Happy happy New Year! What a wonderful thing, being able to close out 2021 and bring forth 2022. With a new year comes new possibilities and new stories to be written. Being completely honest, I never thought that I would make it to 2022. As this is my graduation year, it always seemed so far off, just an imaginary thing I was waiting to come. Now, it’s here and ready to be embraced!
A friend ask me what my resolution was as we were waiting for the clock to strike midnight a few nights ago. I had absolutely no idea. In the past, I’ve always embraced the typical challenges such as eating healthier, being more on-top of tasks, exercising more, getting more sleep, drinking water, pretty much any of the typical resolutions. Well, I decided to give myself a week to think about it before deciding what my main focus of this big year was going to be.
The answer came to me sooner than I thought. I was scrolling through my Pinterest this week-end trying to decide what quote was up for Word Wednesday when I came across this one at the very, very bottom of my quote board. Immediately, I took it to heart.
This is a big year as I mentioned above. I graduate high school, play my last seasons of high school and club soccer, move away from home, start my 1st semester of college, and a lot more little things that I can’t remember in this moment. Since so much is happening, I don’t want to get lost in the whirlwind of everything going on. I want to enjoy myself without losing sight of who of I am.
So, what exactly is my resolution? Simple. Have more fun! I want to soak up these experiences instead of worrying about what I’m going to miss or what is going to come. No matter what is going on, I want to go out and make memories this year, soak up the possibilities.
I hate to say it, but Cyndi Lauper is right; girls do just want to have fun! What better time than 2022?!
This is inspired by a recent conversation I had with my mom. As this is my senior year, we’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on my time in high school and how it hasn’t changed who I am and the values I stand for. Plenty has happened that could’ve changed my character, but I stood, and will continue to stand strong in what I believe.
It’s super easy to get caught up in current trends, drama, and gossip. Many tend to get whisked away by others, bending and changing to fit into what society may call “normal”, but what is “normal” any way?
Van Gogh was onto something here. Normal is just a term used by society to make us conform to its ways, discouraging the idea that we’re allowed to be who WE want to be and not what others want. When we stick to who we are, that’s where the beauty really exists. It’s easy to just “go with the flow” of what others are doing around us, but if it’s something that you don’t agree with you don’t have to follow it. Be proud of who you are!
Growing up, I didn’t have the most normal life. We live on a ranch in South Texas and would have to drive an hour to school everyday. When I decided that I wanted to play club soccer, we would drive two hours one way three times a week for practice and then travel on the weekends for games. As high school rolled around, we ended up splitting our time in San Antonio during the week so I could attend Saint Mary’s Hall, the same high school my mother attended. Now, it isn’t what you would expect, but I wouldn’t change anything about my life. It’s uniqueness has shaped me into who I am and what I value most. In fact, I even went as far as writing my college admissions essay about how my childhood has helped me become someone who I am proud to be.
Don’t give into a cookie cutter life. Freestyle it and make your own outline! Go out and chase the flowers, straying from the path most easily traveled.
I thought this verse was extremely fitting for this week as Advent is in full swing. Being one of my favorite times in the church, advent teaches so many lessons without one realizing. While the main themes contain lessons about hope, joy, faith, and peace, it is the larger message that is my absolute favorite.
First, advent teaches us how to prepare in-order to let Jesus into our hearts. It isn’t easy, but advent helps guide us to do so. Accepting Jesus isn’t just about the journey or process, but it’s about having something larger than yourself to believe and trust in. Being apart of something larger than yourself is extraordinary! Like a sports team or a club, having something to live and work for is comforting, knowing that you are surrounded by others with similar mindsets and goals. That’s what this verse is getting at.
Jesus, the light, is here to guide us along the way, never forgetting our presence or struggles. While it may feel that way sometimes, it is never happening. That light is a constant. A point to always come back to no matter how difficult life may be. Like the center of a circle, Jesus will always have a direct line to you, no matter where you may be within the circle of life (yes…I did just reference the lion king:) )
Advent is a time to rejoice and remember the light that is within our lives. God allots us time to look back on our decisions and ask ourselves “how did we spread light this year?” Well, if you’re not satisfied with your answer, take inspiration in the season and let your light shine upon others. Don’t hide or shy away from it, keep it burning, inspiring others to follow in your footsteps. Rejoice, prepare, and shine on!
