Lightin' Up.

I find that while so many people are trying to stop focusing on social media (which is awesome!)- I'm trying to get more from it.

It's amazing to me how inspired I get from other's photos and captions via instagram- and recently there was a woman that I follow, who said that this Year she wants to "Light up the Room". And as soon as I saw that, I was like....BAM! YES!

This Year, I want to light up the room.
Not with my out-of-this-world good looks, shockingly I know, but with my heart. With my smile. With my demeanor. With my attitude.

It's not going to happen over night- but I'm working on it. I'm absorbing good things from all over and applying it to my life.

To my knowledge, I've never been one to light up the room. In fact, I'm pretty sure that up until a few years ago, I completely gave off the wrong impressions with my unknowingly cranky glances and expressions. (Sorry about that, people! Apparently I just have a cranky face, haha).

I encourage you to do the same. Give off a good impression inside AND out.

A Post You Need To Read

It was on our last evening in Michigan that I had decided to stay up later than usual, watching my Mom prepare and bake something scrumptious for Church the following day.
She was making a Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake. (Yes, it's as good as it sounds...)

She was pulling ingredients from the refrigerator and I was painting my nails in a thick layer of sparkles-to try and be somewhat festive for coming Christmas parties....when all of a sudden she turns to me and asks;

"Do you know who you are?"

I was baffled. I can't recall anyone point blank-face to face- asking me such a simply complex question.

I asked her what she meant and she continued.

"Well. It's only in the last few years that I've finally realized who I really am.
I'm goofy and funny. I don't teach adults but I'm excellent with kids. I can't
sing or play piano. I'm not really...polished. But, that's me and I'm OK with
that. I just hope that it doesn't take you as long as it's taken me to realize that
you can't be anyone else but yourself."

I really struggled to keep the tears at bay- first because of how honest and open Mom was being with me. I love that our relationship is becoming more that way-and we're learning and understanding each other in ways that would have never been possible only a few years ago. And second, because I realized....

I don't really know who I am.

That's a pretty unnerving feeling.
I'm determined to let myself go this year- in order to find myself. I will learn to accept that while some people are seemingly perfect (in my eyes) or they have a quality or talent that I long to have- it's okay to leave them as inspirational people in my life. To appreciate them....not try and BE them.

There are things that I am and things that I am not.
We're human and that's the way things are meant to be.
Full of diverse gifts, talents, and qualities.

Find and embrace yours in 2014.