 |
| Photo from healthyplace.com |
In life, there is
always an abundance of things we cannot control. Yet for reasons I cannot
determine, we spend an exurbanite amount of time worrying about them. The thing
is, it all begins and ends in our minds. Whatever we give power to, has power
over us. Only if we allow it.
Below are a few
areas I’ve identified through my own life experiences that simply do not
warrant worrying over:
1. What other people think about you. You
could be the juiciest peach in the world, and there will always be someone who doesn’t
like peaches. Each person you encounter will have different values, different
standards of what they deem acceptable and appropriate. That’s what makes the
world go round. Relinquish worrying about
what others think of your choices, your lifestyle, and what stimulates your
heart and mind. Live a life you’re proud of – be good, do good, and make no
excuses.
2. The number of candles on your birthday cake. In
a time when everyone is buying the latest wrinkle-reducing cream, rushing out
for more botox, and jumping on the latest juice fast trend, it’s important we
strike a balance between taking pride in our appearance and embracing the aging
process. After all, getting older is better than the alternative! As a woman who is a month away from
turning 31, I can’t get on Huffington Post or some beauty and lifestyle blog
without reading articles about women having damn near panic attacks about
turning 30. It doesn’t have to be that way! Eat clean, work out often, and take
care of yourself. It IS possible to age gracefully. Rather than obsess over the
number, re-shift your focus to all of the invaluable wisdom only the blessing
of time can provide.
3. What other folks are
doing. True friends are happy when their friends happy. Don’t
compare your beginning to someone else’s middle, or find yourself sitting on
the sidelines of your own life just to be a spectator in others. Social media can be fun, but don’t spend so much of your time
trolling LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest that your own
life passes you by. Our time here is short and precious, so maximize it rather
than wasting it away.
4. If things aren’t going “according
to plan.” As a Type-A, goal-oriented
individual, this is a challenging one for me. Setting goals and accomplishing
them is such a gratifying feeling – I love figuring out what I want out
of life and going for it. Yet, sometimes I need to acknowledge that things are simply
out of my control. I find it so frustrating to want something so badly but feel
incapable of accomplishing it. But I’ve realized that while it’s fantastic to
have goals that navigate us through life, it’s counterproductive to cling so
tightly to them that we completely miss the here and now. Keep writing those
goals down, just be sure to adjust accordingly. Because one of the only
constants in life is change. And chances are, what lies ahead of us is even
sweeter, even more gratifying, than what we ever imagined for ourselves.
5. Your relationship
status. Aye yay yay. Relationship woes! This one is a doozy.
Will they call? Are they interested? Do I
miss them when they’re not around? Where is this going? Are we exclusive? Is it
too soon to ask? I could keep that list going, but for the sake of time I’ll
spare you. Here’s the deal. They’ll call if they want to call. They’ll see you
if they want to see you. If they’re into you, you’ll know it. And vice versa! Good
things take time, and evolve in a natural way. Great things happen unexpectedly.
I love the quote by Gloria Steinem that says “Far too many people are looking
for the right person, instead of trying to be the right person.” AMEN! Admittedly
the first year after my divorce I found myself completely panicked – completely
terrified of being single again. Shit, the last time I was single we didn’t
have texting, let alone sexting. Social media was far less prevalent and the
notion of instant gratification didn’t exist like it does today. But over the
past few years, as I’ve really spent time figuring out the woman I am and the
life I want, I’ve realized I’m not scared anymore. Unless it’s mad, passionate, extraordinary love, it’s a
waste of time. There are far too many mediocre things in life, and love sure
as shit shouldn’t be one of them. So quit worrying about your relationship
status once and for all. If it’s true that like attracts like, concentrate on
being the person you’d want to fall in love with. Embody the traits you admire –
for me, its being honest, loyal, loving, affectionate, genuine, kind, and respectful.
I work on myself every.single.day. And I, with my whole heart, believe this will
make me the best version of myself for the person who deserves it the most.
What
about you? What do you worry about?
XO,
Jenn
No comments:
Post a Comment