On this day as I reflect on the beautifully magical year I've had, I'm reminded that the beauties in life are filled with imperfections. In the day of beautifully curated blogs and images, I'm reminded that the persons behind them are equally as flawed as I am and are doing AMAZING things with their gifts and talents, so why shouldn't I?
Since I was a child, I always had high hopes of doing great things in my life. I didn't want my small-town country upbringing to hold me back from seeing the world. I wanted MORE for myself and I dreamed of traveling the world. I wanted to experience the richness of life and to see the ocean in person. I'd grown up watching Denise Austin working out every morning on the beach and I wanted that life for myself. Her life, it seemed, was beautiful, magical, and serene. It looked like the ultimate FUN. Every summer I looked forward to waking up and watching her because she was HAPPY doing what she loved.
Fast forward to today and I am a woman who is grateful. Grateful that I was given the dream to one day experience the magical vibrance of the ocean. Grateful that after dreaming for so long, at the ripe age of 21, I was finally blessed to experience the beach in all of it's glory in person. My first experience was beyond magical. I'll never forget it and will always cherish that time in my life.
What does all of this have to do with believing in yourself, you may ask. To be honest, I don't know. I don't always understand my thoughts and feelings. I just give myself permission to express and feel them in the way that they want to be expressed and felt (within reason :)). I've been wanting for quite some time now, to write...to live...to express...to share - and have been so afraid. But this morning I woke with that phrase in my head..."believe in yourself"... so I will.
xo, Dana