Falling Behind

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Currently:
The words falling behind sum up every aspect of my life.
Behind in my work, blogging, faith, friendships, scrapbooking, Christmas shopping, sleep, laundry, everything.

I have been mad at myself. I have complained to others. I have thought about how nice it would feel to not be behind anymore. Oddly, none of that fixed the problem (sarcasm, y'all).

Recently, the light bulb came on. The only reason I'm behind is me. The only person that can fix it is me. It's time to make a plan and execute it. You better believe my to do lists are in full force this week.

Now, before you grab that notepad, there's one more thing you need to get back on your feet and it's not as easy as grabbing a pen and paper. Motivation. If you don't have motivation to get going... well, like me, you're stuck. Where does it come from? I had to sit down and really think about what I wanted in life. I fully believe that you get out of something what you put into it. While it may come out differently than anticipated, at some point, you will get what you give (even if it's way down the road). I had to contemplate my core values, what I want to leave behind, and what will make me feel successful. This was enough to make me realize that what I'm doing isn't cutting it. It gave me just enough motivation to get back on my feet and remember I have the power to make a difference in the world.

Join me. Set your goals. Find your motivation. Do something amazing.
You have the power to change the world.

The Old Tim Can't Come to the Phone Right Now

Sunday, November 26, 2017

I have always tried to present my genuine and authentic self to you.

In the past month, I have done so by posting a series of photos captioned with Taylor Swift lyrics.
While it might have seen totally "basic white girl" to you, each lyric was a grouping of words that adequately gave life to my presently occurring events and emotions. 

There was happiness and tears. There were kisses and cold-shoulders. There was anxiety I had worked so hard to overcome only to be triggered by one's act of cowardice. There were second chances and let downs. 

"It was so nice being friends again
There I was giving you a second chance
But you stabbed my back while shaking my hand
And therein lies the issue
Friends don't try to trick you
Get you on the phone and mind-twist you"

Focusing on what is tough is simple. Moving on, overcoming, and being better than you ever were... well, that takes strength. Strength is something I am working hard to have more of.

"But I got smarter, I got harder in the nick of time
Honey, I rose up from the dead, I do it all the time"

Goodbye to heartache. Goodbye to mind games. Goodbye to one-sided connections. 
I have my life together. 
I am unapologetically moving on to something bigger and better for no one but myself. 

"If a man talks ...., then I owe him nothing
I don't regret it one bit, 'cause he had it coming"

How Do You Give?

Sunday, November 5, 2017

It's the month of Thanksgiving and I have a ton to be thankful for. There are many wonderful people in my life who do so much for me. As I've started to look towards the upcoming holiday, I've also started thinking, what thanks am I giving? Of course, I say thank you to those who do so much for me, but I believe we can all do so much more than that. We can pay it forward. Now, how we pay it forward can be different for everyone. There are many opportunities for you to make a difference in the world and I just think that's so cool! There's an infinite amount of organizations that offer opportunities for you to lend a helping hand, you just have to find the right one. The best part is, if you find the right one, it's fun!

Sounds like I'm speaking from experience, huh? Surprise, I am! Back in the summer, I signed up to be a big for Big Brothers Big Sisters and this weekend was my first outing with my little. It was so much fun. I am working to make a difference and having a blast doing it. It is a great way for me to give back. Now it's your turn to find what works for you. Check out some organizations and see if there is a way for you to pay it forward. You CAN make a difference in our world.

Miss Caroline Krafft

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Last weekend, I headed to our local theme park with my cousin for a day of fun.
Little did I know that by the end of the trip, I would be reminded of a life lesson I learned from the movie Mean Girls. That's right, Mean Girls. Think back with me if you will to the scene when Kady is competing against Marymount Prep with her fellow mathletes. She is chosen to compete against Caroline Krafft and in that moment she has a groundbreaking realization that I think we all need to have.

