Motivational Monday | A Ship in the Harbor is Safe…

…but that’s not why ships are built.

 { Framed portrait from Emily‘s home, pic snapped by Sam }

I love this quote.

I love everything it’s saying about everything and everyone everywhere in life.

I’ve always had somewhat of this feeling that in life, when it comes to true freedom and happiness, it’s when you are fulfilling and doing what you were designed or made to do.

Though I never knew how to phrase it so eloquently, it came through in the way I lived my life.

For instance, I always hate not using up everything to its fullest potential. Every single last drop of toothpaste must be squeezed out of the tube before getting tossed. I will wear my jeans until they rip at the butt seams — even if that rip takes place in the middle of a hip hop dance class (true story). I used to practice my handwriting with both hands because I felt bad that my left hand wasn’t getting any action.

I feel this way about people as well. Too many settle for what’s right in front of them, preferring the safety of boundaries and known means. You can do that but you will never feel the full adrenaline rush of pushing yourself to the limit and seeing what the sky can drop on your lap when you are open to receiving it.

Just try to sail a little. See how you like it.

posted by Janice | Comments: 1 | Inspirations

Motivational Monday | Be Great By Hanging Out With Great People

Thank you to anyone in my life who has ever encouraged me to chase my dreams. Anyone who has ever believed in me. Anyone who has steered me in the right direction, the right way of thinking. Anyone who has ever seen something in myself that I did not.

I learned an amazing new life lesson a couple of months ago. It’s a  lesson I had abstractly known about before but never was concretely put into a sentence that made a “BAM” in my life until one sunny afternoon, at a Women in Power luncheon thrown by my friend, Carrie, one of the guests said that growing up, she took after her grandmother who lived her life helping others around her. Basically, the lesson is this:

“Ask not what others can do for you, but what you can do for others.”

Simple, right?

But seriously, how often — how honestly often — do we actually practice this? How often do we view everyone around us as competitors instead of as partners in crime? How often do we fail to pass on the fruits of our labor, our expertise, our advice, to the next generation? How often do we keep our contacts to ourselves because we’re afraid someone we help might end up becoming better than us?

You are who you hang out with. So if you keep the mentality that you should only be around people who you can use — financially, emotionally, socially — then the people you hang out with most likely think the same way. They will just be using you financially, emotionally, socially. However, if you hold the mentality that you can give generously to those around you regardless of the outcome, most likely you will be surrounding yourself with those that think this same way. Sure, every once in awhile you’ll get conned by someone who only wants to use you but don’t worry, they’ll get their comeuppance (always wanted to use that word).

Currently, one of the books I’m reading is Never Eat Alone (thanks Jono!) by Keith Ferrazzi. Keith shares this nugget of wisdom:

“It’s better to give before you receive. Never keep score. If your interactions are ruled by generosity, your rewards will follow suit.”

If my reward happens to be that I will be able to sleep soundly every night, never having to wonder whether those around me are just using me to get to the top and that they truly love me for me, then that is reward enough.

What do you think? Am I naive in thinking this way? Yay or nay?

posted by Janice | Comments: 4 | Inspirations

Motivational Monday: Impossible Is Just A Big Word…

{Image via ©Thomas Hoepker-Magnum}

I was born with a weird condition of thinking I could do anything in this world. This fearlessness allowed me to take chances, wear my heart on my sleeves, make a fool out of myself in front of lots and lots of people.

But then sadly, over the years, something changed. This word “impossible” began to creep in. It began to infiltrate my thoughts.

posted by Janice | Comments: 5 | God, Inspirations, Uncategorized

Motivational Monday: Live Like Lady (Gaga)

“It is never too late to reinvent yourself. You can rise from the ashes of even your biggest crashes.”

~The Single Woman

posted by Janice | Comments: 3 | Inspirations

Motivational Monday: Season of Singleness

Never seek the company of another to avoid your own. Sooner or later you will have to face yourself.

~via @TheSingleWoman

posted by Janice | Comments: 2 | Blog, Inspirations, Love, Writing

Let’s Do This

The writing's on the wall

Sometimes a girl just needs to wake up to a little motivation.

I think I have officially hit the mark where the “f” has left “funemployment” and wishing the “un” would join the “f” so that I can just have “employment.” I feel like I’m running a race with all the other unemployed, rushing to the finish line where a steady paycheck and health benefits and a long commute is waiting, and that I’m so behind, I might as well just walk. Heck – I might as well just stop for some donuts at the nearby coffee shop except oh wait, I have no money!  Somedays, I can hardly see the finish line. I just see my shoes hitting the pavement but it’s not moving forward.

posted by Janice | Comments: 8 | God, Job, Personal