Faith – Page 6 – The Woman Wednesday Blog

Mindset, ready, go!

September 25, 2018November 29, 2018Posted in Uncategorized, womenTagged advice, animals, blog, business, comfort, cool, environment, Faith, family, feminism, film, fulfilled, fulfillment, happiness, happy, happy life, how to be happy, inspiration, Inspirational, life, life lessons, live, live happily, live happy, motivation, outlook, people, photography, positive, positive mindset, stories, story, teaching, tips, travel, trends, true stories, tv, womenLeave a comment

Have you ever wondered, “How can I be happier?” Have you ever Googled ‘How to be happy’? Or have you ever purchased a self-help book on how to find happiness? Keep on reading, and you will learn tips and tricks on how to be truly happy.

One of the things many happy people and successful people have in common is a positive mindset.

Think positively.

Have confidence in yourself.
We all know it’s easier said than done.
As someone who grew up with little self-confidence and lots of self-doubt, I know what it’s like to struggle with confidence.
Being verbally harassed in middle school and high school (by some of the people closest to me) certainly took a large toll on my confidence.

Here’s the thing: There’s always going to be someone who’s trying bring you down. So while everyone is trying to diminish your happiness, what can you do to make yourself happy?

First, the secret…that is not such a secret, but rather a true fact we need to internalize.

Here it is:

The worst enemy of all is not those trying to tear you down, the worst enemy of all is yourself.

Who was my worst enemy? My peers? My friends? My family?

No.

My worst enemy was myself.

I was the one who believed what they said. I consumed their insults and took their words to heart. I chose to care about their opinions of me.
By believing in their words, I chose to not think very highly of myself.
I said the worst things imaginable to myself.

I found myself very unhappy and wanting to change that.

Did it happen overnight?

No.
Confidence doesn’t happen overnight, but like many wise people say, “You gotta fake it till you make it!” Over time, you won’t be just ‘faking it’ anymore. You will realize how truly amazing and special you are.

So, how did I fake it?

Keep on reading, and I will tell you.
It will take effort and small changes each and every day, but start now, and it will pay off for you if you’re consistent and driven.

You can do it! I have confidence in you.

Here are a few strategies that have worked for me.
1. Tell yourself 3 positive things about yourself each day. You can say them aloud, to yourself in the mirror, write them down, or just say them in your mind. I prefer to do this in the morning as my “self-love” routine–that way I don’t forget!

2. Remind yourself that no one is superior to you. Everyone is human–it is as simple as that. Others may have accomplished more, but who is saying you cannot accomplish what they have or more than what they have?

3. Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your goals. What do you want to improve on? Write them down and hang them up somewhere you can see each day. Create steps to achieve those goals! Each step you take will feel like little successes helping you get to your end goal. In addition to this, pursue what you are passionate about. You only live once…(unless you believe in reincarnation)…so get moving!

4. Spread the love! Go up to at least one person a day and let them know you appreciate them. It can be as simple as a genuine compliment. This will spread positivity, and you will feel its effects.

5. Take care of yourself. Gym? A hearty breakfast? Music to get you in the mood? I start my day with a workout and dancing to some music—even just five minutes of movement has a large positive impact on my entire day.

6. Smile with reckless abandon! Forcing yourself to smile more, to others, and in the mirror, will actually make you start to smile for real.

7. Help others. You can volunteer or it can be something small. For example, you can start by holding the door for someone, giving someone some spare change, give someone some good advice, or help a friend move into their new home. It will make you feel a sense of purpose.

8. Make changes. Are you too comfortable in your current job or position in life? Maybe you need to make a change and get out of your comfort zone. Maybe you want to try something new? Only you can make that decision!

9. Talk it out. Make connections with others. Sometimes, we need to just talk with someone else. Talk with a friend or family member. If there is not one who will willingly listen to you, seek other people or other outlets. Look up local events in your area, join an online chatroom, or just strike up a conversation with a stranger. There are many people in the world you can reach out to.