Oh how I love Barbara Bush! With an abundance of character and a plethora of wisdom, I’m surprised that I haven’t mentioned her in this segment before. She was an icon to all and a role-model to many with her iconic pearls and love for reading, no matter the reach, she touched the hearts of Americans.
While it’s hard for me to chose a favorite Barbara Bush quote, this is a really good contender. It perfectly sums up the important things in life and what we should really value close to our hearts.
We can all agree that life is extremely messy. There are lots of ups and downs, inconsistencies as we grow older and wiser. The few things that are consistent are what Barbara says above…family, friends, and faith.
Now, in what particular order? Surprise, it’s always changing! There’s no specific indicator that your family is first this day, friends the next, and faith in between, but you’ll know in your gut which one is needed in that moment. That’s the beauty about life…you get to control it.
So, remember the 3 F’s; the pillars of life. Keep them close to you and ready for use. Besides, they’re who you’ll fall upon when the waves get a little rough.
Happy Thanksgiving! Well…one day early. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays and not just because we get to eat homemade family recipes. It’s a time of reflection and gratitude, something that we don’t always think of in our day to day lives.
As we get swept away by the business of our days, we tend to forget to stop and look around, soaking in all the things that we take for granted. Time spent with our family, catching up with an old friend, someone holding the door for you, helping you carry something to your car. These are just a few examples of things that we forget to be gracious for.
While these things are all action driven, we tend to forget the most important thing to be thankful for: the Lord and his love for us. It is him that gives us the opportunity to get up in the morning. It is him that watches over us as we complete our daily tasks. It is him that makes sure we can handle everything thrown at us in life. He’s the on that makes it all possible and all without an expectation of a thank you.
Here’s my challenge for you: at night, reflect on your day. See how many things you’re grateful for, things you didn’t realize you needed or appreciated in the moment. Take all these things in and make it your challenge to thank someone who you don’t normally thank. You never know, it might just go a long way.
This is a simple one this week. While the words may be straightforward, the meaning is much deeper.
Simply put, Lincoln states that the greater your character, the greater your reputation. Character has a greater influence on our relationships and legacies than one may think. Sure, greatness does leave a lasting effect, but good people are held to a much higher standard.
I was raised with a huge emphasis on the importance of character, so I thought that everyone had the same mindset that I did: character is everything. Boy was I wrong. The first time I encountered someone who had no regard for others or the difference between right and wrong I was appalled. How could someone care so little about something that will dictate the rest of your life?
It’s sad to think that some people care so little about how they’re perceived. Sure, there’s no way that you can please everyone in life, but when the number of people who want to actively be around you is very small? Maybe that’s a sign.
I was reading a book about Lincoln this past week-end and the one thing that kept getting mentioned was how he was perceived before he was president. He didn’t have much growing up, but he held himself to a high standard morally. The author chose to include multiple first hand accounts of Lincoln, and each time, without fail, the way Lincoln interacted with others was always mentioned. Now, his reputation that stands today is centered on his presidency, but his character helped build it. There is a reason he’s called “Honest Abe” after all. That nickname isn’t given to just everyone.
A reputation takes time to build, but takes little to nothing to ruin it. Character isn’t something that one can fix overnight. It takes lots of self-reflection and actions as actions speak louder than words.
Take some time this week to reflect on who you are and what you stand for. If you can’t say that you’re happy with your answers, then reflect. Reflect on on you can work to get to a place where you are happy. It’s not impossible.
This quote has really spoken to me recently. I’ve had some people who were unkind to me in the past (who I distanced myself from as I don’t tolerate constant unkind and manipulative behavior) try to get the best of me, behaving in rude ways. Honestly…it hasn’t been easy.
