I was doing my normal day off routine, hanging out on the couch, a little Sam Smith Pandora playing on the tv (thanks to my best friend Brittney for introducing me to it, that's all I've listened to lately), drinking a little iced coffee and checking out Pinterest. Yes, it's a pretty awesome way to start the day. Then I stumbled upon this quote and I just felt so compelled to write what's going on in my mind right now.
Why did this quote get to me so much? I don't know, but it did. It made me think about all my amazing aunts, cousins & family I have in my life and how lucky I am to have them. I have been blessed with the strongest, funniest, best grandma ever, Bobo, as I call her. She's tough, and she doesn't let life or anyone knock her down and the older I get, the more I realize she has really helped me become the person I am.
I have an amazing mom and aunts all from Bobo as well, who she has raised to all be strong, amazing individuals as well. All these women have made me who I am too. I feel like I've got a little bit of each aunt & my mother in who I am, and I am so proud of that. I have so many amazing memories that pop into my head of being with them and laughing until we cry and it's seriously the best, and makes me so grateful.
On top of those awesome women, I have 3 amazing cousins who really do make me so happy and smile every single day. From them being some of the cutest darn babies ever, to now being teenagers (agh!!! They're getting so old!!) who really do surprise me every day. They're becoming these strong individuals with these awesome personalities and I am so proud to know them and have them in my life.
This quote really hit me with not only my family, but also the family I have been so lucky to pick up through life, my friends. Of course, my closest and best friend, Brittney. I mean, how many people can truly say they have had a best friend since birth? Because I can. Our parents were neighbors and she was born in September and that next August I came around and we have been best friends ever since. She is my "sissy" and even though I don't have any blood brothers or sisters, she's mine and I know she will always be there for me no matter where life takes me. We have been through so much and no matter what, she's always there and I am so thankful for that. I also have a handful of very, close, best friends that I have had from high school or earlier. We've made it though many, many years of growing and changing and we are all still there for each other. My friends are so supportive and encouraging and caring & wow, I am just so lucky. Laura, Suzanne, Jennifer, Tiffany-you guys mean so much to me. We constantly keep in contact and are always checking on each other and it's so refreshing to have relationships with strong women your own age who encourage and guide you through so much. I am so thankful for all you gals to call me your friend. I love you.
I also have an amazing husband who has let me just fly through life being happy. He's so supportive and has encouraged me to follow what I've worked so hard on. He knows I dance to my own beat and he has never once told me to do differently. Yes, it would be easier for me to find a normal 9-5 job with a steady income, but he has never once mentioned it to me. He knows I have worked too hard to give up now and I appreciate that so much. He has always been there and told me to do what I need to do to be happy. Never once made a comment or suggestion otherwise and that makes me the luckiest girl ever.
We have been changing, growing & progressing into a life that we want. And it's hard. It's actually hard to listen to exactly what you want to do and follow through with it. The outside world has an exact idea of what you should do and when you should do it, and we are ready to get out of that mode. It's not about doing what the world and society thinks you should do. Do what YOU want to do. Listen deep down, and do it! Yes, it's not conventional, but it's what you want.
I tend to juggle about 5 jobs at a time, but guess what? I love every single job I do. I don't want to do the same job every single day. So I do makeup and facials for certain brands, work beauty events at department stores, travel on occasion, I put a day or two of work in for an event, and then I'm done there. I do my own makeup and facials for my own business, but I don't want to completely rely on that. I feel when you solely rely on your passion to make a living, I lost the love and excitement of it. So I now fit it in, along with these other jobs. Not everyone sees it that way, that's just what I noticed in my life. I also work at my good friend's bakery & I stinking love it! They followed their passion and did what they love and have this awesome bakery with loyal customers who love them just as much as they love their awesome baked goods. It's a happy, actually hilarious, environment that has the best, encouraging bosses around. I am starting a new venture on a fantastic fashion boutique that encourages women power and to love yourself and it promotes self love and really is changing the standard of beauty which I am so proud of. Yes , that's lots of jobs but I love each and every one of them. I have found a job that fills every single of my joys. Look into yourself and see what you love and follow it! Do stuff that feeds your soul. It doesn't have to be "normal" and it probably won't be normal. Most people will think you're crazy, but hey you'll be a happy, crazy person.
Another exciting thing I am about to go through is enjoying the art of simplicity. My husband and I have decided life is really about memories, spending time together, and spending time with friends and family who make us happy. We are trying to forget following the normal path of "what we are supposed to do" and do what we want to do. We want to start challenging ourselves of letting go of material items and focus on enjoying the outdoors and the simplicity of doing nothing but enjoying the day. We don't want to spend much money, just to eat, feed our dogs and pay the bills. I'm going to have to let go of spending $150 every grocery trip to make the latest Pinterest recipe. i think that will be my biggest challenge, but I will be just fine haha. We are going to eat what we have and learn to live a life of appreciating what we have and not "needing" things. because guess what? We have everything we truly need. We have amazing friends, awesome family, 3 of the cutest dogs ever, a cute little house with an awesome backyard to lounge in, & each other.
This quote hit me so much because it jut reassures me, I don't need things. I have the most amazing people in my life and that's all I need. I am so lucky.
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