going to need in the coming weeks and months as I embark on an exciting new business venture. I have bookmarked this young woman's blog, so that I can tap into her "fountain of youthful enthusiasm" on a daily basis, and nurture my inner 21 year old with the virtual camaraderie that she needs to help keep "us" motivated!

I've already posted this picture in a previous post, but I LOVE it. I just recently came across it again and printed it out for my wall in my dorm room. 

have no fear moving into the unknown.

This week, I decided to go back to the beginning of my blog and read every post in chronological order. It took a few days, but I loved seeing how much I've grown in the past year and a half and how much I've learned. It gave me a chance to reflect on my life and gain a clearer view of what kind of person I am and what I want to be. It also helped me to see that even in my darkest moments, I rose above them eventually and became a better person for the hardships and struggles. That leaves me with hope that present obstacles will eventually be a distant memory linked to lessons and experiences that I can one day look at with eyes that have moved past it all.

all things go.

"some days you know and some days you don't know"

 Written by my sister:

That's how life is. There are uncertainties and some things won't always turn out how they should. You can't pressure yourself into something you don't want to do or being someone you don't want to be. Sometimes in life you HAVE to be selfish to make yourself happy. You need to be content with yourself and your life to actually live. You may end up growing up and becoming yourself based around someone. He can end up molding how you are and what becomes of you. How are you going to know who you are without this person? Finding YOURSELF is very important. You shouldn't be wasting your life being unhappy. It's not worth it. It's not worth the wasted time. Life is too short to be anything but happy.

count your blessings to find what you look for.

speechless.

random positivity snippets of the day.

most of these thanks to my sister's blog.

never wait until tomorrow to chase your dream.

Today, I was reading my journal from the silent retreat I went on last year and I came across some entries that reminded me of some important lessons and values that I too often forget:

I want to leave the world better than I found it. That means strengthening all of my relationships and keeping them going even if we're miles and miles apart. Also, that means spreading my story and inspiring people to live with love. Now is the time to start. Never wait until tomorrow to do something nice for someone or to chase your dream. The future starts now and there is no better time like the present. I know those are very cliche but it's true.

"My lord God, I have no ideas where I'm going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it'll end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone." - Thomas Merton 

 

“If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together.. there is something you must always remember. you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. but the most important thing is, even if we're apart.. i'll always be with you.”

don't worry, be happy.

20 things to start doing in your relationships.

1. Free yourself from negative people.
 – Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven and likeminded.  Relationships should help you, not hurt you.  Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be.  Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you – people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it.  Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.  When you free yourself from negative people, you free yourself to be YOU – and being YOU is the only way to truly live. Read Stumbling on Happiness.

1. Let go of those who are already gone.
 – The sad truth is that there are some people who will only be there for you as long as you have something they need.  When you no longer serve a purpose to them, they will leave.  The good news is, if you tough it out, you’ll eventually weed these people out of your life and be left with some great people you can count on.  We rarely lose friends and lovers, we just gradually figure out who our real ones are.  So when people walk away from you, let them go.   Your destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves you.  It doesn’t mean they are bad people; it just means that their part in your story is over.

1. Give people you don’t know a fair chance.
 – When you look at a person, any person, remember that everyone has a story.  Everyone hasgone through something that has changed them, and forced them to grow.  Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours.  We meet no ordinary people in our lives.  If you give them a chance, everyone has something amazing to offer.  So appreciate the possibility of new relationships as you naturally let go of old ones that no longer work.  Trust your judgment.  Embrace new relationships, knowing that you are entering into unfamiliar territory.  Be ready to learn, be ready for a challenge, and be ready to meet someone that might just change your life forever.

1. Show everyone kindness and respect.
 – Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are.  There are no boundaries or classes that define a group of people that deserve to be respected.  Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother.  People will notice your kindness.

1. Accept people just the way they are.
 – In most cases it’s impossible to change them anyway, and it’s rude to try.  So save yourself from needless stress.  Instead of trying to change others, give them your support and lead by example.

