Comfort Zones

Comfort Zones are evil little shits who can ruin your life. Too much? Okay, maybe so. Maybe they're not eeeeeevil...but they sure as heck hold you back from your potential. Suuuure...you can live your routine, day to day life...but don't don't you feel like stepping out and doing what you've always dreamt of for a change?

Alright, comfort zones...they may even be a little nice at times...and COMFORTABLE. And we all tend to feel safe and secure when we stay in our little bubble...But that's all they will ever be. A comfortable.little.bubble. How lame. You can't grow in a bubble. You're stuck there. You can't even think of expanding you're horizon, or you're bubble will pop. 

Pop? Yikes. Leaving you exposed to life. The cruel and relentless side of life that can leave you vulnerable to failures, mistakes, heartache and much, much more. Wait a second, that also means that would leave you open to all of the wonderful things in life as well that are only found outside of your comfort zone. This includes things like: experiencing daring adventures & endeavors that can positively turn your world upside down in the blink of an eye, falling in love & meeting your soulmate, learning new things, traveling the world, starting up your own business, getting in the best shape of your life, raising a family, being bat shit crazy whenever you damn well wanna be, pursuing a passion that you've placed on the backburner.

Life is about taking risks. Exploring. Dreaming and believing! I will say that I've had my fair share of just wanting to live 'inside' my little bubble before. I've felt so vulnerable at times, if there were a rock around, I'm 99.9% sure I would have crawled under it and stayed there for a long, long time. But I didn't, I couldn't. I knew God had/has big plans for me and staying under a rock isn't one of them.  He has instilled a fire inside of me that just won't subside.

It's not easy when adversity has been thrown your way the majority of your life...but it sure does make your dreams glow a little brighter, resonate a little deeper and taste a little sweeter when your reach them. 

Comfort zones are nothing but a safety net. Do you have dreams other than working in a cubicle from 9-5? If you say you don't, you're lying. Do you dream of the day when you can live the life you've imagined? Start now. Right this very second. Of course, we all have bills to pay and mouths to feed, so by no means am I saying to just up & quit your job right this second...but better yet, start taking action towards the life you dream of. (Disclaimer** You need to be smart about this so you're not living under a bridge by next Monday) 

Tomorrow isn't promised. Your health isn't promised. The loved one you've dreamed of doing things with isn't promised either. That bridge you've burned is still burned, so start rebuilding it. Act...and act now! 

Life is short, pursue your dreams.

Falling in a pile of mud isn't all that bad...

Here I am, today on my lunch break...such a glorioussss day! I'm off to the camera store to pick up some new gear I've ordered & I'm just jumping for joy on the inside. I pick up the gear, chat with Johnny (my go-to guy) & he helps me carry it out to my truck. Well, on the way back to my truck...I slip. Not only a slight slip - but a slip you would see off of the movies. In a pile of mud. I pretty much do a backflip and land on straight my knees. Holy farkkkkkk. Ouch, That hurts. I have a huge pain tolerance, but this caused my eyes to well-up with tears and want to play dead right then & there...but then I realized I was in a parking lot and couldn't really be so dramatic. So, instead, I just try to play it cool & act like nothing happened. Bless Johnny's heart...he comes running over to me asking if I was okay...he had such a worried look on his face...God love him. Did it look as bad in person as it did in my head? Knowing me, it probably looked much worse. Anywho, Johnny helps me up and I'm limping over to the truck saying ohhh yeah I'm "fine." No worries. I mean, ever since I was little I've been taught to "walk it off" so that's what I did. 

Anywho, we loaded up my gear and I hobble into the truck seriously about to cry...but instead, I decide to swallow the lump in my throat & wave at Johnny with a smile & say ill ttyl. Then, I see mud...all.over.me. From waist down. That made me cry. Seriously, what am I? 5 years old? 

