Own It;

An amazing thing happens when you get honest with yourself and you start doing what you love and what makes you happy. Your life literally slows down.

You stop wishing for the weekend. You stop merely looking forward to special events. You begin to live in each moment and you start feeling like a human being.

You just ride the wave that is life, with this feeling of contentment and joy. You move fluidly, steadily, calm and grateful.

A veil is lifted, and a whole new perspective is born. You become that girl, filled with energy and oozing with love for life.

Not quite feeling it? Girl, it's time to run your OWN race.

Forget the competition and comparison - there is no one in the world just like you and that is BEYOND exciting.

You know that certain je n'ais sais quoi you have? ALL YOURS! 

The super special way YOU do it? Owned and honed. 

At the end of the day... the only person you can truly rely on is you. Me, myself and I. And nothing can bring you peace but yourself.

Oh and don't get me started on trying to compromise yourself to fit in. Looking around at what everyone else is doing and measuring yourself up against their success is totally counterproductive (we've all been there) so let's put an end to that right NOW.

Don't let the seeds stop you from enjoying the watermelon... it's time to unleash your own potent brand of magic. This is your moment to shine.

Be your OWN kind of beautiful. Be a go-getter, a doer, a shifter, a mover... be THAT girl.

Take this as your permission slip to let loose and live freaking large - you wonderful wonderful thing YOU.

Be yourself and you can be anything. 

Wx 

Stop expecting; Start living x

Imagination is a beautiful thing. It’s what makes gives us empathy and gives us our passion for life and humanity. Reality, though? It trumps imagination every time; there is nothing like the surge of excitement and the lessons learned from experiencing mind, body and soul.

Low expectations are often a self-fulfilling prophecy. We insulate ourselves from failure, don’t try as hard, brace for the worst and often get it.High expectations, on the other hand, will inevitably lead to disappointment. Keep raising what you expect and sooner or later (probably sooner) it’s not going to happen. And we know that a good outcome that’s less than the great one we hoped for actually feels like failure.Perhaps it’s worth considering no expectations. Intense effort followed by an acceptance of what you get in return. It doesn’t make good TV, but it’s a discipline that can turn you into a professional.

- Seth Godin

Magic is something you make.

Stop expecting, because it takes away from the joy of living and the surprises experience can bring. Nothing ever is as it appears; things are complex and life reacts. Reality is neither two-dimensional nor predictable. What something or who someone actually is is so much more than what you imagined.

There’s always more. 

Live the life of your dreams. x x x 

Oui!

So freaking in love with life- it's ridiculous. Opportunities on the horizon, hard work paying off + building the dream. 


How did I get here? 

By saying YES. 

Yes is dangerous.

It’s commitment to the unknown, to the will-be’s, and going-to’s. It’s carpe diem; let’s seize the day. Let go of the hand that holds, jump into the wild. Take the road less traveled.

Say yes.

Yes is positive thinking. Affirmation. Confirmation. Yes is an open mind and an open heart, ready to take the jump. Dive in, jump over. Yes is a leap of faith. Yes is a smile, a nod of readiness.

Say yes.

Sometimes all you've gotta  say is "fuck it," and just live. 

wwndie xxx

Self Motivation;

One of the most wonderful things felt is a rush of adrenalin accompanied by a drive to pursue and reach a goal. This drive is self-motivation – one of the most powerful things bestowed upon us, one that enables us to do nearly anything we want, so long as there is passion. Simply imagine the possibilities; there is no limit to what we can do.

But it is nearly impossible to retain this sort of self-motivation every moment of our lives; there will always be a time when our motivation, our drive, and our self-esteem hits a low(-er) point. It’s simply human, completely inevitable. Because sometimes laziness overcomes us, work bogs us down until the bags beneath our eyes seem permanent, or perhaps that fiery passion disappears suddenly. Regardless of the reason, we must pick ourselves up at some time or another (preferably a.s.a.p.) and re-discover the source of our motivation – it is the vital to not just progress, but also crucial in achieving success. So what can you do to rekindle that fire within?

 Accept. Simply accept that you have no desire to do anything at the moment because it’s normal; it’s embedded into human nature, whether or not we like it. It happens. So set that project/goal aside for the time being and allow your mind to wander a bit. Sometimes all we need is a break from routine and concentration; set a date with friends and enjoy it. Watch a few movies, catch up on TV episodes, indulge in a bit of ice cream, take a stroll in a museum or a public area, etc. Be re-inspired by your lack of inspiration and motivation in allowing yourself to soak in, from a new perspective, what you already know. (I do hope that made sense.) As they say; a breath of fresh air is needed occasionally in order to continue something and not feel bored of it; giving both yourself and that particular project/goal time off allows you to come back with a fresh start.

