Perspective

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Once an 'Addict', Always an 'Addict'

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Once an 'Addict', Always an 'Addict'

There is a lot of debate in the recovery world about this phrase; half of me accepts it, while the other half resents it. Since becoming sober I have shared my story with hundreds of people and there are two things that occur: they either congratulate me on how far I have come or, they instinctively put me in a category that I did not ask to be put in.

In this post, I share how it feels to be constantly ‘labeled’, and I offer a new way to approach those with a past of addiction. At the end of the day, we are all just people, and regardless of if you were an ‘addict’ for a period of your life, you are so much more than that.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.  

Dear Society, I Have a Bone to Pick with You!

Dear Society, I Have a Bone to Pick with You!

At one point or another, we have all felt the need to defend who we are, and it’s most likely due to the societal pressures we feel on a daily basis to be someone that we are not. We question our worth, and we question our purpose, when really, we should be questioning the standards society has made us believe that we need to live up to. What is it going to take for us to believe in ourselves, and when will we feel like we are enough in a world that tells us we are not?

In this post, I write a letter to ‘Society’, expressing some of my concerns, and offering ways for us to make it better. We shouldn’t feel like we need to change who we are to fit into some mold of ‘perfection.’ You are enough, we are enough, and together, we can make this world a better place to live.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.

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Stop Waiting for the 'Perfect Time'...There Isn't One!

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Stop Waiting for the 'Perfect Time'...There Isn't One!

We spend our days looking for ‘signs’ to take the next step, and we tell ourselves that the timing isn’t right, but what we are really doing, is holding ourselves back from pursuing what it is that we really want. We put our goals on hold, and let our dreams expire, and for what? Because we convinced ourselves that we would know when the timing was just right to move forward?

In this post, I talk about why timing will never be perfect, but also, I talk about why the perfect time is always right now. The ‘Perfect Time’ is a lovely idea, but in reality, it is just an excuse we tell ourselves to waste more time. Stop waiting for your life to start; just start it!

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you!

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Change Is Important... So, Why Do We Fight It?

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Change Is Important... So, Why Do We Fight It?

We have all been told that change is necessary for growth, and if this is the case, why do we avoid it at all costs? Is it fear of the unknown that we are the most afraid of? Or is it the comfort of an ‘okay’ life that keeps us from feeling like anything needs to change in the first place? Change is scary and you are not alone in thinking that, but also, the only thing you should fear, is never getting to experience your fullest life; the one on the other side of change.  

 
In this post, I talk about the importance of change in our lives, and why we shouldn’t fear it as much as we should just embrace it. Change is inevitable, and it will hurt a lot less if we don’t fight it.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.

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It's A Hopeless Time to Be A Hopeless Romantic!

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It's A Hopeless Time to Be A Hopeless Romantic!

Dating in this day and age has become much more complicated than it needs to be, and it certainly has changed drastically in the last 10 years alone. Whatever happened to being able to strike up a conversation with a stranger, or letting someone know how you feel about them without playing games? With online dating apps becoming the social norm, it has become a difficult time for 'hopeless romantics' to find that good old fashioned story you now only read about, or see in movies. 

In this post, I talk about some of the frustrations I have come across with dating apps, and I provide a positive perspective for those who may be feeling a bit hopeless. 

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.

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Setting Boundaries Is Not Selfish; It's Survival!

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Setting Boundaries Is Not Selfish; It's Survival!

One of the hardest challenges we must face in life is learning how to set boundaries within our relationships. What makes it so hard is the fact that we have grown so used to being a certain way, that it can feel like we are learning to walk again once we decide to put our foot down. Unfortunately, most people will never learn to set necessary boundaries, and I do not want you to fall into that category.
 
In this post, we will talk about recognizing when we need to take a step back and reevaluate some of the unhealthy boundaries we have in place currently. It is not selfish to value the relationship you have with yourself and to notice when you may be giving up too much of who you are. Creating boundaries is essential to your happiness, and it is a means of surviving this often, cruel world.
 
Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.

