- Go to all seven continents
- Be a mother
- See an elephant in the wild ✔
- Eat Sushi in Japan
- Take a cake decorating class
- Open a business ✔
- Have dinner on a boat ✔
- See Peter Pan, the play, in London ✔
- Learn to make Sushi
- Bathe rescued elephants in Thailand or Vietnam
- Cliff jump in the tropics
- See the Northern lights
- Go to all 50 states
- Influence someone positively once a day
- Learn the guitar
- See the pink lakes in Azerbaijan
- Live in a Spanish speaking country for more than a year
- See lemurs in Madagascar
- Grow my own vegetable garden
- Eat Lobster in Maine
- Ice Skate in Central Park
- See the Eiffel Tower at night ✔
- Swim with dolphins
- Go in a hot air balloon
- See the cherry blossoms in Japan
- Go to giraffe manor in Kenya
- Swim at the Amalfi coast
- Eat pizza in Napoli
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Life is an adventure and I intend to adventure well.
Friday, November 14, 2014
White Privilege: A reality that needs dealing with
The current state of the world, in relation to racism and prejudice, has me in an almost constant state of disbelief and shock. I am generally appalled by people's ignorance and lack of understanding when it comes to to speaking about racism. This is a heavy topic for some people and so they shy away from it, but I will tell you right now, if we keep shying away from the real issues, history is only going to repeat itself and things are not going to improve. The reality of white privilege is an extreme key in understanding how racism exists and breeds. I will try to highlight some of the main issues that I see and have experienced when it comes to white privilege, and furthermore a lack of understanding of white privilege.
1.) Many 'whites' deny its existence
This issue really gets me going. I don't really understand how certain white people can blatantly see that their skin colour gives them an advantage, and then deny it later on when they are in the heat of the conversation. Just admit it! Being white in the world today gives an advantage and privilege. Am I saying that it is ALWAYS like this? No. Am I saying that every white person is evil because of this? Nope. Or maybe I am saying that you are racist if you acknowledge this fact? No...and no. All I am saying is that there is actual proof that white privilege exists and that it is prevalent in most societies. In Stephanie Wildman's book Privilege Revealed: How Invisible Preference Undermines America, she discusses how there are statistics that show how people who would advocate for a 'race-free', ideal, merit-based world view, prove to be people that won't actually admit the systems of privilege that they have been awarded. This piece of information is fascinating to me, and yet not foreign. I have heard many people claim that it would be so much better if we were all just 'colourblind' or the statement, 'Yeah, when I look at people, I don't even see their colour'. These are lies. They are lies that do not help the situation. Just because you admit that you see a difference in someones skin tone does not make you racist. So everyone needs to calm down, and actually think, and if you are white, please....please just know that white privilege is alive and well and it's not going away just because you will it to or deny it's existence.
2.) People think that you are calling them a 'racist'
The word 'racist' is used very loosely these days and I am beginning to believe people will just throw the term around in order to avoid a situation that they are uncomfortable with a situation or they don't know where the conversation will go next. So people end it with just saying, "Well that's racist", or "You are just racist". This probably is not true in many cases, however in a lot of cases it is, and so because of that it should not ever be taken lightly or loosely. Racism is of course very serious and I am seeing every day how it is affecting our world in such a negative way. However, if people (white, black, etc...) think that because you talk about white privilege and it's prevalence in society, that you are a racist or that someone is calling you a racist, it's probably not true. The acknowledgment of white privilege already makes you many steps ahead of many people.