 Take a break; relax. Bumming around is perfectly okay – and not just because I do it... Don’t force yourself to be productive when you simply are un-inspired or hardly motivated. Coercing yourself to finish something will only make you unhappy and even more unwilling to go about your work; not to mention, the end result won’t be something you are happy with – it becomes just a thing you wanted to finish – it is no longer special. Case in point: I’ve been holding off on replying to emails/questions this week because a flood of emails can cause dread...  along with piles of assessment! But as a perfectionist I like to take my time in thinking about each answer so I can give the best reply I can and try my best in an assignment. Rushing to fulfill the requirements means my brain is hardly functioning or if I feel un-inspired will only produce mediocre results.

 Tea is your best friend! I must have a whole groupie of best friends; bags, shoes, post-its... the list is endless! But tea really is incredibly helpful in soothing and calming not just your mind, but your body. I must admit that I have no idea as to how these anti-oxidants and other ingredients work scientifically; all I do know is that they do work. Coffee, though absolutely delicious (I am such a hypocrite!) is hardly the sort of drink that is calming. Avoid it! After giving yourself ample time to rejuvenate and relax, bring out your personal inspiration books/collages. Perhaps browsing your first work or journal will re-inspire you and re-ignite the passion, whilst reminding you of why you started in the first place. A bit of nostalgia always brings back good memories and smiles! 

 Jot down the things you love. Write it all down in a list; it’s sure to bring smiles and remind you of why you began/wanted the particular goal/project. Sometimes, without even knowing it, writing lists can give you revelations or epiphany moments of inspiration!

 Re-establish that goal. Re-word, re-form, & re-vamp your original goal so it sounds just a bit newer and more fresh. Write it down somewhere that is easily accessible. As silly as it sounds, I have my goals set as the wallpaper to my laptop; I too lose focus of what I want at times – a constant reminder is necessary for me, as a sort of means to push me back on track. 

 Think of the rewards! Whether they be monetary, tangible, or this inward emotion of triumph, it’s nice to daydream a bit of what you could achieve in following through with your goal. Dreams are meant to be dreamt, not to be left shriveling and stale in your mind. Sometimes, just thinking of what I can potentially be in the future motivates me to work harder for what I want. Though I must admit it requires a lot of concentration and focus – something I have yet to find.

And to be the best person you can possibly be is all relative to perspective. But be sure you meet your personal standards; not what everyone else around you wants. Yes, in the real world, sadly, you must live up to others’ expectations of you. But at the end of the day, you must be happy with who you are (I apologize for the cliche topic and cheesiness.) I wish I knew the answers to everything so I could help everyone to the best of my abilities, but all I can say for this particular area is this: if you are happy with where you are and who are currently, then you are being the best person you possibly be. 

wwndie xxx

YOLO;

6 letters, 1 syllable- that word we all cringe with fear when someone mentions it. Change. The change in your job, your health or your life. 


Yes change can be a good thing or a detrimental part of our life. But it seems when we are given the opportunity for something new, exciting and fresh, some don't grasp it. It's true. We have all become masters of doing what doesn't work. Over and over again. We all seem to be committed to behaviours that deep down, we know will never produce the goods.


Stop and think about it. How many "amazing diets" have you started? How many times have you had those painful, pointless and exhausting conversations with the SAME people who are CONSTANTLY having the same issues. You know exactly what I'm talking about. What about those New Year's resolutions? The same ones we make every year. The same goes with our "health-kicks". Our careers. Relationships. Money In short, our LIFE! 

Clearly, this cycle of repetition is not a great strategy if transformation is the goal. It's that big challenge we all face at one point (or many) in our life: We want to produce real change and amazing results in our world (well, we say we do), while on the other, we don't want to do anything different, take a risk, or get uncomfortable.


Unfortunately, not everyone can save the world or discover a cure. But whatever CHANGE you have to contribute to yourself and the universe is important. Don't get me wrong, a creature of habit is only a good idea when those habits equate to your best life. But if your day-to-day priorities are avoiding risk and being comfortable then you simply, you aren't living life to the fullest. Do things with passion or not at all. 


There's no such thing as fear or boundaries. The only thing standing between you and your goal is that bullshit story you keep telling yourself. And hey, it may take a couple of goes to get there, but if you haven't made mistakes or done anything stupid, you've never really done anything at all. 

So here are your options: 

• Wait for the "Happiness Fairy" to fix your life

• Be satisfied with where you are and with what you have and settle for "good enough" OR 

• Stop being a big baby, take a chance, get uncomfortable and do something different. 