10. Recreate your favorite memory in your mind. Get in that mental happy place. Remember that happy memory, and keep it in storage for a rainy day! If it helps, think about it every day.

11. Going forward, what made your favorite memory your favorite memory? Are there aspects of it that you can bring into your current life? Make the changes in your life yourself. No one else is going to make them for you.

Most important of all:

When you are focused on yourself, accomplishing your goals, and working towards your dream, you will find that you are more happier than ever.

When will you be your happiest? When you accomplish your dream.

So, do not give up! Have a positive mindset, and work towards everything you want!

You’ll notice that just by making these changes and taking steps to achieve your passions, you will be a lot happier.

When you are happy, it will pour into all facets of your life.

So, what are you waiting for?

Follow these steps, and go be happy! 🙂

We’d love to hear about you, your experiences, and your story! Please~ we encourage you~ to comment down below.

Woman Wednesday: Faith

September 12, 2018December 6, 2018Posted in Uncategorized, womenTagged advice, beauty, blog, brand, career, college, comfort, cool, cute, deals, dreams, education, educational, environment, Faith, family, family memories, fashion, feminism, for women, friends memories, friendship, future, goals, inspiration, Inspirational, inspire, job, life, love, mass media, memories, money, mother, motivation, people, photography, photography services, photos, shorts, small business, stories, story, teaching, tips, travel, trends, true stories, value, washington DC, wedding, women1 Comment

*Note: Woman Wednesday is a part of our blog. Each Woman Wednesday post will feature a woman who would like to share information in the hopes of inspiring and motivating other women. Comments are welcome below.

Q and A with Faith, White Marsh, Maryland

“Look back to when you were younger, and see if what you love now is what you loved back then. Often, the things we loved when we were kids are the things we have a true passion for.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

As a mom, wife, and a full-time manager, I have a very busy schedule every day! I love every minute, and yes, sometimes everything can go up then down, but it all seems to manage itself out. I love being a mom to a wonderful 10 month old as well as a stepmom to 2 kids- both 8 and 9 years old. I love every second I can be with them. I am a full-time manager with a company geared towards children for 9 years. I’m very thankful for the love and support of my husband, mom, and sister so that I can do what I truly love– which is photography. I have been a photographer for around 7 years, and I seriously started doing it as a business two years ago in 2016. Over these two years, I have grown so much. Photography is a skill you can learn and teach yourself by doing it hands on and watching videos. I started my passion of photography originally by shooting nature photography. I loved capturing the waterfront where I lived plus the woods and animals all around me. Especially when I went on trips, I loved taking my camera and capturing every moment. Photography can be so relaxing whether during a session or event or when editing the images.

I love all the support and feedback I get from not only family and friends, but from my loyal clients as well! Some have been with me since 2016 and through my growth. I hope they stick by me through many more years. I also hope to be full time with photography in at max 5 years and not just part time- like I am now. I would love to have my own studio one day. I do sessions and events for all kinds from family, newborn, maternity, birthdays, weddings, and much more! Recently, I started a new venture in my career and started shooting weddings! This has been a huge step to further my career, and I can’t wait for all the new adventures this brings me. If you ever need any photography done, you can contact me through my Facebook page Faith Nicole Photography. I’m located in White Marsh, Maryland, but willing to travel in Maryland or another state. I would love to capture your family memories for you to keep forever.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I come from of a family of three kids. As a middle child, I always found way to keep myself busy in addition to playing with my siblings and cousins. We lived an outdoor life, which consisted of always playing games, fishing, and anything under the sun. If I wasn’t outside, I was indoors playing school or doing arts and crafts (especially painting and drawing). I was a very shy and quiet kid when I was younger. I worked really hard in school and was mostly on the honor roll. I graduated in 2010 from Eastern Tech High school where I was a part of the culinary program. After high school, I didn’t go to college like most of the kids I graduated with. I wanted to, but I really wanted to work and become independent. I wanted to make sure I could pay for what I wanted and needed without having to ask my parents for it. Even now, working full-time, plus running my own business, I work very hard not only to support myself, but also my family. I think being so creative and independent when I was younger helped me grow to where I am now and it especially has helped with running my own business. I still have a lot to learn, but as I tell others, you can only learn best by doing it and trying.

