I’m getting tired of WIAW so I’m staging a protest. Peaceful protest. Not that I don’t want to see all your beautiful eats, but I’m just bored posting mine. How’s that for honesty?
Instead, let’s talk about music. I mentioned before that with the ups and downs of life, I turn to music. I know this isn’t an anomaly, but even though I tend to be very athletic on the surface, deep down I’m pretty darn artistic and I appreciate music on a whole other level. A song can make or break my day. It can make me cry on the spot. If a song I love comes on while I’m driving I’ll turn up the volume as loud as it will go and open the sunroof and windows, until it feels like I’m in a movie.
This song has been on repeat lately. Please listen to it. After keeping up with all of your lives I know that 99% of you can relate.
Which part of this song resonates with you the most?
Don’t be scared to walk alone. Don’t be scared to like it.
For as long as I can remember I was afraid to be by myself. I didn’t have a chance to get to know myself because I kept being propelled forward – the next grade in school, the next internship, the next job, the next weekend, the next plan. Today I’m living day to day. There are no weekends, there are no 9-5s, there are no Sunday night blues waiting for Monday morning to come. Every day I wake up, excited (seriously!), to get to know myself a little bit better. So even when it peeks its head into my life, as it always does, I love saying worry, why should I care, worry, get out of here.
Give your heart and change your mind – you’re allowed to do it
Not every life decision is final, and just because you change your mind doesn’t mean you failed. Wow do I think this notion isn’t promoted enough these days. I still have to put on 16 shirts before I know what I’m going to wear out – so how am I supposed to know my life plan today, my “identity” today? Aside from having no idea where my road is taking me, I know I’m being shaped by my everyday experiences. The Polish woman who I stop to help with her bags down the escalator at the train station, only to be trapped in a crazy ten-minute conversation with how she can see Jesus by the colors in the clouds. The barista at Starbucks who asked if I wanted to dance. The unexpected text from an old friend with no expectation, other than a little love. I love bonding with people,especially strangers. I’m giving my heart to my everyday experiences. I’m not trying to mold myself based on my job, my family, my relationship status, my looks, my religion, or any of that. I’m surrendering myself to those silly little moments and they are what I go to bed thinking about every night. It’s such a light way to live.
Know your fight is not with them
I came into this world alone and I’ll leave it alone. So my loyalty first and foremost needs to be myself. It’s not selfish. It took me awhile to realize this. It’s just the opposite – when I wake up each day ready to serve myself, I find myself acting in a more compassionate, empathetic, and friendly way. I’m kinder. Kindness is underrated.
Allow me to “dove tail” off your comment about coming into the world alone. When you come into the world, you are crying and everyone in the room is happy. Your goal might be: that when you leave the world, you are happy, and everyone in the room is crying.
This is a hell of a great article. I can relate to what you are saying–particularly in cultivating interesting relationships and finding happy moments in even the smallest interactions of everyday life. Thanks for a good read and a newfound song I can listen to!
Amazing!! Love this post!! Songs definitely move me to tears lots!! Such a beautiful thing!! Great song, too!! I really relate to:
Alive in the age of worry/Smile in the age of worry
I tend to worry waaay too much about things that are out of my control!! Great advice!! XOXO!!
It’s so hard not to worry about things that are out of your control but you’re so right – it’s too much to worry about! You can’t control it, so why worry? I love it!
love the perspective you’ve taken in “not every life decision is final, and just because you change your mind doesn’t mean you failed.” i always think about a convo my mom and i had when i was deciding to move to NYC (rather than LA) from “home,” and she referenced how life is full of what we call “risks,” which are really just another way of saying “tries” — you try something, and if it doesn’t work out, you’re fortunate enough to have the chance to try something else, and keep trying another something else, until you find what you want. i love to think of my life like that — as a long succession of exciting “tries” in my endless road to self discovery. keep pushing forward and engaging in this personal introspection, girl. 🙂
First time I have heard this song and I really enjoyed it. 🙂
Unfortunately today marks the day where my country votes on whether or not to be Independent and I am so scared. Today is the first day in my life where I cannot change what my future will be, the outcome of this vote will decide that for me. If voters decide to go alone, there is no going back – I will cast my vote to maintain our unity with the UK, but I worry. Worry for the outcome, worry for the future.