As I’ve said before, I was raised on a “it doesn’t cost a penny to be kind” childhood. No matter who or what has happened, kindness should always be your first response. Easier said than done. I like to think I’ve done a pretty good job of doing so, but sometimes one just feels the need for the upper hand. Yet, that always isn’t the best road.
As my mother has taught me, you should never give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Don’t give them the power to control and influence your emotions and mindset. YOU are the only person who should have a say in how you feel and how you act. Sure, there will be some outside factors in one’s emotions, but never let anyone tell you how to feel.
Kindness isn’t always the first emotion when it comes to rudeness or someone being a jerk, but if worked towards, can become an automatic response. It’s like muscle memory…just emotional. It’s hard, but in the end it feels exhilarating.
From my personal experience, not letting someone get to you feels powering and confident. Powering as I have control over my reactions, that someone feels the need to mess with me as they can’t stand my own happiness. Confident because I know who I am and what I stand for. Their attempt at my own unhappiness just reinforces that.
When stuck in hot water, don’t be an ice cube and just fall apart. Instead, be a tea bag; slowly diffusing your own goodness to the situation until the mixture itself is wonderful and warm.
This quote has always been interesting to me. When you think of changing the world, you picture some big movement, breaking down barriers and/or doing a complete remodeling of what was previously there. What if that wasn’t always the case?
Almost everyone knows of the butterfly effect; one small thing could cause a chain of events that changes everything. One thing I can never wrap my mind around is the fact that often times, the butterfly effect is portrayed as a bad thing. It isn’t.
In order to create change, all you need is one thing: yourself. You don’t have to be a famous activist or carry great amount of power to create an impact. In fact, your impact doesn’t have to be large or forceful. You’d be surprised just how meaningful one word or small action can be. For example, a simple “good morning!” tot one of you peers in the hallway or a “have a great evening” to your coworkers as your leaving work could change the mood of their day. Small things don’t go unnoticed.
Here’s your challenge for the week. Push yourself to make an impact this week. It can be a simple “hello” in passing or sitting at a different lunch table in the cafeteria. Switch up your actions and you’d be surprised at the difference something so small can cause.
You don’t have to go out and move mountains…start with a grain of sand. Then another, and another, and another. Eventually, it’ll build up and you’ll have something great in-front of you.
Within the past year, one of the biggest lessons I learned was that I need to put myself first. I spent years putting others and their needs before my own, creating a mindset that wasn’t exactly the healthiest. After lots of reflection and hard conversations, I decided that in-order to be the best me, I needed to stop giving my time and dedication to others and place these things somewhere else: myself. This was the beginning of becoming a girlboss.
What exactly is a girlboss? It’s someone who doesn’t care what everyone else thinks, someone who is confident in their own skin. Someone who is capable of putting her own goals and ambitions first, not settling for the easier things in life.
I spent so much time my sophomore year making sure that everyone around me was happy and content in life. I focused so much on my friends that I forgot the one person I needed to look out for. Myself! How could I get so distracted? My mental health was all-over the place, happy one minute sad the next. It wasn’t healthy.
Come beginning of junior year I went through some life changes. I had broken off relationships that were toxic, deciding to spend the year on myself and who I wanted to become. It was hard. No sugarcoating it. Many tears were spent, sleepless nights, and fears of the future. Yet, within that uncertainty something beautiful emerged.
I can now confidently say that I’m proud of who I am. In my growth last year, I found out exactly who I am and what makes me me. I found passion in new places, this blog being one of them. People who brought me down were distanced, forgetting about the damage that they brought me. I put work into the classes that brought me tremendous joy and accomplished things I never thought I could, my research paper being one of them. I finally saw all my hard-work coming together and the feeling was unexplainable.
I didn’t accomplish this all alone. I had help, role models who showed me that it’s ok to be confident in who you are and what you stand for. Some of these role models are below. Princess Diana, Elle Woods, and Emily Prentis (from Criminal Minds) are all tremendous examples of not letting anyone get in the way of your beliefs.
