Inside-Out

I wish I could tell every human just how absolutely beautiful and strong they are. I wish I could imprint young, impressionable minds to know this, too.

But I can't. 

I need your help. 

I need you to realize just how powerful the mind is. It's amazing, really. The power of positive thinking? It can create a whole new world. 

People grow up feeling horrible. They grow up feeling ugly, inadequate, fearful, insecure ... They grow up never knowing how powerful their mind is. How powerful they are. 

They think, "I won't go anywhere in life, why try?" They think, "Nobody will ever truly love me, I'm ugly." They think, "I'm failing. I can't turn this around." 

These are all lies. 

Lies that they (maybe you, too) have been conditioned to believe. 

The truth is, you're beautiful. You're worth the effort. You can make a difference in the world. Somebody already does love you. Failure is the first step to success. And finally, you CAN turn this mindset around. 

You are in control of your behavior and your actions. The first step is positive thinking. ((Yeah, yeah.. You've heard it before. This time, actually TRY it))

It's time to start repairing our bodies from the inside-out. To transition our minds from negative thinking, to uplifting, encouraging thoughts. From feeling miserable and horrible, to doing one thing a day to make you happy. Happiness does not just ARRIVE; you create your own happiness. 

When was the last time you ate cake and realized you just got a six pack afterwards? 

...never.

Me too. (I was disappointed too, don't worry.)

We can't expect to make bad decisions in life, and be happy. We have to WORK for happiness.... For our relationships, for our figures, for our talents, for our careers, for our money, for our faith. Our minds do not automatically default to hope and happiness, but we can change that. 

Today is the day to start. Don't wait for the new year for happiness to arrive. 

You're beautiful, and you're worth it. 

Time to start believing it. Time to put to rest all the excuses, all the doubts, all the procrastination. No more. Go out and be happy, know your value in life. 

Please share this with someone you know suffering with negative self-image. If that's you, I hope you begin to see your true worth and value in life. You're a miracle; time to start believing it! 

I'm still learning this. It's one of the reasons I can write about it. I'm still learning how to be confident and secure and happy. I'm still working on myself from the inside-out, and I hope you'll join me in this never-ending venture!

BLOGATHON!

Spectacular news people! My blog about education got selected for a blogathon by BreakThrough TV called #selfiesforschool! Breakthrough’s #Selfies4School campaign is a campaign that aims to send young girls to school, because we believe that education can help break the cycle of early marriage. Every blog you submit helps send 10 girls to school.

#Selfies4School

 Check out this link for my story- and submit a #selfie4school yourself

Many thanks to Arunima for reading my blog and coordinating this wonderful site to promote education across the globe through the power of words! You are doing great things in the world- thank you for allowing me to be a part of this great cause!

Endless thanks to everyone who reads and keeps up to date with my blog- It really does mean the WORLD to me! Love you all!

http://tell-a-tale.com/

Crossroads of Freedom: College

His eyes were iceberg blue; he wore a torn and tattered OD green coat in the whipping wind. His large, rough hands gripped a one-word cardboard sign that read, "Imagine." A one-word cardboard sign that hit me like a bullet.

The light turned green. My heavy heart seemed to coarse through my veins all the way to my right foot and the gas petal mashed the floorboard. As I attempted to gulp down the frog in my throat, I imagined what his life must have encompassed, the roads he may have crossed to get to this street corner of humiliation. But as my mind turned this over and over again, I began to transition from not imagining this stranger's life, but imagining my own Dad; and moreover, thinking of my life.

You could say I've been dealt an ace in a hand full of struggles. I've witnessed heart wrenching events, lent a helping hand when it was probably time to walk away, and poured my whole being into holding a family together, but I will always have the knowledge that came with those events. The more I thought about that sign, I realized this could have been anyone; it could have been my Dad; my hero in my life that almost didn't make it. Or, it could have been me. 

That cardboard sign has stuck with me throughout the years. Encouraging me to take a different perspective and 'Imagine.' I now crave travel. I crave stories. I crave the knowledge it takes to delve deeper into the hearts and minds of those surrounding me on this little planet called Earth. Education is my window of opportunity to stop imagining, and start doing. Start seeking cultures that need a voice, people that have faced injustice, and seeds of knowledge planted in the minds of those who do not know it yet. I'm an aspiring photojournalist that is out to change the world; to explore, write, and capture the moments, memories, and stories of people around the world.  I have an incessant keyboard in my mind typing out accounts of the world through my eyes, and a higher education would allow me to excel in the pursuit of my dream. 

