Find Someone To Look Up To

In life we sometimes lead by example. I want to grow up to be like my mom, my aunt, my favorite celebrity. Etc. it is important to find someone that you can look up to. I personally don’t want to be this person. I want to honor this person. She was an amazing human being and for the era that she was in, she was strong. She went out of her way for things and she is a hero in my eyes and someone that woman should want to be. This person has inspired me and with all of the stuff going on about putting a woman on the $20 bill, I believe that it should be her.

This person is Eleanor Roosevelt.

As I said in the paragraph above, I want to honor her and by that I mean know what she stood for. I am constantly reading her quotes and keeping them in my thoughts because she was such a strong woman and her words should live on.

“With a new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”

“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”

“We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.”

“The future belongs to those who believe in beauty of their dreams.”

‘You must do the things you think you cannot do.”

“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”

“No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.”

“Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to say yes.”

“It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself”

“Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.”

-Eleanor Roosevelt

I am a big quote person, I have made that obvious through my other post. With Eleanor Roosevelt. She stepped out of the typical role of first lady while her husband was in office. She stood by his side, but she also stood alone. She paved the path for future first lady’s to be able to make a name for themselves as well and to do things that interest them.

I have written a few papers on her while in high school. She is fascinating with all that she did. I recommend looking her up, or at lease looking her words up.

She is someone I look up to.

She is someone that woman that will always be remembered.

Anyone can be a role model for you. Find someone that you can look up to and pave your own path because of that. You can look up to many people. I know the type of person I want to be and the type I don’t want to be. It is that simple. 

Believe In Yourself.

Believe: to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so.

The best way to accomplish something is to believe that you can do it. If you go into something thinking you are going to fail, then you will. Remember though, failure is ok, as long as you don’t give up when it happens. The best way to prepare yourself for failure is knowing it can happen, but knowing it isn’t going to stop you. Go into everything knowing you can do it. If failure happens, you choose another route to accomplish your goal and your dreams. Be scared, that’s ok. Be nervous, that’s expected. Be you, that’s the point.

You need to believe in yourself and what you do. Be tenacious nd genuine. – Christian Louboutin

If you want something, go after it. Believe that it is worth it! Know that it is worth it. The saying, “anything is possible if you put your mind to it” is true. It might take time, but it is true. You have to know that you have what it takes to accomplish what you want. You have to know that you are the only person who can stand in your way. Everyone else can have an influence on you, but you are the only one who says, “I’m going to do this” or “I can’t do this”. It is all a part of being realistic and getting a plan together is great. Write it all down!

When people don’t believe in you, you have to believe in yourself. – Pierce Bronsan

In our lifetime we are going to run into so many people who are going to tell you that your ideas are stupid, you aren’t being realistic, it’s not going to happen, you’re going to fail so why try, etc. etc. etc. it is never going to stop. Unfortunately that is the society we live in. You will have your supporters, the ones who won’t give up on you and are going to help push you. Keep those people close, but don’t let the negative people bring you down. They have no clue what is going to happen. You have no clue what is going to happen. It could be all you have hoped for and it could be anything but a fairytale ending. Don’t let the doubts scare you.

Your success depends mainly upon what you think of yourself and whether you believe in yourself. – William J.H. Boetcker

Personal experience: my family thought I was nuts to move to Georgia and even the thought of wanting to move to Nashville is ridiculous. Well I moved to Georgia not knowing what was going to happen and even though nothing went the way it was supposed to, I still went. I also am not going to give up on Nashville. I have plans and now I just have to start getting them together.

You can have all the tools in the world but if you don’t genuinely believe in yourself, it’s useless – Ken Jeong

Whatever you want, new job, new location, weight loss, etc. go for it. Motivate yourself to get whatever needs done, done. Look to friends and family for support and even those who might think you’re crazy, listen, and take what they say and put a plan into motion so that if things don’t go the way you expected, you have a different plan so that what they fear will happen, doesn’t.

