Happy New Year, y'all! I'm excited to get back to blogging and share even more content with you in 2017! Not gonna lie though, I'm kinda sad the holidays are over. I love how the city transforms into this magical place during the month of December. But I guess all good things must come to an end sooner or later. And maybe that's a good thing, considering all the indulging that I've done the past few weeks with holiday treats and cocktails. Thank GOD, for yoga pants!
A New Year is kinda like having a fresh start. Whatever held you back last year or didn't bring you joy, you can leave it all behind in 2016. And that is exactly what I plan on doing. Since leaving my 9-5 corporate job in the Summer of 2015, I have been in this awkward transition phase. I worked from home for awhile and have since been putting ideas together of starting my own business. My dream is to create a Lifestyle Brand that reflects me and has something for everyone's budget. And it has proven to be harder than I ever imagined. Not that I thought it would be easy, don't get me wrong. But having BIG DREAMS also means BIG CHALLENGES. So, here I am, back to the drawing board and pushing myself to do EVERYTHING I can to get this business off the ground this year.
I was recently explaining to a friend, over brunch, how you loose some of your confidence when you haven't worked in awhile. I have always been driven in my professional life. And I always succeeded in any position I held. But when you strip everything away and get back to the basics, it's easy to forget what you are actually capable of. You constantly fight off doubt and start to question yourself.
I also, allowed my personal life to overshadow my dreams and goals last year. My parents divorced and the aftermath was more that I could handle at times. I spent months just feeling like my whole world was coming apart and I didn't know how to fix it. And it caused me to be distracted and unfocused on my life.
For me, 2017 is going to be a year of CONQUER. I want to conquer the FEAR, DOUBT, COMPARISON and DISTRACTIONS. And I want this year to be the year I let go of anything that doesn't serve a purpose in my life. It is possible to live your best self, you just have to want it bad enough.
How will you make 2017, your best year yet?!
XO, Rae
I love sharing articles that I find and hopefully you enjoy reading them. I recently came across this article on thebolde.com titled '13 Things Passionate Women Do Differently & Why They Stand Out From The Crowd.' I found this to be an interesting read and a few of the characteristics stood out for me personally.
#2 She smiles a lot- I will never forget the time I was called out at a staff meeting for being "the girl who is always smiling". I was new to my job and the CEO of the company decided to call me out in front of everyone. I mean at least it was a compliment but, I'm sure I got a few eye rolls from people. I would say that I definitely try to be the cheerleader for others. Especially in my experience as a manager, I try to be the energetic positive person. Smiling is contagious, after all.
#7 She loves harder- I think I have always had this trait even as a young child. When I love, I give my everything. Maybe this is why I experience dissapointment on a deeper level. I believe there is nothing more powerful than loving someone whether it be in a relationship, with family or friends.
#11 She's constantly changing- Change within yourself is necessary. I think in order to grow you have to be open to change. And I have definitely embraced change more now than ever in my thirties. Although change is scary, so is regret.
So go ahead, stand out and LIVE PASSIONATELY.
XO, Rae
I have always had body issues ever since I can remember. I have never been skinny even as an adult. My weight has always fluctuated partially to bad habits, not enough exercise and skipping meals. I've never wanted to be super skinny, maybe just a thinner version of myself. It wasn't until I turned 27, that I really started to embrace my body. And for once I began to feel comfortable in my own skin. I don't remember what the pivotal moment was. I just remember I stopped being so hard on myself about trying to be a certain size or achieve a certain weight. For so long I had fought with my self confidence and only saw myself as how I compared to others.
Even at the age of 32, I still fluctuate with my weight and I will probably always be nagging over those 20lbs. But I don't let myself get down about it. I just work a little harder and eat smarter if I don't like what I see in the mirror. I will never be skinny by any means. Personally, I just don't want to be that way. I like having curves, boobs and a booty. I ultimately just want to be healthy. I don't want to be defined by a number but rather how I feel in my own skin.
It's refreshing to see more and more women embracing their bodies and for women of all sizes being accepted more now than ever. Amy Schumer is known as being the funny girl. But she is serious when it comes to owning her body weight and telling everyone just what she thinks if they have a problem with it. I mean for a plus size model like Ashley Graham to walk in New York Fashion Week. That is a game changer in the fashion industry. It opens up so many people to have a different outlook on what is to be considered a "normal body" in today's society. And it also shows that women can be beautiful at any size. I've always admired Christina Aguilera and her stance on body image. She makes no apologies and owns her flaws. I think that is inspiring for us as women to see celebrities be just like us and struggle with the same issues we have.
You are NOT your weight. You are beautiful no matter what size you are. And only once you truly begin to realize that will you learn to love yourself even more. Don't let society, family, friends or even your own insecurities dictate how you perceive yourself. Be happy. Be healthy. And love your body, flaws and all!
XO, Rae