"Miss Caroline Krafft seriously needed to pluck her eyebrows. Her outfit looked like it was picked out by a blind Sunday school teacher. And she had some fifty-cent lipgloss on her snaggletooth. And that's when I realized, making fun of Caroline Krafft wouldn't stop her from beating me in this contest. Calling somebody else fat won't make you any skinnier. Calling someone stupid doesn't make you any smarter. And ruining Regina George's life definitely didn't make me any happier. All you can do in life is try to solve the problem in front of you."

That quote alone should be enough to make you think, but now I am going to layer it with my own personal experience. As we were walking out of the park we passed a man with his ears gauged. I'm talking huge gauges. Many individuals tend to think things like: Why would you do that?! He will never get a job! I'll be honest, that was my first reaction. Then I stopped and was real with myself for a second. That man could be the very best at whatever it is he does in life. His gauges don't stop him from being an incredible person. It was at this point that Kady and I had the same realization. We're all different and that doesn't stop us from being great.

I think the world would be a better place if we all strived a little harder to stop buying into the stereotypes many of us learn from a young age. I understand that there are many things that may turn you away from a person but I do not think appearance should be one of them.  

Keeping Focus

Saturday, October 14, 2017

What is your focus?

Are you focused on how many things are going wrong?
Are you focused on the love of your family?
Are you focused on how you're going to pay the bills this month?
Are you focused on believing life will work itself out?

Life is tough. Everyone everywhere has difficulties in their life. We are all different so don't waste your time comparing your struggles to another's. Just know that we all have battles we would rather not fight. These challenges throw our brains off track. They tend to alter our course of thinking.

Sometimes we get so caught up in thinking about how we are going to overcome life's difficulties that we lose our focus on what is truly important. For me, my most important focus is my faith. (Like before, I know this is not everyone's most important focus - we're all different!) Figure out what drives you and make sure you keep it in focus.

The moment I realized just how off focus I was, I worked hard to change my thoughts. I suddenly felt a weight lift off my shoulders. While I am still having to work hard to take care of everyday challenges, I am also much happier. Things don't seem so daunting! Don't let your focus become overrun with the difficulties.

 Keep your focus and thrive.

Fall Down Seven, Get Up Eight

Sunday, October 8, 2017

The last two weeks of my life have been a whirlwind of negativity. As hard as you fight to keep negativity locked out, sometimes it manages to find a way in. That is exactly what happened to me, but I'll save you the details of the events and individuals that tried to steal my joy. This isn't a post looking for sympathy, instead I'd rather inform you on how I told that negativity it was NOT welcome here.

I have to let my feelings out. I know many of you are not that way and like to keep things bottled up. I think it can be beneficial to everyone to say their feelings out loud, no matter how nasty they might be. Yes, you will probably say things you don't mean out of frustration, but better to say it to a trusted friend than to let it bottle up and be blurted out to the wrong person. Another great option is to write it out. Let it out on paper and when you're done, rip it to shreds. When we let our feelings out, it allows us to move on.

Next, I ensure I have someone I know will give good advice. Disclaimer: you may not always agree with their advice and you do not have to take it. More than anything, this person gets you thinking about the situation from a different angle. For me, this is my mother. She always manages to validate my feelings but also help me to think about the situation from a different perspective. This helps to lighten the load on my shoulders. While it doesn't make the situation right, it still allows me to logically reason through it.

Finally, I remember that NO ONE deserves to have such power over me. When I allow someone to upset me, they are in control of my emotions, not me. This is the hardest part for me. It isn't easy to just "move on." We have to remember that no one deserves the right to anger us. If we let our emotions take control, they have won. They have inflicted exactly what they wanted to. Do not give them that gratification.

Be confident and live your life. Don't you dare let someone's words stop you from standing up for what you believe in. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Reconnecting

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Recently, I have found myself caught up in and overwhelmed by trying to do a million and one things. We all feel that from time to time, whether it be with our family, our job, our hobbies... We get so wrapped up in things to the point we become disconnected from other important things in our life. I know we can't dump our responsibilities but I bet if you try hard enough you can make time to reconnect with more than just what's keeping you so busy.