It’s no good being easily swayed by people’s opinions. You have to believe in yourself. – Donatella Versace

Make yourself comfortable with what you are about to do. What are your fears? Write them down and take the steps to make sure those fears can be put at a minimum. You can accomplish anything. ANYTHING!! Remember that it is ok to fail, most people do! Giving up though, that is your call. If you don’t want to give up, don’t. Do not let others affect your dreams. I have said in other post that sometimes our dreams and wants can change, that doesn’t mean you’re giving anything up, that means you’re starting something new.  

You know, you do need mentors, but in the end, you really just need to believe in yourself. – Diana Ross

Always have something that you’re working for. It makes life fun and interesting. It makes things so rewarding when we reach our goals. Have a goal and believe you can achieve it. You can achieve it.

If you believe in yourself and feel confident in yourself, you can do anything. I really believe that. – Karlie Kloss

Nothing is Impossible

If you want something, it is up to you to go get it. Life is not supposed to or going to be handed to you on a silver platter. To make our dreams come true we have to work for it. That is what makes it so rewarding when we finally reach our goals.

Nothing is impossible. It is simply put that you can achieve anything you want if you put your mind to it. Nothing is ever over with until you say it is. How many times do you think people who are living their dreams right now were told no. I bet more times than they can count on their hands. You can chose to believe it or you can tell them their wrong.

Take advice when needed and listen to what others have to say. Sometimes the advice will help you, and sometimes the advice is only trying to hinder your efforts. Believe in yourself and get the job done. Ask for help if it is needed. Find support that will keep you on track and stay motivated to get to the place that you want to be.

I get told that Nashville is a stupid dream. For the fact that I don’t know what I want to do when I get there. Well I have a college degree so what I want to do is get a job. The idea of living in Nashville is simply something that makes me happy. I don’t feel happy when I’m in Illinois. I feel the need to constantly be thinking about a way to get out. Same with Georgia. The feeling has existed everywhere I have lived, so naturally I want to follow my heart to where it’s telling me to go.  I know what I want and that is all that matters. I will get to where I want/need to be someday. If it turns out that Nashville isn’t the place for me… I have the whole world. I can live anywhere.

Some dreams are harder to achieve which means that it takes that much more effort. Don’t let that slow you down. Life is not the easiest thing to deal with sometimes, but it’s only as bad as you make it.

I feel as though my life is just beginning, who cares that I’ve been here for 23 years. I just graduated college, I’m not getting my masters right now, and all I want to do is get to a location where I can make my life happen. Of course things are going to happen before I get there. I could be 26 or even 30 before I get to Nashville, but I’m not giving up on the possibility of it.

As I said not all dreams are extremely hard to achieve. A goal is a dream to me. And a dream is a goal. Simple goals like wanting to stop drinking pop or even wanting to start going on a walk every night. Those aren’t going to be considered hard when comparing them to maybe moving to another country. Obviously dreams come in all varieties. Getting a promotion, becoming a photographer, graduating college, landing the perfect job, getting married, buying a puppy, and on and on and on they go. No matter what there is no dream too small and no dream to big. Just remember that whatever the size of the dream means that that is the amount of work needed to be put in to achieve it!

Don’t let life tear you down. Don’t let your dreams slip away! Continue to dream and continue to try and make those dreams come true! No matter what your dreams are, they’re yours for a reason. They mean something to you. Don’t let them go because someone might say that you can’t do it. Don’t let them go because things are hard. It’s not impossible. Work hard and one day you will thank yourself because you didn’t give up. One day people are going to be so proud of you because you proved them wrong. Know that you can do anything. Who cares what life says and what people say. Follow your heart.

Spend Time With Family.

Where would we all be without our family members? Some relationships might not be great, but family is forever. You can have friends that you consider family. Blood relation isn't everything.

Look to your family for guidance and advice. I ask my mom questions all the time. She was my age once and went through thing that I am going thing at some point in her life. They are here to give advice and to help, talking can do wonders. I talk to cousins and aunts and uncles and get their viewpoint on things. Sometimes they give it without asking, listen.

