Happy Mardi Gras!

Hey everyone! Happy Mardi Gras! Today is the day where we celebrate by consuming pancakes! I love eating pancakes. I’m going to be having pancakes for dinner tonight. I cannot wait! It is also a day where you wear purple, gold, and green. Whereas purple represents justice, gold represents power, and green represents faith.

Mardi Gras translates into Fat Tuesday, because it’s a day where people use up their ingredients such as milk, eggs, flour, and sugars since most people will be fasting starting tomorrow until Easter for Lent. I don’t partake in this, because that was how I was raised. But I would love to go to New Orleans to see all of the celebrations. I have never been to New Orleans before, so I would love to visit.

I hope everyone is enjoying their day.

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Keep Holding On – Avril Lavigne

I have always loved this song. I have been a big fan of Avril Lavigne since day one, when I saw Complicated on the TV back in 2002.

This song will always have a special place in my heart. I remember my family went out for a family birthday, and my mom had found out that her cousin had passed away. He was very sick, and was in the hospital, trying to get better, but unfortunately he didn’t make it. My mom was crying during the car ride back home, and this song was playing on the radio. Being 12 and seeing your mama cry is heartbreaking because there wasn’t much I can do to help her better, aside from hugging her. I wasn’t overly close to him, like my mama was, but what made it sad for me was seeing my mama grieve her cousin’s loss. This song gave me hope that things will get better. I had never been to a funeral before.

It was really a sad time, because when he had passed away his girlfriend was was pregnant, and their eldest daughter was only two years old at the time. He had so much life ahead of him.

I know that everyone has their struggles, so I hope that this helps you, and remind you that things may be difficult now, but keep holding on because things will get easier, and better.

“Nothing’s gonna change destiny
Whatever’s meant to be will work out perfectly”

-Avril Lavigne, Keep Holding On

Faith

“Preparation can only take you so far, after that you’ve got to take a few leaps of faith.”

-Michael Scofield, Prison Break

I love this quote because it is reminding me that no matter how prepared I am, I still have to take a leap of faith and trust my process.

25 Lessons I’ve Learned When I Was 25

Goodbye 25, hello 26!

Time is just flying by, but I have learned a lot of lessons. In honour of my 26th birthday here are 25 lessons I have learned in the past year…