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“You Aren’t Enough!” & Other Lies My Mind Tries to Convince Me Of!

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“You Aren’t Enough!” & Other Lies My Mind Tries to Convince Me Of!

The idea for this article came to me while in the middle of another moment of weakness, and I decided it was time to talk about it. Not acknowledging our mental illnesses and pretending that everything is okay, I believe, is worse than the mental illness itself. I refuse to let my anxiety get the best of me, or my depression to feed off the worst. I no longer want to feel like I must stay quiet about topics that need to be talked about, so I am here to talk about my own.

In this post, I talk about the lies my mind has often been good at convincing me of, and what I do when I go into panic mode. Whether these moments of weakness last a couple hours, a couple days, or a couple weeks, I am slowly but surely learning how to talk about them because I KNOW I am not alone when it comes to being at war with myself.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you. 

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Fear Has Been Lying to Us This Whole Time!

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Fear Has Been Lying to Us This Whole Time!

We are all familiar with the feeling of fear, and at one point or another, we have allowed that fear to hold us back from our growth. Whether that be taking the plunge into a new career, ending a comfortable relationship, or moving to a new city - we have all questioned if we are capable of doing something we have never done before. 

In this post, I will discuss the importance of challenging those fears that we create in our minds, and I provide examples of how facing my own fears has changed my life for the better. Fear is a LIAR, and it is about time that we stop listening to it. The life you are meant to live is right on the other side of that fence we have allowed fear to build.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.

Don't Count Me Out Just Because I Am a 'Millennial'

Don't Count Me Out Just Because I Am a 'Millennial'

When reading articles on the ‘Millennial’ generation, I was disappointed to find out that almost all of them revolve around what is wrong with us, vs. what it is that we can bring to the table. I have always known that the generation I fall under has a bad reputation, but I guess I never realized just how many outside opinions there were from people who don’t know what it’s like to grow up in the time that we did.

In this post, I bring to light the characteristics of a ‘Millennial’ that seem to get looked over, and the reasons for why I am proud to be a part of a generation that has and is, making a very large impact on this world.

Whether you like us, or not, Millennials DO have something to say, and I am here to speak on behalf of those that are tired of having to defend something that was ultimately out of our control.

Thank you for you reading. I appreciate you.

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We are All Healing on Our Own Timeline!

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We are All Healing on Our Own Timeline!

Have you ever felt pressure to be at a different place in your life? Or maybe, you are starting to feel like you should have progressed quicker in certain areas? When it comes to ‘Healing’, I have found that most of us are constantly comparing ourselves to those around us, and criticizing ourselves harshly on not being where we feel like we should.

In this post, I use my recovery timeline as an example to show that we are all healing at different speeds, and THAT IS OKAY! We may not be exactly where we want, but it is important that we recognize that everyone is healing from various things; some that take much longer than others.

Regardless of where you are in your ‘Healing’ timeline, I am here to remind you that you are exactly where you are supposed to be, and in due time, you will see why not all things work out the way we want them too.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.

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You DO NOT Have to Like Every Person You Meet!

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You DO NOT Have to Like Every Person You Meet!

Throughout our lives, we are going to come across certain people that we just can't seem to get along with, but you know what? This is okay. If you are anything like me, there have been a handful of times where you have felt the need to like someone just because it made the situation less uncomfortable. This could be in regards to the beginning of a romantic relationship, professional acquaintance, or the friend of friend that you just cannot relate to; and not from lack of trying. 

In this post, I talk about situations where we feel like we need to 'like' someone. I share my perspective on why we need to stop doing this, and why it is okay to not connect with every person that we come across.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.

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The Role of 'Best Friend' is One of the Most Important!

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The Role of 'Best Friend' is One of the Most Important!

How many of you knew that #NationalBestFriendDay was this past week? (How many of you knew that there is a #NationalDay for practically everything?) I have always been a big supporter of this day specifically, and it is because I think the role of a ‘best friend’ needs to be celebrated more. Despite being proud of the independence I have created for myself, the ‘best friend’s’ I have in my life are a huge part of my strong personal foundation.