I believe we each start life with a breath of hope. We don't start with capturing charisma, eternal reassurance, or even the strength to love; we learn. We experience each avenue our life leads us, and sometimes we cross paths with a man on a street corner that makes us think, makes us imagine our path, and sometimes we come to a crossroads of freedom: college.  

 

High School Graduation

Graduated with Associate of Arts-
Now a full-time student at University of Colorado Denver

 

I Dare You To Try.

People always say live for the moments that you can't put into words.

I challenge you to find words for those moments. 

I dare you to take those speechless, powerful, life-changing moments and search for words. Describe the smile on your face, the sweet smell surrounding you, the way your heartbeat mimicked that of a hummingbird. I dare you to break out of the chains that hold you down in your weakest moments. To describe the way his knuckles went white and his grip suffocating.

Writing is healing. Writing is remembering. 

So for those moments you couldn't find words to describe your pure bliss, I dare you to try. It's a memory worth the books. When you find the right words for an experience like that, you've unlocked the power to relive that moment no matter where you are at, no matter how many years down the road. 

As for the moments you would rather push so deep inside you that they will never be able to escape; I dare you to let them. Sit down with your pen and just bleed. But only do this on one condition- promise once you are done you will leave it on that piece of paper. You will let that memory live on that page, forever. You won't bury it beneath every possible layer you can in your heart, you will unpack that memory from your heart and build it a new home on paper. 

Writing can hurt, or it can heal. It can make you laugh uncontrollably or it can make you weep. 

I challenge you to find words when words fail you. 

I dare you to remember your happiest moments,

and build a home on paper for your worst ones. 

 



When a Rut Becomes Home

I’ve been stuck in a rut lately. I am not sure whether I got pushed into it, slipped into it by accident, or just jumped right on in on my own accord; but I’m here. What I realized though, is this hole I am stuck in is not like other ruts I have been in. The noticeably dark, scary, and dingy pits I notice myself in and am clawing at the walls to get out is not at all like the pit I am in right now. This one is well-decorated and comfortable. Actually, it is so comfortable that I could call it home.

You see, if we find ourselves in a bad situation for long enough, it eventually becomes home to us. The dark, scary place it may have been at the beginning is no longer how you perceive it in your heart. You see this scary place now as a comfort zone. For you, this may be a relationship that you aren’t fulfilled in and you stay there because it’s what is comfortable. For others, it may be a job that you have stuck with for years on end because the pay was good and the risk didn’t seem worth it to change. If you stay in this rut for long enough, you end up decorating the walls, dusting the cobwebs away, and putting your feet up for a while.

We reason our way out of that gut feeling that tells us to change. We may want to prove everyone else wrong, we may not trust ourselves or any other advice, and we may be relying on that comfort ‘pit’ to provide us with a sense of worth. It depends on what kind of rut you are stuck in, and how you got there to begin. What matters now is that you realize this hole you are in has been disguised as a comfy place to hang your hat; but it’s not.

This kind of rut is the last kind you want to be in, because you can’t get out without work…..And we don’t want to do the hard work it takes to get out. It’s uncomfortable; extremely. Although that hole you fell in was uncomfortable getting in, it’s now become home, so getting out is terribly uncomfortable.

I’m writing this to tell you that you can know freedom. You can know peace. A few tips I have found useful in my ongoing journey to step outside my comfort zone are as follows:

1.      Commit to getting out of the rut you are in.

2.      Recommit to getting out on a daily basis, on a moment to moment basis if you have to.

3.      Push your boundaries. You will discover that things that once were natural for you have become challenging. If you are uncomfortable in the situation, evaluate why, and then proceed if it is due to wanting to only remain in your comfort zone.

4.      Know that the butterflies in your stomach are a sign of progress!

5.      Enjoy the challenge ahead. There is a huuuuuge difference in doing what we know we should be doing, and doing what we have a desire to do. In the end, you will always go back to doing what you ultimately WANT to do, so make sure your desires and your actions are aligned with one another.

Addictions become our comfort zones.

Toxic relationships become our comfort zones.

Dead-end jobs become our comfort zones.

Ruts come in all different shapes and sizes; some with Gucci hand bags and fancy sports cars as a disguise; know when and how to recognize a potential pit in your life. Just because something is comfortable, doesn’t mean you should decorate the walls and live there.

