Making Ripples

I knew I wanted to write something about turning 25, but I was unsure how to frame it for a while (my birthday was last Monday, Memorial Day to the rest of you). I've been long familiar with Maya Angelou's works and words, but her recent passing and the abundance of articles filled with some of her best quotes that have been circulating the web felt particularly poignant as I reflect on my life so far and where I want it go. So, I'm putting a few of her better-known quotes in context to my current life.

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."

Certainly one of her most famous quotes, and it has resonated pretty deeply in me each time I saw it posted this past week. I've always considered myself a pretty positive person (especially in the summer and the weather lately has been pretty wonderful), but like most people I know, I expect and hope that things around me will conform to my life. If I don't like something, I try to change it. If that doesn't work, I sometimes resort to complaining—or worse, giving up.  Juggling work, friends and "me" time can be mentally exhausting, made worse by the pressure to obtain the status symbol of being busy every. single. night. (Seriously, though, having events and plans every night of the week is NYC's version of the popular clique in high school, and sometimes I just want to go home, Seamless French toast and fries from my favorite diner and watch TV without feeling guilty about not being out.)

"We may encounter defeats but we must not be defeated."

A few weeks ago I was scrolling through my Twitter feed and came across a tweet from Mackenzie that simply asked: "What are you looking forward to today?". As embarrassing as it is to admit, it took me several minutes to think about what I was happy about that day. The last month has involved a lot of travel with a lot of delays on top of laryngitis and a sinus infection that I'm still trying to kick, among other things. I've been waking up and focusing on the negative, the mundane and a jam-packed schedule, and Mackenzie's tweet reminded me I should be focusing on the positive, the things that make me happy and that I have to look forward to, even if my only plans that day are to go to work and  hit the grocery store Seamless French toast & fries on my way home. Hitting a "milestone" year is a reminder of how fast life can go by (trying not think about the next one being 30!). I want to make a conscious effort to stop making excuses for bad moods, though I wholly admit there will still be plenty of bad days.

A few other things I took note of as I rounded out year 24:
Confidence in yourself is key to happier, healthier life. Do what's right for you, not someone else. If you're not happy in a relationship (or a friendship), get out. If you're miserable at your job, look for a new one. If you don't like how you look, learn to accept and love the things you can't change, and go after the things that you can—change the way you eat, the way you move, the way you dress. Learn what makes you happy and comfortable, you'll know it when you see it (and feel it).

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."

Know when to say yes, and when to say no. Is this going to make me a better person? Will I regret my decision later (ahem, impulse shopping)? I said "yes" to a new job last year—one where I took a pay cut, but one that has ultimately led me to grow personally and professionally. I've learned to say "yes" to opportunities, and to not be afraid to go somewhere or do something by myself. And on the flip side, I know when to say "no". To a guy I'm not interested in, to high-paying jobs I'd be miserable in, to clothes I don't need, to that second or third drink I could really do without.

"All great achievements require time."

Know your cross roads. Where do you want to go in life? The first time I got in a cab in NYC, I naively gave them the address—not realizing that cabbies operate almost exclusively on cross streets. I had to scramble on my phone to figure them out so the cabbie could get me there. I'm the first person to tell you I'm pretty terrible at planning (though you can probably figure that out when I get sporadic with posting). I moved to NYC on a whim, and until I started my first full-time job I rarely planned more than a week or two in advance for anything, but I've also started to recognize that I need to think more about the future. You don't need to know all the little details in between and I'm a firm believer in letting things happen instead of setting deadlines for yourself, but if you have a goal for where you want to be or how you want to feel, recognize that as your cross roads and figure out the best path to get yourself there.

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When I first found the photo in this post on Pinterest, someone had attached this quote:
"And the waters will stay the same throughout the years until you step in and make a ripple in their history, a ripple that will affect the tide and the waters from that point on."
Unknown

*Image via Jeff Luker

Goodbye & Good Riddance

Ahh, 2014. So glad you could make it, please come in. 

