Accepting who you are is a better quality then striving for perfection.
Posts tagged with 'quotes'.
We love scrolling through instagram and finding our family representing SWL!! #SWLFAMILY
NEW Blog Post on overcoming verbal abusive relationships and identifying toxic ones.
BEING INDEPENDENT IN A DEPENDENT WORLD
“we have to learn to be balanced; being too independent could lead to a controlling lifestyle and being too dependent could lead to an uncontrolled lifestyle”
New Blog Post!
”It’s okay to acknowledge that we have feelings that can be bruised and raw. It’s really very okay if we seek out someone to talk with, opening up and exposing ourselves to the redemption that comes through friendship. ”
one day the sadness WILL lift.
Five years ago I was fresh out of school, wide-eyed and ready for adventure. I was in the throes of talking with a mother in London about nannying for her children the following year. At one point it came into the conversation that my real father wasn’t around, which I was happy to disclose. That was my family situation and it was normal to me.
When I told a friend of mine this, she was shocked and said that was a bad idea. “She may think that you aren’t fit for the job if she knows you come from a broken family. You shouldn’t have told her that, she doesn’t need to know.”
I was perplexed; what did it matter? Does the fact that I come from a broken home make me less of a person or less of an employee? I assumed yes and immediately regretted opening up. I promised myself that I wouldn’t be so quick to share my background in the future and quietly hoped that I would still be considered for the job. The same way a turtle shrinks back into it’s shell, I retreated in shame for something that was entirely out of my control.
Now, years later, I can see the truth. I stand with a lot more experience, understanding and confidence. I’ve officially given up on not being open and honest about my life, because it’s possibly one of the best parts of my personality. It enables me to connect with people on a deep level. I’m not ashamed of being a loud-mouth any more.
And you know what? I am angry that I was told to hide that my father was absent. I am angry that I was made to feel that I shouldn’t share the intricate parts of my soul that define me. The fact that my father did not raise me doesn’t define me. The fact that I grew into a well-rounded woman anyway? That does define me and I’m damn proud of it, and thankful to the people in my life that made this possible.
To this day I have no problem with sharing my story. I am worth loving despite not having a father around to love me as a child, I know that now.
accept who you were made to be.
What you are going through is not a weakness. It takes strength to face it and that is admired. Remember to laugh, breathe, love, live, and repeat. You are worth it.
Love Loud
How often during the day do you see an opportunity to show a stranger an act of random kindness? For me, I see opportunities everywhere I look. Whether it be carrying groceries, lending a couple bucks to help a person pay for something, or even a small act such as opening a door.
In our daily schedule we move so quickly from point A to point B that we often miss the little things in life. We miss the chance to influence someone’s day in a positive way. Many times we are going so fast in life that we even miss saying thank you to someone who has help us. Each and every person looks for human interaction. It all leads to our need for community. The problem is, we are so caught up in their own lives that we don’t listen to the needs from others. We simply don’t notice. So in turn we miss out on little things that could allow connectivity.
Last year my sociology professor told us that for extra credit he wanted us to find one way to positively impact a random strangers day. It had to be an original idea, and had to take place for at least 20 days. I had a million thoughts come into my head, but then I pinpointed one. I chose to write three letters, for three people, for thirty days. Each letter had the same text, an “inspirational” message so to speak. I chose to give these letters to completely random strangers. I didn’t say anything to them when I handed one out, I simply gave it and walked off.
The hardest part about giving out these letters wasn’t figuring out the words to say, or the confidence to hand them out. It was the fact that I would never know what they thought. We all want a positive reaction to our actions. We all want some form of confirmation. But, is that really what this whole thing is about, confirmation that we are helping others? The truth is, we may never know how we influence others. The letters I wrote may have meant nothing, something or everything to the people I gave them to. I may never find those answers. For me though, that’s the point. If we ever want to impact this world, we must convey selflessness through our daily life. I don’t know about you, but for me that word is often a very hard thing to act out.
All in all, the simplest conclusion to this topic is that in order to ever impact, influence or change the negative in this world is one act of random kindness at a time.
So my challenge for whoever may be reading this is do you hesitate when opportunities to show love or kindness come up? Or do you notice the little things and take every opportunity you can to impact someone positively?
As you go out today to accomplish your busy schedule, remind yourself to LOVE LOUD and take a chance. Who knows, your action may mean all the difference in the world for someone.
-Brandon
how to have a better day..
"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."
Audrey Hepburn
“You are far more strong and worth it then you dare to believe”
Written by our newest contributor Ashley:
Dearest,
I can feel it. The air getting caught in your chest. the weight forcing itself upon you, making the bones beneath you weak. I can feel the questions rising. What’s wrong with me? Why doesn’t he love me? I can feel the hope draining out of your heart.
Wether its a raw wound or an old whispering one.
You can’t seem to escape those questions.
But, do you know what I know?
That you are not reading this by mistake.
That you my dearest, are so worth loving!
That after the ground has been broken, only then beauty flourishes.
I know that you were made for bold and beautiful things.
That I honor you for loving so passionately and that one day a man will risk loving you that fully.
I want you to know that I’ve been there only a few months ago, that the pain I felt was so deep it threatened to split my bones.
Yet here I am, waking in the night to tell you:
You are far more strong and worth it then you dare to believe!
Let me say it again.
YOU ARE WORTH LOVING! YOU ARE STRONG!
Read it as many times as it takes to sink in.
Will you dare to believe?
It’s Eryns birthday and she wanted to share this day with her entire SWL family. That is why we are having a sale on all of our Nuts and Bolts tees! If you look closely at the shirt it says “established for you and established by you”- We believe that we all can choose whether or not we are worthy of love.
We can not control what other people say about us but we can control our response. Tell yourself you are worthy of love. Believe it. Know it.