In this post, I talk about the importance of friendship, and I explain why the role of a ‘best friend’ should be celebrated on more than just one day. In a world that is constantly challenging our every move, thought, and belief, it is nice to know that there is someone out there who makes our world a better place. 

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.

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Stop Telling Us We are Suffering. We are SURVIVING!

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Stop Telling Us We are Suffering. We are SURVIVING!

If you didn’t know already, May is the month of Mental Health, and because of this, I decided to start, and end the month with articles both surrounding this topic. It is no surprise that I am not a stranger to my own mental illnesses, but I am here to speak up for those that haven’t figured out a way to talk about their own.

I have never been a fan of using the adjective “Suffering” when it comes to describing how I choose to cope with my own struggles, for I have always thought the word “Surviving” would be more appropriate. We need to stop making it so easy for people to form a stigma around mental health. We need to show the world that we are surviving nonetheless, and we should not be treated any differently.

In this post, I challenge the all too common belief about mental health, and I offer a new perspective for those that may judge what they don’t understand.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you. 

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"What Do I Want to Do With My Life?" - Do We Ever Really Know?

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"What Do I Want to Do With My Life?" - Do We Ever Really Know?

I am sure you have asked yourself at least once or twice, "What Do I Want to Do with My Life?" And the answer to this can be kind of scary, especially when you don't really have one. This goes for all ages of people, and of all levels in their career. 

Do we ever really know what we want to do for the rest of our lives? How is one truly supposed to know if we are living out our life's purpose? 

In this blog post, I point out some alarming statistics, and I beg the question, "What Do I Want to Do With My Life?"

Thank you for reading! I appreciate you!

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Success: How Do You Define It? Is It Defining You?

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Success: How Do You Define It? Is It Defining You?

We all define success differently, but the question is, are YOU defining it correctly? More times than not, we feel pressure to make the most money, have the nicest things, and live, in what one could argue, an unattainable lifestyle. So, where do we draw the line? And at what point does success no longer mean happiness?

In this blog post, I will challenge you to define what success means to you, and I will offer you a new way to answer the question, "What do you do for a living?"

 

HOW TO BE In A World That Is Telling You How To Be

HOW TO BE In A World That Is Telling You How To Be

Do you worry too much about the opinions of others? Are you constantly comparing yourself to what the media considers to be 'beautiful'? I don't blame you, because it is damn near impossible not to be bombarded with societal pressures every single day. So how do we see past our imperfections, and the little things that make us feel less than? 

In this blog post, I discuss how we can go about living out our days loving who we are, and how to be...ourselves. 

Stop Living In Any Moment That is Not Right Now

Stop Living In Any Moment That is Not Right Now

Why do we do that? Why do we spend so much time thinking about the past, and stressing about the future?  Why can't we just enjoy the moment we are in right now, and recognize that these are the moments that shape us?

We can't change what has happened, and we can't predict what the future holds, but we can choose to focus on what we are doing right now. What we spend our time on, and what we choose to allow in our lives, is what we should concentrate on. Your past has shaped you, your future is up to you, and right now is how you will get there.

So how do we do it? 

Dear Moderation, Who are you? And why have we never met?

Dear Moderation, Who are you? And why have we never met?

Is there something in your life that you could probably use less of? Whether that be technology, alcohol, caffeine, or prescription drugs, there are so many of us that have formed bad habits, that we no longer recognize what we have lost control over. Moderation in all things in life is an important thing to learn, because as I have gotten older, I have learned that too much of anything can be bad. Lack of balance can lead to addiction. So at what point does a habit become a problem, and at what point do we need to address it? Moderation is a good thing to practice at all ages, and in everything we do.  

Why are we so afraid of our own potential?

Why are we so afraid of our own potential?

Are you holding yourself back from accomplishing your dreams? Are you stuck in a 'comfort zone' that you are trying to get out of? Are you worried that your own success will cause insecurities within other people? 

A lot of people are guilty of this; including myself. Why do we do this? We all have the potential to be something greater, so at what point do we follow our dreams, and at what point do we stop being so afraid?