I am learning...

...that things are just things.  And that the opportunity to appreciate moments is short so it's important to be aware.

I am learning to be inspired immediately.  When I read a quote or idea, or hear a laugh.  To let my imagination activate and THEN circle back around to grasp the moment or experience with my intellect.

I am learning to be proud of myself when I do awesome things.  To be proud of the life I've built.  And the network that I have.  Of the opportunities I've seized. 

To be grateful for my "no's".  That I'm being protected from one thing and built for another. 

That I am loveable.  In all of my imperfection.. God loves me, my family loves me,  my friends, and my man.  And it's because of who I am exactly.  (Also because of who I am not.)

The lesson learned is that NOW is it, and it's perfect.

xo,

Melissa

Journaling

Do you journal?  Does it make a difference in your life?

I've been Journaling since I was about 11 or younger.  It's my favorite thing to do and when it's not being done it's obvious.

I word vomit a lot more. I feel anxious and confused. I feel misunderstood. All because I have taken too long to tell my version of the stories and think out all angles of good/bad situations in my own life. It also feels like I'm exercising my wrist and finger tips. Re-learning things about myself by seeing my hand writing that rarely gets expressed besides signing receipts or filling out little boxes on forms and applications.

Journaling, to me, is essential.  It's a safe space to hang loose, change my mind, and "jump up and down" about sensitive subjects and then it's also practice to do those things in public and with others. 

The itch to journal is as strong as the restless knee that I get because I really want to workout. There's science about how good it is for you. And thanks to a few cool minds, it can be done online or off. Digitally or on paper.  It's so great!

I even have journal preferences (sorry friends who gift me journals.. I do actually give them away or use em for lists). My journals have to be bound like a novel. And the cover has to be thick and wrapped in a durable material like cloth or leather. It also has to be big like a piece of paper so I can scribble and draw and highlight points with ease.  Shopping for journals is fun and not as easy as one would assume.

Journaling helps one to dream. To scheme. To be free. Or maybe even buckle down and get clear on what's next.  It's not for everybody and I can see why.  I do suggest that people give it a try.  Whether through a private blog or jotting stuff on paper and throwing it away.. give it a shot!  And let me know how you feel after a few days.

Don't be surprised if it's like trying to start making up the bed every morning and don't be surprised if it becomes your new necessary morning cup of coffee.

*thanks for reading my random passion post on something I love so much and just felt moved to talk about. lol

Happy journaling! :)

Melissa

Shifting

I talked with my co-worker about her "energy".  I consider myself an extremely positive person, but I never claim to always be peppy.  Even when I'm my most stressed and attitudinal, pretty much all positive thoughts are going through my head, I just am typically choosing not to squeal or smile because I just don't want to.

But I have this coworker who is ALWAYS on 10.  And not in the irritating way.  She just is legitimately always living in choice, always staying above the line, and even when she's not at 100 (I'm good at seeing that stuff) her temperance makes you feel like she's approachable and in a good mood.

So I asked her how she pulls it off most of the time and she said that she quit giving her time away in the mornings.  Usually we all jump on Facebook, check work emails, or even talk with our loved ones, but she says that that typically begins to leave an impression on our mood even when we don't mean for it to.  She mentioned that she just journals or writes visions for the day and finds them later in the day or month because she sorta hides them away to be discovered again after the thought may or may not have left her mind.

She also talked about shifting her thoughts.  Going easy on herself when she makes a mistake or a road block pops up unexpectedly.  Not taking error personal.  Not taking herself too seriously.  That part really got me.  I am really good at laughing at myself, but there are moments...very serious moments...where all things are important and crucial and nothing but the best is acceptable.  And I realized that sometimes I laugh at myself and sometimes I am laughing AT myself.

Regardless.  This post is a product of that convo.  I had a 6:15AM class this morning and I stayed committed to not using social media before 6 o'clock and when I got a little restless, I started typing.  Getting thoughts out and I'm happy that these words fell to the keys because it shows how having this shift is such a huge thing to me even when I'm playing it cool.

Another cool theory is by my girl Katarina Arneric, she talks about "small change, big shift".  How looking at a situation just one degree farther to the left or right can completely change up the experience and the good in it can be found and used to fuel you through the day or to the next moment.

:)

hooray for having friends who are so dedicated to peace within themselves and the world.  it sure does come in handy!


Melissa