Who Are You?

I don't know about you, but sometimes I tend to get a bit too down on myself. I start seeing all the negatives about myself rather than the positives. I start focusing on the countless things that I didn't get done during the day rather than feeling good about all that I did do.

This can really take it's toll on you! Do we really need to put more stress on ourselves? Society tries hard enough to make us feel bad about ourselves. Why do this to ourselves? So every so often, when I find myself doing just that, I stop and declare five positive things that describe me. Or 5 positive things that I love about myself. If I'm feeling a little creative, or need more of a visual, I'll turn it into a picture and make it my cell phone's home screen for a while.

Sometimes, if I'm being particularly negative and down on myself or my body I will turn the negatives into positives. For instance, I may be thinking:

• "My legs are so huge." Nope!! Turn that trash around and turn it into "My legs are STRONG. They carry me throughout my day and never give out on me." 
• "UGH!! My belly is so fat." Nooo. Turn that into "My belly housed three beautiful lives that grew inside of me. My belly has made a very comfy pillow for my beautiful babies."
• "Sheesh! Look at these flabby arms!" Know where I'm going with this one? "My arms have rocked my beautiful babies to sleep. They have snuggled them as they so sweetly slumbered. They have helped pick my kiddies up after a fall and hugged them tightly while I showered them with kisses. They have hugged friends or family that were feeling down. My arms ROCK!!!"

Positivity really is a state of mind. And when you embrace positivity and project it out into the universe, even more positivity comes back your way. Changing the way I think has changed the way I see things. And changing the way I see things has totally changed my life. Try it and see if you don't feel sooo much better!

Love and Light!
XOXO
RyanAnn

100 Happy Days...

Day 4: Baking makes me happy. It's my little break from the world. My momentary escape from the madness. I love that no matter how craptastic of a day I'm having, I can retreat to my kitchen, turn on some music, and zone out while creating something delicious with my own 2 hands. Something that puts a smile on other people's faces. This is one of my many happy places. #100happydays

100 Happy Days..

Day 3: My Lucy makes me happy. She is such an old soul. I've never known SUCH a genuinely kind spirit with so much compassion and sweetness, let alone from a girl her age. She truly sees the good in everyone no matter how terribly someone treats her. She's always willing to help someone even if she's tired or sick. She loves everyone for exactly who they are rather than what they can do for her. At almost 12, she still loves to snuggle with me and when we go out in public she voluntarily and unashamedly holds my hand and gives me hugs and kisses. Truth be told,  I was always scared to have a daughter because I was the furthest thing from girly and didn't think I'd know what to do with one. But when she came along, she softened my heart. And dare I say that SHE teaches ME more than I teach her. She makes me see the world in a completely different way. She is going to do BIG things in this world. Just you watch. #100happydays

100 Happy Days

Day 2: Fall makes me happy. I'm not into pumpkin flavored everything, tho. I just love the cool crisp weather, coffee and hot chocolate, gorgeous colorful leaves everywhere, coffee and hot chocolate,  ripped up jeans, hoodies, coffee and hot chocolate, bonfires... Did I mention coffee and hot chocolate? lol  Mmmmm yessss!! ‪#‎100happydays‬

100 Happy Days...

I've decided to participate in the 100 happy days challenge. Most often we are FAR more blessed than we realize. It can be hard to see the positives amidst the day to day grind that is life. I'm guilty of this far more often than I'd like to admit. Soooo, I'm breaking that cycle. So for the next 100 days, you're stuck seeing a post a day about something that makes me happy.

Day 1: Roller Derby makes me happy. (and less stressed. and proud. and more confident. and.. and.. I could go on forever.) I truly believe that roller derby saved my soul. Probably my sanity, too. It has certainly done amazing things for my low self esteem. My team is such an amazing group of strong supportive women lifting each other up and encouraging one another. Add to that, that I get to push myself and test my limits on a constant basis. I get to defy what my body and mind say that I can't do.I get to learn new things every single practice- both about derby and about myself. I'm so beyond happy that I finally took the plunge and joined last year. #100happydays