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!

Things the World Seriously Needs More Of

Blinkers. People who know how to use blinkers. People who use blinkers. People who know what a blinker means. People who respect blinkers. Can I get an amen?! 

 

Free ice cream after meals. This may be a dangerous move, but anything worth having is worth the risk. (I think that quote applies to ice cream, right?!) 

 

Forgiveness. 

 

Shark Week on Animal Planet.

 

Healthy snacks that are cheaper than a Big Mac... Or McDouble. 

 

People who speak more than one language. 

 

Smiles. 

 

Hand-holding.

 

Machines that get you ready in the morning while you sleep in. 

 

Honest people. Who tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God! 

 

Websites like, "The Onion," that help you decipher fact from fiction.....and play really cruel jokes on people who have no idea the basis of the site. 

 

Selfies.

^^SIKE! We have enough of those that probably shouldn't exist in the world. 

 

Giving people. Selfless people. 

 

Drama between celebrities. 

^^NOPE don't need that either. 

 

Love. Romance. Intimacy. Love notes. Date nights. Pickin' up what I'm layin' down? Smell what I'm steppin' in? ((Ew. Who uses that line in real life?! Please shake your head no.))

 

People who are currently living their dreams. As Aesop Rock so eloquently puts it, "You can dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it; cause dreamers always chase but never get it." 

 

Math with letters in it............Joke.

 

Bars for people to get schwasted and make poor life decisions.

^^Oh wait. One on every block--Check! 

 

Affordable education systems. Free education systems. 

 

Environmentally-safe paper (or some Eco-friendly material) plates; so I can refuse to do dishes and not feel a twinge of guilt. 

 

Photos. Images. Cameras. Pictures. 

 

People who understand sarcasm, and can respond to it without being offended. 

 

Genuinely nice people. Who are nice to be nice, not to get something in return.

 

Open-minds.

 

Starbucks. 

^^Because two on every block is simply not enough. 

 

And while we are at it, I'm going to jump on the beauty pageant train and say-- world peace. 

The world needs to know peace.

 

 

With Concern,

Sarah.

 

 

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.

The Heart Broken Heal Broken Hearts

I woke up this morning and couldn't help but smell the faint smell of a campfire, or rather, a wild fire. It instantly reminded me of the two Colorado fires I have been witness to, the Waldo Canyon Fire and the Black Forest Fire. One of them I watched flicker down the mountainside from my place of work until I drove home in an overheating car, and the other burnt down my childhood home and the homes of friends and families that I've known since preschool. Both experiences have tested and challenged me along with everyone I know; we all had different experiences. I'm not sharing how the natural disaster 'went down' for me, though. The point is not how much tragedy those fires caused, but how much camaraderie.

 

I woke up to the smell of fire and instead of instantly shifting my thoughts towards the hurt and sadness hundreds and hundreds of people are still experiencing, I thought of when I went to Village Inn when the fire was still roaring across those pine tree filled fields. This breakfast being actually one of my sweeter, most cherished memories.

 Nothing spectacular happened. I didn't meet anyone famous, I still had to pay for my own breakfast, all the calories I ate still counted, and I still sat in the same booth I always do. The thing that made this nonchalant trip to breakfast so good was the people surrounding me.

It was an experience that I've never seen before, and it makes me sad today to think that the only time we experience this is when a tragedy happens. Everyone was so concerned, so caring; everyone would open the door for the next person, they would smile when you passed them, they would hold a conversation with you although they didn't know you. The waitresses and waiters were treated with respect and thanked for their food and service. Many people were paying for other people's breakfasts simply because they knew how hard of a time they were going through.

People went out of their way to show kindness, in so many beautiful ways.

 

 

 Now if you read my blog often, you know I never show emotion; ever. Okay.... Kidding! I'm one of the most emotional people you will probably ever come across ;) But this time, it wasn't just me who thought this was so touching. You could see everyone's spirits be uplifted. You could feel the "togetherness" that we all shared, sitting in the little Village Inn that we've memorized which booth and waitress we like best. This time was different, and it's never been the same since.

Why?

 Why is it that tragedy can bring a group of people so strongly together, and once tragedy is gone, we are back to minding our own, not smiling at others, not paying for people's meals 'just because,' etc.

What I realized is that when the natural disaster happened, people KNEW without a shadow of doubt that others were in need. We could assume that even if your house was not currently on fire, your state was and even many that you knew. The heartbroken were helping heal broken hearts. But why is any other day now different?

We may not all be experiencing the same tragedy, but I can guarantee we are ALL still experiencing tragedy.

 

 I dream of the day mundane things like breakfast at Village Inn become memories we cherish because of the kindness of people; of strangers. I dream of the day people show kindness, openness, genuine concern, and giving attitudes every day, because it is every day that tragedies happen individually.

The fires may be put out, and the homes may be being rebuilt, but that doesn't mean it's time to hang up our hats on showing kindness and becoming one community.

With Love,

PhotoSoulSarah

"Why Do You W R I T E?"

