You know how you feel after you've opened all the presents at Christmas and then you have to clean up and throw away the wrapping paper, tissue and bows? You know, it's that feeling of being lost and not sure what to look forward to next? It's like the time for what you were SO excited for FLEW by and now it's back to normal life. Ew. I can't think of many things worse than that exact feeling.
Why do I bring that up? Because the last few weeks were filled with so much awesomeness and girlfriendship (it's a word I just made up) time that I was so looking forward to and now it's gone, and I feel yucky. It's like the Monday-blues on steroids. Don't get me wrong, I love the people I am surrounded by daily and love my guy, but there's just something about spending quality times with friends that is absolutely priceless. If I were asked to name the top five things I am most thankful for, my friends would fall quite high on that list. I always wonder how on earth I've been so lucky to have such COOL, amazing people come into my life. After all that quality time spent with my girls, I started to think about why girlfriends are the best. Here are a few reasons:
In addition to this, sometimes girls can be mean. Like, really mean. I think that if we all remember that time when we had a crappy day, then we can all cut each other a little slack, give each other the benefit of the doubt, and let our friends know that we've got each other's back.
Side note: I also cry after 90% of the haircuts I get. Anyone else? No? Okay.
I don't mean to brag, but If the saying is true that you're only as good as the company you keep then damn it, I'm the best! Life has given me such great, great company.
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Repeat after me "Thank you." Try it. Just say it. It's so easy. Two simple words-- thank and you. If they are two simple words then why are they so hard to say? How many times have you received a compliment and deflected it? "Your hair looks nice." "Oh my gosh, are you kidding me? This humidity, though." This response, or something similar happens more times than the two-worded, empowering, simple, yet so complicated phrase of "Thank you." I know I'm at fault for this. I can bet you are at fault for this as well. Lately, however, I have been trying to put myself in the complimenter's (a word I just made up!) shoes. If they are anything like me, they give the compliment because they notice something nice about you and want to express it. They tell you something nice because they genuinely think it, and they believe it enough that they want to verbally state it. Don't make the complimenter feel awkward. When I give a compliment I don't say it to be put in a position of having to build a person back up after they talk down about themselves based on the nice thing I said to them. Author Jack Canfield noted that even when we talk down about ourselves in the most sarcastic sense in a way to not seem conceded or have a big ego, we actually begin to believe it. So, next time when someone compliments you on your hair, even though you may feel like the humidity is attacking it, just say thanks. And when you say thanks, believe it. Although you may be self-conscious of your current hair status, someone noticed it enough to make a positive comment about it. Maybe by saying thanks you too will see the beauty in it, and begin to feel less self-conscious. I often joke that I'm not good at giving compliments. I know that makes me sound like an ass, but what I really mean is that I'm not just going to throw out compliments just because. I compliment someone in a genuine way that I know will make them feel good, and is based off of something positive that I notice about them, and is something I know (or hope) will make them feel good, nice or special. I'm not giving a compliment in the hopes that they give one back to me. I am giving it as a true gift, which is when you give someone something without the expectation of getting something back in return. While some might criticize my inability to give frequent compliments just because, I view it as a strength. Next time someone give you a compliment say "thank you," and who knows, you may even start to believe it. Own your awesomeness! I love flipping my calendar to a new month. It's so clean, clear and full of opportunities. The beginning of a new month allows one to think of all that was (or was not... let's face it, I did some hibernating in February) accomplished the month before. It also offers one a chance to look forward to the month ahead, and to set goals and intentions for the next 30 days. I don't know about you, but I find making a New Year's Resolution in January for the next 12 months a bit intimidating, a little silly, and unrealistic. I know myself all too well and know that my attention span paired with a 12 month resolution isn't a good match. The thing I like about a new month is that you can set a much more attainable New Year's Resolution 12 times a year. Heck, if you want to become a fan of Monday's you could look at them this way as well, and you get to set a New Year's Resolution 52 times a year! I'm excited for March, and am excited for my attainable goals for the month! Here are a few of them:
