Do you ever look in the mirror and ask yourself what happened to the person you use to be? With kids, marriage, and work, you can easily forget what made you…well, YOU! At a recent event I attended, we had to do a project that consisted of us putting together collages that represented different things in our lives. I originally planned not to attend this event because frankly, I’m burned out when it came to “conferences” and anything that’s similar to one, but I decided to bite the bullet and go plus it was in town so why not!
The three topics we touched on were: things that we were struggling with in our lives, what we would like to achieve, and what would be the outcome. Here is my collage
The front of my board basically was about what I’m dealing with in my life right now. Needing help, finding balance, wanting words of encouragement, trying to better my relationship with my husband, wanting peace in my life, needing a makeover and to lose weight, and wanting to smile more…are all of the things I’m struggling with at this very moment. When you turn the board over, you’ll see
Here you will find me motivating myself to pursue dreams and stop waiting around. You will also see how color inspires me. I found phrases that inspire me like “ never let a period take center stage” and “bedtime is not for sleeping”. The first phrase “never let a period…” made me think of some personal feelings and things that I went through with a few bloggers that literally made me want to walk away from blogging. It made me realize that I can’t let one “period” in my life dictate what I was going to do the rest of my life. The second phrase “bedtime is not for sleeping” made me think of Janell and how she works hard after the kids are put to bed and early before they awake in the morning. Hard work is the key to getting what you want out of life so I can’t spend hours sleeping
The last image of the designer sitting in the chair…well, that represents me! It represents the day that I ‘arrive’ for lack of a better word! After all the hard work, after all of the ups and down, at the end of the day I will arrive and none of what I’m going through now will matter except but to encourage others with a similar story to let them know that no matter what they are going through, they can arrive too!
It’s hard staying true to who you are and not letting other people and situations bring you down, but if you can just remember who you are or who you were, it is possible to get back there. Do you remember you?!
15 comments:
That last paragraph says it all. We go through transitions throughout our entire lives and with each one we have to hang on tightly to who we are and what we want. Good luck to you Lakeitha.
Maybe we all need to make a board like this as a reminder. It is easy to "lose yourself" when you are a wife, mother, blogger, employee, or otherwise busy person. Sometimes finding a moment to unplug and reflect can even be a challenge. It sounds like you have a plan and I know you can do it!
Laekitha, I remember in my mid thirties going through a stage of wondering what I would be when I grew up. I had a very wise friend that told me I already had it all together and she told me why. I was a bit stunned because this was a highly educated lady that I truly admired. I had been taking a class on women re-entering the work force and we had to take a personality test. I started writing down when was I the happiest. When I actually put it down on paper it had nothing to do with career or what I was doing, but it had to do with the simple things. Healthy happy family a good meal on the table a clean house, just the every day things. I realized what made me unhappy was when I became unbalanced in my life and my priorities got out of whack. I hope you find what is your balance. You have so much, a beautiful family, a gorgeous smile!! and you are extremely talented and creative. Hang in there, life has a way of ironing itself out, Just remember to always start your day counting your blessings. xo Kathysue
What a wonderfully inspiring post. I've recently gone through alot of changes, closing my retail store, downsizing, starting a new business, establishing new fitness goals and through all the changes, I've come to realized that what matters most is gratitude. We have so much in our lives and often don't take the time to appreciate it. I applaud you for seeking out happiness and following your dreams and just want to remind you that at the beginning and end of each day, to say Thank You for all you do have. May all your wishes and dreams come true.
I can truly relate to this post. Many of the things you want I strive for as well. I strive for peace, better relationships, and balance as well. It is encouraging to know that in the blogging community someone is willing to share some of their desires and things that aren't so "perfect". I pray that you will find peace and once that comes Im sure everything else will fall into place. Keep you're head up, you're not alone!
Vision boards are such a great way to focus your thoughts on what's important! Glad that you have found some comfort & clarity. I'm doing the same right now!
beautiful post Lakeitha. your words bought tears to my eyes. i appreciate your honesty. your are always so inspiring.
PS. will you be participating in the thrift 1store meet up on July 9th?
Thanks for asking such a poignant question. We are so busy with life that often we do forget ourselves. Trying to please everyone, trying to make things just right...yes staying true to who you are is hard it's something that must be done.
Great post, I enjoyed every single word and I will have to do this for myself as well. Good Luck Lakeitha, Life is a journey - not a destination. You can do this!
I think we all find ourselves in the spot your in at one time or another. I feel that this is God, the universe, whatever you believe, putting things in perspective for us. Helping us find what is important.
The sermon this past Sunday at our church was about remembering God in your life no matter whether things are good or bad. We always seem to remember him, when things are really tough, but we seem to think we've done everything alone when things are going well for us.
This really hit me hard. I am trying to do a better job at remembering to thank him and keep my successes and my difficulties in perspective and ask myself what I am supposed to learn from it?
I wish you all the best, Lakeitha. Please remember that you are not alone in all of this. Your honesty is wonderfully open and refreshing. It's what draws people to you.
Take care,
Lori
www.lorimayinteriors.com/blog
What a great and inspiring post! I love the "period phrase" - so true! Sleep? - What's that? :)
Thanks for the encouragement! I really needed to hear this today!
You were so inspiring to listen to, I really meant it when I said that thanks to your sharing, it made it easy for other women to open, too.
I think we all go though this - having momments where we no longer feel like 'US' I was experiancing this very recdently in my last few weeks of pregnancy, just feeling worn OUT!! Now that our little one is here, I feel more like ME again and feel good and look forward to this next chapter w/my family and getting back to ME :)
wow. I LOVE that you really embraced your vision board.
unlike some of us *cough* that may have let their son play with the pipe cleaners and well...now the board is not such a vision.
I miss you.
THIS IS YOUR REMINDER TO GET A TICKET TO BLOGHER
I didn't get any time for blog reading yesterday, was busy working AND taking time off for a bike ride with the family...summer is here and time for more balance! But wow, what a great post! So glad I saw it this morning. Like we talked about recently, change doesn't happen over night, but if you work hard and BELIEVE in what you see for yourself it CAN HAPPEN! Embrace your dreams and what you know can be in your life, for yourself and those around you, then just hold to it each day, slowly things can happen! And sometimes even not so slow! Janell
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