1. Count my blessings — big or small. Having had a near death experience, I have learned to always be thankful for everyone and everything in my life.
2. It’s okay to change career paths. This year allowed for me to widen my horizons about my career and what I want to do. I haven’t actually finalized anything yet, but it’s good to have options. And I don’t need to make any decision right now, but I will have a decision soon.
3. To chase my dreams. I like to think that I learned a lot about myself. I rediscovered what is valuable to me and ways to pursue and reach my goals.
4. Never settle! I often felt like I need something better — a better job, a better place to live in. I felt like I had outgrown those things that I needed something else.
5. Always save up for a rainy day.  It’s important to set aside some money whenever you receive money, whether it be a pay cheque or a gift, etc.
6. Learn to enjoy the small things. Like Winnie the Pooh would say; “Sometimes it’s the smallest things that take up the most room in your heart.” I couldn’t agree more with that expression. I have been noticing and appreciating small moments in my life.
7. Make time for reading. I have been learning to spend more time reading. Reading is one of my favourite pasttime.
8. Practice good health care habits. There have been nights were I just get too cozy to brush my teeth or brush my hair, but I get up anyway, because I don’t want to regret it in the morning. I hate waking up to a big knot in my hair. So I always make sure to do these errands before I get too cozy.
9. Learning to let go. I have been purging through my belongings and donating things that no longer serves me or adds any value in my life. It isn’t just things that I am giving up, but the same goes for bad memories. I kept their lessons they have taught me, but I no longer need to be a prisoner of my past and wrongdoings.
10. There will be times where I’m not okay, and that’s okay. I have had my share of bad times this past year. And eventually I have gotten better and recovered from those hardships. It is okay to not be well every time. Time heals our wounds. And with my wounds, wisdom is followed. I used my wisdom to learn and get better.
11. Setbacks doesn’t mean I failed. Last year, I had left a job that I was at for two years to pursue a job in my educational field. Because it was only a seasonal job, I needed to find something else after my contract was finished. I applied to many different jobs, thinking this place is the one for me. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case, I wanted to do something different. Nothing had worked out for me, so I had to go back to the job that I worked at for the past two years. It made me feel like a failure and it took me awhile to only see it as a set back instead. Setbacks don’t equal failing at something, it just means that the road you are trying to get to is under construction. Which brings me to my next point…
12. Nothing is permanent. Everything is only temporary. So it reminds me that I should enjoy the good times because not everything can last forever. And for the bad things, I must not worry because they won’t last forever either. “Be strong because things will get better. It may be stormy now, but it can’t rain forever.”
13. Be cautious of who I spend my time with. They say the closest five people you spend most of your time with, determine many things. There are studies that say you pick up habits of your inner circle. So if I am not with people who bring out the best of me, and encourage me to be and do better, than I should find some other people.
14. I should love myself first. Before I can love anyone, I must make sure that the first person on the list is me. It is not selfish to love yourself. It is necessary because if I don’t (love myself), then I am showing the world that I don’t matter. And I do. I must treat myself like I am my own best friend.
15. Drink more water.
16. Whatever happens, stay calm. After my car crash, I was really worried, but I tried to stay calm regardless of what was happening to me.
17. Walking and exercising can solve most of your problems. This also helps reduce your stress and worries. And exercising has many other health benefits, too.
18. Pay down your debt often. Don’t wait to pay off something. My boyfriend and I are working on paying our debt and student loans. And once we finish paying it off, we vow to not go in debt again.
19. Make sleep a priority. As of lately, I have managed an inconsistent sleeping routine, which I am trying to break out of. I would either get too caught up in my books or a show that I can’t go to bed without knowing some answers until I read the next chapter and watch the next episode. Now, I am learning to develop my evening routine.
20. My words and beliefs become me. If I keep on thinking about positive things, positive things will come my way, and vice versa. I have to continue to think good thoughts if I want good things.
21. I must work for what I love. I will only work towards my passions and my goals.
22. I found that being successful begins with one small step and taking a leap of faith. As well as believing in myself and my goal itself.
23. I feel that with everything that this year has thrown at me, there were days where I didn’t feel like I was me. I’m sure everyone can relate to those days where they don’t feel like themselves anymore. Like the famous quote said; “In the forest I go to lose my mind, and find my soul.” I felt like I really connected with that quote this past year. In a sense with all of these loses I really did indeed find myself.
24. Whatever I think or believe in becomes my reality. So I make it my best to get my thoughts upbeat so everything that I want to come true, does. If I keep on thinking negatively, then only negative thoughts are going to happen.
25. Learn to express gratitude and always be thankful for what I have. I must not forget the hard work that other people do for me. And how much people love me. I should always show my gratitude no matter what.

Anchor

*Note this is not my tattoo, but I have actually considered something like this later. I think it is too intimidating.

During my shift that I was never scheduled to work a regular customer came in and he had an anchor on his shirt. I have a huge admiration for anchors.

I find that they represent a lot of things. This person’s tattoo symbolizes Hope. Faith and Love. That is important to me. But in general anchors are thrown into the water that is to hold the boat. That means no matter how rough or how stormy it is, you are strong enough to handle anything that comes your way. It offers stability.

It could also be a symbol to represent a loved one where you have been through a lot together. But no matter what tomorrow brings you will still stand by their side because you deeply care about them to not leave.

Be In The Now – Eckhart Tolle

“In today’s rush we think too much, seek too much, want too much and forget about the joy of just Being.”

-Eckhart Tolle

This quote is completely true. In this world we are all in a rush to get to point A to point B that we often forget to stay mindful. But it is important stay in the present.

We often feel the need to always want more, more and more but if we can’t be happy with what we have what makes us think that we will be content with more?

We must stay in the present. Don’t let yesterday’s mistakes, failures take up much space in your thoughts. Learn from it and move on. Don’t let your worries or doubts ruin your today.

Embrace the now! Let everything else go.

Oceans -Hillsong United

My dear friend introduced me to this song. I absolutely adore it! 🙂 ❤

Everything Happens For A Reason

We have all heard of the saying; “Everything happens for a reason even if we aren’t wise enough to it.”

I was at work earlier today and a friend of a friend of me crossed my path again. Him and I were talking and it was a really nice conversation. He hasn’t gotten the chance to check out my blog yet but I hope he does soon.

Anyway, I strongly believe that no matter what we are experiencing in our lives it is meant to happen. No need to manipulate or control the outcome of it. You are not in control. The Universe has a divine plan for us.

Every person we meet is there to teach us a lesson of some kind. Whether it to be to let go, to grow, to gain confidence in ourselves or to how to trust again. These are traits that are needed to rebuild ourselves after a hardship in our life.

Never give up. We can overcome anything because it is part of our path. Let it happen. And believe that it will be okay.