I got asked the other day, "Why do you do it?" 

In a state of confusion, I asked "Do what?" 

 

"Why do you write if you don't even know anyone is reading. Doesn't it sometimes feel like a waste of time?" 

And to answer the question short and sweet:

"No. It does not ever feel like a waste of time, but thanks for your concern."

{albeit, rather rude concern..}

 

I write because it makes me happy to write, and I think people should do things that make them come alive and feel happiness.

{{If you haven't read my post about following your dreams, find it here }}

 

But to be honest; my answer should have been a lot more candid and truthful. So this is, stranger who asked me why I write, the real answer I owe you..

 

Sometimes I just stop in my tracks. I grab my phone or jot it down on a piece of paper...words catch my attention. Events, memories, smells, sights, desires.. They inspire me and I simply HAVE to remember 'whatever it was.'

 

And usually the things I write down are powerful for me; for self-realization. I have epiphany moments and maybe writing down two words helps wrap up this inner monologue and battle in my own mind. It may come weeks, months, or even years later, but when the words come to me, all is well. I gain a sense of clarity and understanding. But there's this crazy off-chance that maybe my two words will impact you as well. Yeah, I get it. It's far-fetched and absurd.... But maybe it's absurd to think that we're not all battling the same things. That we haven't all experienced the same emotions. Maybe it's far-fetched to think that my writing couldN'T impact someone struggling or dealing with the same things I am. That's why I write.

 

Maybe I will allow one person to go outside their comfort zone, to inspire someone to follow their dreams, to ignite a passion for life, to help someone else have an epiphany moment in this crazy thing called life. I write because sometimes I don't know what I think until I read what I say, and just maybe...there's a few other people like me out there.

 

I write because the world around me is filled with inspiration; I never want to forget that.......and there's this crazy, far-fetched, absurd chance... That it just might inspire you too. 

So whether it's watching 79 episodes of Netflix in a row, kissing your kids goodnight, getting lost in a good book, sculpting your near-perfect muscles, taking your dog on a walk, gardening, or whatever it is that makes you happy; do that. 

 

And most importantly,

don't let people question why you do it. 

 

 

With Love,

PhotoSoul Sarah.

20 after Twenty

After twenty, you face the world a little bit alone. The things you learn actually stick, sometimes, and you learn on your own, not by being obedient and following direction. It’s this time in people’s lives where everyone’s lives look a little different…or, drastically different. Some people are leaving the nest and going off to college, some people are getting engaged or married, some people are having their second baby, some people are working full-time. But the Roaring Twenties have never felt better, because, well, you’re independent- and that means you can do anything your little heart desires! But in this journey of life, sometimes we stumble… into a great big mess or a little tiny fixer-upper; here’s twenty things I have learned after twenty!

Roaring Twenties

1. If you run out of dish detergent, you can't use dish soap. Your entire kitchen will be covered in bubbles in less than 30 minutes.

2. That whole cleaning and laundry thing..... Yeah it is a pain in the, you know, when you procrastinate and put it off. And no, your Mom won't rescue you and do it for you this time.

3. You will probably not know if you want kids right away; and that's okay. One moment you're thinking it is your sole purpose and the next you're booking tickets to Hawaii to get an adventure fix. Enjoy the 'here and now.' Children will happen in His time if it was meant to..... So stop counting down on your biological clock and enjoy life the way it is right now!

4. You won't ever be able to cook your mom/grandma/brother/aunt/sister/dad's (whoever the chef is in your family) favorite recipe. You will probably sharpen your skills at cooking, and it will even be delicious. But just stop trying that one recipe-- leave it for the pros. Create your own secret recipe that nobody else will be able to master!

5. Feeling like you have failed, bawling your eyes out thinking you took too many wrong turns to accomplish your dream now is a lie. It is never too late. So join an adult ballet class, start yoga being the least flexible person on the planet, or go write a book about your life. Go do what makes you come alive and stop worrying it's too late-- you're in your twenties for goodness sake! ;)

6. Celebrate holidays... Every holiday. No matter how big or small; celebrate. You're making memories here; invite family, friends, a stranger that needs a friend. Enjoy life's small reasons to celebrate.

7. Spend alone time with God. Period. No matter how you worship, praise, pray, journal, or do a bible study... Whatever way you connect with Him, make sure you fit in five minutes a day to do just that. Your heart will thank you.

8. If you procrastinate on a ten page paper until an hour before it is due, you may receive a bad grade, or worse, you may not learn anything at all from writing ten pages. Use education as a tool to learn, not just get an "A."

9. It's okay to hang out with your parents/ family. I know, confusing. It actually doesN'T make you uncool. It's uncool to put your family last behind alcohol, parties, disloyal friends, and t.r.o.u.b.l.e!