For me, it was a friend and my faith. I have an incredible friend here in Charlotte that I hadn't seen in over a month until just recently. I have been so wrapped up in work and chores that I haven't made time for her. The same thing has happened with my faith. I have been pushing it to the side to make time for other less important things. (I know your priorities might be different than mine and that's fine! This applies to anything in life!) You see, there comes a point when you have to stop. Stop working, stop trying to get it all done, and you have to reconnect.

If you're anything like me, that can be difficult. I get so caught up in thinking I have to get things done that I feel like if I take time for something else, the world might fall apart. Helpful hint, it won't. Take a moment and think, what is your life missing? Take some time for it this week. Your work will get done. Don't let it take over! Take some time and reconnect, you'll be glad you did.

Kill 'em With Kindness

Sunday, September 17, 2017

We all have someone in our life that straight up annoys us.
It may be a coworker, a family member, a friend in the group, whoever.
You know who it is. They get under your skin and may even downright infuriate you.
You might think, how can the be that way?! You may not be able to change them but you can change your reaction towards them.

I have recently run into an individual that drives me a little bit crazy. I realized I have some options in how to react to this. I can be snarky right back, I can completely ignore the individual, or I can kill them with kindness (cue Selena Gomez's song playing in my head). Now this is not a person I can just ignore because I do have to interact with them to an extent. I would become just as rude if I completely ignored this person. I try my best to never fight fire with fire and be rude back, so I have chosen to continue being my happy self and lay on the kindness. Now I know this may seem a bit passive aggressive, but at the same time I am not going to let this person put me in a bad mood anymore. Being kind to people tends to put me in a good mood, so that is exactly what I intend to do. No matter how this person chooses to act, I will not let it change my positive mood. They don't deserve the privilege of stealing my happiness. Next time someone acts all grumpy towards you, take a moment and choose how you're going to react.

Why Not?

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Yesterday, I went to the park with a friend who is helping me become a better photographer.
Photography is something that I have come to have a passion for. While I have many books on the subject available to me, along with time to read and practice, I typically don't take the time to learn. Recently, I have started asking myself, why? It is easy to use the I'm tired excuse... but, let's be real... if I were to do something fun and exciting during my personal time, I would probably get excited and energized. This sounds lovely compared to my lazy self laying around on the couch. The only thing stopping me is myself. The same applies with another idea I have been throwing around in my head. I want to write a book. You read that right, a book. A week or so ago, I went on a date and nothing came of it except when I told him I was thinking about writing a book he said, why haven't you? I haven't been able to get that out of my head! Why haven't I written that book? The answer is me. I am the only thing stopping myself. So here is my thought for the day. Why not? Why not do that thing you've been thinking about doing? Yes there will be challenges associated with it but it's okay to take baby steps. Live your dream. Make it happen.

Look What You Made Me Do

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Taylor Swift has done it again. That is, managed to write a song that I personally have had on repeat for the last 48 hours. It appears this time around, she didn't shake it off and that got me thinking. This song is dark and clearly a bit revengeful. Don't get me wrong, I love it, oh how I love it. BUT, it also made me reflect on what grudges I'm holding. I hate to admit it, but there is definitely a few. Then I thought, why? The past is in the past. What has happened to me, good or bad, is what got me here and right now my life is pretty good. So why hold on to a single grudge? If you're anything like me, thinking about how someone has wronged me in the past infuriates me. It's silly to let them have that power over me. I don't even communicate with these people anymore. To be short and sweet and get to the point, don't let the frustrating memories overtake you and steal your joy. There's NO point. It was a part of your journey. Focus on the here and now. When you say, look what you made me do, hopefully you're talking about how that person motivated you to do even better. Show them the incredible life you have worked hard for despite their wrong doing. Always remember, you can't fight fire with fire. Let go of those grudges because the only thing they're doing is clouding your happiness. Hopefully you're able to forgive and forget. This is your journey, take control and don't let that grudge bother you a second more.

