love yourself

How can we love others if we don't love ourselves first? I had this conversation with a close friend recently and she said at age 23, she is finally realizing all the truth that holds. My friend told me that she was focusing so much on pleasing others and spending time with others, that she rarely had a moment to herself. And when a guy finally came along, she simply wasn't ready. She couldn't figure out what felt so wrong, and then realized, how can I love this great guy if I don't even love myself? 

We must learn to look inward, find out who we are, and love that person for all that is. Here are some self love steps:

1. You do so much more than you give yourself credit for. Acknowledge all of your accomplishments. 

2. Stop comparing yourself to others. You are a beautiful, unique being.

3. Forgive yourself, you did the best you could.

4. Learn your body, treat it well, and respond to it's needs such as hunger and sickness

5. Exercise daily, even a 10 minute walk counts

6. Eat healthy - try a green juice now and then! And always have breakfast!

7. We all have a creative spark - find what lights yours. 

8. We all deserve a bubble bath, scented candles, and a massage every once in awhile

9. Meditate. It is in the stillness that we truly find our clarity.

10. Surround yourself with loving, positive people that will lift you higher

Try just one a day even! Any little step you take to loving yourself will help. Realize that just inhaling is such a gift. Realize that you are full of life and light. In this moment, you are where you are meant to be. You are taken care of. 

the art of doing nothing

It can be argued it was the most beautiful weekend of summer. 70's, sunny, and not a hint of humidity. But I found it to be the most beautiful weekend of summer for another reason. Friday rolled around and I didn't have anything planned. The weekend was wide open, open to possibilities, open to going with the flow, open to spontaneity. And there is something so beautiful about doing nothing, about having nothing planned. You can just feel all of that space, and whether you chose to fill it or not, it's there for you.

Doing nothing doesn't mean mindlessly sitting on the couch watching TV, it means doing something that makes you feel relaxed, makes you feel like you are focusing on yourself. Which, in this day and age, we are so busy working and running around doing things, we often forget to work on our own well being. 

With nothing planned, I chose to fill my weekend with delicious dinner dates with Chris, tanning and reading 'Food Matters' at the pool, practicing yoga in unusual places, putting competitions, and a strongly brewed rum punch on the beach. I filled it with things I love, things that bring me peace. I noticed every quiet moment of inspiration. The lingering monarchs colors in the sun, my puppy running freely through the grass, the feel of the sand between my toes. I felt love and saw light in every single moment. I loved my weekend of doing nothing, yet doing everything that brings me love. 

“Happiness, not in another place but this place...not for another hour, but this hour.” - Walt Whitman

Changes

I've been thinking a lot about change and what that means. So much uncertainty, yet so much excitement. Apprehension? Yes. Nervous? Yes. Confident? I am getting there. Supported? Luckily very much. Ready? Lets do this now. 

 There is no better time to change your life into the life you want but now. We are equipped with all the resources we need to do what is right for ourselves. Speaking for myself, this is my time. It is time to shed myself of corporate life. To grow into the person I always have wanted and have strived to be. It is time to help others. I have always been able to do this, but have been afraid. Afraid of failure. Fear is one of the worst ways we can live, for it is what opens the doors to regrets. And that is no way to live, living with the burden of a regret. So, I am living by the three C's right now. I have made the choice to take a chance and change my life. And hopefully in the process I will change the lives of others. Inspire others to follow their dreams, to live out their passions, to be in love with their life, every single moment.