You know that kind of EPIC rock show you go to...

and it makes you *with all the pent up emo emotion inside* believe in more...and feel super stoked to be alive.

There's some lyrics from The Chariot's song "The City" that you probably won't be able to understand if you watch this video from Saturday...but, heck, just turn down your volume and sneak a peek...

Regardless, here's some lyrics from the song you should really get inspired by this midweek hot as heck day:

"Calm rose: violent wind
The only "surrender" tonight, shall not be our own
They cannot escape, one if by land, two if by sea
Because I saved my money, but it can't save me
And maybe there is blood from the past, but that is not from me
They can take away one man, and they can take away his might
But they cannot take us all
No, they can't dig a hole the right size to fit all of our dreams
They can't bury me, they can't bury me
We can't hope that somebody else take our place
No, we can't hope that somebody else take our place

Oh we stand hand in hand and we walk without fear
This is a revolution!"

No one can stifle your dreams if you allow yourself to dream big enough.  "No, they can't dig a hole the right size to fit all of our dreams."  It reminds me that:

You have every right and ability to dream.  But not only the right to dream, but the necessity to use and grow and explode (and discover) the talents that have been entrusted to you.  In the very situation you are in now.  The world...your friends...the city needs you and your talents to be a part of it.  "We can't hope that somebody else take our place."

So here's to us twenty and thirty-somethings (and more-somethings) who need to start dreaming and realizing again!  As we get all responsible, be well aware "I saved my money, but it can't save me" in the end.  So what are you doing besides heading to more safety?

"Oh we stand hand in hand and we walk without fear
This is a revolution!"

You don't have to love running.  But just think about trying a short race.  I bet you'd love it (and I know you don't think that's possible).  I never thought it possible to run more than 2 miles at most...but now I've ran a marathon, a few half marathons, and a hand full of others.  I'm not super fast and I don't train super well...but it is so exhilarating and inspiring.  

You don't have to run...but what can you do that would be so simple to get more energy, feel better, and be healthier?  Try this.

There are many things we can't change about our bodies...and a lot of sicknesses that can happen out of our control.  But, man, there sure is a lot I could improve with just a little consistent effort!  And the energy you earn...mmm...

Get inspired by the people around you who are doing it.  Ask how they make it work in their lives.  Think about how you can make it happen in yours.  Pretending it will happen at a more convenient time is B.S.

Yay, Kari!  You win the sweet mark owl ring and aviators!

xoxo

you.  are.  awesome.

and you really need to live it.

we kind of let our days sometimes and even ourselves get mundane.  through series of events that we allow or don't really have a say in...whether it's words from someone...or failed attempts at something you were sure of...we forget to be awesome.

i'm pretty sure we've all seen this quote above before...but seriously...eleanor knew her stuff.

you don't need to have the ultimate confidence (i mean, there can be a slew of days that suck and take it away, but you can find it again!!), but you do need to believe that you are more than just another...friend...girlfriend...barista...dreamer...blogger...student... 

be who you are and be it well.  you don't need to be that perfect envy of yours you constantly compare to.  be awesome.  maybe be a little sassy.  but definitely be awesome.  

believe in yourself.

so live it up.  don't wait to fix yourself to muster the confidence you need to allow yourself to know you are awesome.  do it now.  

We get so frustrated at ourselves not making the cut or living up to our own expectations!  Just keep in mind, that today is a new day.  Full of opportunity and restarts.  You can go on that run and not sleep in (ie. myself!!), you can finish your project, maybe find out you got the new job, start the day up with a renewed excitement for something that's been mundane, take on what you've been putting off, say things that are meaningful and breathe life into people, fall in love again. 

Don't give up on yourself.  There is a beautiful new day ahead...

i have had this little torn up quote from Barry Sanders for Nike at least since i lived in greece 7 years ago and it keeps popping up...here's to inspire me on hump day!

D. Miller

Donald Miller in his book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years discusses the "inciting incident."  "Robert McKee says humans naturally seek comfort and stability.  Without an inciting incident that disrupts their comfort, they won't enter into a story.  They have to get fired from their job or be forced to sign up for a marathon.  A ring has to be purchased.  A home has to be sold.  The character has to jump into the story, into the discomfort and the fear, otherwise the story will never happen."