Make It Comfortable

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Recently, I've done a lot of moving.
I moved into a new apartment about a month ago and in the past week, I moved into my classroom. 
Both of these moves required hard work to create a space where I could live and work comfortably. 
On my first day at work, I walked into a room full of desks and bookshelves. It was a total mess. No teacher could happily teach in that mess, nor could any student learn. My new principal walked in and asked how I was feeling and all I could say was, overwhelmed. He told me to ensure I made the room mine by creating a space I am comfortable in. It has taken 3 days, but that is exactly what I did. He knew that if I was comfortable, my students would be comfortable. Sometimes making a space where we are comfortable is what makes us better. This isn't limited to decorating though. You see, in life, you have to do what makes you comfortable. Obviously, I don't mean go sit on the couch and watch tv all day because it's comfortable (nice try). What I mean is this, you have to do what is best for you. I once dropped everything and drove to Disney World on a Friday and came back on Sunday. Crazy, right? It was what I needed. I had so much going on. I didn't even tell anyone I was going because I knew if I did I would get negative responses in regards to how irresponsible it was of me to go out of town when so much was going on. Here's the thing, I went on that trip, I had the time of my life, and everything that was going on still worked out just fine. The only difference was that I did what was best for me instead of staying home and being miserable. It's okay to do what's best for you. Other people don't have to understand it. You only get one life. Don't be afraid to live it and don't be afraid of doing what's best for yourself.

The Dating Game

Sunday, August 13, 2017

When you believe one way and act another, you'll find yourself in an awful mess.
I have always believed that love finds you and that looking for it is useless (you don't have to agree).
That is my personal belief, but for months after my breakup I was searching for what I had lost. Date after date, disappointment after disappointment. Twice, I managed to get myself hurt pretty badly. I saw only what I was looking for and latched on so quickly to the hope that maybe I had found what I had lost. That's not the way it works and I knew that! I just chose to ignore it. In reality, I should have been building myself up. Finding myself, focusing on my career, knowing that when I least expect it, love will find me. It may be in a month, a year, a decade, but hopefully not a century.

It took me a full 6 months to finally listen to what I've known all along is best for me. Right?! 6 months. But here's the thing, I am not upset with myself for those 6 months of dating and hoping to find my Prince Charming. I needed that distraction, it was a part of my journey to realizing I am strong on my own. Now I am free to focus on my career, my hobbies, my friends and family. Even though I am not looking for my prince, I have still had a few duds pop into my life by surprise, but that's part of it. I have learned to be hopeful but not let down.

You are strong on your own. One day, someone so perfect is going to show up in your life and surprise you with love. Now, I'm not saying go delete all those dating apps off your phone. It's totally possible to swipe right on your soulmate (I think?). All I'm saying is, don't be convinced you WILL find your soulmate that way. Take it easy and enjoy your life. This is your time, make the most of it. You can't do that if you're caught up in the dating game. Focus on the world around you, love will come. Be strong, be you, and don't let the dating game take control.

Back To Your Roots

Sunday, August 6, 2017

I recently went back to work as a counselor for a week at YMCA Camp Hanes. It was hard, exhausting, and the best thing I've done this summer. Hanes is a very special place to me. I called it home for 15 months, working and living there and meeting some of the most incredible people. Camp Hanes played an instrumental role in me becoming a teacher. I started at Hanes in 2014 after working two summers at Camp Galilee in Missouri. I was challenged in so many ways at camp. I learned to embrace the differences of others, I learned I can do hard things, I learned I can truly be myself, and most importantly, I learned I was meant to be a teacher.

I try to go back to Camp Hanes at least once a year to volunteer because it is so important to me to remember what got me to where I am today. If a counselor does their job well, they're one of the hardest workers in any job field. What other job do you have 12+ kids under your supervision 24 hours a day? Being a counselor, age group leader, and outdoor educator taught me skills that gave me a leg up in the teaching realm and I hope I never forget that. My love for camp is so strong and going back to it reminds me that I am where I'm meant to be and that I need to be grateful for the opportunities and people that helped me get there.

Now, let's relate this to you. Whatever you're doing right now... you didn't always do it. Someone or something helped you get there. School, a parent, teacher, previous job, supervisor, etc. I am fortunate enough to be able to go back to the place and people that helped me get to where I am today. You may not have that option, but you can send a thank you or just take some time to reflect. Get back to your roots, smile, and be grateful.