 

Don't Wait to Hit Rock Bottom

I've been told many times, "They will change when they hit rock bottom. They will want to make the changes for themselves at that point. You just have to wait."

While this is the case in many circumstances, it's also a fallacy we have been led to believe our whole lives. We think that once we can no longer handle our situation, we will put our foot down and make the change. However, when do we say, "enough is enough," and what truly qualifies as "rock bottom?"

The thing about reaching breaking point before you change, is that we are some resilient beings. We can tolerate so well. We will knowingly get deeper and deeper into a chaotic mess, and we as humans, adapt. We use coping mechanisms to just deal.....Leading us to never really hit breaking point.

Sometimes that resilient person is me. I can see this mess of things surrounding me, and I overlook it. I think, "if the going gets tough, I need to be stronger." I will start looking past things I once had standards for, I start not caring about things I once cared about, I start closing myself off and dealing with things myself. I start putting up walls, I start complaining and most of all, I start forgetting that I am the only person in control of my life. Not some magic that hitting rock bottom will inspire in my life.

I'm not alone. As I look around I see people tolerating their sucky jobs, getting heartbroken by toxic relationships, gaining weight and only eating more every day, spending money compulsively and neglecting their savings account for their dream vacation, drinking when they know it's too much.... We all do it.

We tolerate. We adapt. We are resilient.

 

Don't wait to hit rock bottom. It will most likely never happen.

Where in your life are you coasting? Are you tolerating your life or thriving in your life?

You may not be one of the lucky few to eventually hit that 'aha moment' of what we call rock bottom, make the change today.

T E N seconds of C O U R A G E

I believe in prayer.

Wholeheartedly.

But don't worry, this post isn't about what I do, or don't believe in religiously. This post is not intended to convince you to pray. It is not meant to persuade you into believing in the power of prayer. So bear with me here; read all the way to the end.

 {and THEN cuss me out if you feel so inclined}

I find myself praying in the car while I am driving, praying before I go to sleep, praying when I find myself bored during the day. I write down prayers, I say prayers to myself.. But I've never really been one to pray on my knees. {Maybe some of you feel this way too}

Does this act make me seem like a bible-thumper?

Am I too openly displaying what’s in my heart?

What if I look just absolutely ridiculous to others?

Does praying on my knees or in my car really make any difference?

I may not have the answer to the absurd questions that come up in my mind, but I can tell you that in a moment of worry and stress, I got down on my two scrawny, knobby knees- and I prayed. And maybe God heard me just the same as when my music is blasted in my car and I send up a little prayer, but it made all the difference to me.

I found that this little act made me go outside my comfort zone. I’m not one to flaunt my beliefs and I think it just turns people off to religion when you are pushy and overbearing about what you believe. {If someone asks about my prayers, or is willing to pray for or with me, that’s a different story} But I found that surrendering my whole body in a prayer was a magical thing. The act of kneeling in prayer, to me, has taught me about going outside of my comfort zone. To not sit in an upright position, a comfortable chair in the proper seated position, but to get out of my personal comfort level and get down on both knees…. To cross my hands and close my eyes, and to have a real conversation. Thanking, praising, asking, wondering... I've found in my quiet time alone, I can feel like I belong somewhere.

So although this post is not written to tell you all about the miracle of prayer, or the peace it may instill  in your heart... It IS meant to show you that we crave a sense of belonging, and sometimes that sense of belonging is to a spouse, a friend, a book, a deity, an exercise regime...But often times, we may never arrive at that sense of belonging because we are afraid to reach outside our comfort zones. I'm not a preacher, nor a saint. {okay.. I'm not even CLOSE} so don't be afraid to question my words; but if you ever have a spare minute or two, just try it. There's something powerful and strong about getting your whole body out of its normal routine.

So whether you believe in prayer, meditation, or you just don't believe at all.. I can tell you that the power and rewards of going outside your comfort zone are unsurpassable. If that means kneeling in prayer, I welcome you to share your experience. If that means saying hello to a special someone you've had your eye on, I welcome you to take the leap. If that means lifting five more pounds, I welcome you to test your strength.
Today, do something that makes you take a baby step outside your comfort zone.

That tiny step in the right direction could be the greatest step you will take in your entire life.

