Category: Twenty-something

my intention for 2015

Posted on by jplatt27

I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions. But of course, I’m one for thoughtful reflection on my life and visioning for the future. So while I don’t have a resolution or a list of goals, I do have an intention for 2015.

My intention for 2015 is to be experiencing my best self.

What does that mean exactly? It means that when I sit on my couch at the end of 2015 I want to look back on a year where I learned a lot about how I show up when I’m my best self.

I haven’t been my best self in a really long time and changing jobs recently has given me a fresh start and a different, lighter energy. So, in 2015, I want to see what my best self is like because frankly, I’m not sure I know this person. I think she’s pretty great and has a lot of potential but I’m really interested to meet and experience her and see what she’s really like.

I wonder…
What can she do?
What can she create?
How much fun can she have?
How will she surprise me?

This may sound passive but it’s not (and won’t be) at all because I’m pretty sure my best self is a mover and shaker. Someone who both makes things happen but also savors the now.

So, to a radiant 2015 – cheers!

deep down you know

Posted on by jplatt27

You know what you want to do. Deep down part of you knows exactly what you’re going to be, what you want to do with your life. It knows. It really really knows. And it knows it will be fulfilling and you’ll be good at it. And it doesn’t worry about money because it knows the money will follow.

It’s always known.

So, tell me, or more importantly, tell yourself…what are you going to do? Who are you going to be?

a quote to help with uncertainty

Posted on by jplatt27

I’ve been feeling a little uncertain about my career and purpose lately (read: since college) so this quote, shared in my Desire Map Book Club Facebook group, really resonated with me. I read it and felt like it was written just for me. If you’ve been feeling uncertain or anxious, I hope you find comfort in it too.

Sending so much love,
Joanna

“Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”  ~Rainer Maria Rilke

a feeling yet to be named

Posted on by jplatt27

I’ve been doing something a little different with my Christmas list this year. Each year, Mike’s mom asks me for a Christmas list. And each year I put the same kinds of things: clothes and books.

This year I decided I’d make an intentional Christmas list based on how I want to feel in 2014.

The adjectives I came up with are

cozy | joyful | pretty | abundant.

But at the gym this weekend I realized there’s another way I want to feel in 2014…like me. But I haven’t come up with one word that sums up this feeling.

I was doing a strength exercise in front of the mirror and the song Mirrors by Justin Timberlake was playing on my iPod. When I locked eyes with myself in the mirror I felt…radiant, strong, beautiful, loved, appreciated. Like I was really seeing myself. Seeing the true me. I felt…like me. I adore that feeling. 

Do you know the feeling I’m talking about? What is it called? I’d love to add it to my list.

caught between now and then

Posted on by jplatt27

We were driving back from the grocery store and I was daydreaming about when we have a house someday and have family and friends over for meals all the time. Our home is cozy and welcoming and we always have people around, always feel loved.

We drove by the Cathedral and I noticed a man taking a picture. I looked and saw the Cathedral lit by a setting sun. It was sad and beautiful. In that moment I got nostalgic for the life we have now.

I think the emotions of this moment were enhanced by this song that happened to be playing on the radio, Trace Adkins’ You’re Gonna Miss This:

Before she knows it she’s a brand new bride
In her one bedroom apartment and her daddy stops by
He tells her it’s a nice place, she says, It’ll do for now
Starts talkin’ about babies and buyin’ a house
Daddy shakes his head and says, Baby, just slow down

Cuz’ you’re gonna miss this
You’re gonna want this back
You’re gonna wish these days
Hadn’t gone by so fast

These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you’re gonna miss this

I know I’ll miss this place and this time when we move away. Miss the hustle and bustle of the city. The beauty of the National Mall and my favorite drive down Rock Creek Parkway along the water. I’ll miss the lazy weekend mornings at home, breakfast at the coffee table and the huge windows that greet me when I walk in the door. I’ll miss the days of just the two of us. I imagine I’ll look back on this as a time when life was simple and easy, when our cares were minimal.

But I still yearn for a future time when I don’t feel as isolated. When our weekends are filled with family and friends around our table and our house is filled with the warmth that comes with a home-cooked meal.

