I’m currently in route back to Charlotte where a mammoth week of work that will end in my weekend CrossFit Level 1 Course waits for me when I touch down. But I’m pleased to say that I’m approaching it with less anxiety and stress and more confidence and contentment.
This trip has been both nice and necessary. I’ve been able to take a big step back from not only work but also my life in general. This has provided new perspective and new energy. I have slept more soundly over the past few days than I have in months. What is it about moms and the ocean that seem to allow these things to happen?
I think “allow” is the key word. You can’t cultivate these feelings and behaviors when you are constantly wound up and in a shell…which I am sometimes (okay, a lot of the time) guilty of doing. Sometimes you have to allow yourself to exhale and step back. I think that step back is what lets the excess and unnecessary fall away so you can make room for the things that are going to uplift you. The uplifting and good things can’t happen when you’re so focused on the stressors in your life.
My mantra of choice this year has been, “I’m okay.” I have said this before and I will continually repeat it but it’s all about perspective. You simply cannot allow yourself to get so wrapped up in your own life. Everyone has shit going on. Everyone. And don’t believe them if they pretend like they’re perfect. No one is perfect.
You must focus on all of the things that are okay even when you feel like you’re so not okay. And trust me…I know that sometimes things are really, really not okay. You just have to believe that you’re okay. Ultimately, you are the only one responsible for the quality of your life and your happiness. You can’t depend on others to do it for you. I know that is a rather abrupt thing to say but the truth is that you have to make you happy and good before you can go out and share that with others. And I know how nice it feels to share it with others.
For me that’s sounds like this: “I’m healthy. I eat well. I have friends and family who love and support me. I have a job. I have a home. I have a ridiculously sweet dog. I can travel. I can write. I can teach. I can appreciate the beauty of the things around me. I have hobbies that I feel passionately about.” So many people in this world cannot say those things. We are blessed beyond belief.
So figure out your mantra and repeat it. Make a list of things you are thankful for. Write about things that make you feel good. Tell people that you love them. Nurture your soul. Retreat when you need to recharge. Take care of you.
Share something now.
Wow, what a great message. You totally agree with your thoughts. Thanks for the pep talk!
thank you, arianna!
Beautifully written. That first pic looks like a postcard! Glad you had some time to recharge. It’s amazing what a little break from the day-to-day can do for your perspective….I need that!
thanks amy! i’ve been working a lot on my photography and photo editing so it was fun to have new scenery to shoot. and yes, breaks from the day-to-day are so necessary.
This is a really nice post, Jen. And you do have a super sweet dog. 🙂
as do you! 🙂
Beautifully written…
Glorious photography…
Causing my mind to reflect and be grateful…
love to hear it. appreciate the kindness.
Sometimes, a stranger’s post on the internet is exactly what you need to hear. Thanks for this post, its just what I needed today. I have never commented before but I wanted to stop in and let you know that while I’ve always enjoyed your blog, it has been really really extra special lately.
laur – it means so much to me that you took the time to comment. thank you so much for your sweet words.
Jen, this is a beautiful post. I loved reading it, and it was a wonderful way to start my day. Big hugs.
thank you so much. right back at ya.
Wow–this is just what I needed today. I have been wound so tightly about a few things that are beyond my control, and it’s time to make room for more important things. Thank you for this post.
erin – you’re welcome. it’s so easy to get wrapped up in the things that are beyond your control.
I love the sentiments about being responsible for your own happiness, and making yourself happy before you can share that with others. It’s so true! Thank you.
thank you. it’s something i try to remind myself of often!
Thank you for this – just what I needed! Even when it seems nothing is right – we have to step back and say it is OK! Good luck with your cert! I am hoping to be able to do that one day!!
thanks melissa! i’m nervous but excited to learn.
My friend who is in the hospital posted this on Facebook the other day and it is just so relevant I had to share!
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company … a church … a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude … I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you … we are in charge of our Attitudes.” — Charles Swindoll
Love that Amanda!!!
this is so beautiful amanda. thank you so much for sharing. it is SO true.
Great post, Jen, and beautiful pictures–glad you had a restful and relaxing vacation!
Such a great post, Jen.
Thanks for sharing this, Jen. You’re exactly right and this post is allowing me to start my morning off with a clear head and a sense of eternal gratefulness.
aw, thanks so much b!
Totally needed this post today — Latey I have found myself waiting for a grand feeling of “happy” to come to me. This is a good reminder that I can/do/should create my own happiness, and if I stop for a minute to look around and be actively thankful for what I have, I will find that I have an abundence of things that bring great happiness to my life.
christine – it’s so easy to fall into that trap of waiting for the right time, the right person, the right opportunity but sometimes we just have to grab the reins and go.
