Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Be Thankful for Your Challenges??

"...find a new direction for Eating Pretty"
"...this guy is not good enough for you, move on."
"...I have 3 diets to write and an e-book in 3 hours. ahh!"
"...pretty sure this guy has turned out to be a full on sociopath, move on."
"...find another direction for Eating Pretty. Again."
"...emails, oh my lord emails. If Eating Pretty could find it's direction - I could have an email writer!"
"...ignore that bbm, ignore that text, ignore! ... aw, but he's so cute."
"...that sale didn't work at all, let's find a new direction!"
"...I have to give a speech on ____ in 30 minutes. I should probably write it."
"...it's ____'s birthday. But I have so much work!"
"...concentrating would be so much easier if I didn't have a broken heart"
"...I can't wait to tell Claire this!"
"...concentrating would be so much easier if I wasn't so excited."
"...is it the 1st already?"
"...I miss my family. I need to call Laura and bbm Daddy"
"...all I want to do is write, play with puppies and gossip with my girls - but, I need to find another direction!"


Welcome to my inner thoughts on a daily basis.


One could look at my facebook, twitter, linkedin, blog, website, youtube channel and think that all I do is think of pretty food, girlfriends, rainbows, puppies and magic all day. (which, is somewhat true.)


However, between being on Year 1 of my income solely from being an entrepreneur, seeming to be anywhere from unlucky or non-existant in the boy department, having to find new directions to take my business to the next level (and trying that again, and again, and again), attempting to manage all areas of a growing business alone, trying to refrain from being an anti-social workaholic and maintain my friendships, keeping up with all the volunteer work I do...
I guess it's needless to say: my brain is not all cupid, sunshine and sparkles.


But that is my ultimate goal. Sunshine, sparkles and making others lives better. And I will never stop being who I am and standing for what I believe in until I get there.


Last week was one of the most bitter-sweet weeks of my life. It was one of those weeks where in all areas of life you just want to crawl into a hole and hibernate, except I was working on my huge event Rock the Runway in support of Movember. So keeping positive through the weeks challenges was imperative.


On an especially stressful day I was trying to stay strong and keep it together at my office, but I took one look at my best friend Claire's face and burst into tears.
In my vent session my inner trucker took over and you would never have known I was a girl who thought swearing was a sign of a weak vocabulary. The cuss filled rant was rolling off my tongue like a drunken pirate.
Sparing you the $#^&'s ...
I told her that on my drive to work this morning I thought about how much easier it would be if I was one of those insecure, lost people who turned to drugs, alcohol, clubs, meaningless sex, bad food and designer things for validation.
Obviously, I did not mean it. My point was that sadly, in this world those things rule. I could literally walk out of my office and in 30 minutes be drunk and in bed with a new guy who wanted to buy me a Prada bag and take me for lobster. All my worries about companionship, finances and my business would be out the drowned out by booze and momentary validation.


But that is not who I choose to be, and I work so hard to be who I am.
It's not easy at all. In fact this journey is much more difficult then I could ever imagine. 
Following your heart, being daring, and passionate all while sticking to your core values has become next to impossible in this twisted world. Being reckless provides such immediate gratification that it's rare to find people that are truly who they portray themselves to be. And even more rare to find people who believe in that path and stick to it even on the days that bring them to tears.



If you follow my blog regularly, you will know I believe there is a lesson in every challenge. Once I began to believe that with everything I was - life just started to make sense.
Last week was the first time one of those 'lessons' blind sided me - my inner voice gave me NO warning and I can't for the life of me see what I must learn from it.
Claire said to me she thinks the series of events in my bad week are only making me stronger and ready for the best that is yet to come. She thinks with the week I've had it's right around the corner.
(I think best friends have to say that, it's in the code.)
But, that day I hoped she was right, today I believe it and (I hope) next week, I will know it.


Focusing on what I don't have or the challenges that feel like a punch in the face are only going to push me into that dark corner to be that girl I live my life trying not to be, and try to inspire you not to be.
On the days I am tempted to throw in the towel and conform to the 'easy' (and completely unsatisfying) way; I picture those that follow my career, attend my seminars, Rock the Runway, Live and Eat Pretty, and then I think
"What kind of example would I be sending? Not one I believe in."
So I focus on what a truly blessed life I live.

This week I feel more overwhelmed with true friendships, love and praise of making a difference than ever before. It made me realize no matter what the challenge, I am so very blessed to have all of you in my life.
Attitude of Gratitude has been my saving grace. The more I am thankful, the better I feel and the more love I seem to receive from those that matter most.


Never give up, and be thankful for what you have? 
Seems so simple, and yet in reality it is the most challenging.
But next week at this time, I know the things that made me be McTearsy last week, will be long gone and I will be faced with new victories and new challenges - leading me to the perfect place I am headed for, all for being exactly who I am.
Challenges are a part of life. They make you feel, fuel your passion and test your limits.


My challenge to you on this American Thanksgiving week is:
Spend 5 minutes a day being thankful for what you do have. Love, amazing friendships, family, a great job, a roof over your head, pets, a delicious meal, a lucky break... whatever it is. Be thankful.