I found that my baby step was in fact not a step at all, it was finding my feet on the ground behind me; kneeling. So whatever it looks like to go outside of your comfort zone, harness ten seconds of courage to make. it. happen.

Your future self will thank you.

I hope you find a sense of belonging; a sense of purpose.

I hope your ten seconds of courage will foster a lifetime of fulfillment.

 

-Fickle Memories-

Memories are so fickle; the mind, actually, is fickle. I can't think of another word to describe it-- always changing, and you can't rely on it. I feel as though from one moment to another my mind is irrevocably changing.... Which may seem like an oxymoron ((not able to be changed changing)) But it makes perfect sense. Here's my simplified version of it: I canNOT change the way my mind is constantly changing.

I don't mean changing my mind on what to wear, although that is certainly a challenge I am faced with in this material world, but I mean about real life decisions. One moment I am happy and content, and the next I am spinning in insecurities, doubt, and fear.

It's a battle.

What the heart feels versus what the mind thinks.
It's a timeless war that's been displayed in Hollywood dramas, high school gossip, and it will probably continue as long as man has the ability to love.

We don't know how to love. We came from it, but yet we are lost in love; and in turn, our own minds.

Love can be easy, it can leave you happy and content.... But usually love leaves deep scars. I often ask myself, if I am doing the right thing, why does it hurt so much? An incessant ache that begins in my heart and rages outward, coursing through my veins and igniting a physical pain in my being. I find it near to impossible to be happy sometimes. As a child, I used to imagine my career, my husband, my future family, my car, my home... And because I already possessed happiness, when adults would chime in about how "they just wanted to be happy" I would always giggle and think it was incredibly silly to just want happiness; there's so much to want in this big old world. But the truth is; I'm at a point where I just want happiness.

And then I think, wow.
How sad pathetic.

At some point in my life I transitioned from happiness, to unhappiness, without realizing it... And now I want to go back. I am not one to romanticize childhood; for I know the memory is fickle and often dramatizes even the smallest of memories, and I've gone through my fair share of hard times, but that isn't to say that I wouldn't desire to go back in time and relive the childlike happiness that I once held onto, unknowingly.

People always want happiness, so it's nothing monumental or new to write about a human desire to crave genuine happiness. But what I've come to realize, is people are afraid to feel the depths of emotion when they aren't experiencing this so-called "happiness." It gets a label. You become "emo," you become "depressed," you become "unmotivated," and even "fearful." And I can acknowledge the labels, and understand why people PLACE the labels... ((We're intrinsically quick to judge; even when we try not to)) but I guess I am "speaking out" against these stereotypes because I truly believe you learn the most when your heart is searching for more, your mind is in pain, and you may be hurting... A lot.

We  naturally ((it actually takes every conscious thought in my brain to not wear my heart on my sleeve)) try to hide everything we are feeling if it isn't "upbeat," or "joyous." Why is that though?  

We grow from pain; 

so if we are constantly trying to push it away, not feel anything and fake it until we make it per se, then how are we supposed to gain anything from the heartaches we experience?

My mind may be fickle.
My memories are fading; no matter how young or old.
And I may be experiencing these hard, heart wrenching things in life; but I want to FEEL, in my life. Whether that's love, heartache, joy, pain.. Whatever it may be.

Our minds are unreliable. They are constantly changing. I don't want to be angry for the depths of my emotions, the ever changing state of mind, my fears and doubts and insecurities.. I certainly want to conquer the unhappy feelings that occasionally slip into my mind, but I don't want to block them out in hopes of happiness.

So let's just put a label on my mind and say, "it's complicated," since we have to sum everything up to the quickest explanation these days. I'm complicated. My heart is complicated. My mind is complicated. But the complexities of my mind and heart are what makes me, ME. So I'm tired of fighting it.

I don't text back three words. I don't keep things short, sweet, and to the point. I don't wear make up everywhere I go. I say how I feel, over and over if that's what it takes. And I won't hide behind some label or preconceived notions about what somebody thinks I am; or how the outside eye perceives me.

And despite the complex, complicated nature of my soul; I am not flawed. The scars that will always be there pales in comparison to the knowledge I have gained along the way. So remember next time you see a strangers halfway, forced smile on the street, it's okay to be sad, and it's okay if you want to smile through it, but remember in the end; all of us are going through life experiencing many of the same things, so it's okay to feel. 

 It's okay to be complicated and complex in a world that forces us to just "keep it simple." 

With love,
PhotoSoul Sarah. 

