The World is Waiting.

Sometimes the world seems so broken. I wonder how the world will be when I decide to have kids. To be honest, it frightens me and makes me not want to have kids. I feel the world nowadays has lost its touch when it comes to compassion, love, respect, and truly giving.

I think the biggest problem is people are always waiting. They are waiting to be loved. They are waiting to be heard. They are waiting to be respected. They are waiting to give. They are waiting to show compassion. They are waiting for healing. They are waiting to pass on the generosity.

I believe that's the root of the problem. We shouldn't wait. We should anticipate. We should be proactive and not reactive. We should just love, listen and give without waiting to be compensated.

We should show compassion not because someone has shown it to us but because we simply know how it feels to need that helping hand.

If there are two things my mom taught that I'll never forget are...

1. Just because you didn't make the mess doesn't mean you don't have to clean it up.

To be honest... this is the reason I re-rack people's weights and grab a clean tissue to pick up the dirty tissue someone used to clean up the elliptical before using it.

But the one thing that was so bizarre for me to witness growing up was seeing my mom's kindness to everyone. Whenever. Wherever.

And so she'd say...

2. Just because someone is mean/rude to you... it doesn't give you the right to treat them the way they treated you.

I'm glad my mom chose to be the woman she is. Her patience and her good-will are admirable and to be frank I think that is why God allowed me to keep her.

So if I ever have the opportunity to become a mom (which will be an honor in my humble opinion). I want to make dreamers out of them. I want them to advocate kindness in the most simplest of ways. I want my kids to talk to the lonely kid sitting at the lunch table. I want them to open the door for the elderly lady. I don't want them to wait for someone to start cleaning the mess before they feel compelled to help out.

I wish I could say I'm not guilty of waiting but I am. When I'm in a public place sometimes I catch myself asking what's their story? Are they in school? If not do they wish they could go to school? (Woah I'm lucky to have had that opportunity) I hope all is well at home.  Are her kids keeping in touch... if she has kids? What's his dream? I hope he has someone who makes him feel like a million bucks! I hope she has a great Monday.

So to the guy who is on his third cup of coffee reading that trilogy of a science book... I'm sorry but I'm sure you will ace that exam!

Embrace the Journey.

 

XO

-J

Flying Solo

“Oh my gosh why would you that?” 

“You sound bitter… (He’s like a brother so he gets away with way too much.)” 

“Are you serious?” 

“If you want me to go with you just ask me…”

 Above are the responses I have received from my family and friends when I tell them I'm planning a trip by myself. 

 My feelings have gone from excitement with a side of nervous to just plain doubtfulness. What if I am really crazy...? What 22-year-old goes on solo trips? This prompted me to think about what I do on a day to day basis.

 

Examples of my craziness/weirdness:

1. I don't mind going to the movies by myself.
2. I have gone to dinner at a semi nice restaurant and sat at the bar reading a good book.
3. I love working out by myself.
4. I signed up for a half-marathon and trained all on my. [It's next Sunday in Dallas. Wish me luck!(:]

I absolutely have an amazing group of friends who would join me in a heart-beat. I feel incredibly grateful and proud to call them my friends. But I'm the type of person that needs to be reminded that I am able and capable. Of what exactly? Of anything!

 

I feel in your twenties you should do things that scare the crap out of you but empower you and inspire you to be a better person. Confidence and self-esteem are like muscles that we must exercise. 

 

I feel that when you graduate college it is so incredibly easy to settle and stay in that comfortable job that pays the bills and allows you to have a decent life. But to be honest, I have a million and one dreams in my suitcase that terrify me and thrill me at the same time. Those dreams will require confidence, fearlessness, determination, fire, resilience and thick skin. 

 

So a question I ask myself often is how do I prevent myself from settling. How can I remind myself of the fire that is within? How can I remind myself that I only have one life?

How do I remind myself in the middle of all the chaos of being twenty-something not to store my suitcase away but to keep it open and by the door? How can I learn to silence all the voices even from the people I love the most and say my decision is enough. I'm not crazy or being unreasonable. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p.s. Embrace the Journey.

 

p.p.s I'm so going!

 

 

XO

 

 -J