“Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead, let your hair down”

It’s summer y’all!  It’s been pretty warm the last few weeks, so it has already felt like summer: but now it’s official.  I’m wearing this patterned jumpsuit by LOFT to fully celebrate Summer 2015 and I’m letting my hair down and opening up to new experiences!  If you didn’t notice I created a GIF (my first GIF!).  This GIF is dedicated to really letting loose and enjoying this summer!

This summer let’s do something spontaneous, meet someone new, go on an adventure! Just say yes and be positive.  I talk about spontaneity because life takes turns when you least expect it to.  My life recently took some unexpected turns and so much changed in the course of four days…I know: four days!!! But I’m happier and stronger for these changes.  I’ve had a few days to reflect and I am confident when I say these changes weren’t just a coincidence and here are a few reasons why I know this:

1. I stood up for myself. Last week, I saw myself internalizing other people’s behavior towards me and I could not stand it any longer.  So I decided, when the timing was right, I would stand up for myself and express my feelings.  Well I expressed them!  At first it felt good and a little scary but I couldn’t hold them in any longer.  I didn’t know then that what I was doing would push me into the next phase of my career.  Knowing when to stand up for yourself is so important and for me, the timing was just right.

2. I pounced on an opportunity that I had a feeling would be worthwhile for me.  Truth be told, I was able to stand up for myself because I created a safety net–which gave me confidence.  This is important, if standing up for yourself is going to leave you high and dry, perhaps the timing isn’t right.  However, take notes on how you feel and maybe when the timing is right, you will be able to recall how you felt.  Luckily, I had that safety net (which came from my tenacity to know that once I did need to stand up for myself, I would have some security).

 3.  I said yes to new adventures/opportunity.  You never know who you might meet. Whether it be for a love connection or a job opportunity, saying yes to people and places is always an opportunity.  This past week I said yes to a new career venture and even some personal ventures and for that I am grateful and happy.

It’s not always easy to say how you feel or say yes to an experience but the payoff is always great.  I often find myself thinking, Why go out tonight?, or why talk to that person?, or I think I’ll just watch TV right now instead of applying for that new job or attend a networking event.  However, I always try to push those thoughts aside and think about the upside to them and just the idea of an upside is what gets me going.  That’s part of who I am, it’s in my DNA.  I’m a communicator and an outgoing person by nature so even the possibility of something gets me going and when I do make the choice to say “yes,” I always find that I am better for it.  More importantly, I use those positive thoughts or feelings in my day-to-day experiences.  Don’t compartmentalize those good feelings, use them to catapult you to the next step.

I want my own experience and words to inspire others as I know it’s a struggle to just get up sometimes, but I am always trying to inspire myself and lately it has been working: and I don’t think it’s a coincidence.

So seize the day, the moment, the job, the friend, the guy or girl because there will be a payoff, maybe not right away or outwardly, but it will manifest in its own way.

Enjoy summer and more to come on this mantra and Summer 2015: stay tuned!

Photo by Lydia Hudgens.