Going With Your Gut

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Every now and then difficult decisions find their way into our lives and if you're anything like me, you struggle greatly with them. I mean, I can't even decide where to eat dinner on the daily, let alone make a life altering decision! Decisions are scary! Making a decision means something is in fact going to happen... something different than if you had chosen another option. What if you choose wrong?! Helloooo anxiety. Anybody else? Just me? 

Recently, I had one of those seemingly ginormous decisions come flying into my life out of nowhere. I was on my fifth teacher interview and all was going well. I had a good feeling that day. They offered me a fourth grade position, great!! I was excited and ready to accept. I text everyone in my phone, "GUESS WHO'S TEACHING FOURTH GRADE MATH AND SCIENCE NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!" I then proceeded to buy a cupcake to celebrate (obviously). I pulled in the driveway, excited to eat my treat when the phone rang. Another job offer... this time for first grade. 

Anyone who knows me, knows I have forever wanted a K-2 teaching position. All through my year of student teaching fourth grade, I made remarks of how I couldn't wait to get back to the lower grades. So... you'd think this would be an easy decision, right? Wrong, so wrong. I became beyond overwhelmed. Don't forget about all those text messages I sent out. My phone was already blowing up with congratulations texts, just in time for me to awkwardly text back and be like... just kidding... maybe... I don't know. 

Let's get to the part you really came to read about, how I dealt with the anxiety of making this big decision. First off, the fourth grade position just felt right. I knew it in my gut. There was just an overwhelming feeling I had that it was the right choice. I was beyond confused by this because it was everything I had said I didn't want. I became worried about what people would think! Would they think I had settled for less and just accepted what came my way? This brings me to my second point. Sometimes what's right might be the farthest thing from what you envisioned (and let the haters hate). The final thing that helped me was talking to other people. In talking, my true feelings came out. Every person I talked to told me to go with the fourth grade position. They could just tell.  

I went with my gut and the reality is, if I don't like the choice I made, well... I can do anything for 10 months. Relax. Decisions aren't so bad. Take a deep breath and work your way through them. You've got this!


The All or Nothing Thinker

Sunday, July 16, 2017

The all or nothing mental distortion is something that has plagued me forever.
Basically, my mind goes to extremes when I am thinking about things. It either has to be all or nothing, there is no in between. This is a pattern of thinking that often sets me up for failure. You see, when something doesn't happen all the way, the way it's supposed to... my mind says NOPE! At this point I become overwhelmed with frustration, which can shut me down quick. That's no way to live. Thankfully, I know this about myself and have a desire to overcome it.

If you are an all or nothing thinker like myself, there's a few things you can do to keep that wonderful mind of yours in check.

1. Accept your mind works the way it works and it's totally okay! It makes you YOU!

2. Understand that you CAN do something about it.

3. Begin to take note of when you are thinking in an all or nothing pattern.

4. Ask yourself what would happen if... (and be realistic with your scenarios here, don't let that anxiety take control!)

5. Try some things in between all or nothing and see what happens, you'll be okay, I promise!

I know these guidelines are a bit vague, but everyone is different and we all have our own way of working through our mental obstacles. The biggest thing you must realize is: if you want change, YOU have to do something. I formulated these 5 steps based off of what helps me to help you begin to change your thinking. Again, this is on you. No one else can persuade your amazing brain to change your patterns of thinking. You've got this!

Out: A Year of Being Me

Saturday, July 1, 2017

One year ago, I published and shared a blog post that would forever change my life.
In this post, I shared my truth. I openly admitted to being gay. It was the scariest thing I have ever done. What if people hated me? What if everyone I loved slammed the door in my face? These questions haunted me, but what haunted me more was keeping my love a secret. I was tired of lying and hiding. Before publicly coming out, I told a few friends and family. Something that has eaten away at me in the past year is knowing that some people were offended that I didn't tell them personally and they had to find out via social media. To those individuals, let me say this: you can't imagine the courage it takes to utter the words I'm gay to someone you love so dearly. The fear of rejection in that moment is at an insurmountable high. I hope you understand why I chose to come out the way I did. I have also had some individuals ask me why I chose to come out publicly. The answer is simple, to help and inspire others that may be going through a similar situation. You'll be happy to know that my words have indeed encouraged at least one individual. I was fortunate to get a very positive and loving response. I'm sure not everyone is happy about my truth, but anyone who disagrees has been respectful and I appreciate that. Enough about all that, let's talk about the incredible year that resulted from me fearfully clicking "post."