3.) Facts vs. guilt/emotions
People always like to give their own opinions based on life experience and what they think they know about racism. It is great to have an opinion, but base it on something. I have heard so many people say, "Well my best friend is black, so I can't even be prejudice". Not true. Everyone has the capability to have a prejudice towards someone else. This does not mean you have to engage with a preconceived idea of someone of a different race, religion, economic standing, etc... it simply means that you have the potential to feel a prejudice. Whether or not you engage with tha,t has many contributing factors which, we can get into in another post. So, back to my point. There is so much to read out there on every topic in the world. Therefore, if you don't exactly understand how white privilege has made an effect on society, go find out! Just to give you a few interesting tid-bits: Many social scientists have suggested that the historical processes of suburbanization and decentralization are instances of white privilege. They have even argued that this may have contributed to contemporary patterns of environmental racism. Something else that might shock you.... Discrimination in housing policies was formalised in 1934 under the Federal Housing Act which provided government credit to private lending for home buyers. Within the Act, the Federal Housing Agency had the authority to channel all the money to white home buyers instead of minorities. The FHA also channeled money away from inner-city neighborhoods after World War II and instead placed it in the hands of white home buyers who would move into segregated suburbs (Wildman 2005). This only skims the surface of how white privilege has been embedded in our societies and how it acts on a daily basis. Just because you feel emotional over something to do with racism, does not mean that you can deny facts.
I have heard SEVERAL white people say "I was not a slave owner, and I am not racist, so why should I be punished?" PUNISHED???? This to me, is the most ridiculous type of mindset. If you understood the privilege that I (me, Mariah) have just walking into a restaurant or supermarket, just based on the colour of my skin, you would not....COULD not ask that question. Of course, I do wish we lived in a world where this was not so. I wish with all my heart that my children could grow up in a world where this somehow disappears, but that is just what it is....wishful thinking.The first step to any sort of change is acknowledgment that you may be wrong, or simply that things are different than you were looking at them. To see things clearly, you have to use all your faculties and not just your emotions. So please, take this information for what it is. I hope someone found this interesting in some way. I welcome ALL feedback.
Big love,
*Mariah*
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Wonderful Women
Hello my lovelies. This time I am back with a post about the women who shaped me into who I am today. I was watching Emma Watson's speech to the United Nations concerning the HeForShe campaign (link to YouTube video below) a couple of weeks ago, and it really got me thinking about why the idea of feminism has become such a taboo. Being a feminist nowadays seems to suggest that in order to be one we need to burn our bras and not shave our legs, or something to that extent.... My question is why can't you define what being a feminist is for yourself? I will tell you something, I am a very traditional type of person when it comes to marriage and the roles that we play in marriage ( however I am not going to get into that now) but this does not mean that I am AGAINST feminism! Why does society get to decide whether or not I am for feminism or not? I am all for the thought that if you think to yourself that you are a feminist ( in whatever way you define that) then you are. After all, I am a female, and I am not against females (tongue in cheek). Anyway, this being said all of this got me thinking about the wonderful, strong, intelligent, passionate women that have shaped my world. There are many women who have contributed to who I am today but for the purpose of this post I will be sticking to blood related family members (there are too many women that have influenced me to list them all).
1.) I am going to start with my mother, as she did give birth to me. :-) Cynthia Jean Stagnaro Moore. Wow. What an incredible person. She is without a doubt, one of the strongest women I have ever encountered. She is also probably the most selfless person I have ever met. She taught me (without knowing so probably) to always put myself in someone elses shoes before jumping to any sort of conclusions about them. She taught me to love people. To help people. To (try) and put myself last when thinking through any situation. Although, she doesn't have to try, she just does. She taught me to be grateful for what I have (in many ways...and again I don't even know if she knows she taught me this). She also taught me how to be my own person. She always told me and showed me that the person that I need to be is me, and to not try and please other people or be untrue to myself. She gave me so much knowledge about love, and life and at least once a week in my married life I realise another thing that she has instilled in me. There are actually too many other things to list about my mother that have made me into who I am, but I will say that my first day of University when I was trying do laundry by myself, I thought to myself "mom was right about everything". I love you mom.
