No matter what, always be you!

I get a daily email with random quotes, and somedays the timing couldn't be more perfect!

I've had a lot of decisions weighing on my mind recently. How to better spend my time, what I want to focus on in different aspects of my life, what goals I want to focus on, etc.

One decision that I have really been struggling with is what I want to do with my *business*. I would like to take it to the next level, and try to amp it up a little. Which has led to questioning if I want to/should be more professional with it. As I consider what that would mean, and trying to visualize the balance of work and life, and running a business that stays in accord with my values and desires (one desire being that I just really want to help people), I've really struggled with taking the plunge and making a decision at all.

For one thing, I constantly remind myself that while I'd love to ... insert goal... such as write a book, I am not at that stage in my life to work on that goal. Right now I'm raising a family. And that is fine! I love raising my family!! And I also love my *work*. (See, I'm still not 100% committed that it's even my job. But I'm getting there.) 😉 I'm happy with baby stepping my way into it.

My point is, is that I think this quote sums it up perfectly. No matter what we are going to do in life, we can only be ourselves in doing it!! I've struggled with become *professional*, because I've been looking at it in a way that takes so much of who I am out of the equation.



I picture professional as the opposite of what I've been doing that has gotten me as far as I am now. I am not anyone out of the ordinary, and yet I feel like I receive so much support from so many amazing people!! Thank you!! Being the imperfect, and perhaps sometimes too open, person that I am, for some reason has brought me further along than I really ever imagined!

I'm not looking for fame or fortune. I just want to help my family, and hopefully help someone else who has had a rough day.

 I don't feel like I've been doing a very good job at that lately, as I've been so caught up in becoming something else. My hubby keeps telling me, "well then, just keep doing what you've been doing!" So I guess that's the answer to my question. Keep on keepin' on!

And if I'm going to share some uplifting message, you just keep being you!! Don't feel like you have to fit some mold to be successful! Just be you! Find what you love and what you are good at, and do it!! It took me a while to find my niche, but it works for me.

Sometimes I try to do what someone else is doing, and it doesn't work. I totally believe in learning and trying new things. Don't get me wrong. But I can't be good at everything.

What I can do is be grateful for and appreciate the talents of others. Enjoy those things that they do which they have spent their time and effort in developing!! It's not a competition. It's a community of sharing and growth. Just think, if everyone brought their best selves to the table, and we all sat back enjoyed the talents and strengths of one another, this world would be a beautiful and amazing place!!

The first time I realized this was at a college jazz concert. I sat there listening to them play, loving the music and talent of the band. Usually I'll think, "I wish I could play like them!" or "I wish I was that good!"

Instead, as I sat there listening I thought of all the time they spent practicing. The years they spent learning to play their instruments. I thought of the hard work, dedication, and frustration given to get to where they were then. And I was so overwhelmed with gratitude that they would share that with me!

I was so incredibly happy that I didn't have to put in all of that work to enjoy the end results!

I could sit there, relax, and be happy! I could skip all the pain and tears and sweat. All because someone else did it!

And I was so happy for them! Instead of being envious or jealous, I was so happy for them! That that was their talent, even though it wasn't mine.

Since then, whenever I see someone write a book, or come out with a fabric line, or buy their first house, or have some other accomplishment that is on my dream board. Instead of being upset that I don't yet have that, I rejoice in their accomplishments! I an happy for them! And happy to celebrate with them!

Isn't that how life should be?! That we can rejoice in one another?!

Just like those jazz students shared their talent and hard work with me, I can do that for others! I never thought my *talent* would be designing quilt patterns. But when I think about it, it's perfect for me! I love ever aspect of it! I enjoy it! And people enjoy my them too! And it makes me so happy!!

So whatever your goals or dreams are, never lose sight of who you really are! And in whatever you do, always be you!

How does that quote go? "There is nothing truer than true, no one is youer than you!"

Thanks for reading my late night ramble, thought detangling blog post! ;)

Don't ever be discouraged. Rejoice in who you are! Because you are beautiful!!!