Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Pigeon or Statue?...

In continuation of taking on my list from the article in my “Doing Me”post (click here to read)….

#10. Accept that some days you’re the pigeon and some days you’re the statue.

I like to think that I wake up each morning and, like Cinderella, have little birds and mice that help me get ready while I sing a beautiful tune. My “skinny” jeans are fitting perfectly, so I stick my tongue out at my “fat” jeans as I close the closet door. I have a super yummy and healthy breakfast and make my way to work. First phone call, and as I’m reaching for the phone I spill my sweet cup of caffeinated joy all over my desk and jeans, crap. It’s my boss with a last minute urgent request, grabbing the list from yesterday, I look and see if I can prioritize this companies ever growing list of “Urgent” requests and soon realize that someone is going to get pissed that they got moved to the bottom of the list. Staff members calls in sick, customers start getting annoyed and soon you are wondering where all those little irritatingly helpful birds and mice were from this morning. Sure they can help you get ready, but where are there when a customer is ripping you a new one because his logo proof hasn’t yet arrived, or the police are standing in your office doorway waiting for you to burn surveillance footage you told them would be ready. But, then the officer smiles and says “Having a rough day?” You snicker and nod as you’re looking through video footage for the rat bastard that stole from your store, he says “Just remember some days you’re the pigeon and some days you’re the statue”.  Instantly I felt all the stress concern and worry leave my body because all you can do is do what you can do and get done what you can get done. What a smart police officer for unknowingly giving me a little gem of a reminder, thank you universe.  Then there are those days that sail by, your “to do” list is almost complete, your staff are on time and giving amazing customer service, you eat really well all day and can’t wait to text your trainer about your amazing work out and you crawl into bed that night with a huge smile on your face about the day’s accomplishments.

Some days you are the pigeon and some days you are the statue. Appreciate the days you are the pigeon because it gives you strength, drive and a boost to your confidence. Also appreciate the days you are the statue because being crapped on can give you the drive to do better and the determination to try harder, plus you learn to appreciate the days you are the statue so much more, after all even Cinderella had her rough days! 

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Style...

So I’ve gotten a few emails regarding my “Doing Me” post (click here to read), with peeps requesting that I do another post on the list of 10 from the article I linked to. After looking and re-looking at the list I’m certain I could write a post on each one, so that I shall, but I’m not doing them in order…

#9. Follow Your Own Style

“Style” can refer to many different things, music, fashion, hairstyle, attitude, format, and so on. For the sake of this post I’m going to use the word in the context of “personal style” equalling attitude and appearance.
When I think of ladies that I would consider style icons I think of Sarah Jessica Parker, Audrey Hepburn, Gwen Stefani and Lady Gaga, to name a few. I also picture designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, Chanel and Vivien Westwood. Each of these woman have a unique and signature look that is all their own, some classic to some extreme, but what they all have in common is that they have never waived from who they are, from their signature look. Sure, every now and again they make take a slight detour, but they always return to the very core of who they are.

When I think of personal style the person I always think of first is my friend Celeste, she played a big part in the development of my personal style, because she taught me the biggest lesson of all. Style is not just about the clothes you wear, the amount of makeup you have on or the color of your hair, it’s about your attitude too. It is the combination of those two things that make up your personal style.   

I look back at pictures from years past and I cringe at some of my “phases” that I went through. The big bangs, the turtlenecks, the patterns that a plus size girl, should really not be wearing and it makes me giggle. I look at my closet today and I’m certain there are fashion guru’s out there that would have an opinion about some of my outfits, but it boils down to me being comfortable.  I work in fashion retail and over the years I’ve seen trends, colors, and styles do full circles a number of times. I can’t say I tend to follow the trends. I wear what I want to wear, the colors I want to wear and I don’t care if they are in season or not.

Finding your own style takes time, a few mistakes and a little bit of tender, love and care to develop. It’s made up of things that make you, you. Finding that signature color that marks your personality, no matter how many people tease or bug you about it, it forever remains your favorite color.  Finding that addiction to cutting up shirts and t-shirts alike to make it unique despite the fact someone thinks you are ruining a perfectly good shirt. Also, playing with eyeliner, eye shadows, blushes and lipsticks, painting the blank canvas that is your face, till you look in the mirror and a smile, but the biggest thing is that your personal style is also always changing. As you grow, mature, develop (both physically and mentally) your style changes.

All I can say is, find yours, not someone else’s, never apologize for it and no matter what, smile. A smile is the most beautiful accessory of all.  

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Namaste the F*@k...

Before I get started, I would like to state that I am just as guilty of this as the next person, however, I am making a HUGE conscious effort to shift my thinking. Twice, over the last few of days I’ve had this conversation with different peeps and felt compelled to write about it. I promise not to make it too much of a rant.

As someone that takes on my personal growth, like a hyena takes on hunting baby lions, there is one thing I have become frustrated with. This ideal seems to have developed, that to “manifest” something into existence all you need to do is focus on it. Think positive about it, repeat positive affirmations, create a vision board, stare at it every day and be thankful to the universe for bringing it to you, or as I like to call it…Namaste the f*@k out of that sucker!

Here’s the pitfall that I and so many have fallen victim to. “Well I Namaste’d the f*@k out of that sucker and it didn’t work. “Manifesting” is garbage, doesn’t work.”

People have used that as an excuse, YOU STILL HAVE TO TAKE ACTION. I can Namaste the f*@k out of wanting to lose weight and get healthy, but unless I am actually eating right and exercising and taking actions to move me towards that goal, I can pray for it all I want, won’t help. You want to win/make millions of dollars. You write a big fat cheque to yourself, you great a vision board about wealth, but did you buy a lottery ticket? Did you talk to your boss about a raise?  Did you apply for a higher paying job? You want to meet the man of your dreams. You write out a list of qualities and attributes, perhaps pull a few photos from magazines and post them. However, if you sit at home every night, don’t go out to different places and make an effort to put yourself in situations where said man may be…do you honestly think the take out delivery man is going to be the one?  Have I made my point?

The other key to this, aside from action, is your heart, mind and eyes need to be open. You need to give up all expectation of what it is going to look like. Last time I checked Brad Pitt was with Angelina Jolie, so trying to “manifest” Brad isn’t going to happen.  Jennifer Lopez is still alive and well and requires her body, so trying to “manifest” her body, not going to happen.

Taking action requires moving forward, moving in life is essential to expanding and it is when you begin to expand that, I believe, the universe aligns itself with your desires.

I think I did pretty well with not ranting….