Forget the presents, let's all be present

My new years resolution, that I have decided to start a few weeks early, is to be more present.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to sit down for dinner with someone and them not have to check their email, a sports update, or a social media site? Wouldn't it be nice if you could spend the holiday season telling your memories as you remember them, instead of pulling out your phone, logging into instagram and just showing the pictures that you have had the most likes on?

My biggest wish, and the best present that I could receive this year, is that the people that I surround myself with, will feel no need to check the stock market, bring up Adele's live performance, or the KY dude who is killing it on the Voice, but instead, will engage in conversation, make new memories, and reminisce on times that went by too quickly.

This year, the only thing my dad asked for Christmas, was for each of his kids to write in a journal all of the memories, good and bad, that we remember while growing up. While writing in my journal that I plan to give to him on Christmas, not one of those memories involve a phone. Not one of those memories involve some sort of social media account. However, every memory that I remembered from a young age until now had one thing in common, and it was a time that neither one of us had our phones out, that we were both totally present at a moment in time.

There are memories that I can still hear him laughing at me, or me laughing at him. One specific memory, that all of us kids can attest to, is sitting indian style in the kitchen floor on Sunday nights watching my dad make the best damn milkshake in town. When we were younger, we thought he put magic in that blender. Now that we are older, we know that it was just pure love. 

I guess my point is, is the memories I remember with my family, the ones that I really remember, are the ones when I am completely there. As you get older, because we all inevitably do, don't you want to look back and remember things other than being consumed by technology? I'll be honest, I couldn't tell you what I looked at on my phone and saw an hour ago, but I could tell you what me and a friend talked about a week ago, because that is what is important to me.

My challenge to you not only this holiday season but into the new year, is to put your phone down, push your stress aside, stop worrying about yesterday, tomorrow or next year and just. be. present.

In the long run, your friends and loved ones will appreciate the fact that you will be present, and that will be the best present of all. 

Settling never got anyone anywhere but down

Am I the only one looking back at this past year wondering where the hell the time has gone? Life is funny, because sometimes, we get so caught up in making plans, worrying about our next career choice, listing resolutions, and plotting our escape strategy that we forget to actually live.

Thirty days stand between us and 2016.


For the first time in a long time, I can look back at this year and pat myself on the back. No, I didn't settle down into a career, I actually did the opposite. I didn't start putting money into my 401K, but I do have some pretty kick ass memories to tell with the money I didn't save. I wish I could tell you that I followed my (once) dreams of becoming a journalist, and now I'm living in a big ol' city, but the funny thing about dreams, is that sometimes, they tend to change.

I'll tell you what I did do though. I walked away from a career that I thought would make me happy, because it no longer did. By doing that, I was able to start a job with a company that allowed me to travel all over the country. Not only did I make so many memories, shake hands and meet quite a few great people, but I was able to take a step in the right direction...the direction towards happiness. Little did I know that during a job that I thought was just buying me time to figure out my life, everything was slowly falling into place, and now I sit here a month left of 2015, and couldn't be happier. I am now working for a company (shout out Lululemon) that not only allows me to be the best version of myself, but I am encouraged to spread good vibes and fuel happiness to everyone around me. I get to spend my days encouraging people to be active in their community, and to help them be comfortable in their own skin. By doing this, I have not only seen happiness flare up in those around me, but in myself too.

You know what 2015 taught me? After eight jobs, hours of traveling for work, sleepless nights, and long worked days, everything always seems to work out just as it should. People who knew me two years ago wouldn't recognize me today. We all go through hardships, bad days, bad months, hell, even bad years, but those small pieces are only a part of the puzzle, to one day lead, to the bigger picture.

My puzzle isn't even half way done, and neither is yours. If you aren't happy with how things went this year, change one thing going into 2016. That might be your job choice, a toxic relationship, or maybe even the city that you are living in. My hope is for you to one day look back at your year and feel nothing but happiness. My hope is for you to find someone who isn't afraid to go the distance, and is satisfied with chocolate kisses when you aren't there to give the real ones.

 My hope is for you to not settle, because settling never got anyone anywhere but down.