After getting an overwhelmingly positive response, I felt happier than ever. I could share pictures of my boyfriend without writing a caption that led you to believe he was nothing more than my best friend. I could be me and not have to worry about trying to hide a huge piece of my life. I could talk about cute boys and romcoms with my friends. No longer did I have to deny who I truly was. When I met new people, I got to introduce my boyfriend without fear. I think you get the point, I was able to live freely and no longer care what people thought of me.

My life only got better from there. In the past year I have become a teacher, become a member of the Project Life Creative Team, made incredible new friends in Charlotte, Phoenix, and Orlando, been interviewed live on Facebook, connected with people all over the world via social media, traveled, had people reach out to me about how I have inspired them, and so much more. Coming out didn't stop my life, if anything, it sped it into motion. Coming out made me stronger, braver, and much more confident (shout out to my girl Demi Lovato). When new opportunities come my way I gladly accept them, when in the past, I would have shied away. I am proud of who I am and I am doing my best to use my God given talents to help others. I hope that's the person you see me as and don't get hung up on just one part of me. (Let's be honest... anyone who isn't happy about me coming out didn't read this far into this post) Anyways, thanks for reading, thanks for loving, and thanks for being a part of my journey. Here's to many more years of happiness and adventure.

Alone in New York

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Okay, the title isn't completely true. I was staying with my friend, Ellise, and she was with me 2 of those 5 days. But the other 3 were totally me, alone, in New York City. And let me tell you: It was more than I ever dreamed it would be.

Being the introvert that I am, I was slightly nervous about traveling alone in the big city.
Would I get lost?
Could I figure out the subway?
Would someone try to steal my money?
All of these questions aside, I knew I had to face my anxiety. I did and it was one of the best choices I have ever made.

The first thing I decided was that I didn't want to be a tourist, well, I didn't want to look like a tourist. Ellise taught me all her tips and tricks. The best place to stand in the subway, to put your headphones in, and no matter what, do NOT stop in the middle of the sidewalk to gawk at the towering skyscrapers that surround you. My first day alone I was hesitant but by my second, I was full on New Yorker. I walked fast and with purpose, headphones in (Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift playing), jaywalking and all. Those people that stand on the streets handing pamphlets to tourist didn't even try to get my attention. I had done it. I was an honorary New Yorker.

Now, don't get me wrong, I still went to all the touristy places and took all the touristy pictures but since I was alone, I was able to spend as much or as little time as I wanted. I quickly found that there was so much more to New York than what you see on your first trip there. That city isn't as big and crazy as you think. For every busy tourist packed area, there are five more calm and beautiful areas to explore. I sought these places out. I walked along the water, I hiked all of Central Park. I found peace and quiet in a city known for its sleepless noisy nights. I was able to recollect myself after a long and strenuous school year.

I suppose my point here is this, if you have the chance to travel solo, DO IT. It allows you the freedom to do what you want to do. You're free to explore and enjoy in a way that is best for you. Solo travel can be anxiety inducing but here's the thing: No one cares that you're eating lunch alone. If you get lost, no one has to know but you. I faced that fear and it was one of my best life experiences yet. Go explore our world, you'll be happy you did.

Coffee With My Ex

Monday, May 22, 2017

(and why I'm okay with it)

Just last week I met up with Mike at Amelie's. 
When I told people I was doing this, I got all kinds of reactions. 
The most common response was - Why?!

To most people, it seemed impossible that we were going to spend time together as friends and nothing more. 
Believe it or not, that's exactly what we did. 

You see, Mike is a man who changed my life. He probably knows me better than I know myself.  God brought us together in his perfect timing. We experienced so much in life together. We were a part of each other's journey and what an honor that is. I have no intention of throwing those memories away.