2.) I feel it is fitting since I just spoke about my mother to talk about her mother. The woman from whom I gained my middle name. Ann Sandner. Again, what an incredibly strong, and stoic woman that I had the pleasure of knowing, and being related to growing up. My grandma always had a certain amount of strength that I could just sense, even as a little girl. She also is incredibly loving. She taught me that love of a family member conquers all. She might ask me how this is so? Well, when I was little ( and more so as I grew up) I saw how fiercely she loved all of her loved ones. She has one of the kindest hearts that I have encountered. She also taught me to pay attention to people's interests and likes. By this I mean that all while I was growing up she was always careful to know exactly what my interests were that year so that for my birthday or Christmas, the perfect gift was always from Grandma. From dollhouses, to books, she payed attention to me and that is a very important thing that I have taken from her. She even continued to do it when she met my husband (before we were married). She found out that he loved to receive lotion and so what did he get in his stocking every year? She is such a thoughtful person and I hope that I can be like that too. I love you Grandma.
3.) My Nana. Betty Jean Moore. This woman is amazing. Again, with the strong (wow, I have a lot of strong women in my family!) My Nana taught me a lot of things. One of them is to laugh. Now, I don't know about you but when I was an eight year old there were only some adults who could truly make me laugh. Mostly it was my peers and friends that I laughed with. But I will tell you that one of my strongest memories that I have, was camping with my family as an eight year old, and laying in the tent sick with laughter because of my Nana. I can't even recall the specific stories or jokes she was telling...something involving the frogs croaking outside...but I will never forget it.To this day when I hear my Nana's laugh it makes me feel deeply warmed all the way to my core. She also contributed to my love of words. I love to tell stories. So does my Nana. Sometimes my husband says that I sound just like her when I am on a tangent story. I love this about her. She taught me to enjoy life. Even when life was tough, or when she was in pain, she always had a smile on her face. Now maybe this was for my benefit, but I think it's also just a part of her and it's something I will carry with me forever. I love you Nana.
4.) My Aunties
Firstly my Aunt Judy. This woman is incredible. I didn't grow up geographically close to her (but I always wished I did) but somehow I always felt like when we saw each other we had never been separated. She has a knack for making people feel at home and comfortable. I always said I wanted my house in the future to be like Aunt Judy and Uncle Ray's because it felt so warm and inviting. One thing that she taught me (which I am not sure she knows she did) is that in any situation or conversation, your thoughts are important and valid. My Aunt Judy always made me feel like my opinions and thoughts were important enough to be heard. I can remember being 9 years old and her asking my opinion in an important "adult" discussion. I am forever grateful for this. This taught me strength and feeling like I had a voice. My small addiction to beautiful tea pots also comes from her ;-). I love you Aunt Judy.
Secondly, (and this one is very hard for me to write) my Aunt Leanne. She passed away a few years ago, way before her time, and the world lost a light when she left. Aunt Leanne. I am smiling so big right now. She brightened up a room when she would come in. What a life force. She taught me to LOVE life. Again, I did not grow up in the same state as her and my amazing cousins, but when we or she would visit it was like we had seen each other all the time. My Aunt Leanne was fun, and she taught me to want to have fun, in daily activities. One story that was told at her funeral was about her being stuck in traffic and blowing bubbles out the window to pass the time. This was just the kind of person she was. She enjoyed life. I want to make the most out of life like she did. She also taught me to take scary or serious situations and look and the funny or positive side of things. I will never forget this one time with her that I was visiting her in California. Me, and my parents and cousins were at Costco and it was the summer before I was going away to University. I had been telling my Aunt about how I was really nervous to go but I felt like everyone expected me to be brave so I didn't tell anyone. After I told her this, she disappeared for a few minutes. She came back and handed me something. It was a toothbrush that lit up in colours and played ridiculous music for the full two minutes you were supposed to be brushing your teeth. She grinned at me and said "all the cool kids will have them". I took that toothbrush with me and used it all the way through my freshman year. I will always be thankful for the lessons I learned from her and for the memories I have. My deeeep love for vinegar comes from her as well. (From my Daddy too but this post is about women!)
