Days Like This

Have you ever put your music on shuffle and suddenly the most perfect songs began playing? I've been doing that a lot lately. Usually when it comes to music, I like to listen to an album from beginning to end, and if it's a good one, it begins to tell a story, unfolding song after song.

 

The other day, I was huddled behind the usual computer screen in my tiny cramped office and that's when things started to get really crazy. I pressed shuffle. (My work days get pretty wild over here!) Old flames would pop up out of nowhere, and my love for them was ignited once again. If only I was out driving on the open road, you know I'd be belting out those lyrics like it was going out of style.

 

Then, there was this song.

 

A few years ago, there were times when I felt like there were more bad days than good. There was a pivotal point in my life where things began to shift right beneath my feet, and I was just hanging on for dear life. It was the point where I could choose one of two paths and really evolve into my own.

 

Eye-opening. Confusing. Nerve-wracking. Exciting. Momentous. A time in my life that could be described by so many words.

 

But when my days weren't so great , there was this song. And I would sit in my car, replaying it over and over and over again. I'd soak in the words, quietly sing along, and imagine my perfect day, letting each note lift me up when I was down.

  When no one steps on my dreams there'll be days like this
When people understand what I mean there'll be days like this
When you ring out the changes of how everything is
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this
It still gives me a goofy-happy feeling that can't be explained.

What songs are you listening to lately? Are there any songs that you feel nostalgic towards? Ahhh, the power of great music :)

twitter - instagram - pinterest - bloglovin' - email

What If Money Was No Object? + Discovering Your Purpose

Man, this one hit me like a ton of bricks. As I was watching, I kept asking myself that same question, over and over again. Funny how when you take money out of the equation, it’s like an entirely new world opens up for exploration. Ideas flowed, images flashed before my eyes. One line really stood out to me:
 

Better to have a short life full of what you like doing than a long life spent in a miserable way.

 

What do I desire? To be honest, I feel like I’m only just scratching the surface, slowly uncovering what that answer is right now. The whole process is exhilarating, nerve-wracking, and comes with butterflies every now and again, all wrapped into one tasty life sandwich. I can feel my mind going through this transition phase of (re)discovery, tapping into the whispers of my very own soul, keeping my head close to the ground to hear what the universe is trying to tell this stubborn brain of mine. Maybe that’s what your mid-20s are for?

 

I look at myself when I was a teenager… so self-assured, yet so unsure at the same time. Those awkward phases, the trying to fit in, the trying to stand out, self-expression (note to self – never dye your hair black again), and who could forget the hordes of emotions that were way bigger than me. Ohhh, the things I thought I knew. I think if I ever attempted writing a letter to my younger self it would end up being a massive novel. Art of War style. Bound, hard cover, indestructible. The kind of book you could use to level out your busted old couch. Solid stuff.

Transitioning into my twenties was all about liberation. Freeing myself of all that junk in the attic so-to-speak. Living out my life my way, making mistakes, taking risks, letting go of negativity (whether it was thoughts, people, situations), conquering the world. All the good stuff. There were ups, there were downs, but all those things were on my terms and that’s all that really mattered. I learned to trust my intuition, to bask in my independence, and to shake it off. Preferably with loud music, in the kitchen, busting out all the right moves.

And now, here we are. What do I desire? What ignites that fire? I can say, with deep, genuine truth, that I am excited for the future. Not the future in that vague distant magical land where fairy tales live either. I’m excited for tomorrow, the day after that, and after that, and so on. You know when you walk outside after months and months of winter cold, and you feel that very first warm breeze gently touch your face? Then you close your eyes, feeling the sun beat on your face, and breathe in a deep, exhilarating breath that fills every square inch of your lungs? That’s how I feel. Like I’m letting myself be open to this entirely new world of fresh perspectives, abundance, and a type of fulfillment that I’ve never truly experienced before.

That’s not to say it’s easy. I wouldn’t be able to sit here and tell you that it is. (We’re friends! We don’t do that sort of thing.) It’s a work in progress. Some days are wicked awesome, others get the best of you. C’est la vie, and all that jazz. It’s about arming yourself with the right tools and letting that spark catch. Trust me, the fire within you will spread, igniting a type of determination that can’t be extinguished. Not even self-doubt, insecurities, or that looming negative cloud. (It’s always somewhere.) And together, together we’ll discover our purpose.


LET’S TRY SOMETHING

Discovering your life's purpose takes action. I find that whenever I think about something in a grand-scheme kind of way, I get overwhelmed. The idea of simply asking myself "What is my purpose?" has me sitting there, dumbfounded, unsure of what to tell myself. You too? No big deal, it's a pretty action packed question. My knee-jerk reaction is just to run and hide, rather than answering in a way that seems so... finite.

Instead, let's do a (simple) exercise! I find tackling one BIG goal is better when divided into easy, simple steps, don't you? This method by Steve Pavlina does just that. Here's what you do:

1. Take out a blank sheet of paper or start up your computer and get ready to type.

2. Write at the top, "What is my true purpose in life?"

3. Write an answer that pops into your head. Any answer. (Don't censor yourself!) It doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't even have to be a complete sentence, a phrase, a feeling. Just get those mental juices going.

