The power of saying "no"

The power of saying "no" is simple and liberating. I sometimes find myself spreading myself too thin or getting stressed out because I am overextending myself to others. The solution: saying no. Sometimes, for a lot of us it is hard to say NO. It can even be scary. For instance a good friend asks you to help them move but you already had plans that day but feel obligated because they have helped you in the past. I tend to say if you are doing something for someone because you feel guilty or you have to, don't. You won't really be doing them a favor because they will be able to see that you don't even want to be there and you will be miserable in the process. Another example is making a plan. Someone asks you to lunch and you really just do not want to go. There is no other way of going around it. You just do not want to go. Sure you could make up a lie and pretend you have something else going on OR you could give them a breath of fresh air and say the simple word that we tend to stray from...NO. (no thank-you). It boggles my mind how a small two letter word can be hard for a lot of us to say. I am a people pleaser but I also do not let people walk all over me. There is a time and a place to say yes and there is also a time and a place to say no. I think sometimes others will respect you more if you let them know the truth. If If you don't feel up to something or you just simply don't want to you can say no, it is ok. By bending over backwards to accommodate someone it isn't always being nice or being an amazing person, I find it to be somewhat weak and in the end who does it please? When we say no we are standing firm in our convictions and stating that at this time and place "I" cannot go/do/hike/bike/spend/ect right now. At another time sure, maybe you can, or another day might be better. Do not feel guilty for a word we were taught so young to use. I think at times we like to make excuses or lie to cover up for something maybe we just aren't up for. So I say no I don't want to go out to dinner tonight. No I really don't have the time to go run over and drop something off to you. We all have a voice that must be put to use. Do not mistake saying "no" as being mean or rude, you are just saying right now, I cannot. And that is that!

At the moment...

At the moment I have my window open and I blasting The Cure in my bedroom, thoroughly enjoying this lazy yet beautiful Sunday evening. What a gorgeous day it was! Getting a tan on the beaches of Monterey Bay and then dashing to In and Out to satisfy my craving I had all day. Never can get enough of in and out. Anyways, I thought i'd write a blog about precious moments that perhaps we take for granted each and everyday. Feeling the breeze against your skin, the shining glistening down upon you or even a smile from a stranger. I don't what it is, maybe I am being a bit nostaglic because my days in Monterey are dwindiling but I have been recently recounting the memories I have made here and the people I have stumbled across. Mostly good, some bad. Each day something occured and there was always a story to share. Even more so, I have made some cool friends who I soon will be leaving behind or we all will be going our seperate ways to start the next chapter in our lives. I created a little life for myself in the peninsula but I am happy to move forward as well...In doing so though comes some pressure as to where I will head and what I want next out of my life. My hope is to travel Europe for at least a couple months and meet some new people, taste new foods, and experience new things, do as much as I can while I am still very young and able! Maybe even skydive, that has ALWAYS been something I wanted to do, soon!
>>>>These next couple weeks are going to be crazy I am not even going to be able to soak up each moment because of school work and packing my garage, cleaning out everything. So as each day comes I am going to try and take a deep breathe and NOT let it all pass me by. I still have a couple more things I want to mark off my checklist here in Monterey. I still have not been to Bubba Gumps, maybe it is a bit touristy and perhaps isn't all it's cracked up to be but I will make that decision for myself. I still want to go on some more hikes and take some sick photos before I depart. I want to tie it all up in a neat little bow so when I DO leave I will be able to say, I did everything I wanted to do..."...Just like heaven..."

A letter to my one true love...

Dear Ranch Dressing,

I''ll never be able to describe the way I love you. I need you all the time, I could never be without you. I think you feel the same way about me. You are my pillar of strength, my everything. Everywhere I go, there you are. Sometimes you change your way, you become different. Sometimes you are sweeter, sometimes you are bitter but always you are there. People don't understand our love for one another. They always ask "How come you always have to have it?" I don't have answer, I just know it's true, I can't be with out you. There have been times when I have had too much of you and I feel sick but days later I need you. There have been times when I have run out of you and it hurts both of us. I am sorry for those days but I can only re-call the best times we shared. You were there for me ...through pizza, rice, fries, spaghetti and countless salads. No one will ever replace and that is something I can promise you. You have been loyal to me and I will remain loyal to you. I love you ranch dressing with all my heart!

Jessica*