Attitude of Gratitude always brings more to be thankful for.
Don't focus on the bad like I did last week - it only amplifies the pain and challenges.
Be thankful for the lessons the universe teaches you, too. Even if you aren't sure what they are in the moment. They take you where you are going. And if you let them... 
I will see you there!


Love you all.
xo A.
www.eatingpretty.com




8 comments:

  1. oh I love you and your candid blogs.
    Please know that you inspire so many daily
    - you once said to me that whatever or whoever brought me down, it is only because I can handle it. :)

    The lesson will show up, it always does.

    Thank you for being you.

    xox B.

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  2. Beautifully written and so inspirational as usual! Keep doing this... you have a gift... thanks so much for sharing it with all of us. Amazing things are just around the corner- I can guarantee it!

    xo C

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  3. Last night at the studio working on jingle, I logged on FB and noticed your blog! I know I’ve really only met you twice, briefly both times at a bar….but I wanted to comment on what you wrote. It must be very hard to stay positive and be insightful all the time for the benefit of the women you help?! Similar to acting, it’s like you must remain in character! Remember, you’re human! When you get down and out and feeling doubt on the things you’ve done, the things you do, the challenges you face day to day whether big or small……it takes special person to be able to do the things you do! Between your special events, promotions and seminars, How many women your age would have the courage enough to do all those things and run their own business…..especially in a city like TO?!

    How many women would put up video blogs and show their own vulnerability in order to help others better themselves?! You’re not one who plays it safe and sits back to see what happens…. You make things happen! Maybe not everything you’ve done has been a great success….but the fact that you even do all these things makes you who are! In a world focused on looks and status, as beautiful as you are, you could survive on that alone! Perhaps the reason you’ve been unlucky in the men dept. is because being as rare as you are, some men would find you intimidating! So there’s my two cents…lol! Keep on kicking ass and being you! The people that matter in your life will always notice how rare you are!

    J.

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  4. Good Morning my friend!
    Thank you so much for the sweet note this morning. It means a lot.

    But what you said is exactly why I choose to write the blog.
    I like to show my girls my vulnerabilities - and lessons I have learned in the most honest way I possibly can. It shows them that I am real too, and I work really hard to be where I am. That if I can do it, so can they.

    Everything you said in this letter makes what I do feel noticed. I know we have only met a few times but you are truly a great friend to me.

    You are so kind to go out of your way to write this to me. I honestly appreciate you so much.
    Thank you so much for the kind words. Made my day.

    xoxox A.

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  5. This was an email sent to me this morning by my good friend Katie Goodwin. I asked her permission to post, because I love so much what she took from my blog.


    Hey Ange,
    I just read your blog post and I want to reach out and hug you. It's difficult somedays when you are trying so hard to make a difference. That desire to quell the flames of your stress with toxins is there for everyone and you are courageous for articulating that. This is what needs to be changed in our world, this is what our generation can do that our parents couldn't - we can put words to these feelings and we can talk about them instead of feeling shame or hiding them. This blog post is great. Its incredibly honest and I think it gives a very real look at stress and temptation and the strength it takes to stay positive.
    Thank you for being you ... with all your struggles and all your dreams
    xoxo Kate


    My response:
    Katie -
    Thank you so much for your message. Literally brought tears to my eyes. It means so much to me that you take exactly what I mean from my message.
    People like you and I will make a difference and show people it's okay to do what feels good inside. We may have had tough lessons to get here, but our strength now is a gift that needs to be shared and used to propel greatness!


    Keep being amazing, and thank you for your words.
    xoxo A.

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  6. wait wait waittt for ittt....! BOOM! Just spotting something on the FB page or even just seeing an updated status on the bbm from you homie makes me wanna push myself to be great that day. Don't ever forget. Wether its tears of joy or tears of pain. Ya got some build up just let it rain. Every now and then we need a good cry.
    I'm a big man and I will show my feelings to my friends because that is what they are there for. To help us through our challenges that we face everyday! I beleive in you like we all do. Til the day we go. I will always be there for you to Lean on sunshine.;) I hope you have a most joyful weekend. Also ps. if a guy ever hurts you... Next time let him meet me. The big scary fam member lol!

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  7. hahahaha. I love you so much. I know I tell you every day. But it's true.

    A true friend is one you haven't seen yet at the moustashio bashio, text "where are you?", find him and go up for a hug cry on his shoulder and then pull it together, and walk away - no questions asked. Just being there for me.

    This is one of the many reasons you are wonderful and I am so blessed to be able to 'lean on you'

    Thank you for your sweet message, friendship, and everything you do in this life. I can't wait to make a difference with you as well.

    And if a boy ever hurts me or one of my babes again - I will let you pummel him. ;)
    Just wasn't the place.

    BOOM!

    .... or should I say? SICK YO!!!
    xoxox A.

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  8. Attitude of Gratitude! I love it! Great Blog Angela, never thought to be thankful for all my challenges, I've always been strong, but reading your blog gave me new found strength. My internal thoughts are very much similar to yours. Right now I'm finding it so hard to concentrate on my goals, boy distractions...its refrshing to know someone as beautiful and successful as you are has the same girlie setbacks! Keep smiling keep doing what you do, your voice is heard!
    Xo

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