YOU CAN DO IT!!!

“Only as high as I reach, can I grow. Only as far as I seek, can I go. Only as deep as I look, can I see. Only as much as I dream, can I be.”

I stumbled upon this quote today and I loved it. After reading it, I’m feeling all fired up and inspired… because it’s so true! I think that people naturally live up to the potential that they think they have. People who are confidant in their abilities tend to succeed; whereas people who doubt themselves fail. I believe in “self-fulfilled prophesy.” If you think to yourself ‘I can do this’ then you can! If you think to yourself ‘I can’t do this, then it just gives you validation to let yourself fail.

I often hear people talk about outside factors or external forces which make it difficult for them to attain their goals. “The economy is so bad.” “I have a slow metabolism.” “I’ve had bad luck with relationships.” Well, I’m here to tell you to stop blaming anything or anyone else besides yourself!

It’s true: I cannot control the outside forces that surround me. But, I have the choice of whether or not I choose to believe them or accept them. Sometimes, people have been told their whole life that they cannot do something. Sometimes all a person needs to succeed is for someone to believe in them and encourage them. I want to do just that! If you’re reading this and there’s something you want but you think you can’t do it or that you can’t have it; I’m telling you that you’re wrong! You CAN do it; and I will believe in you!

So what if the economy is bad? All you’re looking for is one good job. Just one good job! That’s not too much to ask for or to expect for yourself. Trust me, it’s out there and it’s all yours. So stop letting the economy or anything else hold you back!

If you want to get in shape, I believe in you. You can do it! Don’t worry about your metabolism or your age or your current fitness level. Focus on what you want and what you need to do to get there. I know you can do it!

Seriously, anyone reading this who needs someone to believe in them- I’m putting myself out there. I want to make myself accessible to YOU! I bet you that no matter what it is, I will believe in you and you can do it. So if you need someone to believe in you, please reach out to me. I want anyone who doubts themselves to stop believing their excuses and to just go for it!

S5A!!!

Word travels like wild fire. It’s impossible to keep anything a secret for too long! Many of you have probably heard that I’m leaving my current job and beginning a new position with a different company. Well, the rumors are true! I have exactly one week left with my current employer. Beginning August 2^nd I am starting a new job at Saks Fifth Avenue. The Saks Fifth Avenue! I am absolutely thrilled!!! This is exactly what I want.

I’ve had such a positive experience up to this point in my professional career. I’ve been very fortunate to work for two great companies where I have had the opportunity to learn and grow so much. And I’ve met and worked with some pretty amazing people along the way. But this will be the first time that I truly and unequivocally chose my employer. Both of the previous times I’ve pursued new jobs, both after graduating college and following my move to New York, I looked for jobs because I needed a job. This is the first time that I’ve been in a position where the reason for my job hunt was that I wanted a specific profession with a specific employer.

If you we’re to ask any of my close friends or family, they would be able to tell you that since I moved to New York, I’ve wanted to work for a high-end, luxury retailer- “like Saks.” For quite some time, Saks Fifth Avenue has been the archetypal corporation where I see myself growing in my career. I wasn’t unhappy at my current job. I didn’t apply anywhere else. I just knew that this was what I wanted. So I focused on what I wanted; I emitted my longing to the universe, and I took action. Of course, there were other requirements: the position had to be right for me and my professional and financial goals. But once again, the stars have aligned and I’ve gotten exactly what I wanted. I’m so grateful and so excited for what the future holds. And I can’t wait to use my corporate discount- let’s go shopping!!!

Have cake. Eat cake.

I believe that you should never settle for anything less than what you deserve. I want to have my cake and eat it too! This is generally the way I feel about life, and this is generally the way things work out for me. Whenever I think that I might not be getting what I deserve, or I realize that I want something more- I speak up, I take action, I go after it, and I get it. Sometimes I even surprise myself with how easily things seem to work out. Of course, I have my doubts just like anyone else. I worry that things might not go as expected; and sometimes they don’t. But I go for it anyway. And if there are any speed-bumps along the way, I keep going. And in the end, things always seem to work out.

So I’ve been considering why my life is like this. Do I just have good luck? What makes me so special? I think an important part of getting what you deserve is being honest with yourself about what you in fact, truly deserve. In order to get something in return, you first have to offer something of value. I’m not saying that if you just work hard and do the right thing, everything will go as it should. Sometimes, you have to fight for it. But if you’re really working hard at your job or your relationship and not getting the proper return on your investment, don’t just accept it. Find a relationship or a job that will reward you for all your efforts. Keep looking until you find it. I promise that it exists. And if you’re continually getting less than what you think you deserve, it may be time to reevaluate the value and worth of what you’re offering and reconsider how you can contribute more in order to get more.

