Have any of you ever seen that show, Secret Millionaire? The show basically documents a millionaires experience where they go undercover in a city that has high poverty and crime and they volunteer at organizations. In the end, they donate however much of their own personal money to the organization. My friend, Jessica, told me about this show last week and I was pretty obsessed with watching it. Every show puts you on the brink of tears because even though in the end these organizations are getting thousands and thousands of dollars from essentially a stranger, it’s amazing to see how much people have sacrificed in their own lives to just help other people.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of going to Give Kids the World, a local non-profit organization in Orlando, that exists only to fulfill the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. They bring their entire family to Central Florida, for free, and give them the experience of a lifetime with trips to the attractions, a wonderful home to stay in for, and lots of activities around the grounds, including ice cream for breakfast, movies at the pool, and even pirate vs. princess dinners. They have helped over 115,000 children get their wish and the organization is truly truly amazing. On a weekly basis they have about 7,000 volunteers help them make these memorable experiences happen for these children and family.

Even though I didn’t get to work directly with any kids, it was just amazing to walk around and see everything that they have built, from the ground up, to help other people.

When I went, we split up in two groups – one was to do some hard manual labor outside and one was to set up Christmas for the kids in their theatre. (They set up Christmas every week for the kids.) Of course, I ended up in the manual labor group where we took up juniper bushes and their roots and then built a drainage ditch. Talk about sweating!

Between watching Secret Millionaire and the volunteer work I had the pleasure of doing a few weeks ago, it just makes me realized how much more we can give and do for people less fortunate. Even if it’s only a few hours.

How do you give back?

*To learn more about Give Kids the World, visit http://www.gktw.org/

“Never be afraid to be proud of yourself. You are made of magic and you share dust and light with the stars that shine above you.

Laugh. Truly laugh. Let life and all of its folly steal the breath from your body and replace it with the staccato melody of giggles and guffaws; the laughter that comes without fair warning and continues without apology.

Never be afraid to follow your heart. Take all you have and risk it, truly risk it for where your crazy heart decides to take you. Do not ever think you, exactly you, are not capable of chasing your dreams and do not ever think that you, exactly you, are not worth being chased.

Be kind. Always. Give love freely and never wait for it to come back. If it breathes, grows or has even a single cell bouncing around inside it, love it, too.

Take care of yourself. It’s up to you to keep your heart beating and your lungs filling and your legs running long past when you should have found your way to shuffling off this mortal coil and starting fresh.”

-Tyler Knott

*photo credit: http://weheartit.com/entry/11596298

Regardless of how much I want to sleep for just a few more hours (hell, I’ll take 15 minutes) when my alarm goes off, I really try to start the day with an open mind and a smile. I try to have a a positive outlook that today will be better than yesterday and I pride myself on doing that. However, there are those days where it really doesn’t seem to matter how big my positive outlook is, the Universe just craps on me.

A year ago, I would say the bad days all pretty much had to do with my job (thank God I don’t have that problem anymore) but today the chaos of the week simply caught up with me and my emotions got the best of me. Fighting with friends, uncomfortable situations, lack of sleep, and an injured hip was the majority of my frustration. So, I decided I would go to yoga tonight & relieve some stress since I couldn’t go running.

I headed to a yoga place close to my house when I get a call informing me the scholarship I thought I got was really just miscommunication and I didn’t get it. Then I get to the yoga place only to find out that it was closed (even though their online schedule said they had a class tonight).

Let me ask you something. Have you ever had so much build up at once and you literally feel like a ticking time bomb? Yeah, that was me.

I had 2.5 seconds to decide if I was going to go home or haul ass across town to make a different yoga class. So, I hauled ass and I got there with 2 minutes to spare. And let me tell you, yoga owned me tonight. This was only my second yoga class, ever, and it was no beginner action. I don’t know if you’ve ever done a yoga class before, but you’re so focused on trying to do the poses and breathe (I have a hard time remembering to breathe) that every single thing that was on your brain instantly disappears.

I honestly have no idea if I was doing anything right and I honestly don’t care. Sweat was just dripping from everywhere, even my calves! But I have to admit, I was kind of counting down the minutes to the end of this power hour (I did mention this was not for beginners, right?). Then, we got to my favorite pose – the Savasana. This is a pose where you lay on your back, arms to your side, palms up, and you are in total relaxation. They call it the “dead man” pose. This is usually where everything that was on my mind before comes racing back but today was different. I was in a completely new place – and at some point, I even forgot that I was in a room full of people. It was pure stillness. And it was awesome.

When I left to go to my car, a moment from my North Carolina trip came to mind.

The day we left for North Carolina it was a little bit cloudy in Orlando. Gray skies & a forecast of rain for the weekend. We went through security, grabbed a little breakfast, and then waited for our flight. Once we were on the plane and up in the sky, we eventually broke the dark cloud barrier and you know what was above it?

