Thursday Thoughts: Love What You Do

This is probably the cheesiest, most overheard phrase right now. I swear, I heard it all the time in college. "You have to love what you do, or it's never worth it," my professor would say. At the time, I was just trying to get any job, wherever, doing anything teaching related to gain experience. But now, I understand why it truly makes a difference to absolutely LOVE what you do.

I have come home everyday this week feeling fantastic, knowing that what I have done has made a difference with some of my students. But they fulfill me even more than I ever thought possible. They're hysterical! They're the absolute sweetest bunch of children and though we all have "one of those days," they still make me come home exhausted and smiling.

Here's a little bit of advice for those people in between jobs, looking for new jobs, or exhausted in your current job: be patient, work hard, and you will experience all of the good and more! Always look for opportunities and people that can help you reach that next step. I was a little hesitant at first to have people help me, but then I realized I was insanely stupid for feeling that. People know people who know people, and every little bit counts. Take every bit of advice that anybody gives you, because it could help you along the way. Never lose hope and good things will come to you!

Happy Thursday!

Happy November 1!

October just flew and I know that November is going to fly too. I mean, they're unveiling the Macy's windows on Saturday already. Things are moving quick! So in honor of one of my favorite months (birthday month after all and Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays) I feel like slowing down now will set the tone for slowing down a little bit during the busy rush. Because in spite of it all, I always need to remember this:

Happy first day of November!

image by Susan Hager

Enjoy the View

Just a little advice, because it's Thursday! So just have a cup of coffee, look out the window wherever you are and know that today is a good day! You never know: tomorrow might not be as nice as today, so take in the moment. Enjoy the view.

When a week is too long...

Because this has felt like the longest week in history and it's not even over yet, I feel like I need to do something like take a loooonnnggg drive. Or a walk. Or a bike ride. Or something that involves moving on from this long week (not that it has been bad. Just long!). Anyone else feel this way?

Besides, who wouldn't want to get in their comfiest scarf and look cute in an old vintage car?

Happy Thursday! (we're seriously almost there!)

Don't forget the Love

I think sometimes we, myself included, do tasks or good things for personal gain. We forget the real reasons why we do the good things we do, from our jobs to our hobbies and everything in between: the key doing them for others out of pure love. I want to strive to do more of this and remembering why I help my friends and family. It is all out of my love for them.

So keep this reminder at the forefront. I know I will be from now on.

Thoughtful Thursday: Ideas

Nothing usually goes according to plan. Make it something else!

Opportunity Dances

A few weeks ago, I saw this quote on Brighton the Day and I just had to share. It was too good not to!

I thoroughly believe in this. I think that in order for good things to come to you, you have to work hard to achieve them. Yes, we all know that. But the way this quote is worded...I don't know. It seems more romantically said and definitely inspiring for me to want to work even harder to gain more opportunities.

and this goes for opportunities in every aspect of my life from my work, to friends, to relationships. I'm ready to get out on that dance floor and make some magic.

Achieving my Impossible

Source: nubbytwiglet.com via Susan on Pinterest

I honestly did not know how I wanted to sum up my feelings until I saw this pin last night.

And it expressed it perfectly.

I am so proud and happy to say that I finally have a full time teaching job, and I could not be more excited! After all of the worrying and doubt that I have experienced for months, I can finally rest easy and get prepared to start the first chapter of my career. Of course, I know that I am lucky to have found one now, as I could have been looking for years, as some have. I'm thankful that I have such a supportive family, who has been doing everything they can to help me succeed. I am so ecstatic to start and be as creative as I can, working as hard as I can.

For the past few months, looking for a job has been my impossible. It has been a big, black hurdle that has seemed so daunting, and all my work and efforts did not seem to be paying off. After rejections and doubts and wrong cities and wrong times, I finally achieved my impossible.

and I have to say, it feels really good!

I hope that all of you achieve your impossible, and when it's done, I promise you, you'll never feel better!

Life Moves Pretty Fast

I don't know about you, but summer's moving pretty fast. How is it already mid July? Where has the time gone? It seems like summer just started. I keep hearing people talk about fall: fall food, fall fashion, fall weather! Well I'm going to try to slow down and enjoy what I have. Though the days sometimes seem hot and long, the weeks go by so fast and I don't want to miss a single thing.