But, really—2013 was so NOT my year in so many ways. I spent much of the beginning of the year frustrated with my career and lacking motivation on the levels I needed it (luckily, a new-ish career path this fall has alleviated some of that frustration and stress). A lot of other little things built up over the last 12 months that made me long for a new year and a fresh start. Shortly after the beginning of the year, my grandpa took a turn for the worse and we lost him at the beginning of April. Thankfully, I was able to travel back and forth all of March and spend plenty of time with my family, but losing him and being far away from family was one of the hardest things I've ever gone through. Soon after that, I got very, very sick and spent much of my summer on and off antibiotics that left me irritable, lethargic and depressed. What I'd hoped would be an amazing summer turned into me going to work, then sleeping for 10 hours a night because I had no energy and no desire to do anything. I spent far less time traveling, relaxing, having fun and exploring my city last year than I ever hope happens again! The last few months I've felt happier (and ever so slowly, healthier) than I had in ages, and I'm hoping that trend continues. 

I'm sure 2014 and I will have our differences—these new years and I always do, but I am pretty determined to make sure I come out of this year with a positive outlook on my life, my career and everything in between. Although much of my travel will still be back to Iowa (thanks to my sister's impending nuptials), I want to travel around New York and the Northeast and explore it while I can! I've never planned on staying in NYC forever, and who knows where life will take me next (Paris, maybe? #daydreaming). So, 2014, here's to you, and to finding a happy, healthy balance for the next 12 months. 

xoxo

*image via 

One Year Ago...

So, a year ago today, I decided to post for the first time on this little slice of the Internet I'd claimed for my own (several months before I actually posted-but do us both a favor and don't worry about going back that far). It may be a little cliché to say "Hey guys, today's my 'blog-iversary' and here's a cupcake and you should celebrate with me!" but that's why I chose a donut cake instead (clearly more awesome). You don't have to celebrate with me, but if you end up eating an extra donut (or cupcake/cookie/cake/sweets etc.) at least I'm giving you a pretty great reason. 

On a more serious note, this has been a wonderful journey, adventure and learning experience. I've made some great connections and incredible friends. I don't know where I'll be-in life or with this blog-a year from now, but I hope that wherever I am I've grown at least half as much as I have this past year. Lastly, thanks to YOU for coming here, whether it's your first visit or you drop by daily-I may post for myself, but it's the readers who keep me inspired! 

Blogging is Therapy

This post is going to get a little more personal than I normally do with all of you, but I feel like it's kind of necessary. Blogging is my creative outlet, and sometimes your creative outlet turns into a little bit of therapy.

When we're browsing our favorite blogs with page after page of pretty photos, jaw-dropping style and whimsical typeface, we forget that blogging is work. Planning content, shooting, pulling and editing images, sourcing and uploading, and then thinking of something witty to go along with it? It can be exhausting, and at times feels much more like work (which I already get enough of at my 50-hour-a-week first job) than play.

It's tough to find time between long work days, all kinds of events each week, seeing friends, running errands and somehow getting some relaxation & sleep in there to truly devote the time I need to for blogging. Even when I'm not distracted, writing a well-researched post can take upwards of an hour. I should probably tell you now that this isn't a whiney, complaint-filled post, though. After a rougher than expected start to the year, the days have started to feel a little brighter (also contributed to the fact that I hate winter and I'm pretty sure I have SAD each year). I want to go out and enjoy all these awesome events and crazy experiences, especially while I'm young & living in NYC, but sometimes the reason I get to go to these events is because I have this blog. Vicious circle, ya know?

Victoria shared a really great post earlier this week on blogging & time management (which, if you blog yourself, I highly encourage you to go read!) & I found myself talking about it over drinks with Jessica last night (evidence of talking, here). She also mentioned another article she'd come across on The Middle Finger Project-a concept I completely adore because it sums up my attitude about everything-about why working for yourself is hard. You only get out what you put in, which means procrastinating less and pushing myself more. I need to be happy with what I have and work harder for what I want. I'm learning to block out times for this second "job" and to work with an editorial calendar, with plans to add another cork board to my wall to keep track of due dates, projects and inspirational images and quotes (also because my first cork board is covered in jewelry).

Thanks for suffering through my growing pains with me, and to those that continue to visit my blog each week-from the bottom of my heart, thank you!! You have no idea how much it means to me, and I hope I can inspire some of you with each post I share.

*image via