Q: What would you like others to learn from your story?

A: The most important thing to know is to always follow your dreams and passion. Even when I get discouraged and want to give up, I always try to remind myself that it will all work out. I look back at my work from the past, and I honestly cringe to see how different and little I knew back then. I’m still learning until this day about how to take photos. I even have severely upgraded my equipment from a simple cheap camera to now a professional DSLR camera along with a lot of other equipment, props, backdrops and more. I will grow and grow every year the more I practice and work on my passion. I organize throwbacks next to current work to show my clients and others the difference from time to time. I love and appreciate my clients that have stayed with me throughout my growth, and I truly appreciate it from the heart. Basically what I’m saying is… don’t give up as it will be a struggle at times, but you will make it through. Keep working on everything you want, and you will get it one day! Despite a bad review here or there, you will get many more good reviews. Keep doing what you love, and I support you along the way too!

The best way to learn from my story is look back to when you were younger, and see if what you love now is what you loved back then. Often the things we loved when we were kids are the things we have a true passion for. Mine was photography throughout the years among doing many other things such as girl scouts, soccer, gymnastic, karate, and being an adventurous and crafty kid. Even through high school and then when I started working, I always admired photography and seeing everything in a creative point of view. In 2016, my passion clicked in my head, and I started doing what I loved to do again. I enjoyed seeing the faces and reactions of my clients once they saw their images. Now with the growth I have had, the reactions are even greater, and I hope they will be further down the road. Doing what you love to do will make your life that much greater. But to add to that, it is your family and friends who make it even much greater. Capture those memories forever, because everyone grows up too fast and changes. I love being able to capture the memories for all people to keep and look back on years from now, and for your kids and grandkids to see many, many years from now.

Click here to reach Faith about Photography services and inquires.

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Woman Wednesday: Caitlin

August 29, 2018August 29, 2018Posted in Uncategorized, womenTagged advice, brand, by women for women, Child, comfort, cool, dreams, education, educational, Faith, fashion, feminism, for women, friendship, future, inspiration, inspirational story, inspire, job, Learn from others, life, lifestyle blog, love, mom blog, mother, motivation, others experiences, people, religion, single mother, stories, story, teaching, tips, trends, true stories, true story, value, women, womens stories, young mother1 Comment

Q and A with Caitlin, College Park, Maryland

“Even the person who seems to have it the most together has problems, and we are all one big mess. I learned that what I considered to be a weakness was actually a strength that allowed me to help others with the same issues. I remember saying that I hated my life, that I wanted to be someone else, someone normal. Your day is coming. You just have to take those baby steps until they become great strides. Then one day, you will look back and only have some memories of that time, long ago, when you were struggling. If I can do it, you can do it. We are no different. Set your mind, and keep it set.” -Caitlin

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I currently work as a Kitchen and Bath Designer, and I absolutely love the ability to get creative and face challenges head on with my clients. I enjoy painting, hiking, and reading in my free time. Yoga has always been something that helps ground me and keeps me energized for the day ahead.

But let me tell you about my real passion— my family! I have a super energetic seven-year-old who LOVES arts and crafts! We have a poodle named, “Georgia” who keeps us busy and loves cuddling with us! As a single mother, there is never a dull moment! I am passionate about many things. As far as being a mother, there is nothing more rewarding and challenging all at the same time. My daughter has taught me 2 things. #1 to ALWAYS have fun no matter what and #2 to never stop asking questions.