It's that time of year. Baseball season. It's a time of year where any time spent with my honey is few and far between as most of his time is spent at the field, whether it be practicing or playing games. This weekend kicked off the baseball season with the team traveling to somewhere far warmer and sunnier than here- San Diego, CA. Since I am new at my job I was unable to take vacation time off and therefore held down the fort here in Kentucky. Was I bummed that I couldn't go? Yes, very. Did I miss him and my friends that traveled with the team while they were gone? So much. Did I have a few moments of jealousy that I wasn't there too? I'll admit that I did. Did I get bored? Ummm, just for like 5 minutes. Being someone that was mostly single during my early 20's I have gotten used to, and actually didn't hate the independent, single-lady lifestyle. I did what I wanted whenever I wanted. I watched whatever I wanted to on TV. I read whenever I felt like it. And, the biggest adjustment of all-- I ate whatever I wanted whenever I wanted! Living with someone else other than my old girl roommates has been a learning experience, and for me the biggest adjustment has been meals. Before, I never had to consider that what I wanted to eat might not be what someone else wants to eat. Now, I would feel a little bit guilty if I made some food and didn't offer any to my honey. With girl roommates you just kind of fend for yourself, and if you're feeling super nice and generous you would sometimes offer to share with your roomies. Being the cook in the house, I didn't really need to consider if someone else was hungry until now. This is different though. Guys eat a lot! We aren't always hungry at the same time or for the same thing, and his cravings and favorites aren't always the same as mine. So, this weekend was kind of fun in the fact that I ate like a single lady again. One night I had a salad from Trader Joe's and it was SO good. It was just enough for me, and I had no dishes to do afterwards! The next night I had the weirdest combination of all-- scrambled eggs loaded with veggies, a side of fruit, and a glass (or two) of red wine. What?! Sounds like an odd combination, but my heart was happy as could be. Being someone that loves breakfast at all times of the day I also had French Toast for supper two nights in a row. It. Was. Wonderful. With all that said, does that make me a bad girlfriend? I vote no. I think that is what makes us a good pair. I'm used to being independent and sometimes enjoy some solo time at home, and with a coach's schedule I'm not sure if they could have their "person" be any other way. Now, has the six days of solo time gotten a bit long? Yup! I am ready for some company in this house. And, I'm ready to start making some yummy meals for someone more than myself too. We'll probably do some catching up about the trip over a big bowl of my guy's favorite, and something that I am happy to make, Chili. I am so excited for the good food and even better company!
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The other day I was tired. T.I.R.E.D. How did I overcome that tiredness? I did what all too many force themselves not to do. I gave in, I gave up, and I took a nap. It was wonderful. Although exercise and eating well are two components of overall well-being, on this particular day I was sabotaging both and my tiredness was not doing my body any favors. It's a domino effect. When I'm tired I crave bad for me food. When I eat bad for me food I get a stomach ache. When I get a stomach ache the LAST thing I want to do is workout out. That's just the "healthy" stuff, let's not even touch on my mood when I'm overly tired. It's the opposite of my bubbly, happy self and I'll be the first to admit it. I turn into either a sensitive, sappy baby or a bear who's path would be best to steer clear of (I think the negative mood can also be attributed to the negative food choices). So, on this particular day I decided to try something different. Instead of sticking to what has now become my routine to workout at a certain time each day, I devoted my hour-long workout time to something much more important. Sleep. Yes, me, the early bird who can't settle her mind long enough to close her eyes, took a nap. Like a drool-on-your-pillow, never-felt-so-good nap. After that nap I felt a million times better than I did before. Although I didn't get my workout in this day (which would have been half-hearted anyway), I wasn't craving unhealthy foods, felt back on track and was a much more pleasant person. So, if your schedule allows, take a nap. It will do your body and your relationships good.