Now hear me out, I understand not every story has a peaceful ending the way ours did, however, my challenge to you is this: Whatever your situation, try to look at it in a different light. Sometimes a new perspective is all we need to turn to the next page of our journey. 

It has taken time, but I have been able to turn my page. 
I now have a choice - I can burn those old pages or I can embrace them and remember that they made me who I am today. I choose the latter. Talking with Mike, catching up, and embracing our new friendship is what truly set me free. 

I have moved on from my past but that doesn't mean I have to leave it in the dark. It is a part of me. I will always care and love. That doesn't mean I haven't moved forward, it simply means I have embraced my past and and acknowledge my story as a whole, not just a chapter. 

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

Growing from Heartbreak

Saturday, January 7, 2017

2016 brought me a lot of things. One of those things was true heartbreak.
I have chosen to share my journey in dealing with heartbreak in an effort to inspire those who may be dealing with any of the difficulties we face in life.

First off, I want to say 2016 gave me so much good and I am beyond grateful. I will also say that so much of that good came from my relationship, so when it came to an end, you can understand how it felt like my world had come crashing down. I will not focus on the immediate feelings that were felt but I do want to tell you about the good that came from this change I experienced. Yes, there was good that came from my heartbreak.

You see, I believe there is good in every situation, you just have to look hard enough to find it. In slowing down and thinking about what had happened, I remembered that nothing bad had ended it all. The timing wasn't right and that's okay. In accepting that, I was able to see all the incredible ways my life had changed through my relationship in the past year and a half.

Mike empowered me. He taught me how to be myself. Through our relationship I was able to become comfortable in my own skin. We gave each other the encouragement to come out, something I know I will never regret. He gave me the courage to face my anxieties. Our long distance relationship forced me to work hard to overcome the anxiety I have struggled with for so long. While there are so many other wonderful lessons I learned through our relationship, the most important to me is that I learned to genuinely love.

These are the silver linings I have chosen to focus on in recent weeks. I have nothing to be upset about. While dealing with change is difficult, I am so glad I have so many incredible memories and have learned so many important lessons. Always look for the silver linings in life.

One last thing I realized in going through this process is how many incredible friends I have made in Charlotte. The amount of people who were more than willing to go out of their way to comfort me was unbelievable. Thank you to those who were there for me, it did not go unnoticed.

While one chapter of my life has come to an end, a new one has begun. I am thankful I have so much good to remember. I am grateful to have had someone be such an important part of my journey. Thanks for helping me be my best self. As I move on, I move on a stronger, better person than I was a year and a half ago. For that, I'll smile.

The Creative Team

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

I recently announced I have been chosen to be a member on the Becky Higgins 2017 Project Life Creative Team. I consider this a huge honor and want to fill you in on what exactly the Project Life Creative Team is.

Becky Higgins is the creator of one of the greatest scrapbooking systems of all time. For people like me, documenting everyday life is a treasure, but it can be hard to find the time to get day to day memories into a scrapbook. Becky created a simplified method to be able to quickly and conveniently document the year in a way that won't take all of your time and won't break the bank. There are physical products, digital products and (my favorite) mobile app products. If you want to learn more about Project Life, click here!

I have been using Project Life since around 2012 when my aunt bought me my first core kit - Thank you!! I love using the physical product but when I moved to North Carolina, I found I no longer had the time or space to keep up with it. Right around the time I moved, Becky released the mobile app. I can now scrapbook right on my iPhone (or android device) and have the pages printed and delivered to my door.

This year I have the privilege of sharing some of the layouts I create on the app with the world. Being on the Creative Team means each month I will submit layouts that may be used to inspire the use of the Project Life products. I still cannot believe that I was chosen. If I can inspire at least one person to document their journey, the hard work will be more than worth it.

I hope you will choose to follow this new adventure with me and I hope I inspire you to cultivate a good life and record it.



Here are a few of my submissions that landed me the incredible honor of being the first man on the Project Life Creative Team.

                    


 

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