Pictured: Poodle, Georgia

Pictured: Caitlin and her daughter

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: First, let me tell you that I am the oldest of 6 children. Oldest child + Big family = Great responsibility. There is a really large age gap (16 years between me and my youngest brother). I assumed title of “mothers helper” around the age of ten. This meant changing diapers, babysitting, meal prep… the whole nine yards. My youngest two siblings were high risk pregnancies so my mom was at UMD after they were born for awhile. Due to her absence, I really had to step up and help my dad take care of the other children still left at home. As much as I resented my childhood being “cut short,” it taught me a lot. I attribute my OCD responsibility and “take charge” attitude from that point in my life. At a very young age I took on the responsibility of “mother” and learned very quickly that waking up in the middle of the night with a 4 year old who’s having night terrors and a 1 year old who’s hungry, isn’t the best of predicaments. I learned about balance, how to put others needs first, and how to work as a team with my parents to achieve an expected end result.

Pictured: Caitlin and her daughter

Q: What were your experiences in school like?

A: As far as schooling goes, I bounced around a lot from school to school. By the time I entered high school, I had been to a private school, public elementary school, and homeschool. I was never in one select school for longer than 2 years at a time. I was a competitive figure skater through middle school, and skating was LIFE.

Because of other family circumstances, I had to give skating up. I went in to a new school, once again, making a new set of friends. By the time I finished 11th grade, I just wanted to go to college. I pulled myself out of school, enrolled in a homeschooling group and completed my senior year over the summer before my senior year in high school would have started. I left for college that fall and attended Marymount University for Interior Architecture and Design.

Looking back, I was sad that I never established a consistent “friend base.” I will never know what it’s like to go through 12 years of schooling with a group of friends, creating that forever bond and the countless memories over the years. I will never have a class reunion, a senior yearbook to look back on, or the experience of walking across the stage for my High School graduation.

Q: What’s something you learned by constantly moving?

A: While being sad about not creating a consistent “friend base,” I am extremely grateful for the constant “bouncing around” during my school years. It allowed me to see many different walks of life and forced me to be an extrovert. I made many friends along the way, and I am very grateful that I never fit into a “mold” but rather was able to get along with everyone by being myself.

Moving around a lot made me very adaptable to life and change, which helped me get through my divorce. My senior year of college, I found out I was pregnant. My then-boyfriend and I immediately got married in the courthouse to please our very religious families. To me, this was just another change. We got married, I graduated 3 months later, and had our daughter 2 months after graduation. We had a home built and moved from VA to MD 8 months later, all the while planning our big “church wedding.” We were in the house for 5 months. Four days before our church wedding, my ex-husband said he didn’t want to be married, he wanted to be single. He handed our daughter to me and told me to leave.

We called off the wedding 4 days before, having to still pick up flowers, my dress, pay the caterer and call 180 guests. Panic set in and completely consumed my life. I had just turned 24 years old and set into a deep depression. I did not understand why this happened to me. I had always been a “good kid.” I got good grades, went to church, and obeyed the rules of being a decent person. I gained nearly 30 pounds in a month from stress eating and spiraling downhill. To this day, 6 years later, after many court battles, custody battles, fighting for child support, I look back at it all and realized that in the midst of all the struggle, the depression, the debilitating anxiety, I found my faith.

I learned that you have to chose to be happy, even on your worst day. I learned that it’s OK to carry around a brown paper bag when you feel like hyperventilating and it’s OK to be HUMAN. It’s okay to be real and have real feelings.

Q: What would you like others to know from your story?