After sulking for nearly 2 minutes I realize what a baby I'm being and I turn off the faucet. I get back to my office and I limp in, covered in mud & thankful. I truly snapped myself back into reality when I realized I was crying over nothing. Really? I'm going to cry over mud on my jeans & a busted knee!?? GET OVER IT! There are millions of people on the planet wishing they had a pair of jeans like mine, millions of people in the hospital wishing all they had to worry about was a goose-egg on their knees, millions of people wishing they had knees to fall on...yannow? You may laugh bc that's such an outlandish thing to think...but really, it's little occurrences like that that really make me thankful for the life I'm blessed to live. Have a great day everyone :)

Our Love Story [Part 1]

Our Love Story...Part 1.

True Love. What is it? Everyone seems to be on a relentless chase to find it. Some will even go to extreme measures to obtain it, do everything in the book to trick their minds into believing they have captured it, when in fact, their "true love" or knight in shining armor turns out to be a complete & utter loser dressed tin foil. Oh, for pete's sake. Spare me. 

I've been there...kind of. I mean, I've been in relationships where a teeny-tiny part of me had hoped they would lead me to what I was dreaming of...but, nope...they were all dead ends with dark alleys full of people God didn't intend for me & I was okay with that. I moved on and never looked back..because, after all...I never got that feeling that I was dreaming of anyways, the feeling I knew God would bring to me in my dream man. & I knew I wasn't going to settle for less than what I deserved, that's for sure! I was young & care-free & I honestly didn't even worry about what the next day was going to bring, let alone, worry about who my soulmate was going to be. 

I knew that eventually, God would lead me to the man of my dreams, I only had to be patient...which by the way, that whole "patience virtue" was something that was not 'instilled' in me. I think God forgot to put a dash of that in my formula when He made me. 

Anywhoodles, so there I was - busy living & loving life. I loved my family, friends & everything that came along with it. I was in college & knew I wasn't ready for that 'special' someone anyways. I was having a butt-load of fun & insistent on creating my future. I was almost out of college graduating with my degree in business and communications when I got offered an internship in New York City. With the big dawgs. I was terrified and excited of what my future held. I couldn't wait to get to NYC & make a name for myself in this big ol' world.

But before I tell you about that....

Let me take you back a few years...

In 2009, I was in a relationship with someone. We were rocky & on the verge of ending it, but we were still trying to "work things out". You know how that always goes. FAIL. A complete waste of time & yielding the same results as before. Me & my then bf we're hanging out at the volleyball courts with some friends & then a strikingly handsome guy with an awesome & spunky personality comes up to us & says hi. He was completely opposite of the lame ass I was dating at the time. He knew my ex & introduced himself to me. We locked eyes, gave each other a firm handshake and then he went on his ole jolly way while I was standing there...miserable & stuck in an unhealthy relationship. Ugh, I was pretty much feeling like, FML...yannow? I just wanted to be OUT of it. And asap. But you know when you hold on for too long when you already know they're not meant for you? Pretty much just wasting my precious time on someone who didn't deserve a second of it. My ex was everything I knew I DIDNT want in my soulmate. Thankfully, just a few short weeks later, we officially ended it.

I was happy & keeping myself busy & what do yannow...that little hunk from the volleyball court adds me on Facebook & asks me out on a date. I went, without hesitation the very next day. We laughed the entire night. We just 'clicked'. I felt something like I'd never felt before with anyone else. We saw a movie and spent the entire night just talking in the parking lot...we were there until 5am. Talking about anything & everything. We both didn't want the night to end, but I had work at 7am...so unfortunately, it had to. We didn't kiss - just gave each other a tight hug and we went our separate ways. He was everything I've dreamed of. Could it be...? But before I could think about any of that - I put up my guard and decided - Scratch thatttttttt nonsense! I was so done with "love" & didn't even want to think about it. But Daniel, he was different. However, my heart was still being bandaged up after my previously failed relationship. So, to sum things up...it was the absolute most dreadful & terrible timing you could ever think of.

Daniel ended up leaving for a trip to South Africa a couple days later and we ended up losing touch for a couple of years. I was busy living my life & so was he. We were both in other relationships & dating other people at different times & it never really lead us to link up. Yet, I would still see him on my Facebook newsfeed & every.single.time, my heart would somewhat sink to the ground.