"We Have Decided to Eliminate Your Position."

“Regrettably, we have decided that CCi will eliminate your position and you will cease regular duties effective February 04, 2014.”

               --One sentence that hit a conference room full of people like a bullet; their minds and hearts instantly racing.

An event transpired yesterday that left every employee at Everest University Online with a sadness and soaring uncertainty; an event that we were all blindsided by. Being laid off is no laissez-faire occasion, though. It’s about economics. It’s a numbers game- is the company hitting goal: OR NOT. Unfortunately, I lost my Everest family because the answer to that question was the “or not,” portion. We spend 40 hours, often times more, with our coworkers every week. So to put a title on the people I worked with daily, “coworkers,” does not suffice. I would venture to say, “family,” is the appropriate term here.

               Each of our stories is unique. Each of us have brought strengths, weaknesses, a sense of humor, an inspiring quote, a helping hand, a smile in the hallway, and even a daily cartoon for some comic relief! I started working at Everest in September 2012, wide-eyed and excited. As the years passed, my Everest family has guided me through a rollercoaster of life events. From relationships, family health, college, how to do taxes, how to show up on time, how to have a solid work ethic, how to accept change and thrive, and how to just live. My family there has been there with me through all my struggles, and through all my joys. I have gotten advice that is priceless; I have made friendships for life.

And instead of being bitter, angry, hurt, and confused, I plan on using all that and running with it. I am laid off, but I am unbelievably grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such amazing individuals. To build me up, to tell me I am worthy, to remind me of my strength. Being laid off is hard. Being laid off means questioning how to pay my rent, how to get groceries, how to keep my cell phone on, how to put gas in the car, and where my next turn will be. How to take care of those around me……

But it does not define me.

Mike Jenkins once poured his heart out to us in the same conference room we got laid off. His words stuck with me. He said he used to play a mean game of basketball, by himself outside his barn. As we circled the room with what contributes to success, I jokingly said, “It takes a mean game of recruiting students.” And as that was a mere 5 second exchange, a lot can be found in those words. Our leaders didn’t start at the top. They started with a dream… His dream was fueled by prayers. He spoke of praying by his bedside and then finding clarity. Knowing that, “All is done.” He, along with many others, have had to make sacrifices to fuel the company from an economic standpoint. We may look at them as the enemy because they still have a career, they still have money to take care of THEIR families, and now we don’t. But as you go through the stages of loss, remember that they are going through the same. Seeing the tears in people’s eyes, seeing the pale faces and shaking the clammy hands- it is a loss for us all. As humans we tend to dissociate our leaders with emotions. They got ahead by not having emotions, they have it ‘in them’ to lay us off- that’s not true. Think about their heavy hearts as they go home tonight. Having to give the news to a room full of confused, angry, sad, scared people….. That’s a moment they will never forget.

               The point of my little tirade is this, this moment was awful for all parties involved. The leaders that delivered the news, the ‘survivors’ that watched us walk out the door, the families that are now uncertain of what comes next, and each and every one of us that is now in the race for another job- a way to provide. The reality of the situation hits hard when you have to face family, friends, and loved ones and tell them the news. Don’t let this define your worth, though.

Life is about health and happiness.

Yesterday, and the days to pass, are a challenge. We will face days all too often with tears in our eyes and struggles before us. Negative emotions are all-consuming, and loss of hope is a killer. But please do not get bogged down in the negative emotions that an event like that will inspire. Remember, you are worthy, you are talented, and above all- You are strong.

I can not WAIT to see all that everyone accomplishes.

You have made a difference in my life- and I know wherever this road takes you- you will make a difference in the lives of many, many others!!

All the possibilities now right in your fingertips. Like a phoenix, we will rise from the ashes!

Praying for each and every one of us involved. I am sure each one of us has, or still is, going through the motions- experiencing denial, anger, fear, feeling helpless, depression, and then acceptance. So in writing this, understand I am too. I am writing this to all involved, and myself.

Remember this-

We worked to change lives.

 It’s time to kick ass and take names- and go change YOUR life.

Oh and P.S. If you have never heard the soundtrack from the children’s movie, “Frozen,” called, “Let it Go,” please go do so now. Listen to this verse below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk

It's funny how some distance,
Makes everything seem small.
And the fears that once controlled me,
Can't get to me at all.
It's time to see what I can do,
To test the limits and break through!!!...
No right, no wrong, no rules for me.
I'm free!