Family is extremely important. As I said earlier it can be friends that you call family as well. It’s important to stay in communication with the family members you are close to. Those relationships can't be duplicated. If you aren't close to family members, make a point to work on it, from both sides. I’m not trying to put my two cents in on how to conduct relationships with your family because if you aren't close to them, there are going to be reasons that are your reasons. I hope that you have someone to be close to.

I would love to put a definition of family down, but I feel it is indescribable. Family means so many different things to so many different people. We all have our dysfunctions and our perfections.

With my family, I don't talk to my mom about everything in my personal life, I have friends for that, but I talk to her about life stuff. As in my job (when I have one) and stuff for my apartment and just typical living stuff. I have friends who tell their moms everything, relationships are different. I will probably never have the “perfect mother/daughter” relationship with my mom, I am ok with that. I know what I need to do to make sure, and pray, that a daughter of my own and I have a better relationship.

I have two siblings, brothers, one I talk to and one I only talk to when we see each other in person, which doesn’t happen much. I know that they both are my family and hopefully one day I can speak with both of them the way siblings should. Support each other and love each other. One brother is ok at doing that, but getting better. One doesn’t at all. Of course I am trying to get better at it also. It all comes with age level for us.

The fact that I do have family there for when I need them is awesome. I mean, I moved in with my brother while I tried to find a job. Glad I had the opportunity, but I consider it a major waste of time.

Keep family close to you. No matter what kind of family it is.

write it down.

I do not own a journal. I wish I did though. I am one of those people that I don’t like to burden people with my problems. I would rather listen to others and help them deal with their dilemmas. I do talk about things with my friends, but do feel guilty about it. It’s just who I am. Something that I do, even though I don’t write in a journal, is write things down on paper and then rip it up. Get my frustrations out and say all that I need to. Once I am done, I burn it. I feel better simply because I was able to be honest with myself about how I’m really feeling because once I start writing, it all comes out.

I feel that I can be myself when I write, its personal. You are the one putting the words out there. If you have an idea, write it down. A dream, write it down. You can write about anything. I have been doing some side writing and simply putting down my dreams and how I wish to achieve them and what I plan to do if I achieve them and if I don’t.  You can write about anything!

Some people aren't into writing, some are.

If you aren't into writing then talk it out with someone. 

It isn't about what you are writing down. The only thing that matters is that you are putting pen to paper. If you're writing, it obviously is going to be about something that is important to you or has a purpose. 

Write down your life and maybe what happens on a day-to-day basis. Find the things that you want to change and then work on changing them. Make yourself happy. 

Start your own blog.

Start a journal.

Start a diary.

Write sorry stories.

Write letters to friends.

The possibilities are endless!

When I talk about writing it down, I am talking about all kinds of different things. If you need motivation, write notes for yourself to put everywhere. Put them in places that you will run into them so you will have them as a constant reminder. Leave messages for yourself anywhere you need to so that you are able to accomplish things that you want to.

Do what is best for you.

I personally, write this blog. I am not writing about everyday occurrences in my life, I am writing about ways that I stay positive. It’s my way of saying what I want to and I am able to help myself “take my own advice” when I read the post again.

Make Plans.

When thinking about the future, it scares me. One thing that helps me think about the future is making a plan. I am facing so many decisions that I have to make and having a plan is helping. If I move back to Illinois, which would be next week if I do, I have two different plans that I need to follow. Obviously to get a job is priority number one, the rest will fall into place. If I stay where I am, then I continue on the plan that I am currently working through.

If you have a dream, it is one thing to say that you are going to chase the dream and it is another thing to actually have a plan that you can put into action. How are you going to make that dream come true? What is your next step? Plans change and nothing ever goes as it is supposed to, but the best part about having a plan A is that you can also have a plan B or C. Plan A would work in a perfect situation, and I wish you all the luck in having success with that plan, but also be prepared just in case something doesn’t work out the way it was supposed to.