A: Even the person who seems to have it the most together has problems, and we are all one big mess. I learned that what I considered to be a weakness was actually a strength that allowed me to help others with the same issues. I remember saying that I hated my life, that I wanted to be someone else, someone normal. I was in church one day and everyone was giving the “sign of peace” where we shake hands. I was recently divorced and was by myself. Ironically, everyone at church that day seemed to be a couple or a family. I was so angry the entire service, sitting there, in the back row, looking around at all the people I considered lucky—because they looked like happy families. I sat there boiling over with anger. I watched as everyone was shaking hands during the “sign of peace.” The service continued, and I just wanted to leave. All of a sudden, a very old man tapped me on my shoulder (I was so annoyed at this point that I just turned and gave him that “what, do you need me to move?!” look). He just took my hand and said “peace be with you, you know… I always save the best for last.” He smiled and just walked away. I left the church that day bursting into tears. That day, I decided that no matter what happened, the best was going to be saved for last, and if my life wasn’t what I wanted now, it was only going to get better. This has carried throughout my life and now, entering my 30’s. I am more grounded in faith than I have ever been. I can honestly say I wouldn’t trade my experiences for anything else in the world. It was through them that I came to appreciate the little things and little blessings in life. Most importantly, I learned to be thankful for the hard times. If there is one piece of advice for anyone dealing with anxiety or depression, it is to fight the good fight and never ever EVER give up. Your day is coming. You just have to take those baby steps until they become great strides. Then one day, you will look back and only have some memories of that time, long ago, when you were struggling.

If I can do it, you can do it. We are no different. Set your mind and keep it set.

Pictured: Caitlin happy today with her daughter and Matt, her significant other.

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Woman Wednesday: Brittany

August 22, 2018December 26, 2018Posted in Uncategorized, womenTagged advice, beautiful people, beauty, blog, brand, career, college, comfort, cool, cute, deals, dreams, education, educational, environment, Faith, fashion, feminism, for women, future, goals, inspiration, Inspirational, inspire, job, lessons, lingerie, love, mass media, model, money, motivation, New Jersey, people, Princeton, Princeton NJ, quality, sexy, shorts, small business, teaching, the future, tips, travel, trends, utility, value, washington DC, women, yoga, yoga classes, yoga instructor1 Comment

Q and A with Brittany, Mercer County, New Jersey

“Life is short, and you should do anything and everything you want to/love. Whether you are miserable at your job, doing things that don’t serve you, or you want to do things that seem out of reach, whatever that is…work toward your goals, do the things you love, and don’t stop loving your life.”

@BlissfullyBritt_

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: My passion is practicing yoga and bringing it to others. I came to yoga after being interested in it for a long time and never having the time to pursue it. For a long time my sole focus was on school, and then college and then finding a 9-5 job. I started to feel like I was losing myself and didn’t have any hobbies or things just for me. I eventually became so miserable with the lifestyle I was living, left my job and threw myself into all of my interests, yoga being one of them.

After continuously practicing yoga for a couple of months, I felt like a new person and realized just how much I was neglecting myself. I enrolled in a yoga teacher training program and graduated this past June. My new focus is bringing yoga to others. I truly believe there is something in it for everyone- whether it’s the exercise through holding poses, learning how to breath, or the spiritual aspects to it. I think the general skills you learn in a yoga class can help any individual be more present and mindful in every day life. I’m working on brainstorming how exactly I want to do this while teaching/subbing occasionally at the studio I trained at!

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: In my younger years, my mom got me involved in lots of extra-curricular activities. At the time I hated it and always felt busy. Later in life, when I was looking for a hobby for myself, I appreciated that I had some exposure to different things to try out. One of my favorites was gymnastics, and I believe my childhood love for this is what drew me to yoga and made me start this path toward a career in yoga! I also used to play the piano and guitar, was very artistic and liked to paint/draw. Exploring different extra-circular activities led me to finding my passion.

Q: What is something valuable you’ve learned that you’d like others to know?

A: Life is short, and you should do anything and everything you want to/love. Whether you are miserable at your job, doing things that don’t serve you, or you want to do things that seem out of reach, whatever that is…work toward your goals, do the things you love and don’t stop loving your life. This realization smacked me right in the face when I left my job that I only have one life and I realized how I was getting caught up in all the wrong things, trying to live in this box that society teaches you to live in, and I wasn’t truly enjoying life. Smile, be happy, travel (if that’s your thing), love, do, create! Just find whatever it is you love to do and do it, and get rid of/leave behind anything that does not serve you. Listen to your heart and not other’s people’s opinions if they bring you down.

