Don't hesitate. Just do it.

Why wait when you have today.
Why question when you already have the answer.
Why hesitate when all you want to do is jump.

Learn to dance even when your heart aches.
Learn to smile upon a frown.
Learn to stand when you feel yourself crumbling down.

Feel the breeze.
Feel the emotions.
Feel the emptiness.

Try even when you think you won't succeed.
Try even when it feels really scary.
Try even when you feel like giving up.

Never try to be perfect. Not only because there is no such thing but also because it means you know what the boundaries are and you have chosen to follow your own path instead.

Don't hesitate. Just do it.

Life isn't perfect but I'm okay with that.

Life isn't perfect. It's actually filled with imperfections.
You will struggle. You will make tons of mistakes.
Some that you will regret. Some that you will learn from. Some that you won't even realize.

Yet, life is filled with great opportunities.
When you walk past someone down the street, you have the opportunity to smile.
When someone holds the door for you, you have the opportunity to say thank you.

Every single day, you have opportunities even when life is imperfect.

Life isn't always about THE BIGGER THE BETTER.

Don't let your ''summer trip'' or ''5 star hotel getaway'' be your only moment of peace, serenity and joy. There is opportunity in finding joy in every day life, in the little moments, in the little things.

Even if life gets shitty, even if things don't seem to be going your way, there is an opportunity hidden waiting to be discovered.

I'm Moving! (what does that mean?)

House is officially sold.

It's the place where I've called home for the past 9 years, most importantly over the past 3-4 years where I've tweaked it to make it more my own. But it never really was my own and I've always really felt it.

While I believe no one's path is similar, I believe we all go through life the same way. We wake up, do our thing, eat, drink, breathe, sleep, go about life the best we can and hope to live another day. 

Some of us are pure wanderlust with no set grounds. Some of us have a home filled with children. Some of us are a little in between. 

I would say I've lived a pretty traditional life so far. Grew up in a small town. Moved away from home. Went to school. Got myself a job that allows me to be independent financially. Nothing out of the ordinary. 

Yet, this house, where I've lived countless experiences (some good, some not so good), is truly the place where I've defined my character. It's where I've realized who I am as a person - as a woman - as an individual...

• Whenever I felt sad or emotionally confused, I would go in my basement - set up my camera on timer and let my creative juice flow and have myself a photoshoot. It was my drug - what allowed me to get away from life for a little while;

• It's where I've tried my hand at gardening for the first time. It's the place where I've FAILED at gardening for the first time. Spent countless hours with my hands in the dirt, frustrated but determined to find a solution;
• It's where I fell in love for the first time. A young - free spirited - kind of love. This guy who knocked on my door one summer night melted my heart right away;
• It's where I had my first heart break. I remember vividly walking into the house, falling on my knees (dramatic much?), having a nose bleed (it happens randomly once in a while), crying my heart out, feeling the pain so strongly. It hurt. A lot;
• It's where I've lived with a boyfriend for the first time. So many learning curves. So many great memories; 
• It's where I learned how to cook;
• It's where I learned so many devastating news about family members;
• It's where I've studied for so many nights while in college and in university. Feeling so frustrated with life trying to finish all my homework and studying for exams. It's also where I've received my diplomas.

If the walls of that house could speak. They would have great stories to tell. 

Part of me is so thankful for having all those memories to cherish. 

Part of me feels sad that one chapter is over.

Part of me realizes that nothing last forever. It truly doesn't.

Part of me is excited for whats to come.

Part of me... is feeling overwhelmed.

Dear home, you will always hold a special place in my heart.

Love,

Someone who ''used'' to live there.

You'll Get There

Only the ones that keeps going will eventually get there.

You have a goal. Big or small (it's all relative).
You work hard at it, time and time again.
You keep hitting brick walls. It hurts. You cry.
Yet, you still keep going somehow.

You wonder what's your motivation.
Sometimes you question your reasons for still moving ahead.
Yet, you do anyway because you would much rather keep moving than going backwards.

All of a sudden (perhaps not so sudden), you realize you've made progress.
You're no longer where you first started.
Things look familiar, yet somehow different.

You realize you're no longer the same person.
Your shoe size is the same, yet you've grown spiritually.

But, it's all inside. You can feel it. Yet, physically, you still look similar.
You feel proud of yourself.
You feel happy.

Your initial goal starts looking a bit too small.
You want to dream bigger.
You don't want it to stop.

