Monday, December 29, 2014

Let's hold hands and maybe not sing Kumbaya - but instead make 2015 THE BEST YEAR EVER!

There is always a sense of nostalgia that surrounds this time of year. As the days have passed leading up to and following through from Christmas, I find myself in intense reflection mode - thinking about all that has happened over the past few years and what every little ounce and step have led to. 

Last year I read something around this time of year that created an overarching challenge for people to really beat out the year that had just passed and really make the new one on the horizon their best yet. As I read it, I really couldn't figure out how the hell 2014 would ever surpass 2013, given all the growth, travel and fun that it was filled with. But I set out to attempt to prove 2013 wrong and I am in shock and amazement with how my life's road has turned and swirled and traveled. 2014 has been pretty damn good, and may actually have turned directly to the face of 2013 and said "TOLD YOU I WOULD BE DAMN BETTER!"

So now as I prepare my plan, resolutions, must do's and travel lists for 2015, I am almost scared for what amazement lies ahead. I mean good is fun and amazing, but riding a wave of constant ups, definitely has moments that make you catch your breath and almost side and back step to make sure you aren't setting yourself up for some massive fall that lies ahead. 

But as I ease my way through it, I keep thinking about what would make 2015 a remarkable year and all that keeps resonating in my head is - DO MORE OF THE THINGS I LOVE AND REALLY LIVE THEM. I am one of those helpless wanderers and adventurers. You can put me in any situation, location or adventure and even with a picky diet and somewhat pretentious behaviour at times I will thrive and survive. However, the risk of being one of these people is that you love everything you do and instead of focusing on what you really love you tend to spread energy into things you like, but don't necessarily make you feel passionate about life. So this year I am going to trim the fat and focus on things to really bring to life who I want to be in this world, at least for 2015. 

And with that comes two things.

First thing - I love to write. But with 2014 being a year of transition for me, my writing sometimes took a back seat to life. Which is fine, but it means that I lost out on my most favourite outlet that this life could ever give me. So with that I am vowing to make 2015 a year of serious writing and not just my usual rants, but really a year that takes my blog to the level I want it to go to. I have somewhat figured out where I see myself 10-15 years from now, and have just sort of asked myself - to start getting there now. SO with that comes the second thing. 

I want this blog to be a place of inspiration and relation. And I am thankful for all the kind emails, texts and tweets that I have gotten from followers all over the globe. The fact that I am somewhat reaching people is amazing and it inspires me to keep going. And with that I shall move forward to number two which is an ASK TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE IN CYBER SPACE!!!! Join me in a 30 day challenge beginning January 1st that focuses on helping you concentrate on making 2015 a year that you will remember and also get you on a path that makes the love and happiness you feel for life beam off you like the sun. 

Every day beginning January 1st, I will post something that aligns to an internal focus - something we should all think about as we plan for our best year yet. It can be something as small as investing in a great shampoo all the way to an attitude that we should all attempt to carry. Each will come in the form of my typical ranting ways, but will hopefully give you all something to think about and include / incorporate into your plans for 2015. 

Feel free to follow along through my blog, Instagram (@therunningshoediaries) and twitter (@RnningShoeDiary). 

Can't wait to get 2015 started and begin this challenge with you all!! Wishing you all an AMAZING end to 2014 and AN EVEN BIGGER HELLO to 2015. 

Here is to making 2015 the best year yet for all of us. 
- A 

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Say it isn't so - Men are mars, Women are from Venus

It was just as you would expect for a #FBF - flashback Friday. A table of girls, giggling and laughing about the mistakes they had made growing up and amening to the fact that they had learned enough to not do that crazy S%&t again!!!!!

The table was a mix of younger and older, and it was as though the younger just looked at us 30 somethings with a hope that we could help them. And the mere fact was we couldn't. I mean all we seemed to do was encourage the mistake making, because that's what we all felt your 20's were for. 

Amidst all the giggling and laughing, we identified that growing up there were two types of girls when it came to relationships - 1. The girl who knows what she wants and won't demand less (aka, the b%^&$h essentially) and 2. The girl who defines herself by the relationships she is in, and assumes that what she has is the best she can ever get (aka the pushover, the nice girl).  

In all the discussion, my mind started to dwell on the two categories and reflect on the path I had taken. I wanted so desperately to be that number 1 girl. I wanted to demand what I wanted, but for some reason I couldn't ever do it, well at least not till now. I always felt horrible, and as though I just wanted to keep the peace, make everyone happy. It sounds absolutely ridiculous  but at least I know walking away from that past of relationships, that i will never have a guy say that I was a crazy, horrible human. And while that is comforting, it still leaves this feeling of wanting to slap my younger self into shape. I mean I literally was that girl - waited around, nodded her head, went above and beyond in apologies, did everything I could essentially. I just really wanted that love story, even if that meant doing things that I knew I didn't agree with. Maybe inside i just assumed things would turn around and that if I paid the price initially, he would turn around and then do the same. YEA NEVER DID THAT HAPPEN....LOL.. meh, what being younger is all about...mhmm I digress.  

Regardless of where I came from, I listen to the radio now and here songs like -  steal your girl by one direction or all of me by John legend, and I start to think - HELL YEA! You better recognise how awesome your girl is!!!! It's funny actually when you think about it. I mean all of us girls sit around talking about guys and the troubles they seem to cause us, but never do we really stop and think that they two are struggling with all the same stuff. I guess as girls we gossip till there is no voice left and men just do manly things and let things work out in their mind. So i guess it is true in the end - men are from Mars and women are from Venus. It only took me 30 something years to realise that the title of the book was right, LOL. 

So what is it about love and relationships that make us go crazy? is it the figuring out what you really want? Is it the challenge of changing someone from one thing to another? or is it just this idea of this movie like fairy tale that makes us chase and chase and chase till we can chase no more? 

For me it is clearly the last one. My favourite love story of all (well there are several) is serendipity. And i know how crazy it sounds but maybe its this idea that I love about the universe just hearing your trials and tribulations this whole while and really just pushing you along a path till that happily ever after makes you feel as though you don't have to be girl number 1 or 2, you can just be some balance in between and be perfectly loved as you are.....

Such a simple thought, such a complicated road to get there. Here is to finding love in everything we do and continuing to try and try again :)

- A 

#love #relationships #figuringitout #menaremarswomenarefromvenus #growingup #girlfriends #life