On the plus side, I will definitely be going to listen to some more John Mayer!
Oh my gosh I’ve been hearing about that on the news but I never imagined I’d know someone who is directly effected by the situation. How scary! What will happen if Scotland become independent? I love learning about global politics so give me a quick 1-minute summary if you will 🙂 good luck to you!
Basically if the majority today vote yes to the question ‘should Scotland be an independent country’ we will be breaking away from the rest of the UK and be on our own. No real questions have been answered on the future, how much it will cost, pensions, banking systems, currency etc so the thought that this could actually happen is so frightening! At a time when the world really needs to come together, we could be drifting apart – as the UK, we can be so much stronger. Thank you for the luck though, lets hope all will be well when we find out the result tomorrow :-S
Love John. Almost as much as I love Zac Brown. Not the point. The point is that this post is spot on. I love that you’re discovering all of these things and that you’ve turned to music. When my life blew up two years ago, I couldn’t listen to ANY music without it making me ridiculously sad, so I started listening to NPR, and I never went back. Now when I hear a really great song (rarely) I am reminded of how much music can really do.
I couldn’t listen to music for a month or two. Then my therapist told me if I don’t start listening again I’ll be giving too much power to those sad feelings I think I’m going to feel while listening to music. I’m really glad I pushed through because I can’t imagine my life without it! Not that NPR doesn’t have it’s benefits too 🙂
I couldn’t love this post anymore. I have SO been here, and am happy to say that the last few months have been really happy for me. I am SO content being ALONE and while it took me over a year and a half to get here (after my last breakup) I know this is where I am meant to be!! This song is great, I just adore John Mayer!!
I’ve never participated in WIAW…I just can’t. HA. Glad you decided to step away from it. 😉
Being alone is interesting because I’ve found I’m less lonely by being alone. Does that make sense? haha. And yeah I definitely needed to hop off the WIAW-train for awhile 😉
Hahah, your honest protest made me so happy! Totallly love that!! Ya know, I think everybody is thinking it…
Great topic–hits so many people right in the gut!! I’ve never been much of a worrier, thank GOODNESS, but I’ve had friends who are and it’s LIFE SUCKING!
Great advice I once heard–love yourself because you’ll be spending the most time with YOU. When I heard that, I quit finding faults in myself, but decided I was a rock star, and hanging out with my… by myself was awesome 😉
I love that you dissected this song! Those lyrics obviously mean so much to you and I love that!!! I’m a big fan of all the parts you mentioned and what you shared about your connection with those words. Love you!
i had a big lunch 
Allow me to “dove tail” off your comment about coming into the world alone. When you come into the world, you are crying and everyone in the room is happy. Your goal might be: that when you leave the world, you are happy, and everyone in the room is crying.
What a “dad” thing to say 🙂
This is a hell of a great article. I can relate to what you are saying–particularly in cultivating interesting relationships and finding happy moments in even the smallest interactions of everyday life. Thanks for a good read and a newfound song I can listen to!
Cultivating relationships are what make life the happiest AND the most interesting 🙂
Amazing!! Love this post!! Songs definitely move me to tears lots!! Such a beautiful thing!! Great song, too!! I really relate to:
Alive in the age of worry/Smile in the age of worry
I tend to worry waaay too much about things that are out of my control!! Great advice!! XOXO!!
It’s so hard not to worry about things that are out of your control but you’re so right – it’s too much to worry about! You can’t control it, so why worry? I love it!