The sun. And it was shining so brightly and it was surrounded by white fluffy clouds and blue skies. It made me remember that the bright side of every situation happening in your life is actually there – you just have dig deep & push through it…you’ll eventually find it.

So, let the Universe kick your ass. But get back up and find a way back to your happy place…even if it’s just through an hour of yoga.

Well, if you didn’t know by now, I got a new job. *HOORAY!* I’ve managed to work my way up to finding a full-time can of awesomeness where I get to do what I am most passionate about. All. Day. Long. It’s kind of weird to tell you the truth. I’m so used to doing a million and one different jobs everyday that when I’m left alone to create my masterpieces (modest much?) I’m left wondering why nobody is bothering me. Ha. I’m sure the feeling will quickly fade and I will fall into a graphic designing bliss soon enough but for right now, I’m simply going through some (fabulous) changes in my work life.

Often times, I find myself thinking that the way life works out is so funny. I’ve spent a good deal (basically all) of this year building my “personal brand” and working diligently to expand my network and skills. Roughly 8 months later and I’m actually at a job I’ve been absolutely craving to be at. Just seems funny (and awesome) to me.

Earlier this week I was talking to my brother on the phone. He just recently graduated (Congratulations, Josh!) and we were talking about him looking for jobs. He was a little frustrated, as I’m sure most are that are currently looking for a job are, and I found myself saying to him:

When the timing is right, doors will open for you.

Read that line again. Slowly.

Think about it. Just because what you want isn’t happening RIGHT this very second doesn’t mean it won’t happen. It doesn’t mean that you won’t find that dream job, or that love you’re searching for, or a couple extra bucks in your bank account. All it means is that the universe is diligently working to move things around and little by little everything will fall into place. All you have to do is just keep pushing, working hard, find TRUST deep in your soul, and believe with all your heart that it IS in fact going to work out.

Keep putting your good vibes out in the universe. It will return the favor. I promise. =)

Yep, I said it. Let me explain – I went to Target to buy a Christmas present for one of my friends. I ventured to the clothing section, saw some cheap shirts on sale – convinced myself I could NOT leave without them because I needed some new workout clothes. BAM – $20 later, new clothes and no Christmas present.

Okay, okay…this could also be known as a little disease called I AM ADDICTED TO SHOPPING.

Sooooo, for that purpose, I’m going to give you another example. :)

I met someone a few weeks ago (yay me!) – he is cute, smart, and impressed me by actually approaching ME first (apparently, I’m not easy to approach or so I’ve been told – I think it’s rubbish!) Anyway, long story short – I gave him my phone number, we talked, arranged a date. Then, there was no conversation between that time and the actual date. So, I canceled.

Why?

Because I am the master of justifying anything and everything.

I convinced myself that he wasn’t interested because there was no in-between conversation and therefore it was destined to fail.

I convinced myself (because of past experiences) that his name destined him to be an asshole.

And I also convinced myself that there was no point in opening my heart again (yes, I got ahead of myself) when I *knew* it would end up in broken pieces.

Do I regret it? No.
Am I crazy? Probably.
Am I an overanalyzer? Absolutely.
Do I need psychological help? No comment.

Essentially, all of the above is not something I’m proud of or something I willingly wanted to admit (ALL OVER THE WEB), but I also know that all of the above is big giant load of negativity. Why would I convince myself that bad things are going to keep happening to me? Why would I convince myself that my heart is destined to be in tiny pieces on a floor rather than being loved by someone? Do you do this? THAT, my friend, is not something I want to portray or believe anymore. The past couple weeks I have made it my personal mission to start eliminating these negative thoughts in my mind (who needs New Year’s resolutions? START NOW!)

So, I would like to introduce you to a little thing called: *drum roll please*

POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE

Or as I like to call it PMA!

“PMA implies that one has a vision of good natured change in one’s mind; it employs a state of mind that continues to seek, find and execute ways to win, or find a desirable outcome, regardless of the circumstances. It rejects negativity, defeatism and hopelessness.”

Simple, right?

Why yes, yes it is. I know that at first, it wasn’t easy for me. I had to make some decisions and weed out some things and people. And I definitely have my days (hell, this WHOLE WEEK has been a little bit of a nightmare) … But you know what? Everyday, I wake up with the hope that today WILL be better than yesterday, and so far, everyday HAS been. What I think is important to realize is that…

YOU
MAKE
YOUR
DAY
POSITIVE
OR
NEGATIVE

Did you notice the keyword in that sentence?

YOU

Yes, bad things happen. Yes, work sometimes sucks. Yes, money is tight. But the real test (I think) is: Are you going to let it ruin your day? Or are you going to just HANG IN THERE, realize that it’s just a bad moment or a hard couple hours, and find hope in yourself that you can tackle this and overcome it?