Or you could get offended by my insensitive communication style and find yet another reason to do nothing. 

You only live once, 

wwndie XO 

Single on Valentine's Day;

So we all know the fourteenth of every February has been, nationally  deemed Valentine’s Day, and that I, for some unknown reason, am completely, utterly, and inexplicably in love with the holiday. I shouldn’t be, by societal standards. I’m a single girl.I’m supposed to hate it; I was, after all, bred in a culture where things like 50 First Dates are supposed to happen to everyone.

I’m hardly bitter about being single on Valentine’s Day; I’ve gone the past six months sans another half quite happily (this was the first Valentine's I've ever been single!).

Valentine’s Day is not a reminder of this self-conjured thought of your inability to attract men (or women, whichever sex you choose). It is but a day in the year that so happens to fall on the fourteenth of February, but if we insist on making it significant, then, Valentine’s Day is a reminder of the freedom and independence you have as a self-sufficient woman. All you need is you: you alone hold the key to your aspirations, happiness, and successes. No (wo)man is necessary to feel whole or empowered.

Is it depressing to feel alone, or left out, when all other ladies have little bouquets and kisses awaiting them? Perhaps. It all depends entirely on your perspective. I know one too many girls who loathe Valentine’s Day – and all things associated with it – with their entire being. They mope, gorging themselves with tubs of Ben & Jerry’s or rolls of cookie dough as they dig out all self-imagined faults and allow themselves to submit to their insecurities. All the while watching sappy romance films, one after the other. I suppose I can attempt to empathise, yet those of you who have been following me or actually know me, know that I value my independence above all else. 

I have never harbored any desire to have a boyfriend for that very reason; being single allows for so much more freedom. And if you don't feel good about yourself, you're vulnerable to sabotaging, in-securities, dependency and intimacy issues. Loving and respective yourself FIRST, means you know that you will be okay if your relationship doesn't quite work out. Being single is an opportunity to set goals, and work on any projects that you've been putting off. Along with being a little selfishly indulgent! 

Thus, for you single ladies out there, embrace your independence. Take advantage of it; wear red and pull out your best damn dress. Take a bit of time to coif the hair and do the makeup – nothing too extravagant, of course. Think to emphasise your best features and go out on Valentine’s Day à la the Sex and the City girls pre-marriage, and just enjoy yourself.

So how did I spend Valentine's Day? I spent the evening with the best girls in the world, munching on popcorn watching Breakfast at Tiffany's on the big screen. They're all I need to help me live and love life. 

Happy-belated- Valentine's Day! 

LOVE. 

wwndie xxx.

2012;

"Everybody wants happiness, nobody wants pain. But you can't have a rainbow without a little rain." 

It’s 2012!

I get giddy saying it. Two-thousand & twelve. Shouting it. Two-thousand & twelve! Thinking it. Writing it. They say this about every new year, especially during it’s honeymoon stage (itis only the beginning of February) but there’s something about this year which makes it different. Delicious. Expecting, and ready to burst. 

Everything’s different, but the same. Better. Like there’s something in the air, drifting, waiting for us to catch just even the slightest whiff and take off from there. The Mayans said this is the world would end, but with every ending comes a beginning. It’s all a matter of interpretation. Is the glass half empty, or half full?

I’ll be honest – I’ve put off writing here simply because there’s a large amount pressure – be it self-imagined or not – in publishing the first piece of the new year. It sets the tone for what’s to come, how it’ll start. A superstition? Perhaps. I would normally say, Put your best foot forward, as the saying goes, but aren’t you supposed to always walk that way?

Yes. Except this year, I'm walking faster, my head higher, my body fitter and my love even stronger. There's no point in dwelling over the past and what HAPPENED. Things happen for a reason, people come and go and you learn. As blatantly brutal as it sounds, sometimes all you've really got to say is "Fuck it" and just live. Which fits perfectly in my perspective an instinctive individual. 

Some may know alot of things happened to me in 2011, both good and bad. I'm not superhuman, I had my moment of sadness and it's taken a lot of god damn hard work, courage and strength to get where I am today, but really ,there was never time to stop living and start worrying. The sun continues to rise every day, the garbage still needs to be taken out and life goes on.  So I've let it all go and have realised it's time to move on, be fearless, work hard, live large and love big. 

I know this is slightly belated but I hope you had a beautiful New Years’ celebration, and are starting 2012 just as you’ve planned. 

Always remember- each day is a gift, not a given right. Make it count! 

LOVE. 

wwndie xxx.