What The Summer Has Taught Me (Pt. 2)

August 22nd 2017

Another summer has gone by where I have learned some stuff, changed some things, and got a little better from the whole experience…

I feel like Summer is a really unique period in the year where it isn’t exactly a transition, but a warm up before a new transitional period. This period offers a lot in terms of lessons and new experiences so I try to take time each year to write out what the Summer has taught me as I move onto a new phase of life.

1. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, but sometimes it is better that way-  It is natural to go into things with expectations, but sometimes your path leads you in a different direction. Don’t get discouraged when things don’t go exactly as you hoped. It probably just means that there is something else to discover along the way.
2. You can love something without turning it into a career right away- It is healthy to dream. It is healthy to make plans for the future. But don’t get so wrapped up in doing everything at once that you never reach an individual goal. You can love things without making them a career…at least not all at once.
3. What you believe is what you receive- Manifestation is actually a thing. I always thought manifestation was some crock of BS that people would preach to get you to think positive. But honestly, manifestation is a super powerful force that shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you send positivity into the world, you may not always see it come back right away, but when it does it is beautiful and well deserved. The same goes for negative energy. The more shit you put out into the universe, the deeper into shit you will fall.
4. Your life is not set in stone- I used to panic so much about feeling stuck in situations I don’t like, but the future isn’t set in stone. If you want to get out of something, then you can. There is a world of possibilities.
5. It is important to allign yourself with people who have ambitions if you want to grow- Your growth benefits from being surrounded by growth. Having friends who desire to improve their situation, reach towards dreams, and go somewhere with their futures, are the kind of people you should surround yourself with if you want to see the same growth in yourself.
6. Having nothing to do can be a blessing- I have been busy all summer. Being busy isn’t a bad thing, but I find myself gasping for air and grasping at free time. I used to feel down when I had nothing to do on a given summer day, but I’ve come to realize, a night off here and there is necessary in helping my mind and body recover.
7. If you’re feeling low, talk to someone- It is easy to bottle up your feelings and put up a front in order to appear as though everything is alright. Whether you’re embarrassed to admit something is wrong or worried about being a burden, talking to someone is better than suffering in silence. It is alright to not be alright and the people who care about you will want to help you in whatever way they can.
8. You can be a spiritual person and still experience sadness, anger, and fear- It is a weird misconception that when you’re spiritual and zen that you have to put up this front of happiness and enlightenment, but you don’t. A true spiritual being is aware that sadness, anger, and fear are all equally as valid emotions to happiness, tranquility, and enlightenment. Let yourself feel all things, it is only human.
9. As you get older, you may see certain friends less but that doesn’t mean they have forgotten you- I used to think that if I went too long without reaching out to or seeing a certain friend they would be gone forever. Although in some cases that is true, I have found, in my adult life, that many of my friends have stuck around even if I only see them once a month if even that. A friend is a friend so long as you both know you can count on one another no matter how crazy things get.
10. Success is 80% effort and 20% patience- It is easy to feel discouraged when you feel that you’re putting a heaping ton of effort into a goal that is progressing slowly, but slow progress is different than no progress. Appreciate the small milestones and realize that if you work hard, you’ll get to where you’re meant to be.
11. Life makes sure you end up in the right place- Sometimes it hurts when we lose something we though we wanted, but this is just the universe’s way of telling us that it isn’t part of our path. In short, everything does, in fact, happen for a reason.

Overall, this summer has been incredibly transformational for me and I can’t wait to grow even further. I hope to grow along with this blog and that the rest of the year ahead is full of love, light, yoga, good books, great music, and tons and tons of writing~

Jess~