One Happy Cat Lady

(Outfit of the Day:  Polo Ralph Lauren Rugby Polo, Lands' End Canvas Corduroys, Sperry Top-Sider Boots, Swell Caroline Anchor Earrings, Kiel James Patrick Bracelet)

Hey Preps!

I used to joke with my friends about one day being a cat lady (actually I still do), then one day I was with my sister at PetSmart, and the animal shelters from the Pittsburgh area were there with some of the animals that needed homes.  That's when I met Lilly.  She was a little black ball of fuzz and as I watched her play with her brothers, play by herself (yes, she's miss personality), and eventually get so worn out that she fell asleep in the litter box; all in a 15 minute span.  I knew I had to have her.  

So here I am, the proudest cat lady there is.  I love her to death.  However, last night...we had our issues.  I typically don't let her sleep in my bed...but since she was doing no harm fast asleep on my pillow when I decided I needed to hit the hay, I didn't feel as if I needed to kick her out of my room for the night.  Then it started...everywhere I moved, she had to snuggle right up against my face, snoring, and poking me with her whiskers.  I dealt with it for a little bit, but then the sweetie decided to purr at two in the morning.  She was just being her happy self, and I couldn't take it so I moved her downstairs...only for that to result in two hours worth or her crying outside my door.  No sleep for me.

This morning, I get into work, and I jam the copier four times.  No caffeine.  No sleep.  Not accomplishing what I need to.  I just wanted to throw my hands up and walk out the door.  Mondays I tell ya...

Constantly I find myself making excuses as to why I am allowed to feel sorry for myself.  I love personal training, but get taken advantage of at the facility I work, the area I live in isn't fulfilling for me, I have so much on my plate...blah blah blah.  Today I just told myself to quit it.  No more complaining.  

We often find ourselves in ruts because we may not be 100% happy with ourselves or our current situations.  Dwelling on those negative things can only create disheartenment.  If we are always focused on what is wrong in our lives, we are never going to be able to appreciate each day as it comes, or see the lessons in each situation we endure.  In life, we should focus on becoming a little bit better each day.  We should be able to see the beauty in the ups and downs...and start keeping our chins up a little bit more, and nixing the complaining before we even start.

I am not sure what you are going through right now in life, it could be hating your job, struggling with making a decision on what to major in, wondering whether you should make the big move, or recovering from heart break...but trust me, I have been through it all.  If I have learned anything, it's don't dwell on the bad stuff.  Sure, it's hard not to when it is something so huge...but when you do, you are doing nothing beneficial.  

Instead, focus on the good things in your life...look at the positives in your situation, and if you are not far enough removed from them yet, know that there will be a lesson you learn, or an opportunity you are given because of that situation.  Each time you fall down and get back up, you get a little bit smarter and a whole lot stronger.  

Just be the genuine person you are.  Laugh a lot, and know that every little thing...is gonna be alright.

Even if I end up being a cat lady for the rest of my life!

Have a blessed day y'all!

Oh, The Places You Will Go!

Hey Preps!

Adventurous red pants and some sturdy boots...and off exploring I go!

Amy Rebekah Photography

(Outfit of the Day: Lands' End Canvas Sweater and Shirt,

Delias Skinny Colorful Cords, Sperry Top-Sider Sheerwater Boots)

Don't mind me, just the queen of being cheesy in pictures.  I can't help it I guess.  Last night I was out with a friend, and was told that I never stop laughing.  Then he said, "you're such a cheeseball".  I died.  Apparently my jokes are only funny when I laugh according to him.  Just your personal cheeseball of a blogger here. 

Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?  I don't.  Not a clue.  Today I was writing in my journal, and I made it a point to write out who I think I am as a person, and how I can get to be the person I want to be.  I sat there and made bullet notes of what makes me who I am.  Then, I made a new bucket list.  Do you make bucket lists?  I make one every year, and it's so funny how they change.  Yet, this one is my best yet...why?  Nothing on my bucket list is dealing with pleasing someone else or making my parents proud.  Every single thing on that list is for me.  It's things I want to accomplish in my life, and when I want to accomplish them.  

It's so easy to make a Bucket List, yet so many times those dreams seem farfetched, or we are unsure of how to achieve those dreams.  To reach your goals in life, it takes work...hard work.  Also, reaching those goals takes failure.  Many times we hide our failure.  I am certainly one of those people.  If I do poorly on a test, I am humiliated.  There is a bit of me that is a perfectionist, so when I do fail, I don't like it.  Yet, instead of ignoring those failures, we all need to start learning from them.  I wouldn't be half as strong as I am today if I didn't go through hard times.  I wouldn't know who I am or what I wanted if I didn't try some things I didn't like first.  Additionally, I wouldn't be a fitness instructor or runner if I hadn't gained some weight that made me realize how important healthy living truly is.  

The other thing I noticed that my Bucket List takes is time.  I am an impatient person.  I want things to happen over night.  For example, I got bored with high school, and decided to graduate a year early.  I rushed my last year, and didn't really get to enjoy it because I was so busy cramming two years of classes into one.  I need to slow down.  

Finally, I need to do what I love.  For the longest time, I have forced myself into things I hate.  My major is one of them.  I am stubborn, and never gave that major up.  Here I sit, and I don't want to be in a lab or become a doctor.  I want to write, to work with people, and to be a positive influence on those around me.  Promoting people and their strengths is something I love doing.  Working as a fitness instructor, I have the honor of helping people get back on track with healthy living.  It is awesome to be someone that is inspirational to those I help, and to see people improve and grow in such a short matter of time.  Every day I feel good about doing that for people.  I know that is what I love.

I love traveling, and being outside.  I truly could just travel my whole life and explore if the means were given to me, but they are not.  Which is why there is something called saving money...and something called a Bucket List that will hopefully keep me on track with my world adventures as they come.  

What is my advice to you today?  Do what you love.  Make a Bucket List.  Explore.

...and read Dr. Suess' "Oh the Places You Will Go"

Check out Amy Rebekah Photography on Facebook!

Have a blessed day y'all!