So wherever you find yourself this hump day...first off, don't give way to whatever fear is holding you back from living a better story...a better life...or even just a better day.  If there's something big that happened and totally sucked...or you feel is about to happen...it's those incidences/major life things that have the enormous potential to be a huge part of your story and make it completely beautiful...completely worthwhile.

Come on, can’t I dream for one day
There’s nothing that can’t be done
But how long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone

‘Cause I know there’s got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I’m feeling like it’s now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical

I’ve lived through my share of misfortune
And I’ve worked in the blazing sun
But how long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone

Cause I know there’s got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I’m feeling like it’s now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical, the typical, the typical, uh huh

I'm the typical
I'm the typical
Can I break the spell of the typical

Because it’s dragging me down
I’d like to know about when
When does it all turn around

I'm just the typical
I'm just the typical

Yeah I know there’s got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I’m feeling like it’s now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical
The typical, the typical, uh huh

Of the typical
Break the spell (of the typical)
Break the spell (of the typical)
Can I break the spell of the typical, of the typical
I'm just the typical
I'm just the typical
I'm just the typical
I'm just the typical

 “In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there will never be another just like it again. Today is the point to which all your yesterdays have been leading since the hour of your birth. It is the point from which all your tomorrows will proceed until the hour of your death. If you were aware of how precious today is, you could hardly live through it. Unless you are aware of how precious it is, you can hardly be said to be living at all.” Frederick Buechner

sometimes no day requires more motivation than wednesdays. 

This is a really sweet video with some practical ideas on staying inspired especially for any writers, crafters, friends who want to be inspired out there!

I really enjoy Gussy Sews blog.

She's living in Minneapolis and just has some great blogs on starting up a small business, awesome crafter friends, and just life:)  Those are the best!


The list of things I want to do and, more so, want to learn, just keeps getting longer.  My older stress lab patients mention that the desire to learn is what keeps some of them going.  The ones with the really flat affect and total void of personality who only regret have nothing they can list as "this is what I do for fun now."  They're just the "wow, everything sucks now" kind of persons.  The whole point of learning after college...off the top of my head in this instant...is to live the heck out of this life and discover all that we have been given within it.  No more excuses!

These are things that are going to happen.  
--Learn the bass so I can fulfill Justin's dream of having a bass/drum wife/husband trio.  And be a rockstar (check off fulfill my lifelong dream).  Man, the bass is so sexual.  Yeow!
--Garden a sweet ass garden of both veggies and flowers that I don't give crazy diseases and aphids to.
--Learn a specific handmade craft better.  Like hoop art possibly as a lot of thrift stores supplies can be used versatile-y with it.  And I can carry it around with me unlike a sewing machine.  Not worry about selling it, but rather making a craft I like enough to give as sweet gifts!
--Write a business plan so I am a couple steps closer to not being a nurse someday and have a creative business.
--Rock photography.  Use my Pentax again.  And thus create beautiful travel photos.  Those memories are some of the best and having a f-bombing awesome photo of them are beyond priceless.  Try to not buy a new lens yet... 


Out of your hopefully growing list of things you want to learn...to do...or to become excellent at, maybe pick some things you'll intentionally work on this spring...and, you know, do them;)  Stay up a little later.  Spend a little less time on facebook.  Definitely don't read this blog less.  Eeek!  And don't nap until you DO something!  Sleeping is for when you're dead, right (why, thank you Caribou Coffee)?  Feel free to disagree;)  But I bet you could spend less time on netflix and facebook to do something you've been putting off.  (sometimes you just need to watch Anchorman, though.  seriously).

I really hope I'm not meant to be a nurse forever *just* to learn major life lessons from patients.  Maybe I should start hanging out with my grandparents more instead.

xoxo
ashley 

"summer is going to be awesome" BLOG GIVEAWAY WINNER ANNOUNCED!
(watch video below...it's pretty...mmm...i had a lot of fun!)