Holiday Happy.

The leaves have changed and the air is crisp...mmm...it's time to pull out the sweaters, beanies, and boots, and I LOVE IT. So many fun holidays coming up! :) 

I have been trying this new thing lately. Acceptance. Being more accepting of myself and my current situation and being gentle. I never realized how hard I was on myself until I graduated from college and no longer had dance, school, and all of these things that made me feel powerful and somewhat in control. I have always said that someone needs to write a book on 'How to Function After College' haha. I thought I handled change well until that all happened... I went through a lot in a short few months and I found myself getting really frustrated and down. I didn't have every little thing in my life figured out anymore and I really beat myself up about it. I wasn't right where I wanted to be or where I thought I should be and that caused so much distress! I think we can all be sooooo hard on ourselves for things like that. Just because I didn't have everything figured out right after college I was freaking out! 

 Lately I have been praying to be more accepting of myself and where I am at... and praying for strength...and God has been listening. I definitely still have my hard days, but I'm trying to not see them as set backs. They are just bumps. I have realized that when I am more accepting of who I am, my thoughts, and where I am at, things just seem to go so much better. I am happier, more hopeful, and I see things differently. It's a beautiful feeling I wish I could describe better. Things seem to fall into place when the pressure disappears. 

So that is my challenge this week! Try to be more accepting of exactly where you are at and love yourself more. They are right when they say that you can't truly love someone else until you love yourself. I have noticed the incredible strength and hope that comes from accepting myself and my circumstances. Thoughts can be powerful--they can maybe make you feel like you aren't going to reach that level you want--but you will. You are already on your way if you just keep trying and find something to smile about everyday along the way. Your thoughts don't define you! 

So try to love & accept and find some FUN activities to do this holiday season :) It is a time to be happy. 

"Keep your head up. Take your time. Be proud of yourself. Always remember, you are right where you're supposed to be" :) 

friends.

friends. 

In the last couple of months I have learned a lot about what a true friend is...and how important it is to have friends in your life. I don't know if I cherish my friends enough or express enough gratitude for them. It is pretty rare to find those that love you completely for you..who understand all of your corks and still stick around ;) It is especially rare to find a friend that will go out of their way to care for you in those times of need... that is when you know you are very lucky. 

That's simply it. I feel extremely lucky to have the friends that I do. I live in a place where I am surrounded with them and get the chance to have encounters with them everyday. I get to laugh, open up, and just be me...the good and the bad..and I forget what a blessing that is. You never really realize the magnitude of that blessing until you are far away from those friends and don't have them in your day to day. 

It is not always easy to let people help you. When you are going through something really hard it is easy to push people away...it's not always easy to be vulnerable or honest...to let others see that you are weak and are in need of a hand. I have always wanted to be that person that helps other people..my friends. I didn't want to be the one that needed the help... but lately my friends have proven to me that God sends us earthly angels. I know this is clique, but I really don't know where I would be without them. Friendship, loyalty, and selflessness have taken on a whole new meaning for me because of these angels... and the amount of people that have gone above and beyond to help me has been incredible. 

Sometimes it is good to just take a step back and look at all of the good people in your life. I love those moments that remind you of how caring people can be & how we were really sent here to help one another. I'm so grateful for the people in my life that haven't given up on me and have taught me what it means to truly love someone. We have been blessed with that incredible ability to love people and I think that human existence seems to make a little bit more sense when you see someone struggling that you have the opportunity to help. I'm grateful for the moments that remind us that we all have struggles and that we can't do it without one another.

So I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you to the angels in my life that have lifted me up and have made me strong. For loving me through the good and the bad and for showing me constant support. I don't realize the impact you have in my life until I go through something really hard, and I need to tell you all more how much I appreciate you. 

Maybe we could all try to be a little bit better friends. To tell our friends how great they are and all of the amazing qualities they possess. Look out for your friends and try to be a little more aware... I think we all have those moments in our lives where we feel crazy and out of place, and we need our friends to remind us that we are great the way we are and that we are doing a good job. No one has their crap figured out... haha... and I think that is what makes life such an incredible journey. So not only try to help your friends, but let your friends help you:) 

i love my friends.