Q: What would you like others to learn from your story?

A: I would like others to know that you can start over at any time. The things you want are within reach if you visualize and work toward them. Be patient and work in baby steps.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: Feminism is important to me. I think a lot of people can take feminism as a negative thing, but I see it as being proud of being a woman, or (if you are not a woman) recognizing all of the positive and beautiful things that women bring to the table.

Q: Why should more women take roles in business?

A: It has taken a few decades, but there are more and more women in business now than ever before! We are equal inhabitants of this Earth and should be involved in all of the things we’ve created as a society.

You can reach Brittany via email at: Brittthatcher314@gmail.com or on her instagram @BlissfullyBritt_. She is trained in Aerial Yoga and floor yoga and is available for one-on-one sessions or group sessions! Feel free to contact her about questions, inquiries, or to just say hello! 🙂

Professional photos: Credit to Dennis Pike Photography

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Woman Wednesday: Alysha

August 15, 2018Posted in womenTagged advice, beautiful people, beauty, blog, brand, career, career woman, clothing, college, comfort, cooking, cool, culinary, cute, deal, deals, dreams, education, educational, environment, Faith, fashion, featured, feminism, food, food creation, for women, friendship, future, girl, goals, hope, in love, inspiration, Inspirational, inspire, job, lessons, lingerie, love, make money, mass media, model, money, motivation, motivational, natural, people, quality, sexy, shorts, small business, summer, teaching, the future, tips, travel, trends, utility, value, washington DC, womenLeave a comment

“Don’t look at someone’s life and think you should be doing what they’re doing – you should do what makes you happy and what you are passionate about. I think life is too short not to live in a way that makes you approach each and every day with a full sense of joy and enthusiasm. There is always something to be grateful for and that can bring a smile to your face.” -Alysha

Q and A with Alysha, Berks County, Pennsylvania

Connect with Alysha:

Blog: https://alyshathekitchenologist.com/

Instagram

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: In a broad sense, I am very passionate about helping individuals. More specifically, I have always believed that information is power. I knew that I wanted to work in a career that provided individuals with information so they could make the best well-informed decisions for themselves and their lives. This definitely intermingles with two things career-wise I am involved in: working as a clinical writer for a nonprofit organization in the healthcare field and as a recipe developer/food photographer for various projects that fall under my blog: The Kitchenologist©.

As a food recipe developer /photographer, I love showing people what to do with a “mystery vegetable” they may have or how to make a dish they love in a healthier version. I believe if you are able to educate someone or expose someone to something they have never done before, it could change the way they think and affect the way they act, which may ultimately influence their lives as a whole in a potentially positive way. In regards to food, maybe someone could make a healthier diet change at home by cooking more now that they have some recipes they enjoy versus grabbing fast food or eating out. I was inspired by the impact nutrition can have on your life after taking a class entitled “Sustainable Food Systems” in college where I had the opportunity to read food system research and work in our community garden, in addition to living abroad in Australia for a semester where I ate a lot of very simplistic, fresh foods. I felt a completely new appreciation for food, where it comes from and how it affects our lives as a whole after these experiences. There are so many information gaps that exist in our world today, whether it be healthcare or food, and I love being able to help bridge some of those gaps through what I work in.

As a clinical writer, my career allows me to break down dense scientific information into key facts and data individuals can grasp and understand. I view what I do as “scientific translation” in a sense, and I love knowing the work I do helps individuals make better decisions for their hospitals and patients. I credit a speech I gave my sophomore year of college at Susquehanna University for the Honors Program as the reason why I was drawn to scientific translation and presentation. The speech was entitled: “Vaccines and the Childhood Autism Scare: Solely a Media-Generated Correlation.” A community member from the audience came up to me after the speech and thanked me,because she believed that she had given her son autism because she chose to vaccinate him and now knew that the facts proved otherwise. I later went on to work with Johns Hopkins Medicine on a research project looking at supplement manufacturer claims and was blown away by the evidence gaps existing. I have been incredibly excited to attend a few conferences for work this summer, allowing me to interact with a wider audience on these types of topics and facilitate these types of informative discussions.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up in a very loving and nurturing environment. My parents really balanced each other out when I grew up, with my dad really encouraging my younger brother and I to do well in school and my mom always asking us if we were happy (and making sure we were) in addition to fostering other passions like reading and drawing. In retrospect, having both of those perspectives was incredibly important to where I am today,because I have realized how important it is to work hard to be able to succeed. However, I also know that happiness is truly the key to everything. And if you aren’t happy, nothing else really seems to matter.