There’s a really good reason that this is all on my mind, but I can’t reveal too many details just yet. Keep checking back to read my posts each week to discover the exciting effects of my hard work unfolding.

Happy...

I’ve been feeling so happy! Of course, I’m consistently a very happy person; but, my new boyfriend has just got me on such a high! Up until now, I’ve been avoiding talking about it. I didn’t want to make a firm declaration right away to my friends or family about how things were going in my new relationship because I wanted to wait to realize a certain level of sureness. But to be honest, I think I knew right from the beginning. My beau and I have been friends for nearly two years, so I certainly felt confident in our decision to begin dating. For whatever reason though, I’ve been concerned about other people’s perceptions and skepticism. Maybe I’ve been a bit skeptical myself. Sometimes, good things come in to our lives and we don’t accept them because we think we don’t deserve them or we think there has to be a catch. Sometimes all we have to do to be happy is just to let ourselves be happy. Sometimes we need to stop fighting it and let ourselves receive and enjoy the good things that are coming into our lives.

Well, I’ve decided to stop fighting it. I’ve been holding back from acknowledging and sharing how I really feel. The truth is that he makes me SO happy. This feels completely different than any of my past relationships. I feel so good about the whole thing and I’m optimistic about what the future holds.

I know people can sometimes be turned off by ooey-gooey new couples. Trust me, I’ve been there and wanted to throw some rotten fruit and shout “Get a room!” But sometimes, you just need to let loose and enjoy the moment for what it is. I’m going to let myself be happy and I hope that the people who love and care about me will support and encourage my happiness.

Take Me to the Vino!

On Saturday, I surprised my boyfriend by taking him on the “Take Me to the Vino Wine Tour,” an all-day excursion, visiting some of the finest wineries of the Hudson Valley. Every weekend, year round, buses leave from Times Square and take you around New York State to enjoy delicious food and wine, not to mention incredible landscapes. We began our day at 9:30am with breakfast and mimosas on the bus. From that point forward, the consumption never ceased! We had an amazing hostess named Revi. She was wildly entertaining and made each bus ride from winery to winery nearly more fun than the wineries themselves.

But I haven’t even mentioned the best part: our tour bus was a “Karaoke Bus!” That’s right. In between wineries, passengers got up out of their seats to perform their favorite karaoke songs. But wait, there’s more! At first it seemed like a mere coincidence that the first couple karaoke performances we’re literally the best renditions of popular songs you could possibly imagine. But by the fourth or fifth performance, the rest of the bus realized that they’re had to be more to the story. It just so happens that several passengers taking the tour that day were professional, on-Broadway performers! Can you believe it?!?! I was expecting food, drinks, and landscapes but then to top it off, Brenden and I got to experience impromptu performances by true Broadway performers, first-hand! Unbelievable. I can honestly say that the entire experience was one of the best of my life.

View every obstacle as an opportunity.

Sometimes, things don’t always go my way: you may be shocked to hear me say this. And sometimes, I make mistakes (It sounds crazy, I know!). But every time I mess up, it’s just another opportunity for an improvement. I’m reminded of this any time something doesn’t go exactly as I’ve planned.

Today, the most insignificant setback has reminded me of this concept. Yesterday afternoon, I lost my cell phone. I tried calling the number over and over again. I called every establishment I had visited that day to see if anyone had found it. I think that I may have left it in a cab. One time, I actually found a stranger’s cell phone in a cab and I was able to return the phone to its rightful owner. So, I was nearly certain that my good karma would come in handy given my current situation. But alas, 24 hours has passed and my phone was still nowhere to be found. So I went to at&t and got a new phone- no big deal… except that now, I’ve lost all of my contacts!

For a brief moment, this stressed me out. At first I thought of it as a setback; but as it turns out, this is kind of a cool opportunity. Naturally, the first thing I did was to message all of my facebook friends and sent out an e-mail to request phone numbers. Reaching out to my social network in this way has turned in to an opportunity to communicate with some friends and family that I may not have connected with otherwise. Also, losing my numbers gives me a blank slate, a chance to start over.

It might sound small, but I think that my life often works like this. You may get laid off from your job or break up with your significant other. But ultimately it turns out to be an opportunity to improve yourself, improve your life or pursue something another potentially better opportunity. I find it interesting, the concept that everything in life is a balance between two opposing forces. In Taoism they’re called the Yin and the Yang. Yin and Yang are interconnected and yet interdependent. When something negative exists, there is always a positive counterpart. What I believe though is that I have a choice weather I want to focus on the positive or the negative aspect of any situation. Some people would say that I’m missing part of the whole picture, that my perspective is limited. But that’s what works best for me. I choose the positive. I view every obstacle as an opportunity, but never the other way around.