THERE IS A POSITIVE HERE

I wanted to share a quick tip that I have recently adopted when I’m feeling frustrated / annoyed / angry / negative. It’s so cliche isn’t it to think, there’s always a silver lining right? But what I have been doing is stopping myself and saying, Lizzie I dare you to find the positive here. There’s something good about this situation. It might be really tiny and it might be trying to hide, but it’s there.

For example, I was getting very frustrated with several different people at work asking me the same question over and over. I caught myself even getting short with an employee or two. I took a second, took a step back, and said to myself: Wow, I am very grateful that these employees feel comfortable coming to me for help. It became a lot easier for me to graciously help others when I thought about it in that sense. It can sometimes take courage to admit you need help and I should celebrate the fact that people feel they can come to me whenever they need.

Another example, my friend and I wanted to see Fun. preform at the Taste of Chicago this summer. However, we stalled just a few hours too long and the tickets sold out. I was really, really sad. I even sent my friend a depressing WHY MEEEE? text message … we are talking full on pity party. But then I woke up the next morning and thought, no I’m sure there are tickets out there somewhere. And with a little research we discovered there is an area within Taste of Chicago that is for ticket holders only but, you can also watch the show on the grass. FOR FREE. The positive? We are going to save a few bucks.

Avoiding negative thinking is so important for our mental health. But I find it can be overwhelming to be told, DON’T BE NEGATIVE. So instead of not being negative, what if we worked to find a little bit of positive within the negative? What do you think? Do you have any tips for staying happy?

if you’re lucky enough to have a place to discuss ways to stay happy, you’re lucky enough

MAKING ME HAPPY MONDAY

 

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I have had a great couple of days recently. I finally sealed the deal on a new apartment, YES! I have been having a lot of fun at work. The weather in Chicago has just been spectacular. Overall, I am just feeling like I’m in a good place. And who doesn’t like that?

But here are a few things that are making me extra happy this Monday:

1. This website, The EveryGirl, is so empowering and fun to read. So is the personal blog of one of the creators of The EveryGirl, Breakfast at Toast. Bonus points because this site is based in Chicago!

2. This chair makes me giggle. And now I desperately want it.

3. Have you watched the documentary Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead? Oiy. It’s life changing. There will be more on that later…

4. Fun. I am thoroughly obsessed with this band right now. They are just so talented and interesting. I have spent an embarrassing amount of time youtubing great interviews with them and watching all of their music videos. Are you a fan of Fun.?

What is making you happy today? I hope you have a marvelous Monday!

if you’re lucky enough to have four little things to enjoy on a Monday, you’re lucky enough

A FRIDAY THOUGHT: BE THE TYPE OF PERSON

I stumbled across this quote a few days ago and it hit me straight in the heart. Isn’t it powerful? Be the type of person you want to meet. It’s so simple.

I spent the past few days coming back to this thought and I made a mental (now written) list of qualities the person I want to meet would have:

  • an ability to see the positive in the everyday
  • passion
  • dedication
  • the integrity to follow through with promises made, no matter the size
  • a smiling face

I am making a conscience effort to be more like this, to be more like the person I would like to meet, more like the friend I would like to have. But this theory, this idea can be applied to so many different relationships in our lives too. Be the type of partner you want to have. Be the type of daughter you want to have. Be the type of employee you want to manage. It could go on and on, and the goodness could just spread like wildfire. Oh how I love the joy of feeling inspired.

Do you like this quote? Does it make you think any differently about the type of person you are?

if you’re lucky enough to be inspired to be better, you’re lucky enough

 

 

IT’S KIND OF FUNNY

IMG_0481Yesterday a friend was asking me what I studied in college. When I told him that I earned a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, he said “Oh, so you’ve always known that you wanted to work in hotels?”

Long story short, no I did not always know. In high school, I applied to about 12 different colleges and every one of them I applied to study journalism. For some wacky reason, San Diego State was the only college that I applied with a hospitality major. And even though I thankfully got into a handful of different colleges, for some wacky reason I ended up choosing San Diego State University. It’s just so funny how things work out sometimes.

If I had gone to a school and studied journalism, I wonder where I would have been? What would I be doing? Where would I be living?

But my favorite part of the conversation was when my friend said, “But if you hadn’t studied hospitality you might not be working here. And I might not have met you.” Come on. It was such a sweet little dash of honey in my day and it made me think about how beautiful life is.

It’s kind of funny, isn’t it? It’s kind of funny when you think about the little moments that make up our lives. If my mom hadn’t gotten a job at that bar in college, she might not have poured my dad’s drinks. If my Grandpa hadn’t been in the Marines, my Grandma might not have fallen in love while writing letters to him overseas. If my dad hadn’t taken a job in California, I might not have grown up in my beloved Northern California town. It’s kind of funny how when you take a moment to think about life and the tiny little moments that make it up, it can make you dizzy.

Do you know what I mean? Are you feeling dizzy now?

if you’re lucky enough to have one of those moments when you say wow, you’re lucky enough