by Joey | Feb 9, 2015 | Throwback
This isn’t revolutionary. You’ve all seen it pinned on pinterest. But let’s take a second and really talk about this.
If I’m being honest, the number one thing that stops me from starting something is knowing that I won’t be as good at it as others are. At least not right away. I’m embarrassed, shy. Take the couch to 5k program for example:
I started that program three times, starting in 2010, before I actually committed to it last year. I wasn’t a runner. And I would inevitably get inside my head and talk myself out of trying again. I couldn’t see past where I was. It seemed impossible. And I hated struggling out there in the open where everyone could see me. Every person I saw, I would assume they were judging me. And that would be that. My ego would get hurt, and the running shoes would go back into the closet where they’d stay for months, maybe even years.
It was the same thing with the book. Writing the book was a piece of cake. Okay, that isn’t exactly true, but it felt… natural. Maybe that’s a better way to describe it. I’m comfortable writing. I mean it’s me, a computer, and an empty room. That part I could handle. But when it came to actually doing anything with that book? Ha, yeah. That was a different story. To move forward meant I had to show it to people. I had to get help. I had to pass it over to editors…people whose job it was to tell me all the things I did wrong. That’s a harsh way to describe it, but that’s what was inside my head. I finished writing the book in 2010. I didn’t get the courage to do anything with it until 2014.
Because friends?
I was embarrassed to be a beginner.
In this social media saturated world, it’s so damn easy to compare ourselves to everyone else. All we see is the final product. All we see are the perfectly crafted and edited snapshots of success. And I don’t know how it goes for you–but a lot of times that stops me from even bothering. I’m never going to get there I’d think.
The fact that I’m not good at things stops me from doing them. All the time. And how stupid is that when you really think about it? In order to get better at something, you have to keep doing it. And all of those people you’re seeing? The ones you think are better than you? Guess what? They started somewhere, too.
When I’d see other runners out during my C25K training (and heck, even now) I would repeat over and over again in my mind this is your beginning. You don’t know what their beginning looked like.
It is always okay to be a beginner. It’s okay not to be the best of something. It’s okay to fail. It’s okay to try again. And again. And again. Life would be painfully boring if none of us ever bothered to learn anything new for fear of being a beginner.
Is there something you’re afraid to do because you’re not great at it yet?
Let this be a challenge to you…
Go!
Let yourself be a beginner!
We can be beginners together.
by Joey | Feb 6, 2015 | beauty, Loves, Real Life
sinful shine: alfresco (thanks
Dena!)
essie: ignite the night
Once again, I’m so happy to see Friday roll around! I’m doing my best to be sure I actually make my weekends
weekends. You’d think that’d be easier, but I’m always trying to catch up on work or finding things that need to get done. I need to be more intentional about resting.
Oh, and I forgot to mention! If you’re local, go and pick up a copy of Cary Magazine! I was contacted back in December to contribute to an article that ran in this month’s edition! Now, I haven’t seen what my picture looks like yet (they’re sending me a copy of the magazine since I’m kind of far away), but if my face is flushed red–it’s because JUST before the photo was taken, something really stupid came out of my mouth that ended up being a “that’s what she said” kind of moment. To say I was mortified would be an epic understatement. Anyway–it’s worth picking up!
My Aunt was cool enough to find the link! Check out the article here!
Hope you all have absolutely awesome weekends! What do you have going on?
by Joey | Feb 5, 2015 | Throwback
++ I woke up like this…flawless. I know, I know. We shouldn’t let the furkids in the bed. But we do. And it’s not unlikely for me to wake up to some variation of this. Also? Bailey isn’t giving me kisses…she’s sound asleep. Hashtag: this is my life. And yes, my face is always that swollen when I wake up. Whatever. Real life.
++ Swag. I won Meghan’s birthday giveaway a few weeks ago! What’s even better is she was able to hand deliver my goodies during our blogger date a couple weeks ago at The Aviator with the sweet Kirstina. I got to pick out and design the MayBook, and I’m in love! It arrived so fast considering it was a custom item! I went with the meal planner book, and I highly recommend it. Thanks for the goods, Meghan!
++ Happy Feet…Kushyfoot. I know. Sneaking in sponsored content. But when Lipton Publicity contacted me about trying out these samples, I was suffering so bad from leg cramps from running. I said sure, send em over. I’ll say this, I’m a fan. The compression socks really feel good and keep just enough pressure on my calves that it prevents the constant cramping I was feeling. And the fleeced lined (oooooh my favorite as you know) were the perfect thing to wear with my heels for church since it was a particularly freezing day. And if you’ve hung around long enough…you know my nights out in Charlotte ended with me walking through downtown Charlotte shoeless…those flats would have been perfect back then! Lipton Publicity/KushyFoot sent me these products. All opinions are my own.