That's when you realize, it's not about the end goal.
It's all about the journey to get there.

I Choose

I choose.

I choose to wake up every day with a smile.

I choose to treat my peers with respect.

I choose to keep the door open for the person walking behind me.

I choose to stay focused on solutions rather than problems.

I choose to smile at a stranger on the street.

I choose to feel the wind brush against my cheeks.

I choose to be strong even when everything seems to be falling apart.

I choose to make changes in my own life when I feel there needs to be some.

I choose to surround myself with positive people who inspires me.

When you feel like you're about to drown because you can't seem to stay above water no matter how hard you're fighting... remember... you have a choice.

Listen to Your Heart.

Once you hear what your heart is telling you, and you follow your heart, wonderful things happens.

Too many times, I've worried about doing things right. Over thinking is my middle name, or at least it used to be. Problem is, if you constantly over think everything, you will never be truly happy. You have a brain for a reason but you also have a heart for a reason. Now that I'm letting my heart have more power over my brain, I've never been this happy. You brain may trick you into thinking you're happy but... happiness comes from the heart and not the brain.

There are no right or wrong decisions, I truly believe that. But, if you open up your heart to letting you know what feels good and what doesn't, then happiness reveals itself before you.

Life is hard and you will constantly be faced with challenges and people trying to change your faith, over and over again. You will be hit, time and time again. But, only you have the choice to get back up. Only you have the choice to be stronger. Only you have the choice to overcome every situation that comes your way. It will be hard but you can do it. You deserve happiness. You deserve joy. You deserve respect. All of us do. But never hide your feelings. If you feel sad, ask yourself why? If you feel joy, ask yourself why? If the reasons why are things you have control over, then you have the choice to keep those things in your life or to let them go.

We're only prisoners if we let fear overcome us. Always remember that. Surround yourself with positive people, people that believes in you, that believes in themselves.

It will be okay.

Definition of Love

Love can mean something completely different to you than it does to me. Here's my definition of love:

Love is beautiful, love is pure. It comes from a place of honesty and interest. Once you start questioning yourself and figure out whats important to you, you start realizing where you want to spend your energy and who you want to give your time and energy to. In order for a loving relationship to be maintained, it has to be welcomed with open arms on each end of the stick. But, in order to come from a place of honesty, you have to do some work on yourself first - and learn to love yourself first. Once you love and trust yourself, it becomes a blessing to share a loving relationship with someone else wether its a friend, a colleague, a partner.

Therefore, my definition of love starts with yourself. Since we're all different, thats why my definition of love may mean something completely different to you. Once you learn how to love yourself, you learn how to be a better parter/ parent/ sibling/ friend, etc.

Love isn't set in stone. I believe its very tangible simply because, with time, we become more mature, more experienced.

For instance, when I was 5 years old, I believed love was a given. I believed we automatically loved our parents, our siblings and that, just like magic, they would love us in return. I never really used to work hard for my relationships because I always thought they would always be there, loving me back.

Now that my heart has matured, I believe love is very valuable and only shared with the people you choose to. Its very fragile as it comes from somewhere very pure and honest. But, as fragile as it can be, its also one of the most beautiful sentiment you can share with other individuals. I'm also a bit more careful about whom I choose to open my heart to, I cherish my relationships more and only save the love I choose to share with the individuals I oh so carefully choose.

Love to me, isn't singular. It's always shared in some way or another. Even when you love yourself, you share that love with your soul. Love comes from your heart, not your brain.

Love is deep, love is pure

Love is simple, love is gentle

Just like a raindrop, its exterior is soft 

yet filled with so much emotion

Love is looking someone else in the eyes

and seeing sparkles of light

Love is feeling elevated just by

being in the presence of another individual

Love is never to be taken for granted because even though its powerful, it can also be taken away. The relationships you currently have in your life, if important to you, should never be taken for granted. Don't overprotect. Love isn't something you possess. Because its something you share, always remember there is another individual on the other end. Therefore, love isn't selfish.

Love is wonderful. It's also aligned with respect, an open mind and the will to grow. Learning how to love never ends. Because we always change as human beings, and since its shared with others, others also learn how to love in their own ways. Therefore, love is patient.

Today's mantra: love yourself first, then, open your heart to others whom you choose to let into your heart. You're in the driver seat but the road, when shared with others, becomes beautiful and meaningful.

Love,

Jess xox