1. Encourage others and cheer for them.
 – Having an appreciation for how amazing the people around you are leads to good places – productive, fulfilling, peaceful places.  So be happy for those who are making progress.  Cheer for their victories.  Be thankful for their blessings, openly.  What goes around comes around, and sooner or later the people you’re cheering for will start cheering for you.

1. Be your imperfectly perfect self.
 – In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, find the courage to keep being your awesome self.  And when they laugh at you for being different, laugh back at them for being the same.  Spend more time with those who make you smile and less time with those who you feel pressured to impress.  Be your imperfectly perfect self around them.  We are not perfect for everyone, we are only perfect for those select few people that really take the time to get to know us and love us for who we really are.  And to those select few, being our imperfectly perfect self is what they love about us.

1. Forgive people and move forward.
 – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.  Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.”  It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.”  Forgiveness is the remedy.  It doesn’t mean you’re erasing the past, or forgetting what happened.  It means you’re letting go of the resentment and pain, and instead choosing to learn from the incident and move on with your life.  Remember, the less time you spend hating the people who hurt you, the more time you’ll have to love the people who love you.

1. Do little things every day for others.
 – Sometimes those little thingsoccupy the biggest part of their hearts.  You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can be everything to a few people.  Decide who these people are in your life and treat them like royalty.

1. Pay attention to who your real friends are.
 – As we grow up, we realize it becomes less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones.  Remember, life is kind of like a party.  You invite a lot of people, some leave early, some stay all night, some laugh with you, some laugh at you, and some show up really late.  But in the end, after the fun, there are a few who stay to help you clean up the mess.  And most of the time, they aren’t even the ones who made the mess.  These people are your real friends in life.  They are the ones who matter most.

1. Always be loyal. 
– True love and real friendship aren’t about being inseparable. These relationships are about two people being true to each other even when they are separated.  When it comes to relationships, remaining faithful is never an option, but a priority.  Loyalty is everything.

1. Stay in better touch with people who matter to you.
 – In human relationships distance is not measured in miles, but in affection.  Two people can be right next to each other, yet miles apart.  So don’t ignore someone you care about, because lack of concern hurts more than angry words.  Stay in touch with those who matter to you.  Not because it’s convenient, but because they’re worth the extra effort.  Remember, you don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of.  Paying attention to these people is a priority.

1. Keep your promises and tell the truth.
 – If you say you’re going to do something, DO IT!  If you say you’re going to be somewhere, BE THERE!  If you say you feel something, MEAN IT!  If you can’t, won’t, and don’t, then DON’T LIE.  It’s always better to tell people the truth up front. Don’t play games with people’s heads and hearts.  Don’t tell half-truths and expect people to trust you when the full truth comes out; half-truths are no better than lies.  Remember, love and friendship don’t hurt.  Lying, cheating and screwing with people’s feelings and emotions hurts.  Never mess with someone’s feelings just because you’re unsure of yours.  Always be open and honest.

1. Give what you want to receive.
 – Don’t expect what you are not willing to give.  Start practicing the golden rule.  If you want love, give love.  If you want friends, be friendly.  If you want money, provide value.  It works.  It really is this simple.  Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

1. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
 – Give the people in your life the information they need, rather than expecting them to know the unknowable.  Information is the grease that keeps the engine of communication functioning.  Start communicating clearly.  Don’t try to read other people’s minds, and don’t make other people try to read yours.  Most problems, big and small, within a family, friendship, or business relationship, start with bad communication.

1. Allow others to make their own decisions.
 – Do not judge others by your own past.  They are living a different life than you are.  What might be good for one person may not be good for another.  What might be bad for one person might change another person’s life for the better.  Allow people to make their own mistakes and their own decisions.

1. Talk a little less, and listen more.
 – Less advice is often the best advice.  People don’t need lots of advice, they need a listening ear and some positive reinforcement.  What they want to know is often already somewhere inside of them.  They just need time to think, be and breathe, and continue to explore the undirected journeys that will eventually help them find their direction.

