Good Morning! Currently, I am still in Florida soaking in time with friends in St. Augustine and family in Orlando later tonight.
Even though I am unplugging, I haven’t forgotten about you guys and today I would like to bring up a new Coffee Talk: Food For Thought!
After introducing the series earlier this month, I received a lot of positive feedback and became so happy to see a lot of you on board with the many posts to come. As much as I love talking food and fitness on the blog, I share an equal love for chatting about life and what we make of it along the way.
So, thank you for being so open to it!
(Have I mentioned you guys rock? Well, you do.)
Coffee Talk: Creating Who You Are
Go on. Grab a cup o’ coffee (or tea!) and let’s discuss…
The last five of years of my life have without question been the most challenging. It started with trying to figure out “what’s next” after my college graduation, and is still very much a concept and thought I face on a daily basis at 28-years-old.
Finding Ourselves vs. Creating Ourselves
It’s only human to wonder what the future has in store for us. The majority of us have (at least at one point in our lives) wished we could tap into the future and take a peek, even just for a few seconds to see what in entails.
– Am I going to get that job and will it really be a good opportunity for me?
– Is moving here going to make me happy?
– Am I going to end up with this person for the rest of my life?
(Don’t we all just wish that black Magic 8-Ball could tell us the answers?!)
As much as we want to plan out our lives and control everything, we must accept the reality that we can’t. And maybe that’s a good thing!
I truly believe that every single thing that happens in our lives is for a reason. Every person we meet was placed there for a specific purpose, and every relationship we go through teaches us something new.
As much as we question the bad and don’t understand the tragedies, who we are is greatly shaped by who and where we’ve been.
In order to move past the past, we have to pull the brakes on the control.
We can’t always figure “it” out, and when that happens we just have to roll with it. Whatever it is that we are looking for, we have to let that go and realize some things are just not meant to be found.
This is a concept I have been battling a lot lately. As we start to wrap up the end of our NBA season, I can’t help but to get those “what’s next” feelings all over again.
(If I am not dancing, what the heck am I going to do?)
My answer? A whole lot. Nothing specific, and no detailed answers to tell, but I really can’t wait to see what it is.
On Friday, I shared a picture of a quote I found while perusing the greeting card aisle at the grocery store. Something told me to go over there, and when I did, it made me stop right in my tracks and think.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
It really doesn’t get any simpler that that.
What are we really trying to find anyways? The answers?
Instead of worrying about finding who we are, channel that energy in who you can become.
– Create who you want to be.
– List out your goals and figure out how to achieve them.
– Define the type of person you want people to think of you as and work hard to become whatever that is.
As smitten as I had become with this little magnet, Scott also shared something almost identical on his social media pages the very next day:
And for the record, he hadn’t even noticed my quote on the refrigerator yet! Yeah. I think we all think about this from time to time.
Food For Thought:
Creating Yourself and Who You Want To Be
One of the greatest success stories about moving past struggle and creating greatness came directly from a dear friend of mine, Nichole.
You have probably seen her picture pop up a few times, as she is one of my close friends and teammates.
Since the very first day I met her, I pinned her as a very happy, hard-working person. Right away, I could tell she appreciated life in a special way and only wants to give off positive energy to whoever she encounters.
As the months go by, she has only gone on to exceed my expectations. Being a true light in this sometimes dark world, I think everyone who is lucky enough to know her should consider themselves at an advantage.
Just a couple of days ago, Nichole’s story of how she created herself came out. She was selected by her school newspaper as a graduating senior who has gone through adversity.
Through this article, I learned the details of her struggles overcoming brain surgery (twice), graduating college (on time), and making a professional dance team after she was told she shouldn’t dance again.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t tear up a bit reading it. As a close friend, and someone who has described me to be an inspiration, I am forever thankful to have met her and have been touched to have her in my life.
Nichole looks at life in a different way and always remembers that someone out there is always going through something worse. Somehow, she continuously finds silver lining in any situation and has been an absolute blessing to hang around.
Just a few months ago, she even started a blog dedicated to inspiring others. She is, without a doubt, creating exactly who she wants and sees herself to be! You go girl!
And I think that concludes the ramble for today… I hope you enjoyed this little nugget of Monday motivation.
(Also, I am linking up with Katie because, well, everything about this is marvelous in my book.)
Here’s to kicking off the week to a great start. See ya tomorrow!
Questions of the Day
• Where are you focusing your energy? Finding or creating yourself?
• What is one thing that keeps you pressing towards the future?
Runner Girl Eats
As a 28 year old that is still wondering “What’s next?!” I can absolutely relate to this. As much as I would love to know where I will be in the next few years, I am learning to embrace the unknown and enjoy the journey. Have fun in Florida, it’s gorgeous here lately!!
Heather
It certainly is! Wish I had more time to stay longer. And, embracing the unknown is the best you can do!
IHeartVegetables
Seeing how other people overcome obstacles like that really helps put things in perspective!
Heather
I know. I love reading such inspirational stories! 🙂
Heather
I love this post, lady! As a 27 year old who quit her job when she got pregnant and changed her career path, I would say this is in my head on a daily basis! Even though I found my passion and am pursuing it, I always wonder if I have what it takes to be truly successful. Thank you for sharing your friends story, too! I am heading over there to read it now- I think it is important to take a look at what others have accomplished in the face of adversity- it’s an inspiration!
Heather
For sure. I love hearing such great success stories! And good for you for pursing your dreams! Sometimes you just have to go with the unknown and make the best of each situation to truly enjoy your future! 🙂
Chrissy @pinkpolishandrunningshoes
I can definitely relate to this post. As a 27 year old, I ask myself most of these questions on a daily basis, but I also try to remind myself that everyone has their own path in life and we all get wherever it is we’re “going” at our own pace. Most likely you are exactly where you’re supposed to be right now 🙂 .
Heather
Exactly! That’s all you can do really. No matter how much I miss my “home” at times, I know I am going through exactly what I’m supposed to in order to become the person I am supposed to be. 🙂
Jess
As I’m moving to Florida within weeks, that’s my daily question: what’s next? Curious enough, during the weekend I was “trying” to organize all my documents on the computer, then I saw a document named Law School essay. I opened it, and I found that the only thing I wrote was the question: Who do you want to be? No answers, just an empty document, that I created when I was certain that I wanted to go to law school. Then I wondered during the weekend, who do I want to be? I analyze it and I’m trying to figure it out. Not only that, but everything.
I know lots of people that literally know everything, or at least it looks like they do, and then I see myself still wondering what’s next? I don’t want to fall in the comparison trap, because I do know somethings that I want, but I believe that I need the courage to work towards them. This is definitively food for thought! Love this post, I really do!! Thanks for sharing!
Heather
That’s really something neat to look back at. Definitely a good reminder to think towards the future. You’re very right though, you can’t think about others when you think about your personal dreams and goals. Think of you and the person you want to create yourself to be! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Nichole
I love you so much<3 this post was incredible. And just thank you<3 you are an inspiration to me and I am so happy you are in my life.
Jessica @ Farm Fresh + Fit
Oh my goodness, her story is amazing and great inspiration to everyone to live life to the fullest! I have regrets on where my husband and I built our home (one family land with no hopes to sell unless we piss the whole family off) all the time, I want to move and explore so bad now that I’m older and really realize who I am and what I want BUT I am learning to embrace my situation because I know God’s got this and he’ll carry out his plan regardless of what mine is. Thanks for the sharing her story, it was truly amazing to read!
Allison T.
Love love love this post! It’s exactly how I have often felt!