10. Stop confusing rejection with love. Rejection hurts, love heals. Cliché, I know, but true nonetheless.

11. If you text incessantly you will probably a. Have bad eyes b. get arthritis in your thumbs and c. Miss out on moments in life you will wish you gave your full attention....((Holla for unlimited texts, right?!)) ;)

12. Exercise, like, before it's too late and you have flabby arms when you wave ‘hi’ to people! ((Yuck!))

13. Don't take everything personally. Everything is not a reflection of you, sometimes it is other people expressing themselves and doesn’t have anything to do with you.

14. Vote.. Not just because you can, but because the choices you make today are going to build your tomorrow. Don't just fill out the bubbles.... Research. Fill yourself with knowledge and then apply yourself and determine how you want tomorrow to look. Vote. Even if politics are the last thing you want to be involved in.

15. Embrace your flaws. As hard as it may be, kicking yourself over your imperfections will only bring out bitterness.

16. Be on time. This one is a challenge for me. As my life is often an organized clutter. But it's respectful. Time is something you can never get back, never turn back, and never change. So try to honor other people's precious time by being somewhere when you said you would.

17. Expand your comfort zone.

18. Make art. Even if you are terrible. There will ALWAYS be someone better than you. Do it anyways. Art is made to build your soul, to express emotion, to make the world come alive with beauty.....

19. Stop comparing yourself to everyone and everything else. It will SERIOUSLY make you depressed and unhappy. Remember that everyone is in different seasons of their life; and that doesn’t mean you have to be right there with them!

20. Have a pet. A cat, a dog, a lizard... Fifty cats. You know, whatever floats your boat! Animals are just great. They teach you things humans can't. And based on experience, I've found them to be the most attentive listeners!

Lastly, remember that you're human. This tiiiiiiiny factor we often forget is that, humans aren't perfect. So you will probably forget these things. ^^^ Then relearn them. Some will be at the forefront of your mind, and others will fall to the wayside depending on the season of life you are in. Don't be too hard on yourself.... We still have to learn 30 after 30, so leave room for some mistakes to write about ;)

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.

Love Letter to the Broken-Hearted

Hurt just seems to be surrounding and consuming me lately. Every person I know is just drowning in sorrow; and as much as that sounds like a really catchy line in a song....It's true.

I look around and the faces are just… stolen. The nervous laughter of a mom going through divorce, the way it's forced to put up a wall so tall that no one can get in. The way nights turn into days from a father wanting to forget everything in his past. A sister hoping for true love to finally find the missing piece to her family of three. A brother trying to fulfill that empty void in his heart by strengthening his career. A prince trying to battle an all-consuming addiction. A little girl just wanting a kitty and her Daddy back at home to stay. And then there's me....

You see, I love- hard. I don't give people part of me, or half my heart. I’m not some façade of a girl, I’m real. What you see is what you get. I do wear my heart on my sleeve, every moment ((Who’s idea was that anyways, OUCH)) You could say I'm not your average twenty-one-year-old. But then again, what IS average anymore? I cry at the drop of a nickel.. I see the fear, the hurt in people's eyes. I want to just fix it all. Mend the broken hearts, be the light in the midst of a dark, dark world right now. I want to go to sleep at night knowing everyone I love most is just....happy.

You realize in times like these though, that family is really all that matters. Love conquers all. But sometimes love is the hardest thing you can do. Sometimes we are so filled with anger, so hurt, so upset; sometimes our blood is past boiling...and then you have to do it. You have to shove all that aside and be what people need.

You need to be the love that was given to us. Unconditional, forgiving love.

&&Sometimes, well, that’s nearly impossible. Just like controlling your dreams; not too many people I know have mastered “lucid-dreaming.” However, I know a person or two with night terrors.

Night terrors.

What a concept....

This bone-chilling, screaming with all the air in your lungs kind-of-feeling. The kind of nights where vivid imagery of your worst days just haunts you. It's like in King Kong where the gorilla snatches people up and they are just completely vulnerable. He could either crush them in his hands, or gently set them back down. Images like that replay in your mind until it's suffocating. No other thoughts are welcome..... For some comical relief here, yes...It's like being held in the daunting hands of a giant gorilla.
I know-TERRIBLE analogy. But you see my point! The constriction, the lack of control over your own body, the all-consuming nature.

Sometimes that’s love. That’s the deep, real, passionate love. To see every fault in someone else, and continue to love them.

&&this hurts.

A lot.

But I promise you, broken-hearted….

You will sleep again. You will love again. You will find the missing piece to your puzzle. You will gain that sense of accomplishment to fill the void. You will overcome your addiction.
This hurt will get better.

Everything you are going through is making you stronger. You are clay in His hands and he is forming you into the person you are meant to become. You may not see WHY you must endure this, but I promise you will later. This moment of hurt will be worth it.

You'll be able to dream again. You'll be able to love again.

With all my love,

PhotoSoul Sarah.

Happy Friday-

And I quote,

"Unless it's mad, passionate, extraordinary love, it is a waste of time. There are too many mediocre things in life && love should not be one of them."

 

With Love,

PhotoSoul Sarah. 

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

((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.