Ready for Change...

I just realized that by reading the title of my post, one might think that the entry is going to be about politics. After all, the democratic presidential candidate's campaign slogan is about change too. While I know that many of you would enjoy a political discussion or debate, I think that I am going to leave that area alone, for now at least. I will say this though...Whatever your beliefs are, I think we can all agree that this election period is revolutionary and one of the most exciting times in our nation's history! With that said, I think many us are ready for some type of change in our personal lives as well....change of season, change of pace, change of car, change of career etc...In my case, I am ready for a change of career and location! :D

I have decided that the time has come for me to get out of my comfort zone and embark on a new journey. I have spent two years trying to figure out my purpose in life, and I am now ready to start putting things into action. Right now, these "things" are still in the works, but I will keep you updated when everything begins to manifest. Many of those who know me know that I embrace and look forward to change. In fact, since I started college, I have moved once a year--to a new dorm, apartment, new city, and I am currently in the process of making my way to yet another place! lol Growing up, my mom often referred to me as, "the wandering Jew," mainly because I was always on the go and she couldn't keep track of my different routes. All kidding aside, I think that I have stayed true to my mobile self, but this time I am hoping to make more of a permanent change....well, maybe for a couple years. That's still longer than one year, right?

Now that I have spent so much time talking about it, I will elaborate a little on my plans. After working in the legal field for almost two years, and as an after school counselor at a private elementary school during the year, I have decided two things: 1)I do not want to become a lawyer, 2)While I enjoyed my time at the after school, being a guidance counselor does not seem to fit my values, interests or skills either. Since I have been able to eliminate two professions, I have also honed in on what I really want, which is to work in the communications/non-profit sector. As such, I have been looking into some graduate programs in Public Relations and ones that incorporate communications within the non-profit sector as well. I am in the midst of getting my applications completed and sent out, but I hope to be making a big move w/the handsome beau in September. While NYC is tops on my destination list, so far it looks like I may be headed to either Boston or Washington, D.C. I figure once I get my degree, I could always go to the Big Apple afterward, and hopefully have more money at that point to really be able to live like a rock star rather than a hermit! haha

Well, that's the latest on my current life plan to date. I am hoping that some other things happen during this time frame as well (ie. popping of a certain question...wink, wink). For now, though, I am very happy with my present choices, and I am looking forward to all the future changes that are in store! Only time will tell where I will end up....

Spice up your Life!

It seems like your 20's are meant for exploration and trying new things. You only live once, so you mine as well live it up, right? Once you hit 30, you are probably more established and don't necessarily have the flexibility to just get and move somewhere new and exotic. Not to say that everyone follows in this specific timeline/pattern, but I think we can all agree that when you are young, you have less responsibilities and can afford to be more spontaneous.

Speaking of spontaneity, I think everyone should try to incorporate it in their lifestyle. Oftentimes, we learn a lot about our likes and dislikes through the act of acting on a whim... this could be trying a new food, a new hair color, or even buying an article of clothing that you never thought you would wear in a million years. Whatever it ends up being, you might actually uncover a hidden part of your personality through the process.

Soooo, what I am trying to say here is that if you are unhappy with the way things are going, feel like you are in a slump, or even if you may be content with your life, I encourage you to be daring and try something new. Don't settle for mediocrity when you can have fabulosity! =)


*By the way, I am planning on taking my advice here too...I figure if we all jump on the bandwagon together, all the more fun it will be!

Ready......set........Gooooooooooooooooooooooo

Introduction or not...

I just realized that I jumped right into blogging before I even had a chance to introduce myself....and the funny thing is that the previous post was very philosophic and serious, unlike my usual giddy self...I guess you are supposed to just let things flow when you blog. Like I said, I am new to this game, but I am really getting into it. Everyone seems to be blogging these days, so I figured why not join in on the fun?

Back to my introduction before I start to digress again...lol....Anywho, my name is Aynsley aka @yns, but you can call me whatev. :) It seems like there are so many changes going on in my life right now and I hope that blogging lets me clear my mind and sort out my thoughts. Plus, I am interested in hearing feedback and bouncing ideas back and forth...I am not exactly sure how many people will be reading/commenting on my blog, but it's all good. I guess I will figure it out as I go...

So, apparently I have major digression problems this evening or maybe I just don't know where to start. Well, it is probably a good idea not to reveal everything at once anyway. Gotta have some element of surprise, right? Sounds good. That is enough for now even though I haven't really said all that much. Stay tuned and maybe you will get something worth your reading....

Well, I hope you all stick around for the journey...should be interesting and fun! :D

Yay for blogging.

I am done now for real.

Is the grass greener on the other side?

Throughout our lives, many of us ponder whether or not life could be better if we had "more" of something. Now this could be more money, more happiness, more luxuries, more friends, more curves, or more of just anything for that matter. We often spend so much time wishing for certain things to be a certain way that maybe it would benefit us more if we focused on what we have and not what we want. I am not saying that you should not have aspirations and goals. On the contrary, I am saying that goals should be unique to the individual.

I read a quote recently that really hit home. In one of those dime-a-dozen speciality shops, I came across a pedestrian white mug that had what I believed to be an extraordinary message imprinted on it. It read: "Do not live your life finding yourself; live your life creating yourself." While this quote may not seem very profound, it hit a heartstring within me. For the first time in a long time, things began to click in my mind. I realized that I have spent so much time trying to define who I am before even attempting to create myself. I set expectations for myself based on other people's achivements and successes. When you go about it like that, recognizing one's own inner potential becomes lost in the shuffle. Identity is no longer singular, but becomes pluralized and clumped together into one large mass of confusion. Does that make any sense? lol...well, it does in my mind.

This brings me to the bigger question, "Is the grass always greener on the other side?" I think a lot of the answer to this question goes back to how you were raised. At a young age, my parents, like other parents out there, instilled certain values in me. I was to be a good student, a model citizen, and grow up to be something great. Now, let me ask you this: How do you measure success? Is it something that is the result of making lots of money, or is it defined by accomplishing something great as determined by the individual? Of course, many people would agree that the latter is more important. However, without enough money, life can feel limiting and restrictive. If you look at celebrities for example, they have a lot of money, but are they truly happy?

What it all comes down to is finding the right balance. Sure, this seems like a simple task, but with the growing pressure out there to be the best, it is easy to lose yourself. But, being the best that YOU can be is what really matters, and what should matter. The truth is the grass is only greener if you think that it is....in reality, it is the same color on both sides. It is how you water and nurture your particular side that makes it something great in the end.