And so I feel sad. Sad because in yearning for that, I’m wishing this time away.

But I guess the good news is that now is good and then will also be good.

 

coffee date

Posted on by jplatt27

coffee

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that I’m working on my relationship with money. I’ve been reading Money: A Love Story and absolutely loving it. I’m actually doing all of the exercises as I go through. It’s a total game-changer. I want to tell everyone about it. And I kind of want to buy my siblings copies for Christmas (guys, if you’re reading this, let me know if you don’t want one).

If we were having coffee today, you’d probably tell me that you love my nail polish. I painted my nails before work the other day (great morning activity for me), and I’ve gotten SO many compliments! I bought the polish because I loved the color and because the name, Big Spender, goes so perfectly with some of the realizations I’m having from Money: A Love Story. I think all the compliments are the universe telling me that I’m going in the right direction.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that Talbots is my new favorite store. Their clothes are so well made and fit me perfectly. And, on sale, fit my budget perfectly.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you how excited I am about the holidays. Not really much more to elaborate on that subject but I’m looking forward to this cozy holiday season.

What would you tell me, or ask me, if we were having coffee today?

under pressure

Posted on by jplatt27

I designated June as the “Month of Me” and spent the month relaxing, reading, cooking, having fun. I told myself I’d take June to relax and take a break from the go-go-go-go-go schedule that’s dominated my life since before high school and then hit July with gusto and dive head first into my business.

June was so great. I was really enjoying myself. And then July came along.

I’m not kidding, July 1 I started to feel sad. The sadness came up and up, just kind of lingering under the surface. I didn’t know where it was coming from. Things were and are good. But this underlying feeling of sadness was there and kept growing.

When we got back from vacation, the feelings of sadness got more intense and soon turned to overwhelming anxiety.

I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. Then I thought, hmm, this started around July right at the end of the Month of Me, I should start playing more and having more fun. So I did that. It worked a little bit but wasn’t a magic bullet.

This morning it hit me. The Month of Me was great not because of the play and the joy I felt. The reason the Month of Me was so wonderful was because of the lack of pressure.

That’s it. The lack of pressure.

Because I took the pressure off myself and allowed myself to oh, I don’t know, just live my life, I was able to ENJOY my life. To have fun. To do things I like.

I let myself relax in June and then slammed the pressure back on July 1. And it hit me like a ton of bricks.

The pressure I feel is 100% self inflicted. I am my own worst critic and put so much pressure on myself, beat myself up. And that sucks the joy out of things.

Knowing that my joy is tied to the amount of pressure I (and/or Janice) put on myself, I can start to examine the pressure and question it. Acknowledge it, think about it, and then allow myself to let it go and relax and enjoy my life.

Things always get done. Ideas always come. I don’t need to be thinking about my goals and my business success every. single. second. In fact, when I’m enjoying my life and doing things that make me feel like me, I’m more creative and motivated and things get done.

To relaxing and enjoying life! Cheers!

Do you put pressure on yourself? How do you let it go or could you let it go? 

 

 

 

coffee date

Posted on by jplatt27

Today I thought I’d take a page out of Emily‘s book and share the things I’d tell you if we were having coffee today.

Open City

If we were having a coffee date today, I’d tell you…

I had a huge epiphany this week. I don’t have to like everyone. I’ll say it again: I don’t have to like everyone. I know this is pretty much just a truth that most people know. Like duh, Jo, of course you don’t have to like everyone. You’re not going to like everyone. It just doesn’t make sense.

But this was BIG for me. Really big. I realized that I’d beat myself up if I didn’t like someone. I’d feel extremely guilty and really bad about myself if I didn’t like someone. That’s just not necessary. And giving myself permission to not like someone will really help these feelings subside.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you…

Mike offered to be my CFO. I’m really excited about it. It will be nice to have a partner, someone to watch over my business with me. It makes me feel like I’m not alone in this scary business building adventure. Mike’s been extremely supportive of my coaching business and this just takes it to the next level. I’m really grateful.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you…

We brought the SEGA game system back with us from Pennsylvania last weekend and have played Sonic a few times this week. It’s pretty fun. I get kind of bored after a few levels but we’ve been playing at night so maybe I’m just tired. We’ll see what this weekend brings–it’s going to rain all day tomorrow so we’ll have ample time to play and watch TV. I remember playing SEGA at our neighbors house as a kid. I’m pretty sure we’d play for a couple hours at a time.