LET IT GO! Let it go!
Here I stand, and here I'll stay.
Let the storm rage on.
AND I'LL RISE LIKE THE BREAK OF DAWN

Hot. Off. The. Press!

Praise. The. Lord.

I AM SO EXCITED!!

This little baby just came to me, hot off the press! ;) Brand spankin' new National Geographic magazine for August 2013.

oh. yes.

I know, I know....it's JUST a magazine. But to me, it is sooo much more. First of all, it's the most amazing magazine to ever exist. Second, the pictures are worth MORE than a thousand words. Third, I got it myself. With the job I have, the money in my own account, and the apartment under my name. Let freedom riiiiiing, people. The American Dream is different for everyone, and I may still want a house and two.point.five. children, but for now....a teensy tiny, perfect apartment with the perfect company is good enough for me :)

I've learned that it's okay to celebrate the tiniest accomplishments....and if getting a subscription to NatGeo in my name is important to me, then it's all the more reason to celebrate! You should try it some time. After all, it's all about the ride, right?

Now excuse me while I go lose myself in the pure joy of my new NatGeo.....

With Love,
PhotoSoulSarah.

Thank You- for the amazing support!

Wow.

That's really what crossed my mind seeing this.

1,035 pageviews.

Simply incredible.

Thank you to each pair of eyes that has crossed this page! I know it hasn't been up and running very long, but whether you came across it by accident, picked up my business card, heard by word of mouth, or are a close friend or family member.... It means the world to me for you to be reading my blog.

However; I haven't heard from NEARLY as many of you as I had hoped! Don't forget to leave comments, message me, or post on my Facebook, Twitter, or Etsy site ((You can find direct links to do so at the bottom of each post, or on the right-hand side of my site))

Twitter:

@PhotoSoulSarah

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/PhotoSoulBoutique

Love to hear from each and every one of you! Add me today!

With love,

PhotoSoul Sarah.

((Four. Point. Oh))

This quote stands out to me today, and I wanted to share..

"A river cuts through a rock; not because of its power, but its persistence."

I've learned (in my 21 years of life) that we have many small victories. We build upon these small victories until eventually we have this marvelous life unraveling before us. Taking a test, going to work, making dinner, changing diapers...All little things, that may seem like they don't matter in the grand scheme of things, but it is those that matter the most.

I am working on my degree in journalism. With high hopes of one day becoming a photo-journalist... Self-discipline and me are the best of friends lately. I am beginning to learn the balance between work &&fun. Learning where to draw the line for immediate benefits, and where to stop so I can have benefits later.

Sometimes we have to do what we don't want to do, so eventually, we can do what we want to do...

Okay, don't get me wrong here- I LOVE school. I don't HAVE to go to school. I love learning and scheduling new classes; it's something I am genuinely thrilled about in life- no matter what is happening. But do I sometimes frown on homework instead of a movie out? Of course. But then I remember the reward in the end, and the value of the education in itself. I have been working so hard this term, and my final grades have came in... ((Keep in mind here people, I am only getting my Associates at this point.. I work full-time. Go to school full-time, etc. So this, to me, is a huge feat))

Drum Roll Please.....

Four. Point. Ohhh.

&& I am thrilled.

My hope for you today is to strive past those tumultuous times to ultimately gain the end reward. Give those "LITTLE" goals your FULL focus- and in the end- You will have accomplished everything you hoped for...and more.

Persistence is key,

Remember that.

With love,

PhotoSoul Sarah.



Horizontal Pauses

Admit it- we all need a nap. “Napping,” sounds so childish though, so as adults let’s just call it, “Taking a horizontal pause.” That gives us a good excuse to catch a few Zzz’s in the middle of our hectic day, right?! Look, we all struggle. Energy, finances, patience, stress, worry, fear, etc…All things that cross my mind MORE than they should. I’ve come to a few roadblocks in life. We ALL have. I’m not writing this in hopes that you look back on your struggles, and you write down every bad thing that has ever happened. I’m writing because we all need to take the active steps to think about, write down, share, and relish in the good times. Even in the most difficult of situations, there is always light. Always.

Whether you see it or NOT is up to you; and only you.

Take the time to take a horizontal pause. But when you wake up, put on your running shoes and take a twenty minute jog. Drink a cool glass of iced water, and grab a pen and paper.

