Do Whatever the Hell You Want to

So I guess this comes in the form of a half motivational post - half rant.

Literally at least once a week, if not more frequently, someone tells me that they "wish they could travel as long as I do" or that they are "so jealous" of my life. These people are usually 20-somethings like myself, often are not in school, and are working in minimum wage jobs that they hate while living at home with their parents.

I'm going to drop a truth bomb on you right now.

You can do whatever you want.

I know, people will immediately say that you can't just fly to pluto, or levitate objects with your mind, or burn your ex boyfriend's house to the ground (okay well that's more of a you really should not do than a can't).

If you want to travel, you are completely capable of making that happen.

If you want to be a writer, start writing things and submitting them everywhere, blog, self publish.

If you want to make crafts or art for a living, start an etsy and learn everything you can about photography and self promotion.

We live in a world with not only vast libraries of knowledge, but the wonder of the internet which makes mountains of information available to us FOR FREE.

If you aren't willing to put in the time to chase your dreams, you are never going to be living them.

#endrant

Finding Your Mantra

I am a firm believer in having a simple, repeatable phrase which governs all of the decisions made in one's life. I find it to be incredibly grounding and self assuring in those moments when we inevitably find ourselves making more difficult decisions, or facing self doubt.

My mantra for the last few years has been "make pretty things". Corny, I know, but let me expand.

"make pretty things" is a constant reminder that when I'm stressed out, I should probably pick up my yarn, or make some jewelry, or spin some fiber, and release whatever tension I am carrying into something positive and lovely that will either bring me or another person joy.

"make pretty things" is a reminder that all the energy I bring into the universe should be beautiful and positive and bettering to those around me.

"make pretty things" is also a statement that if the world is being gross and terrible and filled with ugliness and cruelty, it is my responsibility to attempt to make it prettier.

See how many things I can pull out of one simple mantra?

Find one that makes sense to you, and say it out loud literally every day when you wake up, every time you are stressed out, and every time you feel like you need a little reminder of what makes you so wonderful and uniquely glorious.

I highly recommend meditating and burning a little sage for clarity while searching for your own mantra, but if you need some suggestions, here's a few to test run:

- " I am enough"

- "I choose love"

- "I create/design my own life"

- "The universe sends me everything I need in any moment"

Do you already have a mantra? Is is ridiculously awesome? Share it in the comments!

Cheers,