So I'm going to stop and look. and read. and drink lots of lemonade. and go for a swim. and indulge a little bit. Because that's ok. I don't want to miss anything!

We're taking a last minute trip to Michigan today. I can't wait to be on the other side of my favorite lake, enjoying some ice cream and sharing a few laughs with my mom, my sisters and my aunt. It'll be a short and sweet getaway, and I'm going to savor it all!

Law 159

Earlier this week, Victoria talked about how she had been seeing these Laws of Modern Man everywhere on Pinterest. Well I have fallen victim to the intrigue. This is just one of the many laws that really resonate with me.

I think there is a difference between being thankful for life, and truly contemplating it and thinking about it. I have never considered myself ungrateful, but lately, I have been caught up in where others are versus where I am. I can't do that anymore. Life is way too short. I have everything I need and then some, so whenever I get that way, someone needs to just knock me in the arm and tell me to do this. I bet that would bring me back down.

What do you guys think of these Laws of Modern Man? Though some of them are a bit silly, I'd love to read more!

Just so you know...

Source: mochatini.org via Susan on Pinterest

Excuse me friends, I'm calling it an early morning. So I'll see you guys later! I'm gonna go make it happen! I'm still in the interview process, so when opportunities knock, I have to try my hardest to get them to open the door and stay awhile. Whatever the plan holds, I'm just along for the ride!

No More Criticizing!

Source: pindar.info via Susan on Pinterest

Does anyone else find that sometimes they get too invested in what choices others make? Whether it's my friends or even members of my own family, I sometimes find myself saying, "This person can't do this. It's bad for them." "This person can't go here. They have no money."

What do I really know about their choices?

 So I'm choosing to stay out of it and focus on me and mine. It's just the right thing to do.

~Susan

Good Reminder

Just a good reminder I think. Because really, things could be worse. I'll never go a day without doing this again.

Happy Thursday!

~Susan

Thursday Thoughts: Beautiful Things

Source: lolsaladsex.tumblr.com via Erin on Pinterest

Yes, you do. Any shape, any form. The power's all yours. Go make it happen!

Don't forget it!

Happy Thursday!

~Susan

Thursday Thoughts: tests

Source: mylifecoachsparkles.blogspot.com via Susan on Pinterest

Just a little bit of my life of late. Has anyone had this feeling lately? Or ever? I mean it's such karma isn't it?

All we can do is just breathe and keep going. So that's what I'm going to do.

Happy Thursday!

~Susan

We're unique, but we're not alone

Some of you maybe are familiar with this wonderful movement that was originally started by Jess and then was made into a major movement this week by Meg. It's called Things I'm Afraid to Tell You. What I've learned from reading what so many ladies are afraid of is that although we are each unique, individual women, we all have similar fears. Yes, they are each catered to our own lives, but I've found that we're not alone. In most of the posts and the comments that I have read, we share common threads.

We tend to compare ourselves to others and not think we're good enough or pretty enough. We blame ourselves for being disorganized and sometimes think that we are not independent enough. We think that we are meant for something more and are sometimes unsure of what we want to pursue, and that it changes more than we were ever hoping it to. We are self conscious of what we write and publish for others to read. We feel guilt about relationships with friends and family and significant others that are not what we want them to be. We don't always accomplish the goals we set for ourselves. But we are one thing, we're not alone. 

I'm not going into depth about things I'm afraid to tell you, because I think maybe you have an idea of what I am afraid of. They include different specifics of everything of the above paragraph, and a lot of the time I think that I'm alone in my fears. But because of this week I've found that I'm not alone. We are not and we shouldn't feel bad about it all. The posts by Liz, Jess, Nikki, Caitlin, and Carly struck a chord with me and visit Meg for the full list of bloggers who posted. 

I don't know a lot, but I do know that we are more than what we are afraid of. We are bigger than all of it and worth more too. And sometimes, we find that our fears motivate us to be better. We are all connected and we can all relate. Never feel alone in what you are afraid of. I think that this movement is a great reminder of that. 

Happy Thursday,

~Susan

Thursday Thoughts: get to work

Source: beealittlebetter.com via Susan on Pinterest

Happy Thursday! I repinned this from one of my wonderfully wise friends and I can't help but love it. Especially since I've probably been needing it!