I know I can. And you know what? When I don’t think I can, I have amazing friends in my life to help me get by. (Click each one of those words, they’ll want to help you too if you don’t think you can.)

I’ve got a one way ticket to PMA. Who’s comin?

I had a completely different post ready for you today and then with the drop of a dime, or really the ring of the phone, I changed it. On this phone call, we were talking about purging. No, not the kind of purging because we ate too much at lunch, or had one too many M&M’s, but more so cleaning out the closets, sheds, kitchens, or anything else you can think of and just getting rid of it. Saying goodbye to old things that are just taking up much needed and valued space.

Now I don’t want you to think I’m getting repetitive here because my message is different this time. And you can either take my message literally or figuratively – that’s up to you. So, just hear me out.

Ok, now getting back to that phone call. I think sometimes, we allow our homes to get cluttered. In my closet, I have this one box that has traveled with me over the past three years to all my different homes, and every time I move, I never open it. I never shake it, I never throw it away, I simply just put it right back up in the closet at my new place.

Holy crap – WHY! Obviously what’s in there isn’t that important. But I’m holding on to it for some odd reason. Think about your house, your room, your storage closets– what do you have in there? Are you just dragging it around with you everywhere you go? Every time you pick up and move? Isn’t it time to get rid of it?

I think storing things is an easy way to hold on to memories, to hopes, to the “younger” you, the “skinnier” you, but at some point we have to accept that it’s time to move on. They’re not so great memories, you’re much smarter and wiser now, and hey, there’s always going to be some new pair of jeans that you like much better than any old thing in your closet. It’s seriously just taking up too much space. Valuable space for new shoes, purses (sorry, guys), clothes…and more importantly, for new memories, hopes, smiles, and the “new” you.

Everyone’s heard the saying, “everything happens for a reason,” right? Well, on those bad days, those “Negative Nelly” days, I hate that saying so much I could kick it in the knee. And then on those good days, those “Positive Polly” days, I absolutely LOVE that saying because it really makes SO MUCH SENSE.

Have you ever been going through something, or had a conversation with someone, and then you hear a song, or watch a TV show, or whatever, and it relates COMPLETELY to what just happened? Oddly, it happens to me a lot. Has happened a few times at church, or with music, but as I sit on my porch, in my lovely new patio furniture might I add, I can’t stop thinking about the ending of Grey’s Anatomy that I just watched tonight. I will admit right now, I am a HUGE sucker for shows that end with voiceovers (I owe that to my love of One Tree Hill). I mean, seriously, who doesn’t like a profound, “food for thought,” ending to a show? Anyway, at the end of this episode, Meredith says:

“Sometimes the past is just something you can’t let go of. Something we will do anything to forget. And sometimes, we learn something new about the past that changes everything we know about the present.”

So, I’m asking you to kick Negative Nelly in the ass, clean out your closets, your sheds, your kitchens, and make room for the Positive Polly’s of your life – the new shoes, clothes, hopes, dreams, and essentially the better YOU.

Well, my hairdryer caught on fire this morning, my laptop is now giving me the blue screen of death and the only thing that got me through today was my Pumpkin Spiced Iced Latte from Starbucks and remembering my “me” day from this past weekend.

I am an avid fan of “me” days. Love, love, LOVE them to pieces. Just grab my keys, a book, my iPod, and I’m off for an adventure! When I go on my adventures, there never really is a question of where I’ll end up, just a matter of when I’ll get there.

I always end up at the beach.

My favorite beach at the moment is New Smyrna Beach on the East coast of Florida. For those of you that have or have not been there, it is one of those beaches that you can drive and park your car on the beach. (Love it)–And I have a small confession. In addition to being an avid fan of “me” days, I’m also an avid fan of people watching. And the beach really is a fun place to do that.

All those old ladies that have leather looking skin, or those teenage boys that probably just got their drivers license and now they just drive up and down the beach, hanging out the window with ridiculous music blaring. Or all the surfers waxing their boards before they head out to the water. Kids building sand castles or burying their Dad in the sand. Have I mentioned I really love the beach? :)

The beach “me” days really aren’t just about the people watching (although it’s really fun) — it’s more important than that. It’s the place I go when I need to relax, cry, smile, remember, appreciate, write, draw, hope, get a free pedicure in the sand, reflect, and let go.

There is something in the movement of the clouds, the sand between my toes, the sounds of the waves crashing over my iPod’s most recent crush, and the sun shining on my face that lets me do all those things.

Has anyone ever told you to “leave it at the door”?

Well, I leave it at the beach. I let the waves swallow up my worries and let the cool breeze drift hope and love through me to start fresh, appreciate the good stuff, stay grounded, and get through another day of blow dryers catching on fire and laptops breaking.

What do you do for “me” days? Where do you go? Please share!