Letting Go

Now that summer is almost here, life seems to be coming back into focus.  The past few months have been a bit of a blur with school, work, dance rehearsals, and trying to fit in some time for friends and family.  

I noticed this exhaustingly fast pace, interestingly, only as it began to slow down.  Last week, I was sitting in my living room with two of my friends.  It was raining and we were talking about our plans for the upcoming week.  We made tentative plans to cook dinner together the next day.  While halfway focused on this conversation and halfway focused on my social media feeds, I happened upon a video.  It was one of those accidentally-viral clips of someone's pet doing something weird and hilarious.  I instantly and almost involuntarily let out a long, loud laugh.  It wasn't a polite or fleeting laugh.  It was an ugly belly laugh.  It felt good, and the feeling remained in me, like I had released something that had been weighing on me.  While I was catching my breath, my friend said, "Wow, I haven't heard you laugh like that in such a long time".  

I instantly wondered why.  

Why can't we, in the middle of our hectic lives, let out a good laugh?  Why can't we stop and breathe and just note the goodness in our lives, or focus on our own wellbeing for a moment?  

It's something I'm now striving to do for myself.  It's something I want all of my loved ones to know and take advantage of.  It's important to stop, take a second, and let go.  Let go of the tension in your shoulders.  Let go of the seriousness in your face.  Let go of the one thought that has been dragging you down all day.  Let go of negativity and hold tightly to positivity.  

It's simple, and it can be done in very simple ways, like:

• lighting a candle in your workspace
• stopping everything for five minutes to have a coffee break
• stretching
• scheduling a self-care session (Manicure, spa treatment, face mask at home, using an essential oil diffuser, etc)
• calling a friend just to talk
• calling your mom just to talk
• Writing about your day
• Writing about your goals
• Creating something 

XX

Struggles of an Early Twenty-Something

What's the opposite of "the world is your oyster?"...

I'm currently living out my twenties. As I type this blog.  As i'm ignoring the fact that I have more bills to pay than dollars in my checking account.  As I stay awake wondering what the rest of my life will be like.  As I figure it out with the help of my equally ill-prepared best friends. As I call my mom to ask approximately how long I have until I have to get my own health insurance. 

With the constant trial and error lifestyle, however, comes a sense of individuality & independence.  We're figuring it out.  We're learning how to (sometimes) save money.  We're learning about friendship & love & how to ride the roller coaster that is life.  But sometimes the drop is unexpected & includes some struggles along the track:

You're in that in-the-middle stage of independence 

 sometimes it can be frustrating. I can pay for groceries OR gas, but not both, ok? 

The thought of living in the real world is a close reality

Ice cream for dinner & no bedtime sounds great until rent is due. 

You have to take yourself shopping

ah, the vivid memories of family shopping trips of yesteryear, when you would fight with your sister over a GAP sweatshirt. 

You can't remember the last time you ate a home cooked meal

no, baking a frozen pizza doesn't count. 

After 21, there are no more milestone birthdays you can really look forward to

wear that "  _____'s 21st BDAY BASH" poster board shaped like a margarita with PRIDE.

You're forced to decorate your own living spaces

 "Advanced IKEA furniture assembler" should be socially acceptable to put on a resume..

Having to explain Facebook to the kids you babysit

"It's a lot of weird videos & pictures of dogs, & you kind of just keep scrolling until your eyes hurt".

Navigating the chaos that is the dating world

Always google them before the first date

Not knowing what's to come

Will I ever graduate? Who's going to hire me once I do? Or will E! just use my life as a reality show? 

I still have so many questions, but it's nice to have a group of people to not know the answers with.  The unknown is full of possibility, right? 

XX

C&C