1. Leave petty arguments alone.
 – Someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right.  There are many roads to what’s right.  And most of the time it just doesn’t matter that much.  Read How To Win Friends and Influence People.

1. Ignore unconstructive, hurtful commentary.
 – No one has the right to judge you.  They might have heard your stories, but they didn’t feel what you were going through.  No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks differently.  So concentrate on doing what you know in your heart is right.  What most people think and say about you isn’t all that important.  What is important is how you feel about yourself.

1. Pay attention to your relationship with yourself.
 – One of the most painful things in life is losing yourself in the process of loving others too much, and forgetting that you are special too.  When was the last time someone told you that they loved you just the way you are, and that what you think and how you feel matters?  When was the last time someone told you that you did a good job, or took you someplace, simply because they know you feel happy when you’re there? 

When was the last time that ‘someone’ was YOU?

marc and angel hack life.  

"everything will be okay in the end; if it's not okay, it's not the end."

"Patience child, patience. Remember, life is a journey. If you got everything you wanted all at once there’d be no point to living. Enjoy the ride, and in the end you’ll see these ‘setbacks’ as giant leaps forward, only you couldn’t see the bigger picture in the moment. Remain calm, call is within reach; all you have to do is show up every day, stay true to your path and you will surely find the treasure you seek."

I love this quote for many reasons, but especially because I am personally HORRIBLE with patience. I hate the unknown and I hate waiting for things to fall into place. Struggling with it causes me to overthink everything and constantly talk about my inner grievances, which to a point probably makes it worse and annoys everyone around me. Feeling helpless comes hand and hand with these obstacles. That, to me, is one of the worst feelings one can get. I'm currently in a situation where I can do nothing to alleviate it, except accept it and move on, which is extremely difficult and easier said than done. The only advice people can give me is that it will get better and to look at the bright side, which I do, but I just wish that there was something structured and concrete that I could do. However, I know that time heals all and I am strong enough to get through anything as I have overcome things much worse than this. My impatience and eagerness to fix difficult events only leads to frustration and disappointment. I need to learn to fully immerse myself into optimism and positivity towards the future, because hope is the only thing that will lead me to true happiness and acceptance towards my life. Because, as my friend pointed out during one of my freak outs, "everything will be okay in the end; if it's not okay then it's not the end".

show me what it all looks like.

From wanting to be loved
From wanting to be praised by all
From needing to be first
From finding all my worth in this world
From wanting to be seen
From constant worrying about myself

Deliver me
From validating words that only seem to serve a heart that's proud
And all my self esteem, dressed up in vanity and doubt
From wondering if I am relevant and liked, so God

Deliver me, deliver me
Show me what it all looks like
Scribbled on the pages of a human life
Riddled through the ages until we see the light
Breaking all the cages wide open
Every little prison

From fear of letting go
From fear of the unknown ahead
From being overlooked
And so misunderstood again
From fear of being judged
From rumors of a love that fails

Deliver me, deliver me
Show me what it all looks like
Scribbled on the pages of a human life
Riddled through the ages until we see the light
Breaking all the cages wide open
Every little prison

Let every man be more than I
Closer to the truth when I'm set aside
Mostly of no use, but when I fall I fly
Breaking all the cages wide open
All these little prisons
Show me what it all looks like
Scribbled on the pages of a human life
Riddled through the ages until we see the light
Breaking all the cages wide open
Every little prison

"doesn't it feel good to just be!?"

“Don’t play small! Stand up! Take charge! You are doing yourself and others a disservice by catering your actions towards how you think others will react. Instead, just be yourself, exactly as you are. When you are simply being yourself you will attract everything that is in alignment with who you truly are. You will be shocked to see who drops away. Their absence will leave a space for new and amazing relationships to enter your life. Just be you, and let everyone else do what they may. You are not what others believe you to be, you are what you know you are and nothing else. Just be. You will be rewarded for your courage with a life that reflects your true essence instead of an invented identity created to “please others”. Ahhhh, doesn’t it feel good to just be!?” ~ Jackson Kiddard