I knew deep down in my heart & soul, we were meant to be together.. But of course, I would NEVER EVER EVERRRRRR in a million gazillion years ever really admit that to myself or verbally say a darn thing to anyone else under the sun about it. I'm not the clingy type what-so-ever, but yet, feeling so  strongly about someone else made me sick to my stomach every time I would see him and know I missed my chance. The train has left the mother-fkng-station. Seriously, someone just punch me. And of course, I knew I couldn't say a word about it to Daniel...I mean, what if he didn't even bat an eyelash at me and deemed me as a crazy-obsessive psycho. Haha The possibility of unrequited love was too scary of a thought. I'd rather just forget about it and move on. Plus, to top it off...he was with someone else at the time. I wasn't trying to step on any toes or be a home-wrecker, either. I can see it now..."this chick comes out of the woodworks professing her feelings to me & we went on one "date"...and it wasn't even technically a date." Yeah...how about NO. I'm not that type of girl and I wasn't about to start then. It was too risky & I sure as hell wasn't going to forego my pride at the time being to tell him how I felt. It was just something I had to let go of...and I did, gracefully. I just un-officially deemed him as the "one who got away" & I knew it was all my fault. I faced the fact that I would just have to swallow that jagged little pill and forget about it & him. Which is exactly what I did...

(to be continued...) 

Chandra Lately...

I'm definitely writing this bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning. Something just hit me like a ton of bricks about a year ago...and seemingly tends runs across the forefront of all of my thoughts quite frequently ever since then. Everyday, I feel like I have an epiphany all over again...it's on constant repeat. Life is short, do what makes you HAPPY! Whatever that may be, do it! (Hopefully as long as it's legal) Of course this motto has been stuck in the back of my mind my whole life..but not until recently, I truly took it to heart & began to grasp the reality of it all. I live by quotes...I find motivation, drive & truth from them. They're short, sweet & catchy. At this point in my life, I've had a certain one that has taken center stage - "Dreams don't work unless YOU do." I have this quote plastered everywhere for me to see it daily - several times a day! I have it printed off and posted on the front of my day planner, it's on my phones screen saver, my desktop wallpaper...pretty much in other words...it's a constant reminder to keep up the hard work and eventually, it will pay off. If I ever get to feeling overwhelmed, I just remember that quote and all of a sudden, I know that all of my work will be worth it.

(Disclaimer: There are those God moments that happen where things just tend to fall into your lap, but for most of the time, you reap what you sew.) 

There are major changes going on right now for me and I couldn't be more excited about it! Some of you know, most of you don't know - but I can't wait to share with you guys all of the big news..I'll be posting about it in a couple of weeks. Well, for me this is big news, you might not even bat an eyelash - but this is projecting my life to where I want it to go...I'm taking necessary & well-planned actions that will get me to where I want to be. If your dreams don't scare you - they're not big enough! To be honest, there's a part in me that's somewhat scared sh*tless, but I've learned in life...the bigger the risk, the greater the reward! Stay tuned!

My Fit Foods 21 day challenge Overview!

So, I completed the MFF 21 day challenge. It was great! I lost 8 pounds and have really learned about portion control and how quickly calories add up. Yikes. Now, I find myself being more consciously aware about my calorie intake. All-in-all, it was a great experience and everyone at the location I went to was just so pleasant & sweet. 

The oooooooonly negative thing that I have to say about MFF - (I am totally NOT a negative Nancy - but this did kind if frustrate me a bit) I drive 45 minutes home and realize they forgot 4 of my snacks and 2 of my breakfast meals on 2 different pick up days. Pooey. It had my meals totally off wack bc I had to move meals up & ect...but whatever, I'm not gonna be a crybaby about it. I just improvised.They double checked the meals in front of me, but I guess somehow overlooked some things. But whatevs, sh*t happens. Besides that, everything was awesome! The food was great and I felt rejuvenated after the challenge! I definitely recommend this program to anyone who is looking to jump start their fitness journey!