Moved to a new site!

Check out www.thewholehartedlife.com for updated posts!

Inconsistencies: Can't Fit Me in a Box

If you’ve been reading my posts since the beginning, you’re probably somewhat confused—like, “This girl is all deep and insightful.”  But wait, “She’s sort of (definitely) ridiculous.”

Trust me, I’ve been confused about this my whole entire life.  My friends have always considered me thoughtful, insightful, deep, etc.  On the other hand, I’ve always been the one that everyone has laughed at (sometimes with, but let’s be honest, usually at). 

For the last 26 years (or whatever), I’ve been trying to fit myself in a box…almost as if I’ve felt like I had to have this label that perfectly described me.  Like, “the thoughtful one.”  Or, “the fun one,” or “the driven one,” or whatever it may be.

ReyRine Ridiculousness: Car Jamming

So wholehearted living requires us to let go of always being cool and in control, right?  I can think of lots of different scenarios when I am not cool (i.e. all the time).  The control thing is a separate issue though.  I usually try to keep it together, but there are certain points in time when I catch myself doing something completely ridiculous without even realizing it.

Example: Singing (and sometimes dancing) in the car (sometimes with the windows down).

Have you ever been lost in thought while driving, and then one of your favorite songs comes on the radio?  And then you start singing at the top of your lungs and doing some sort of car dance?  You know, like, “car jamming.”  Em and I are constantly giving our mom a hard time for tapping her fingers on the steering wheel and humming to her favorite tunes, which I’m pretty sure is her version of car jamming.  And, I must confess that I’ve caught myself doing this exact same thing way more times than I’d like to admit. Now that’s losing control.

We’ve all done that, right?  I mean, maybe not necessarily the finger-tapping thing, but whatever your version of finger-tapping is—you’ve done that.  I sure hope so, because if you haven’t, you’re totally missing out.

SO, today I want to share my top five all-time favorite car jams. I’ve put them in descending order for dramatic effect, but there really is no order (except for the last one, which really is #1).

Letting Go of Crazy Goals

Remember how I mentioned that it took me several months to make the decision not to pursue basketball?  While I can look back and laugh at the 15 year-old version of myself, I know that at the time it was a really hard decision.  I had been so obsessed with it for so long.  I had invested so much of my time and energy into it.  I had talked about it nonstop. 

But by that point in my life, I didn’t even like it anymore.  Actually, I sort of hated it. 

So why was it so hard for me to quit? 

Chasing Crazy Goals

My "daily encouragement" post-its are a MUST.  Read on and you'll see why.

In my previous post, I forgot to mention that I’m actively chasing my goal of qualifying for Boston at the Country Music Marathon on April 26, 2014.  (Oh man, I just said that out loud.  It’s such a tough course.  It may be hot.  It may pour the entire time.  I may have to walk.  I may get injured.  There’s no way I can get in good enough shape to qualify on that course.  What if no one shows up to cheer?  What if everyone shows up and I’m dying?)

As I’ve thought about trying to BQ at the CMM this spring, I’ve realized that I’m constantly battling three types of fear:

Setting Crazy Goals

This is my "crazy goal" in a frame on my desk at work :)
(Spoiler alert: I did not meet this goal on October 13, 2013)

Alright, folks—we’re officially one week into 2014!  Since it’s that time of year when everyone seems to be making resolutions, I figured a mini-series on goals would be a pretty logical next topic.  However, if you’re not really into the whole goal thing, you should probably either set some or just check back for a different topic on January 19.  I’d recommend setting some J

I am a goal-setter (shocker). Always have been, probably always will be.  I can’t think of a single time in my life when I wasn’t working toward one goal or another. 

In 8^th grade, it was the WNBA.  Yes, like the Women’s National Basketball Association.  Believe it or not, that goal was far from absurd in my mind.  I was obsessed.  Like—would stay at home on Friday nights to practice in my driveway—obsessed.  I even had a basketball goal in my room with the phrase, “In 49 states it’s just basketball, but this is Indiana” collaged across the top.  The plan was to make the varsity team my freshmen year of high school, get a full-ride to Purdue, and then go straight to the WNBA.  You’re laughing, but I was dead serious.  Anyone who knew me in 8^th grade can attest to this.  I talked about it non-stop. 

So what happened to that dream?

Is Wholehearted Living Possible?

Thanks so much to everyone who read my first blog post!  Your emails and texts have been so encouraging.  I don’t think I even would have had the courage to write this second post if it hadn’t been for that, so thank you all for your support! (And please keep it coming…J)

I’ve been so excited about my blog that I’ve already brainstormed tons of post topics, and I’m pretty anxious to get writing about them!  Before I jump too far ahead though, I feel like I should provide a little more context about what it means to live a wholehearted life.  I should also clarify that while Brené Brown has created a great framework for understanding wholeheartedness, I intend for this blog to be more than a forum to test-drive her “guideposts for wholehearted living.”  After all, I’m sure the quest for wholeheartedness looks a little bit different for everyone. 

2014 Resolution: To Dare Greatly and Live Wholeheartedly

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” –Brené Brown

I don’t do many things half-heartedly, and I never really have.  When I choose to do something, I throw my whole heart into it.  I don’t know any other way.  So does that mean I live wholeheartedly?

I like to think so.

But what does it really mean to live wholeheartedly?