Now write down your goals. What do you hope to accomplish?! What are you currently working on? Now-

What can you do TODAY to get you that much closer to your dream?

Here’s the crucial step- GO && do those things. Chase your dreams with everything you have.

If opportunity doesn’t knock- build a door. Don’t let anything stop you. Money, time, relationships, intelligence….Don’t take NO for an answer.

Oh, I forgot to remind you that this process is easier said than done (as with anything good in life) You will get frustrated, angry, stressed, and discouraged- But, please, remember this-

Trust in God.

How silly would we be to question a plan that is already set forth for us?

This is what I believe. God can do anything, but He will not do what we can do for ourselves.

Read that out loud-

God can do anything,

but He will not do what we can do for ourselves.

Wow. This inspires me every time.

We need to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, but we also need to work like it is up to us.

&& praise Him for the doors he helps us build!

Enjoy your “horizontal pause” today; and good luck with the list. I know you will check off more than you know if you stick to it.

I’d love to hear all about what inspires YOU. What are your goals… How are you going to accomplish them?

With Love,

PhotoSoul Sarah.

Reward for LOST INSPIRATION…

Does this sound like you? Have you ever asked yourself, “Man, where did my motivation go?” Or tell your friends, “When you find your inspiration, tell mine to come back!”

Don’t be ashamed if you answered, yes. I’m not reading your mind, trust me. It just happens to the best of people…more specifically, to all of us.

I tend to compare inspiration to sleeping. When you need it, it’s nowhere in sight! We don’t wake up with earth-shattering ideas. The most famous writer’s never wake up and write a book in one day. In fact, it usually takes months, and lots of planning and headaches, too!

So don’t beat yourself up when you need to be inspired.

I often find myself seeking out inspiration and motivation; but I just realized that it comes when you least expect it.

Live your life- FULLY. Be hyper aware of where you are. The sounds, sights, smells, and people around you.

Live with your eyes wide open.

If you’re an artist, use those images to sketch. If you’re a writer, use those images to write. If you’re  a businessman, use those images to reach out to customers. Take those little snippets of the slightest inspiration and make it into a legacy.

Let me tell you a story-

I was watching a romance movie; snuggled up in my silk blanket as warm and cozy as I could be. I wanted an outlet, so naturally I thought that watching a movie would be my best option having exhausted all the other ones. I decided to watch, “The Lucky One.” If you’ve never seen it, you should. Well, it fulfilled all my needs as far as a romance movie goes, but  the last line hit me.

Everyone has their own destiny, not everyone makes a choice to follow it, I’m lucky I did.

-Logan (The Lucky One)

How simple is that sentence; yet how bold. It inspired me.

Think about your destiny.....

Are you doing everything in your power, every day to pursue that?

If you are, I’m loving that grin on your face! If not, close out this web browser and chase after that dream with everything you have. (Of course, make sure to keep me updated! :)

With love,

PhotoSoul Sarah.

What. A. GEM!

That is what I think when I see these pictures-

What. A. Gem!

I hope these pictures strike you the same…

These are some of my favorites. They are up on my site for sale at http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhotoSoulBoutique. If they mean a sliver of what they mean to me, and strike you the same… Fill up a spare spot in your living room with one of these pictures.

Take a moment to scroll through... Note: Watermark is not on final images!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhotoSoulBoutique



Drum Roll Please.......

I have a new print up on my site!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhotoSoulBoutique

Bloom by Sarah Kadlec- 9 X 12 Photo Print

In our busy lives, we often forget the fragile beauty right beneath our feet. Capture the simplicity of life with this gorgeous print of a flower. Printed on archival quality paper boasting the rich, sharp colors emphasized in the macro perspective. Won’t fade or turn yellow, creating beautiful prints that will last for years to come.

Payment Method: PayPal

Here's my hope for today- You appreciate the small things in life. When you go out to dinner; order dessert first. Savor the sweet taste of chocolate and caramel, and then take your meal home because you're so satisfied by dessert! Just. Try. It! When you're ready for bed at night, instead of covering up with your blankets, snuggle close with your loved one. Cherish their smell, their touch...trace the lines on their hands. Draw roadmaps on their back. Put a fresh vase of wild flowers on your kitchen table and every time you pass, take a moment to literally, "Stop and smell the flowers."

Just slow down. 

Take time to appreciate the little things;

In the end-

You'll see that's all that matters.

With love,

PhotoSoul Sarah.