Thirdly, my Aunt Shaun. I grew up around my Aunt Shaun. I am so lucky because of this. She taught me so many things. Number one. Never tickle her. Okay... so that's more of a rule, not something she taught me. But seriously, don't tickle her. I am joking in this one because she and I share a very similar sense of humour. I could always laugh with her and she could always make me laugh. She taught me to never take myself too seriously because life should be joyful. She also taught me determination. She is such a driven person and I could go into the specifics, but just take my word for it. She taught me that it's good to be an ambitious woman and that it's okay to go after what you want and to try very hard to get to where you want to be. Another important thing that I learned from her is that being a woman that is driven is not a bad thing. It's admirable and it should be encouraged. I also think I got my obsession with Cherished Teddies from her but yeah..... I love you Aunt Shaun.
So lastly I want to mention that I wrote about people that were already women when I was growing up. Because I really have a lot to say about my two amazing girl cousins Simone and Kaelia, and of course my incredible sister, Heather. Because of this I am giving them an honourable mention because they too, shaped me into who I am in so many ways but this post was dedicated to the "older" women in my life. (Not that any of you are old!!!..... ;) )
I love the women in my life. Thank you for the life lessons you have taught (and continue to...) teach me. These women are all feminists in their own way and they have made me into my unique version.
I hope someone enjoyed reading this and I hope you take a moment to think about the women that have influenced your life.
Big love,
~M
Emma Watson's UN speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-iFl4qhBsE
1.) I am going to start with my mother, as she did give birth to me. :-) Cynthia Jean Stagnaro Moore. Wow. What an incredible person. She is without a doubt, one of the strongest women I have ever encountered. She is also probably the most selfless person I have ever met. She taught me (without knowing so probably) to always put myself in someone elses shoes before jumping to any sort of conclusions about them. She taught me to love people. To help people. To (try) and put myself last when thinking through any situation. Although, she doesn't have to try, she just does. She taught me to be grateful for what I have (in many ways...and again I don't even know if she knows she taught me this). She also taught me how to be my own person. She always told me and showed me that the person that I need to be is me, and to not try and please other people or be untrue to myself. She gave me so much knowledge about love, and life and at least once a week in my married life I realise another thing that she has instilled in me. There are actually too many other things to list about my mother that have made me into who I am, but I will say that my first day of University when I was trying do laundry by myself, I thought to myself "mom was right about everything". I love you mom.
2.) I feel it is fitting since I just spoke about my mother to talk about her mother. The woman from whom I gained my middle name. Ann Sandner. Again, what an incredibly strong, and stoic woman that I had the pleasure of knowing, and being related to growing up. My grandma always had a certain amount of strength that I could just sense, even as a little girl. She also is incredibly loving. She taught me that love of a family member conquers all. She might ask me how this is so? Well, when I was little ( and more so as I grew up) I saw how fiercely she loved all of her loved ones. She has one of the kindest hearts that I have encountered. She also taught me to pay attention to people's interests and likes. By this I mean that all while I was growing up she was always careful to know exactly what my interests were that year so that for my birthday or Christmas, the perfect gift was always from Grandma. From dollhouses, to books, she payed attention to me and that is a very important thing that I have taken from her. She even continued to do it when she met my husband (before we were married). She found out that he loved to receive lotion and so what did he get in his stocking every year? She is such a thoughtful person and I hope that I can be like that too. I love you Grandma.
3.) My Nana. Betty Jean Moore. This woman is amazing. Again, with the strong (wow, I have a lot of strong women in my family!) My Nana taught me a lot of things. One of them is to laugh. Now, I don't know about you but when I was an eight year old there were only some adults who could truly make me laugh. Mostly it was my peers and friends that I laughed with. But I will tell you that one of my strongest memories that I have, was camping with my family as an eight year old, and laying in the tent sick with laughter because of my Nana. I can't even recall the specific stories or jokes she was telling...something involving the frogs croaking outside...but I will never forget it.To this day when I hear my Nana's laugh it makes me feel deeply warmed all the way to my core. She also contributed to my love of words. I love to tell stories. So does my Nana. Sometimes my husband says that I sound just like her when I am on a tangent story. I love this about her. She taught me to enjoy life. Even when life was tough, or when she was in pain, she always had a smile on her face. Now maybe this was for my benefit, but I think it's also just a part of her and it's something I will carry with me forever. I love you Nana.