Elle Woods didn’t let anybody get in her way of Harvard. Yes, she only applied to win her ex-boyfriend back, but along the way she came upon a new found passion and purpose. No matter how many times her colleges and professors told her she couldn’t, she let their disbelief fuel her fire, inspiring her to prove them all wrong.
Princess Diana didn’t let the royal family or their rules stop her from following her calling in life. She constantly broke the rules, pushing the boundaries so she could accomplish what she wanted to. When it felt like everything was against her, Diana put her head down and forged ahead, creating a legacy that will inspire many.
Emily Prentis is a female in a male dominated profession. As an agent in the Behavioral Analysis Unit within the FBI, she had to fight to earn and keep respect amongst her colleges. No matter what anybody said, she stuck to what she knew and did her job, completing it to the best of her ability and more. The result? Becoming one of the most respected agents within the Bureau.
The biggest girlboss who has influenced me the most is my younger sister, Greer. She might not realize it, but she inspires me everyday. She is one of the most awesome people I’ve ever met (and I’m not just saying that because she knows where I sleep) as she doesn’t let anyone tell her no. Having the kindest heart, she fights for the underdog, making sure that nobody is treated unkindly. She has a fiery spirit that I hope will never be tamed. Once she’s set her mind to something, nothing will stop her until she’s succeeded. In fact, as a freshmen in high-school, she is the kicker on our football team. She quickly settled in and has made a tremendous impact on the team. Each time she takes the field, I feel nothing but pride fill my heart. I’m proud that she is confident in who she is as that was something that I struggled with when I was her age. I look up to her and I hope she knows how much of an impact she’s had on me and the lives that she’s touched.
Being a girlboss isn’t easy. It’s hours of hard-work and self-confidence. There’s moments of doubt, uncertainty, and thoughts of surrender. It scares a lot of people. People who aren’t sure of their ability and self. Don’t let them impact you though. Only YOU have control over your own girlboss abilities. So go out and flaunt it! Be yourself and don’t stop until you’re satisfied with your progress; and once you’ve reached that stage, set another goal and keep going! Go get ’em and be a #girlboss!
Recently, I’ve experienced true tests of mental toughness. Over the summer I had to spend time working on my fitness in-order to begin my club soccer season in game shape. I spent plenty mornings out on dirt roads with my dad and sister, completing interval runs that never seemed to end. The true test though…the dreaded beep test.
For those of you who don’t know, the beep test is a pretty universal standard of fitness testing used at many different levels of play. Basically, it’s a 20 meter run that needs to be completed in a certain amount of time. The catch? The amount of time allowed for completion gets shorter each round, making the runner pace themselves accordingly. You miss a beep? You’re done.
So, what does a fitness test have to do with this week’s quote? Well, I’ve run the beep test in 3 different settings, each having a different result. The 1st one was on a football field, the 20 meters viewing as pretty daunting. The second time on an unmarked soccer field, the distance seeming a lot shorter than I remembered. The third on a concrete patio behind one of our school gyms, looking like the distance was marked about 10 meters shorter.
While each distance viewed differently, they were the exact same. To my mind, the shorter distance made the running seem easier, so my body didn’t tire out as easily, resulting in better scores. When I saw the distance physically marked, yard by yard, on a football field, my body gave in easily, making my scores worse. It wasn’t until a few weeks later when I was talking to one of my coaches when he pointed this out: “It’s all mental”
A few days ago, this quotes pops up in my Pinterest feed when it fully sinks in. It wasn’t my body limiting my scores, it was my mind. It’s actually pretty crazy what our bodies can accomplish. They’re there for everything we do so they have to be equipped for the unknown. The thing that’s actually holding us back is our minds, or as my dad likes to say “the little nagging guy in your head”.
It’s easy to give in to the negative thoughts. Trust me…I’ve done it a lot. I’m still working on turning off that nagging voice, especially in times of weakness. It’s something that takes lots of practice to perfect, but we can all get there. Sometimes all you need is a little reminder that we’re better equipped than we believe to be. God has given our bodies the strength to do anything. We just have to tell our minds it’s ok to let the body take control every once in awhile. You might just be surprised at what’ll happen.