Crater Lake, Oregon

My parents also made large decisions in regards to their careers before they started a family. My mom decided to leave her management job to raise a family full time, and my dad found a different executive position that would allow him to spend time with his family and not work 24/7. I did not realize how impactful that was in my life until I got older. My parents were at every soccer match, swim meet, softball game, honors ceremony, chorus concert, etc. I knew if I would look out in the stands, they would be there enthusiastically cheering me on. That really taught me the importance of supporting individuals you love. I have really strived to do that in my adult years by always making the trip to see a friend, visiting with family, sending out a check-in text or mailing off a snail mail letter. It truly means the world to know you have people who care about you and want to make that time to be with you and care about you.

I also would like to credit my parents for always showing my younger brother and I that money is not everything. My younger brother and I were incredibly fortunate to grow up in a home where we never needed for anything, but my parents were also not quick to buy us that “new thing.” Instead, they really emphasized the value of experiences by going on trips and going out to meals. As an adult, I find that I want to spend my money on travel and seeing the world. I would rather spend my money and time experiencing things and meeting new people versus getting a fancy car or new outfit. These experiences I find have made me grow and look at the world in ways I never thought I would, and it is a really beautiful and empowering thing.

Ireland

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Moraine Lake in Banff, Canada

Q: What is something valuable you’ve learned that you’d like others to know?

A: The first thing I have learned is don’t be afraid of not living up to other’s expectations – at the end of the day, you should only be living up to your own. Especially in your 20s, I just find there are a lot of things being thrown at you question-wise from a variety of people or what you see on social media in regards to topics like getting married, having kids, buying a house, going back to school, switching careers, earning more money, etc. All I can say is to do what makes you happy! Don’t look at someone’s life and think you should be doing what they’re doing – you should do what makes you happy and what you are passionate about. I think life is too short not to live in a way that makes you approach each and every day with a full sense of joy and enthusiasm.

The second thing I have learned is to always try to understand and help people. People will have opposing views from you, different life stories, varying backgrounds, etc. but you should never miss out on the opportunity to have a conversation with someone who has different views than you or looks at something through a different perspective. Conversation and understanding is an opportunity to grow. Additionally, if someone needs a helping hand and you can provide it, don’t be afraid to pitch in and offer help. Doesn’t matter how simple it is. It could be just running to grab extra napkins for a coworker who spilled there coffee everywhere or helping to pick up someone’s spilledchange at the grocery store. Try to put out in the world what you want to receive back. I am always game for putting more goodout there.

Q: What would you like others to learn from your story?

A: I truly believe you attract the people and things you are supposed to in life through your actions and words. And I think that if you are doing what you love, you will attract the rightopportunities. I believe if you are a good friend, you will also attract great friends in your life. And I believe if you give love, you will receive it. I always think of this concept when I am having a really bad day. I always try to put positivity out there through my actions and words despite how bad things are. And I really do believe this has served me well in life. I know that it is definitely easier said than done, but I really have felt it has made such a huge impact on my life by acting in this fashion. Every day isn’t good, but I have always believed there is a piece of good in every day. And on days when it feels like absolutely nothing is going right, I am always thankful for my family, boyfriend, friends, pets and the good experiences I have had. There is always something to be grateful for and that can bring a smile to your face.

Zion National Park, Utah

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