4.) My Aunties
Firstly my Aunt Judy. This woman is incredible. I didn't grow up geographically close to her (but I always wished I did) but somehow I always felt like when we saw each other we had never been separated. She has a knack for making people feel at home and comfortable. I always said I wanted my house in the future to be like Aunt Judy and Uncle Ray's because it felt so warm and inviting. One thing that she taught me (which I am not sure she knows she did) is that in any situation or conversation, your thoughts are important and valid. My Aunt Judy always made me feel like my opinions and thoughts were important enough to be heard. I can remember being 9 years old and her asking my opinion in an important "adult" discussion. I am forever grateful for this. This taught me strength and feeling like I had a voice. My small addiction to beautiful tea pots also comes from her ;-). I love you Aunt Judy.
Secondly, (and this one is very hard for me to write) my Aunt Leanne. She passed away a few years ago, way before her time, and the world lost a light when she left. Aunt Leanne. I am smiling so big right now. She brightened up a room when she would come in. What a life force. She taught me to LOVE life. Again, I did not grow up in the same state as her and my amazing cousins, but when we or she would visit it was like we had seen each other all the time. My Aunt Leanne was fun, and she taught me to want to have fun, in daily activities. One story that was told at her funeral was about her being stuck in traffic and blowing bubbles out the window to pass the time. This was just the kind of person she was. She enjoyed life. I want to make the most out of life like she did. She also taught me to take scary or serious situations and look and the funny or positive side of things. I will never forget this one time with her that I was visiting her in California. Me, and my parents and cousins were at Costco and it was the summer before I was going away to University. I had been telling my Aunt about how I was really nervous to go but I felt like everyone expected me to be brave so I didn't tell anyone. After I told her this, she disappeared for a few minutes. She came back and handed me something. It was a toothbrush that lit up in colours and played ridiculous music for the full two minutes you were supposed to be brushing your teeth. She grinned at me and said "all the cool kids will have them". I took that toothbrush with me and used it all the way through my freshman year. I will always be thankful for the lessons I learned from her and for the memories I have. My deeeep love for vinegar comes from her as well. (From my Daddy too but this post is about women!)
Thirdly, my Aunt Shaun. I grew up around my Aunt Shaun. I am so lucky because of this. She taught me so many things. Number one. Never tickle her. Okay... so that's more of a rule, not something she taught me. But seriously, don't tickle her. I am joking in this one because she and I share a very similar sense of humour. I could always laugh with her and she could always make me laugh. She taught me to never take myself too seriously because life should be joyful. She also taught me determination. She is such a driven person and I could go into the specifics, but just take my word for it. She taught me that it's good to be an ambitious woman and that it's okay to go after what you want and to try very hard to get to where you want to be. Another important thing that I learned from her is that being a woman that is driven is not a bad thing. It's admirable and it should be encouraged. I also think I got my obsession with Cherished Teddies from her but yeah..... I love you Aunt Shaun.
So lastly I want to mention that I wrote about people that were already women when I was growing up. Because I really have a lot to say about my two amazing girl cousins Simone and Kaelia, and of course my incredible sister, Heather. Because of this I am giving them an honourable mention because they too, shaped me into who I am in so many ways but this post was dedicated to the "older" women in my life. (Not that any of you are old!!!..... ;) )
I love the women in my life. Thank you for the life lessons you have taught (and continue to...) teach me. These women are all feminists in their own way and they have made me into my unique version.
I hope someone enjoyed reading this and I hope you take a moment to think about the women that have influenced your life.
Big love,
~M
Emma Watson's UN speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-iFl4qhBsE
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Live a beautiful life
I was recently very inspired by my sister-in-law (by means of HER amazing blog...links will be below) to continue this blog and to keep up with it. I realised that the only person that is holding me back from anything that I want to be doing is ME. This post may seem like common advice but I hope that it will at least be an interesting read for at least one person. I am going to be writing about my musings on life, culture, travel, current events, and social affairs on this blog. But like I said, for this post it is simply going to be some things that have recently been on my mind about life.