John Mayer’s words truly resonate with me! Thank for you sharing this my friend!! You are a strong and beautiful person!
Thanks! I love these words as well. They’re so perfect for the time in my life right now. Glad you can relate!
love the perspective you’ve taken in “not every life decision is final, and just because you change your mind doesn’t mean you failed.” i always think about a convo my mom and i had when i was deciding to move to NYC (rather than LA) from “home,” and she referenced how life is full of what we call “risks,” which are really just another way of saying “tries” — you try something, and if it doesn’t work out, you’re fortunate enough to have the chance to try something else, and keep trying another something else, until you find what you want. i love to think of my life like that — as a long succession of exciting “tries” in my endless road to self discovery. keep pushing forward and engaging in this personal introspection, girl. 🙂
I love love love calling it tries instead of risks. It’s all about putting a positive spin on the words we use – it makes such a difference!
First time I have heard this song and I really enjoyed it. 🙂
Unfortunately today marks the day where my country votes on whether or not to be Independent and I am so scared. Today is the first day in my life where I cannot change what my future will be, the outcome of this vote will decide that for me. If voters decide to go alone, there is no going back – I will cast my vote to maintain our unity with the UK, but I worry. Worry for the outcome, worry for the future.
On the plus side, I will definitely be going to listen to some more John Mayer!
Oh my gosh I’ve been hearing about that on the news but I never imagined I’d know someone who is directly effected by the situation. How scary! What will happen if Scotland become independent? I love learning about global politics so give me a quick 1-minute summary if you will 🙂 good luck to you!
Basically if the majority today vote yes to the question ‘should Scotland be an independent country’ we will be breaking away from the rest of the UK and be on our own. No real questions have been answered on the future, how much it will cost, pensions, banking systems, currency etc so the thought that this could actually happen is so frightening! At a time when the world really needs to come together, we could be drifting apart – as the UK, we can be so much stronger. Thank you for the luck though, lets hope all will be well when we find out the result tomorrow :-S
Love John. Almost as much as I love Zac Brown. Not the point. The point is that this post is spot on. I love that you’re discovering all of these things and that you’ve turned to music. When my life blew up two years ago, I couldn’t listen to ANY music without it making me ridiculously sad, so I started listening to NPR, and I never went back. Now when I hear a really great song (rarely) I am reminded of how much music can really do.
I couldn’t listen to music for a month or two. Then my therapist told me if I don’t start listening again I’ll be giving too much power to those sad feelings I think I’m going to feel while listening to music. I’m really glad I pushed through because I can’t imagine my life without it! Not that NPR doesn’t have it’s benefits too 🙂
I couldn’t love this post anymore. I have SO been here, and am happy to say that the last few months have been really happy for me. I am SO content being ALONE and while it took me over a year and a half to get here (after my last breakup) I know this is where I am meant to be!! This song is great, I just adore John Mayer!!
I’ve never participated in WIAW…I just can’t. HA. Glad you decided to step away from it. 😉
Being alone is interesting because I’ve found I’m less lonely by being alone. Does that make sense? haha. And yeah I definitely needed to hop off the WIAW-train for awhile 😉
Hahah, your honest protest made me so happy! Totallly love that!! Ya know, I think everybody is thinking it…
Great topic–hits so many people right in the gut!! I’ve never been much of a worrier, thank GOODNESS, but I’ve had friends who are and it’s LIFE SUCKING!
Great advice I once heard–love yourself because you’ll be spending the most time with YOU. When I heard that, I quit finding faults in myself, but decided I was a rock star, and hanging out with my… by myself was awesome 😉
Haha so true. We spend waaay too much time with ourselves to be a) hating on ourselves or b) not getting to know ourselves. It’s a worthy investment 🙂
I love that you dissected this song! Those lyrics obviously mean so much to you and I love that!!! I’m a big fan of all the parts you mentioned and what you shared about your connection with those words. Love you!
Thanks girl! I love this song 🙂