Weekly YES Quote!

“I decided long ago never to walk in anyone’s shadow; if I fail, or if I succeed, at least I did as I believe.”

Whitney Houston

Weekly Reflection

A few months ago I was fortunate enough to visit my family up in Humboldt County, California.

Usually, during a regular calendar year pre-COVID, I only make it home for Christmas because it’s such a trek to get up to that area in Northern California.

I added this venture home for the year because my beautiful cousin was getting married.

I not proudly admit that I word vomited plenty of negative comments prior to my arrival back home…

Getting married during COVID… is she crazy?! Are we wearing masks? Are we hugging? Are we going to be able to genuinely enjoy each other’s company and celebrate, or are we going to sit around social distancing while being exceptionally celebration-awkward? She doesn’t have a bridal party… only her Maid of Honor?! But she already picked out the bridesmaid dresses and and and…

These and other thoughts circled through my mind.

And to top it off California… yes, the entire State of California… was on fire (again).

Like come on!

When I landed in San Francisco on my stopover to the Eureka/Arcata airport it looked like I was in the middle of an apocalypse…

Prior to taking off from San Francisco our pilot even cracked a joke about how we’d shortly be departing Middle Earth once some paperwork and routine checks were completed.

As if my mind wasn’t already hating on the COVID struggles the wedding would face now we have to deal with fire on top of it.

Can you imagine?

As if you aren’t already upset enough that the headcount for your wedding has greatly diminished due to the pandemic, but now your gorgeous wedding dress is going to glow orange because of the fires in the area – sad headcount and orange photos… great.

Through all this my cousin’s attitude never wavered.

The pandemic reared its ugly face, and she refused to move her wedding date.

The fire came fiercely ripping through the State, and she again refused to move her wedding date.

I thought she was stubborn and being a bit ridiculous… I truly did. Until the day of the wedding.

Marrying your best friend isn’t about having the perfect attendance, date, weather…

Marrying your best friend is about making a commitment to the person you cherish the most and want to be with forever.

Those who want to be there for you to celebrate with you will be there, and it’ll be the best party ever in celebration of your union because everyone who is there wants to be together.

I learned that lesson that day.

I felt so foolish for all my negative, snarky comments… it wasn’t my wedding to judge or be judgmental over. I should’ve been feeling happy and ecstatic that I was even invited to her wedding… grateful even that she would want me there to share her special day with her.

Yet there I was being superficial about how she was deviating from social norms when they don’t even matter!

Weekly Challenge

We should never lose sight of what’s most important to us especially when faced with obstacles no matter how impossible they may seem.

When you want something bad enough, when you believe in something strongly enough, when you know deep down in your heart that something needs to change… you should never let your determination waver.

My cousin did just that: she wanted to marry the love of her life and nothing was going to prevent that from happening.

She was brave, strong, and resolute.

It didn’t matter that some people couldn’t attend the wedding due to the pandemic – she had her immediate family, her partner’s immediate family, her maid of honor, the best man, and my immediate family present. Everyone who was present was truly present in the moment and happily there to celebrate with the wed couple to be.

It didn’t matter that the sky had a tinge of orange due to the fires throughout the State. So what if her dress would appear more orange than white… she would still look lovely nonetheless. If anything she will be able to tell her children that you never falter when something is important to you, and she can use her wedding photos as the perfect example.

We each have things in our lives that are of the upmost importance to us, and we’d be doing a disservice to ourselves and the world if we didn’t strive for them because of a social norm or other unimportant happening.

Commit to what matters most to you!

Don’t hesitate to reach, scramble, scratch, claw, or get your hands dirty.

Challenge yourself this week to make strides in your life towards the things that matter most to you, and don’t let any seemingly impossible obstacle(s) get in your way of your path to success.

Reminder to Just Say Yes!

As always, say yes to experiences that present themselves to you! Life is full of fun and wonder – don’t be stuck at home wondering what life could be like, should be like, would be like… drop that nonsense! Get out there, say yes, and never look back!

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The quote was taken from Becca Anderson’s book, Badass Affirmations: The Wit and Wisdom of Wild Women, which is an affiliate link. If you purchase the book following my link I will receive a small kickback, and you will receive a wonderful edition to your collection! This book is filled with quotes from amazing women, who inspire me to thrive in my own element as they have in theirs.

I’d love it if you shared some of the ways this week’s quote has made you feel, and obstacles you’ve come across that are hindering your path towards success or obstacles you’ve overcome recently to continue on your path to success!

We each have a unique journey, and I would love to share in yours.