Things read more straight forward if they are put into a list-order, therefore this is what I will be doing.
1.) Don't worry about the haters
People that are going to be negative and saying that you cannot do something, are not worth the thought or effort. I don't even want to give somebody that does not support me a second thought. I hope that that same person may change their thought process and accomplish what they wish to in life. Most of the time people that are going to hate are insecure about something about themselves. This means that their negativity has nothing to do with you. DO NOT REACT TO NEGATIVE PEOPLE. There will always be complainers.There will always be someone saying you can't do something. You can not let this get to you or let it stop you from doing what you want to do. I can't have that kind of nonsense in my life. Life is not what happens to you, it's how you react to it. If you react to someone, when their goal is to bring you down, it's not worth it. It only feeds their fire if you react. Experience someones negative nonsense today? Put that away in the closet. Have that moment where you think to yourself, "This is craziness", but then put it away!
2.) Environment
As humans we tend to form habits, and sometimes to our detriment. We can become so busy that our habit is to throw clothes on the ground when we get home, or not clean the bathroom just because we are too tired. It is so important to form a place that will make you motivated to do whatever it is that your goal is in life. What I mean by this, is that wherever you are it is essential to form and make for yourself a positive environment. Keeping organised in life can make all the difference when dealing with anything in life. My mother is a VERY clean and organised person. To the extreme. When I was little she wrote my full name on all my crayons that I was to take to school. Not just the box. Every single one of those sixty some crayons had Mariah Moore written on them. I am nowhere near as clean as my mother is but I aspire to be. This always made my living environment growing up very pleasant, and productive. How can you expect to get anything done when you feel untidy and unclean? This may seem small to some people but an environment is not always just about the cleanliness of a space, this could also mean creating positive encouragements around you in order to inspire you for your goals. I put small pictures on my nightstand of something that reminds me of a certain goal that I have. Make for yourself an environment that is pleasant, and you will be productive.
3.) Set Goals
It is very important to reach for goals in your life. Whether this be for the next month, year, or even day. Keep a list of goals. If you get frustrated with anything in life, you can go back to that list and ask yourself, "Is this complaint, or frustration contributing anything to my goals?" Usually, it won't be. Goals can be big or small. Daily, or yearly. You can manifest things in your life by positively thinking about your goals on a daily basis. Everyone has the ability to accomplish so many wonderful things in life, you just have to set your mind to it and work hard. It is important to realise that just writing down your goals will not make them happen. Sometimes knowing what you have to do on a daily basis to work towards a long term goal can make all the difference. You want to learn how to play the piano? Think about what that means for you on a daily basis. What steps must you take?
4.) Have a good attitude!
I am a firm believer in smiling. In smiling and being positive. I don't really care if a lot of people think this is unrealistic. I do of course know that there are terrible things in the world going on. Being negative is not going to help those situations. Be passionate in life. Surround yourself with people and things that are going to make you a better person. There are so many negative things in life that we see every day on social media, in the media, on the street, just...everywhere. Instead of focusing on these things, be that person that everyone looks at and just has to smile. People can't help wanting to be around someone that exhibits happiness. My goal is to always look for the positive in any given situation. Call it what you want, but when you are stuck in the rain, I will be dancing in it.
5.) Be your BEST self
This is my biggest thing to live by. People are always going to judge people. But this does not matter if you are just trying to be your best self in EVERY situation that happens in your day. Love yourself. You are totally worth it. If you are going to live, you might as well live by being the best version of yourself. Be who you are. Don't let other people's thoughts get to you. Don't hide yourself in fear of being judged. Don't be afraid to be 100 percent you!
"People will always try to define you with their own limitations and restrictions. Remove those and you are a bird free from a cage. " ~James Altucher
Hope this was at all interesting or helpful to someone.
Check out my sister-in-law's awesome blog that helped to get this started again:
http://annastea.squarespace.com/blog/2014/9/12/following-your-own-sometimes-unconventional-path
Live a beautiful life, and don't apologise for it!