++ Joey. Joey. Joey. JOEY! JOEY! I go to sleep every. single. night. with FRIENDS on. Yes, long before it was ever on netflix or cool. Because of that, every few months (Tuesday night included) that episode when Joey Snores plays when I’m already asleep. In that scene (if you can’t watch the video), Chandler enters Joey’s room and tries to wake him up by calling out his name over and over. Never Ever fails. That scene wakes me up.
++ Suicidal Carbs. J is back on his low/no carb diet. He’s been doing pretty well. Well, Wednesday night he was getting something out of the cabinet and I heard this big crash. “What was that?” I yelled from the couch. “Pasta. Lots of pasta.” I walked in to find spaghetti ALL over the floor! I just laughed. “Carbs are literally throwing themselves at you!”
Alright friends! It’s your turn!
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by Joey | Feb 4, 2015 | Throwback
(stealing
Nadine’s image because I liked it)
I usually have a pretty hard time coming up with any confessions because I’m pretty much an open book–but I have a random handful for you today!
- I had a bowl of mashed cauliflower and a glass of wine for dinner on Saturday night.
- I pulled the shower curtain closed in the guest bathroom because I gave the dog a bath and didn’t feel like scrubbing the tub yet.
- I got to drive J’s Jag to South Carolina and while it sort of made me feel like a douchebag, it was also super comfortable.
- I saw my Camry (that we sold last year) on campus last week while running and it made me feel all the weird feels.
- I wake up at least once a night to pee. I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night.
- J and I stayed up until 2AM on Friday night watching 20/20. Because we’re awesome.
- I run into door frames more than any human being ever should.
- I get borderline obsessive about things I’m interested in. After listening to the Elizabeth Smart audiobook, I proceeded to research the crap out of the case.
- The first thing I do every single morning is pour my coffee. Before anything else.
- I have the nose of a bloodhound and it drives my husband crazy.
- There is no method to the chaotic madness in my kitchen cabinets.
- 90% of my life revolves around food.
- I prefer beer over wine and wine over liquor.
- For someone who loves makeup the way I do, I spend most of my days without any on
Welcome to the randomness inside my head.
Can we still be friends?
by Joey | Feb 3, 2015 | Throwback
My Story by Elizabeth Smart
As I mentioned last week, I downloaded this audiobook to listen to on my drive to and from SC. I was a teenager, just a few years older than Elizabeth herself, when she was kidnapped. I remember this happening. I have a weird fascination with getting the inside scoop on things, especially when it involves learning about someone’s unimaginable strength. Call me crazy, but I thought I could learn a thing or two from Miss Smart. And I was right. As for the book itself, it was very well done. I was navigating out of town, so I must have missed the introduction where it mentioned that the narrator was actually Elizabeth Smart herself, but I imagined it had to be. I think if you read this book on your own, it would be a very quick, interesting read. But let me encourage you, if I can, to listen on audiobook. Hearing Elizabeth herself recount the events is bone chilling and nothing short of admirable. Highly recommend.
Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover
This was a cute novella based off of the roommates from the book Maybe Someday. (Doesn’t Maybe Not sound like it could be the sequel to my book, “Yeah, maybe?” hah). Anyway, this was a cute, quick read. I liked seeing what was going on on the other side of Maybe Someday(5 stars)–who knew there could be a whole story there. I ended up really liking the character Warren, and I really liked finding out why he was watching so much porn in the first book! Take this for what it is, but the last few books by Colleen Hoover have read like a soft porn in some parts. This one was like that. And while everyone likes a good love scene, I think sometimes it goes too far considering the audience.
Never Never by Colleen Hoover + Tarryn Fisher
This was way different than anything I’ve read before. I was sucked in from the very first paragraph, and it was an impressively quick read. I liked how the fast pace of it made the book almost un-put-down-able. I’m not sure I’m in love with it because it’s the first of a series, and I pretty much got enough information from this one book to know that I will, without a doubt, have to read the next one. But as a stand alone it didn’t do much for me. It was a little irritating how it left on such a cliffhanger–but I guess that’s sort of the point of a series!
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Let me start by saying, I do not read the backs of books. So when I go into a book, I have no idea what it’s about unless someone has told me. This wasn’t at ALL about what I was expecting, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I really enjoyed the characters and the main story. Like, a lot. But all the fanfiction stuff I honestly couldn’t have cared less about. I realize it was important to share because that’s what the whole book was about, but as someone who only read Harry Potter after being brutally bullied into it (I know, I know) I had absolutely zero interest in the fanfiction that Cath was writing considering it seemed an awful lot like Harry Potter. (Don’t get me wrong, I loved Harry Potter and was seriously impressed with the writing, the world, the story and all of the above. It just wasn’t my normal cup of tea to read so it took some convincing to dive into it). About halfway through, I realized the storyline in the fanfiction really had nothing to do with the actual storyline of the book, so I honestly started to just skim those parts.