I won't explain to much about this, but since I'm starting from scratch (applying for jobs, having interviews) sometimes all I want to do is just sit around and wait. Be lazy. Not go the extra mile and do the extra work that it takes to show people that I want a job and that I'm good enough for what's out there.

Well I've been realizing I can't do that. I want to be proactive and show how deserving I am. So I'll start the day, pray, and get to it, knowing that I can do it. It's not going to be easy, but that's what work is all about. I want to show how deserving I am, how good I can be. I can't do that without a little guidance and a lot of hard work.

Don't be afraid to do the hard work to achieve your goals. It's worth all the pain and endless frustrating hours, I know!

Have wonderful Thursdays!

~Susan

Thursday Thoughts: the future is exciting!

Source: habituallychic.blogspot.com via Susan on Pinterest

Yes, I'm very cliché but I just thought the topic was appropriate for me, especially since I graduate on Sunday (still hasn't set in yet).

But here's the deal: I don't think it matters where you are in life right now. Whether you're finishing school, starting a new job, quitting a job you hate, starting a new relationship, unfortunately ending an old relationship, in a new home, meeting new people, what have you (and trust me I could probably go on forever!), the future is exciting. I'm extremely excited for it and I don't even know what it's throwing my way yet! Part of the reason why people get scared is they think that horrible things are going to happen and they are not going to know how to react, which makes in turn the good things not as good because they're solely focused on those scary, what if, bad things that might occur. There are two choices: you can go that route and probably be just a nervous wreck, or you can turn around, with your head held high, and just float along embracing each new day.

Maybe I'm having lots of early 20s optimism, but I'm finding that so many people are scared for the unknown, the future. Rather than be scared, I think that embracing it, having faith, and going with your gut instincts makes the future that much more exciting.

So wherever you are in your career, your relationships, your personal life, your family life: relax. The future's going to be just fine!

(also maybe why I'm so excited about the future is the future of my room is looking great! haha, I know what a transition! Clean closets can really boost your mood!)

Happy Thursday ladies!

~Susan

Thursday Thoughts: you can be good

Source: observando.net via Susan on Pinterest

I swear, sometimes my Pinterest and I must share the same brain, because literally when I stumbled across this pin, I couldn't believe the irony of it.

My mom and I were just talking about this topic the other night and I couldn't help but pass it on to all of the other perfectionists out there.

Now, I would never consider myself a perfectionist. I'm not a neat freak, and I don't always strive to beat my best mile time, but this year, I have held my expectations for myself way higher than I ever have in my life. Expectations that are almost unattainable. I don't know why this is either. (Now I think it's good to have high expectations, but not higher than what is humanly possible for you)

I've been comparing myself to others, also not a "me" trait, but for some reason I just have. I feel the need to compete with the level that they are at, or achieve just as much as they have. I've spent the last nine months worrying about achieving these standards for myself that are just too darn high, and after chatting with my mom, and other important people in my life, I've realized that you don't have to perfect (I know, what a shocker!).

This is probably one of the most cliché messages ever, so I'm sorry if you're disappointed reading this today. But I think that just being good makes being perfect look bad. There's something sweet about being good and I've definitely lost sight of that. So here's to just being plain good! I think people notice that goodness more, and that just kicks perfection to the back of the line.

Don't be like me ladies. Be good! (or great, great works too. Do you think Steinbeck would mind if I changed the quote? Just kidding!)

Happy Thursday!

~Susan

Thursday Thoughts: make yourself Shine!

Source: tumblr.com via Susan on Pinterest

So this is something that we always forget about this time of year. We start well at the beginning of the year and then we let ourselves go, in more areas than one. It's not just our physical well being, but our mental and social as well. We get caught up in the daily grind, and sometimes lose sight of us.

Let's not let this happen! This is our time to shine, whether it's with your job, your family, your biggest challenge, your exercise, your school work, your colleagues, your friends.

Make yourself Shine.

It's worth it when we let ourselves have the opportunity. Do whatever you can to make yourself shine You'll feel better, and not in a self-centered way, but a self-fulfilled way.

Give them a smile and show them what you're made of! (I did yesterday, unintentionally, and I have to say, people noticed!)

Happy Thursday!

~Susan