What would you tell me if we were having coffee today? 

Have you had any epiphanies lately? Do you feel like you have to like everyone?

What game systems did you play as a kid?

just playing around

Posted on by jplatt27

Earlier this week I mentioned that I’ve been trying to play more. While it’s seemed a little scary at first, I’m getting into it! Here are some things I’ve done to play in the last two weeks.

I started doodling when I get home from work for a few minutes. Just sitting down at the kitchen table for 10 minutes or so. It’s been calming. Here’s my first doodle:

my first doodle--a sailboat on solid ground

It’s a boat on solid ground!

I didn’t set out to draw a boat. I actually started with the paper portrait orientation and drew a hang-man like upside-down L. Then I drew what became the sail and turned the paper sideways. Before I knew it there was a boat. And then there was a boat with grass underneath it.

Who knew there was going to be so much meaning/message to my first doodle.

One night last week, Mike and I played Scrabble.

Zen Scrabble

It’s not lost on me that the word “zen” was my highest scoring word in the game.

I also bought watercolors and some other paints. Here’s my first watercolor:

my first watercolor--a hot air balloon

Isn’t it so fun??

And lastly, Mike and I through the frisbee around at the Cathedral the other night before dinner. It was SO fun. I was running, running, running to get the frisbee, you know “going long.” I was smiling SO much. I kind of felt like a happy dog running to catch a ball in its mouth. It was so great.

Mike can catch the frisbee between his legs so I was trying to pick up that trick. No luck. (as you can imagine). Enjoy that visual, will ya?

I’m telling you, this play thing is no joke. It’s so good for the soul. So I challenge you, how will you play this weekend??

 

play? what does that mean?

Posted on by jplatt27

I’ve been struggling lately. Anxiety at an all-time high. Panic attacks. Weeping like I’ve never wept before (though that seems to have subsided, thankfully). I actually didn’t even realize that what I’ve been experiencing is anxiety because the dry mouth, night sweats, lack of appetite in the morning, and crazy intense feeling in my solar plexus that I’ve been having are not my usual anxiety symptoms.

That’s why I haven’t posted in a while.

I googled “anxiety cures” the other day, and after finding a bunch of random things that were both a little tempting and a little scary/seemingly scammy, I came across this article. Charlie says that he cured his anxiety through play.

“Huh,” I thought. “That’s interesting.”

Why not try it? What do I have to lose? I could use a little more fun in my life.

This begs the question…

What does play mean to me?

I talked to my coach about it and here’s what I’ve come up with:

  • Biking–a few years ago my friend Jen was in DC for the weekend and we rented bikes. At the end of our ride we biked up this steep hill and I just remember peddling my heart out. I was grinning from ear to ear and surprised and how amazingly fun it was. I biked all the time as a kid and LOVED it.
  • Coloring/doodling/drawing
  • Body Combat–I was a regular at Body Combat before my wedding and again, this is one of those activities that leaves me with a goofy grin on my face. The class just makes me feel so powerful and fierce; it really is FUN.
  • Dancing
  • Yoga
  • Frisbee toss with Mike
  • Long walks
  • Painting

I’m trying to think of more things and add more play into my life. I’m not going to lie, sometimes thinking about play fires up my anxiety. It scares me a little bit. It’s almost like I’m afraid of what might come up when I settle in and let myself enjoy it.

It’s funny, my friend Allie and I went on a hike yesterday and then settled in with a bottle of wine at a nearby vineyard. Immediately I started to feel guilty. Like I shouldn’t be doing this. I should be working or doing something.  I told Allie that I felt like I didn’t deserve this goodness, this relaxation. She said “But you do. Doesn’t everyone?” I nodded and thought “of course.”

So that’s what I’m working on lately. Learning how to play. Learning how to settle in and let myself enjoy.

What does play mean to you? What activities allow you to relax and feel joy?