-M
Things read more straight forward if they are put into a list-order, therefore this is what I will be doing.
1.) Don't worry about the haters
People that are going to be negative and saying that you cannot do something, are not worth the thought or effort. I don't even want to give somebody that does not support me a second thought. I hope that that same person may change their thought process and accomplish what they wish to in life. Most of the time people that are going to hate are insecure about something about themselves. This means that their negativity has nothing to do with you. DO NOT REACT TO NEGATIVE PEOPLE. There will always be complainers.There will always be someone saying you can't do something. You can not let this get to you or let it stop you from doing what you want to do. I can't have that kind of nonsense in my life. Life is not what happens to you, it's how you react to it. If you react to someone, when their goal is to bring you down, it's not worth it. It only feeds their fire if you react. Experience someones negative nonsense today? Put that away in the closet. Have that moment where you think to yourself, "This is craziness", but then put it away!
2.) Environment
As humans we tend to form habits, and sometimes to our detriment. We can become so busy that our habit is to throw clothes on the ground when we get home, or not clean the bathroom just because we are too tired. It is so important to form a place that will make you motivated to do whatever it is that your goal is in life. What I mean by this, is that wherever you are it is essential to form and make for yourself a positive environment. Keeping organised in life can make all the difference when dealing with anything in life. My mother is a VERY clean and organised person. To the extreme. When I was little she wrote my full name on all my crayons that I was to take to school. Not just the box. Every single one of those sixty some crayons had Mariah Moore written on them. I am nowhere near as clean as my mother is but I aspire to be. This always made my living environment growing up very pleasant, and productive. How can you expect to get anything done when you feel untidy and unclean? This may seem small to some people but an environment is not always just about the cleanliness of a space, this could also mean creating positive encouragements around you in order to inspire you for your goals. I put small pictures on my nightstand of something that reminds me of a certain goal that I have. Make for yourself an environment that is pleasant, and you will be productive.
3.) Set Goals
It is very important to reach for goals in your life. Whether this be for the next month, year, or even day. Keep a list of goals. If you get frustrated with anything in life, you can go back to that list and ask yourself, "Is this complaint, or frustration contributing anything to my goals?" Usually, it won't be. Goals can be big or small. Daily, or yearly. You can manifest things in your life by positively thinking about your goals on a daily basis. Everyone has the ability to accomplish so many wonderful things in life, you just have to set your mind to it and work hard. It is important to realise that just writing down your goals will not make them happen. Sometimes knowing what you have to do on a daily basis to work towards a long term goal can make all the difference. You want to learn how to play the piano? Think about what that means for you on a daily basis. What steps must you take?
4.) Have a good attitude!
I am a firm believer in smiling. In smiling and being positive. I don't really care if a lot of people think this is unrealistic. I do of course know that there are terrible things in the world going on. Being negative is not going to help those situations. Be passionate in life. Surround yourself with people and things that are going to make you a better person. There are so many negative things in life that we see every day on social media, in the media, on the street, just...everywhere. Instead of focusing on these things, be that person that everyone looks at and just has to smile. People can't help wanting to be around someone that exhibits happiness. My goal is to always look for the positive in any given situation. Call it what you want, but when you are stuck in the rain, I will be dancing in it.
5.) Be your BEST self
This is my biggest thing to live by. People are always going to judge people. But this does not matter if you are just trying to be your best self in EVERY situation that happens in your day. Love yourself. You are totally worth it. If you are going to live, you might as well live by being the best version of yourself. Be who you are. Don't let other people's thoughts get to you. Don't hide yourself in fear of being judged. Don't be afraid to be 100 percent you!
"People will always try to define you with their own limitations and restrictions. Remove those and you are a bird free from a cage. " ~James Altucher
Hope this was at all interesting or helpful to someone.
Check out my sister-in-law's awesome blog that helped to get this started again:
http://annastea.squarespace.com/blog/2014/9/12/following-your-own-sometimes-unconventional-path
Live a beautiful life, and don't apologise for it!
-M
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