Back in November of 2011 my always outgoing and up for anything co-worker and friend came up to my desk one Wednesday morning and said, "Kelly! I just did something that literally made my palms sweat!" My immediate response was "You? Something made YOUR palms sweat?" Then, I thought to myself, "Gosh, I could go for some sweaty palms. I guess they never really hurt anyone." She proceeded to tell me about Toastmasters, a group that gets together every Wednesday to work on their speaking skills. The following week I tagged along with her for my first meeting and the rest is history. I'm trying something new and that is to be very thoughtful in the purchases I make, especially in the clothing department. I decided that when the bar in my closet started bending with all the clothes hanging on it, and I had use my body weight to hip check the dresser drawer shut thenI probably had enough clothes. But, the question remains, do I have GOOD clothes? By good clothes I mean versatile, staple pieces that are well-made and can complete multiple outfits. I just did, in my opinion, a stellar job of cleaning out my closet (a post to come later) and faced reality-- what do I actually wear? Unbelievable, right? I read a whole book. I read a whole fiction novel. Seriously though, this is a little unbelievable because when it comes to starting and finishing a book, especially fiction books, the odds are usually against me because: 1) I have what I call "Book Starting Anxiety" and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this. If a book doesn't hook me right away it's highly unlikely that I'll pick it up again. Ain't nobody got time for that! 2) I get bored. If I a book doesn't keep me interested from beginning to end then I'll just be done with it. My mind starts to wander and I start to make a pretty long list of the better things I could be doing with my time (a list I rarely end up completing anyway). Then, a page later have no idea what I just read. You've been there too, admit it. How can I start a book and not know how it ends?! It makes no difference to me if I don't know what happened to the characters because really, I lost interest a long time ago. Notice I said fiction book. Typically, I tend to go for non-fiction books because I feel like they are "good for me" and a better investment of my time if it inspires me, teaches me something new, and keeps me interested. Reading non-fiction books are like eating healthy food. Like a non-fiction book, the healthy food might not be my favorite but it makes me feel like I am adding something good to my body (or mind), so I focus on the benefits of consuming it. The last time I successfully read a whole novel just for fun was before I started grad school. Honestly, my graduate program wasn't the world's toughest program but there was plenty of reading involved so when it came to reading for fun, well, that just sounded like torture. That was about three years ago. Since that was years ago, that might explain why I am a little behind the times in reading a book that I heard people raving about for so long. Gone Girl. If this book could keep my wandering mind interested, then I have faith that a focused reader would fly through this thrill and enjoy every second of it. Rarely do I find a book that I hurry home from work to read, or have to force myself to stop reading so I can go to bed at a decent time. If you haven't read it yet, I recommend you do so soon! Note: I started this book back in April but Reason #1: "Book Starting Anxiety" got the best of me. A few months later I decided I would give it another shot, and I'm glad I did! The fact that this book is going be a movie this Fall starring one of my favorite Hollywood fellas may have been part of my motivation to read it. While I'm not sure where this new blog of mine is going to take me or rather where I will take it, I just thought, "You know what, I'm going to try this. I'm going to try something new. Why not, right? What is the worst that can happen?!" At this point, I can't say that the things I choose to post are going to have a common theme, but maybe someday they will. Maybe some day this blog will evolve into a topic that I am passionate about, or maybe it will just be my random thoughts I want to share. Honestly, I can't imagine anyone having the slightest interest in reading the thoughts that come to the regular ol' mind of this regular ol' girl, but when I think of what I enjoy reading about most it is the stories and experiences of everyday people living their everyday lives, because it is those individuals that make this life extraordinary.
Starting a blog is a little nerve racking-- you're putting yourself out there. When you do that you offer others the chance to criticize and judge you, your thoughts, and your ideas. Maybe the judgement will be hurtful, but maybe it will be helpful-- maybe it will help me become a better writer, a deeper thinker or just a better person in general. On one hand this can be fearful, but on the other hand it can be exciting. That's the risk you take when trying something new; you can either fall flat on your face or you can soar. Let's face it, our time is precious so if this isn't of interest to then don't waste your time here and invest your time where you find the most value for you. If just one person reads this and enjoys it then that's good enough for me. Like I said, I'm not sure what this will turn into but that's the beauty of it all. I'm just trying something new and am open to whatever may come from this. Starting this blog with no specific theme is an example of how I live my life. Once in an interview I was asked the common question, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" I couldn't give a specific answer. While I have goals and a vision for my life, I don't have a specific plan for how I am going to get from point A, now, to point B, five years from now. Who knows what life will hand you. Perhaps something will come along that will spark my interest, break my heart, or force me to make a change and veer me off in a different direction towards something I may have never considered had I set a structured path for myself. Some might say this makes me sound aloof, but I disagree... and maybe that is "sneaky confidence." |
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