Inspire Me. Part One.

Oh how I love getting woken up at 4:45am to a crying puppy who wants to do nothing but run around, chew on shoes, and create lots of chaos! It's bitter sweet because umm... hello?! 4:45am? No thank you. But Zoe(y? we're considered adding a "y" to the end of her name because some people think her spelling might be mispronounced as Zo, like Rachel Zoe. Any thoughts?) is getting used to us and I'd like to think she would call our house her home if she were able. I'm dragging my feet a little bit today and am going to need a little pick-me-up so I decided to do my best to inspire myself. I'm choosing to get out of my crabby mood this morning and shift my gears. Here goes...

I love quotes and inspirational sayings or phrases. Like, if I could write all my favorites on post-it notes, stick them all over my life and not look like a crazy person... I totally would. Buuuuut since I'd definitely look like a crazy person, there's Pinterest and this blog. The following quotes or images are some of the ones that I have found particularly inspiring, so here I am hoping to inspire you as well this morning!

one:

I love this because it reminds me of my family and best friends. I am so lucky to have people in my life I want to "touch the sky" with. This also reminds me of the movie, "Into the Wild." The main character, Chris, abandoned the life he knew to explore the Alaskan wilderness on his own. He was fed up with his life being planned for him and feeling like he had no say in where he was going. The movie has a tragic ending, but before it's too late he realizes that "happiness isn't real unless it's shared." That was a quote he never understood the meaning of until he was out in the wilderness taking his last breaths alone. 

I believe that life is meant to be spent with as many of your loved ones around you that you can stand. Life is about creating memories with those you care about the most. It's about the laughter, the tears, and every other emotion that comes with the human experience. There is no joy in laughing alone. It's cold and lonely crying without a shoulder to lean on. I'm so thankful for my family and friends; the ability to share my triumphs and my struggles, the freedom to be myself around them and to be loved all the same makes life worth living. Family and friends, come with me to touch the sky TOGETHER!

two:

Duh!! Children are so amazing. Their innocence and insight into the world are so remarkable. How can you not be inspired/dumbfounded by such a simple, yet profound statement?! I think that we often forget that our life is all about the choices we make. We forget how much power we have in the smallest decisions. When we're feeling "blue" it seems near impossible sometimes to see the world or our lives in any other color even though we have the choice to. Finding the inner-strength to see our circumstances from a different point-of-view always helps to put things in perspective. It's hard to change your direction when you feel like there's an ominous and negative energy pushing you in another, but it's possible. Our life is about the choices we make and our choices are what help shape our character and determine our paths. We can't control everything, but we can control ourselves. Choose positive. Choose optimistic. See the glass half full because I'm sure if you think about it, it is.

three:

I remember reading "A New Earth" by Ekhart Tolle a few years back. The book was about the power of our thoughts, beliefs, and intentions; what we put out into the universe is what we would get in return. If we put off an energy of construction, as opposed to deconstruction, we will build and create great things in our lives. Confidence also comes to mind when I read that. If we believe that we are "good enough" or are "worth it," then our courage and self-worth will guide us in the direction of our dreams.

Ahh... I'm feeling better already! It's amazing what some gentle reminders do for your outlook on life, or even your day at work. It's refreshing to think about how easy it can be to turn your attitude around if you want to. I really liked writing this post, and if you notice it's a "Part One," so there will definitely be more to come!

Make today count!