Thank you for posting this…it came at the right time for me, as I have been feeling so much of the same way lately. I know I look for perfection in things and people much too often and keep waiting for things to “just happen”. Instead, I need to step back, slow down, and appreciate all of the good things I have in my life.
leanne – i am so guilty of the perfection trap and it can be paralyzing. i’m glad this post helped even if a little bit.
Thank you Jen, I needed this post so much this week. I have such a horrible habit of focusing on everything that is wrong with my life instead of appreciating the things that are right and sometimes it’s nice to know you aren’t the only one.
This was a great post Jen. Def what I needed to hear this morning. I have been working crazy hours between two jobs and I’m not the nicest person in the world after working a 12 hours shift. I need to realize everyone is tired and exhausted at some point and try harder to appreciate the good things in my life. Thanks for the post!
Very nice! Thanks for posting this.
What a heartfelt post! Thanks for sharing this. I am about to head out on a run and will reflect on this.
Beautiful, inspiring, and above all else a great heart. Thank you for being you, Jen.
It can be SO hard to focus on all of the positive things we’ve got going for us in our lives rather than the negative, but wow is it refreshing when you do! Thanks for the reminder 🙂
p.s. new body pump last night (83 I think?) …holy crap!
Great message, Jen!
You are okay! Thanks for a wonderful post.
Thanks for this post! I’m a relatively new reader/follower so I know you needed this break, this post and your message. But thank you for sharing because sometimes we all need the pep talk :))
“Ultimately, you are the only one responsible for the quality of your life and your happiness. ” Wow. I SO needed to hear this, especially during this extra-stressful week when it’s easy to blame anything but my own attitude for my unhappiness and worry. I often find myself waiting for that perfect moment when I’ve gotten everything under control and life is stress-free…But that moment doesn’t exist! It’s always good to be reminded to stop waiting and start taking control of my own happiness NOW. There’s so much to do and learn and share and be thankful for, even in the toughest of times.
I love all of your posts (I’ve been a regular reader now for several months), but I wanted to thank you for this one especially. 🙂
Love!!
Love your blog! I came across it today @ work when trying to figure out a way to keep track of meals/runs/workouts and thought starting a blog would be a great way to hold myself accountable! I live up in NYC and am a runner – have been for 10+ years. I’m working on practicing yoga more regularly – I find it hard to manage my time between work, running and my home/personal life, but it seems like you have a pretty great routine! Looking forward to reading more…
great post! beautiful photos too.
Love love love this post, jen.
Great post. I, too, have been really focusing on reminding myself of how much good we have in our lives right now. It’s easy to focus on the negative, but I would be willing to bet that I have it better than at least 75% of people in this country, and probably 95% of the world. That puts things into perspective real quick. This quote comes to mind:
“If you woke up this morning healthy … you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the fear and loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture,
or the pain of starvation … you are better off than 500 million people in the world.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep …
you are more comfortable than 75% of the people in this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace …
you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
If you can read this, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.” Donella H. Meadows
Beautiful post in both pictures and words.
Beautiful post, Jen. Great reminder to always find the silver lining (cliche, but so true).
You are the best. I love this post. I just recently started a new teaching job and lately I have gotten so wound up in trying to get everything done and letting myself getting overwhelmed easily. I need to remind myself of the fact that I am okay and that everything will get done. Thanks for sharing these words.
Beautiful pictures! I miss the beach, the south, the warmth! And your blog always gives me my Southern fix 🙂 Thanks!
This is the first time posting here….there have been many times that I have wanted to but there is just no way I can let the opportunity to pass to not say how incredibly grateful I can for your recognition of this and for posting it.
Exactly what I needed to read today. You are not alone, girl….man oh man you are not alone but you are so very very right. We are all okay. We are all safe and we are all loved. It is something I have to remind myself multiple times a day. But really…multiple times a day.
Thank you so much and it is a highlight of my days to read your posts.
Love,
Fran
This is so beautiful. You reset me too:) I will read this one again!!
Wow! This was exactly what I needed to hear today…more than you could ever know. Good luck with your work week and on your upcoming test.
Mantra since high school and come back to it daily…”things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out” anything from traffic to tragedy!
This was exactly what I needed to hear … Thanks! 🙂
Thank you for the beautiful post. It was lovely to read this in the morning and start my day with positive thoughts about things I’m thankful for. And your comment about moms and the ocean is so true! I always sleep so well at my mom’s place. 😀 And the ocean just have an amazing calming effect on me.
Have a wonderful day!
“Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.”
Lovely post. Thanks for the inspiration:) Great pictures too.
Thank you for this post Jen, I really needed to read it as much as you needed to write it. Please don’t stop inspiring…*HUGS*!
Michele.