4. Repeat step 3 until you write the answer that makes you cry. This is your purpose.

According to Steve, usually it takes 15-20 minutes to clear your head of all the clutter and the social conditioning about what you think your purpose in life is. The false answers will come from your mind and your memories. But when the true answer finally arrives, it will feel like it’s coming to you from a different source entirely.

For some, it will take a lot longer to get the false answers out. (Even upwards of an hour.) Some of your answers may be similar, you may even write previous answers multiple times. The important thing is to keep writing. During this process, you may think it's stupid and want to quit - push past this feeling and keep writing. Some answers may even give you a surge of emotion, but just miss the mark. Highlight those, go back to them if you need to, expand on them. You're getting close!

Here's his answer: to live consciously and courageously, to resonate with love and compassion, to awaken the great spirits within others, and to leave this world in peace.

(WOW!)
 

When you have some time to dedicate, find a cozy spot where you'll be free from interruptions and get writing. When you find your own unique answer, it should resonate with you deeply. Give it a try! I'm going to find my own little oasis and get writing this weekend.

Remember - this part is easy. After you've discovered your purpose, it's what you do with it that will change your life. It's hard work, but you can do it. Now's the time!

Before you go, just a couple of questions for you! How do you tackle big tasks? Lists? Small goals? Head on? I'd love to hear your approaches! And lastly... what would you do if money didn't matter?

 

twitter - instagram - pinterest - bloglovin' - email

Connected, but alone?

It's no question that technology is one of the greatest things introduced into our lives. It has changed the way we live forever. It makes our lives just a little bit better, easier, and keeps people from losing touch with each other. If I had a dime for every time I've overhead somebody say "What did people do before Google?", I could fill an Olympic sized swimming pool.

Technology can also be our greatest downfall. And if you have the time, take a moment out of your day to watch this video. I've mentioned my love of TED talks in the past, and this particular video is up there among my favourites. Why? Because it makes you think. And it doesn't just make you think about some arbitrary subject that doesn't really affect you, it makes you think about the way you live your life.

Human relationships are rich, and they're messy, and they're demanding and we clean them up with technology.

And when we do, one of the things that can happen is that we sacrifice conversations for mere connection.

We short-change ourselves.

We're developing the habit of using our cellphones as a crutch. Myself included. Anytime I've had a free moment to myself, I use it to catch up on social networking sites - waiting in line at the checkout, the doctor's office, the bus stop, waiting for a friend. We use our phones in awkward social situations, and even when we're just spending time with friends. It's an extension of us.

But are we sacrificing our relationships because of it? Or worse yet - ourselves? We've become use to forming thoughts in 140 characters or less that the idea of having an actual real conversation is daunting.

How many times have you gotten together with a group of friends and looked around only to notice every person you're with is attached to their phone? While texting, we have the chance to choose our words wisely and even go back and edit what we're sending. A conversation happens in real-time, and we lose the control over what comes out of our mouths. Our emotions run rampant and that loss of control is scary.

We're expecting more and more from technology and less from each other. And it has to change. For the sake of our friends, spouses, and each other. Because when you connect on a level that isn't so superficial, that is when we really find ourselves.

As much as I see this shift happening in the way we socialize with each other, the importance of being alone is just as valuable. When was the last time you sat alone with your thoughts? I don't mean sat alone and watched TV, surfed the net, or even listened to music. I mean, totally and completely alone. 

I think the need to fill our days with "busyness" - tasks, goals, chores, errands, etc comes from the pressure to do everything. My generation in particular is especially ambitious. We want to do it all and we want to do it right now. Whenever we have a spare moment, we're searching for ways to fill it. We can never just "be". We've started developing ways to fill the void of loneliness. But we need to start thinking of being alone as a good thing, and make room for it. By teaching ourselves and future generations that being alone isn't important is only setting all of us up to feel dependent and lonely.

A great tip from the video is a simple one that each and every one of us can use - create sacred spaces and reclaim them for conversation. Whether it's the kitchen or the living room. Sebastian and I have even started setting up a day where put away technology and focus just on each other.

It's time we stop removing ourselves from our own feelings by going into our phones. It's time to be present in our daily lives. Turn off that television program, put down your phones, and turn to the person next to you and talk to them. Talk about your dreams, talk about life, hell, talk about anything.

Make this life the life we can love.

Just some thoughts on this rainy Monday afternoon. :)



Cottage Life

It's official! The first day of summer has come at last. Cheers to a gorgeous summer filled with sunshine, patios, sangria, swimming, laughter, and sand, where sand should never be.

To start off the season right I thought I'd share a little home video with you today!

This was taken last summer at our friend's cottage. It's full of sweet views, hilarious tubing crashes, and me laughing hysterically.

Enjoy. xo

P.S. I can't wait to tell you all about our trip!!! We arrive home tomorrow!