My plans:

• Plan A – Move to Georgia. Get a job. Save money. Move to Nashville.
• I have failed all aspects of this plan so far.
• Plan B – Move back to Illinois. Get a Job. Save Money. Get a job in Nashville. Move to Nashville
• This is my next plan
• Plan C – Stay in Illinois.
• This is probably only if I got married or something. Then the plan isn’t just about what I want.

The future is a scary place and things happen that aren’t planned. It is simply all about how you go from there. What is the next step? I had it all planned out for when I got to Georgia, I am a great example of things not going according to plan. I also know what my next step is. I have this week to get a job and if I don’t, I will be back in Illinois, starting over, and hopefully having more success.

Have faith in your own decisions, wants, and needs. Do what is best for you! Seek advice from friends and family members. Do what you have to do to make sure that you are prepared. Make a plan that is obtainable. Don’t set yourself up for failure, but also get outside of your comfort zone. Don’t live a life where you are constantly saying, “one day I will,” do it now. Take a chance and do what you need to do to make sure that you are happy with your life.

Write down where you are now and then write down where you want to be. Fill the space in between with the steps to get there.

There is no time like the present. That I am certain of. If you keep putting your dreams off, they are going to be harder to go for. Never give up, but start now! Make a plan of who you want to be in 5 years and where you see yourself. It isn’t going to just happen for you, you have to make it happen!

I do feel as though our lives are books. Each day we write a new page. It is going to be a boring book if it is the same thing over and over again on each page. There are obvious exceptions to this though. If you love your job, it isn’t going to be boring. If you spend time making memories with friends, it isn’t going to be boring. Anything you do that makes you happy is going to change the story. Start now. Make those pages something to remember. 

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The Power of Music

           One of my favorite things in the world is music. I am constantly adding new music to my iTunes and I love watching the amount of music I have go up. it has always been an outlet for me. If I’m sad, I know what song to play. If I’m happy, I know what song to play. I hate silence, except when I’m sleeping, so even while studying in college I had classical music playing while I studied. It is something I love learning about and getting new information on. I love hearing the great artist in each genre and who paved the path for artist in that genre today.

            

I have a playlist for everything. Road trips, songs to listen to when I’m in the shower, songs for when I’m sad and want to be happy, and simply songs for everything. I am organized when it comes to my music.

           

Do you have a song that every time you listen to it you have a memory attached to it? Those are my favorite. You might not know it when you’re listening to it, but if it is worth a memory it is an amazing song. Even if the song itself isn’t that special, memories are. Find those songs. I will put my iTunes on shuffle and songs will play from forever ago and I can see myself dancing around in my room to them, I love it.

           

            Find music that speaks to you. I love falling in love with a new song. Give all genres a chance. Find songs that are you’re go to songs. I’m happy, I’m going to listen to….. I’m sad I’m going to listen to… I need something to brighten my mood…. I know my list of songs, it’s important to know yours. Music might not be that important to some people, but it is always there, playing somewhere.

            You don’t have to know anything about music to care about it either. I used to take voice lessons and can play a few instruments, but that was also 4 years ago, and now I focus on what the lyrics say in a song. How do they speak to me? I listen to hear the drums in the background and the guitar. I listen. Music is there to enjoy, enjoy it.

            It’s hard to do this post because it’s hard to put into words how important music is to me. I spend hours being OCD with my iTunes making sure everything is organized because it’s important to me. I am constantly writing down songs I hear and artist I think I should look into to see if I like their music.

          

Even if music is simply finding a good song on the radio, enjoy it.

Figure out what music can do for you. Let it be your escape.

“Where words fail, music speaks”

- Hans Christian Anderson -

“If music be the food of love, play on.”

 -William Shakespeare -

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent” -Victor Higo -

“Without music, life would be a mistake.”

- Friedrich Nietzche -

“Music can change the world because it can change people.”  

- Bono -