If you’re like me, you’re a bit run-down this month. Despite the holiday excitement that sparkles in the windows of every shop and the eyes of every child, this twenty-something is feeling a bit tired. But here we are starting another week– and I ask myself, “What’s it going to be?”
Am I going to drag my feet through this week, unmotivated to take exams, go to work, complete my chores and follow through on promises? Am I going to tell people that “I’m tired” when they ask me how I’m doing? Will there be complaint after complaint coming from my mouth?
Or can I be in the process of something far greater than my present circumstances?
Recently, a friend shared a quote with me (below) that really made me think. And it reminded me of the reason why we have dreams for the future. These are the kinds of dreams that go beyond money and fame and external beauty. These are the things that make us come alive.
Do you want to come alive? Because I know I do.
The idea of coming alive fills me with so many ideas. Traveling. Befriending. Creating. Giving. Transforming. Coming alive can be a million different things, but they all have one thing in common: we become more truly ourselves. By coming alive, we become the people we were designed to be.
To me, coming alive means living with passion for something that matters. As some of us might know too well, living on our own behalf and for our own well-being will eventually run out of excitement. Giving of ourselves– while doing what makes us come alive– can bring us a lifetime of courage and joy.
May 2014
As a recent college graduate, I am often asked, “So what are you going to do next?” There can be so much pressure that comes with that question. Sometimes, there can even be shame for those of us who don’t seem to be doing quite well enough.
I used to think that I needed to launch a legitimate professional career in order to be a “real person.” I thought that I needed to answer to a boss, earn a salary, have coworkers to complain about, meetings to attend and a briefcase, in order to feel that my young-adult life was fulfilled and accomplished.
Not anymore. My goal is far greater than that now. My goal is to come alive. So when I answer that dreaded post-college question, I start there.
What does coming alive mean to you? I would love to know!
Aw thank you so much Camille!! So glad to hear from you. Yes, graduating college is a very crazy time, and sometimes I feel like people are just on their hustle, not sure where they’re really going. You are so inspiring with the business-owning and the fashion guru-ing and moving all over the country! So glad I can follow along with you on your awesome adventures! 🙂 We are planted here in Pasadena for the next 5 years at least, so I’ll have to move around vicariously through you 😉 And I’m really glad this post resonated with you Camille!
Daisy! You are so inspiring. Coming alive is a beautiful goal and something I hope to remind myself to do whenever I’m feeling a little lost or exhausted. I remember that feeling when I graduated in 2012, all my friends and classmates were headed off to med school or law school. Everyone thought I was kind of crazy to be getting married and opening my own small business instead of heading off to grad school with them. But I had to choose what was best for me, and choose what made me come alive. I could not be happier with my choice! But even know that I have “followed my dreams” I’ve had to learn (the hard way sometimes) that I still have to wake up and fight for my dreams and to come alive everyday. Even though I own the business I dreamed up, doesn’t mean it stays a dream a come true without intentional actions everyday. Whenever I forget this and fall into the habit of just emailing, paying bills, emailing some more, etc, I fall into a slump. Remembering to come alive is always the best way to combat those feelings. You’re such an amazing gal Daisy! Thank you for the reminder, and I hope you can continue to remember to come alive for the rest of the month and into the new year! xoxo, Camille
http://www.thelovelytheory.com
Thanks Theresa! So glad this resonated with you 🙂
Thanks girl!
Thank you Nabihah! It’s good to do things every day to keep your life interesting 🙂 Good luck with that internship!
Love this! What a great sentiment to share as we approach a new year. I’ve definitely been feeling the same way – December can just do that to ya! Taking a new approach or finding a new mantra can really change your perspective 🙂
Theresa
http://www.underhonesttrees.com
Amen sister. What a beautiful and true post! Just love your heart. xoxo MK
You’re so sweet! ^_^ Yes, I love her blog! I found her blog through Blog Lovin’ recommendations and then I found your blog through a giveaway on her’s, actually!
I really love this thought and enjoyed reading this post! I think most of us have a routine in place and we forget that life is about excitement, having fun and living too. I’m on a year long internship and my days have become mundane, just work and back. It’s making me realize I don’t want my entire life to be that way so I’ve thrown myself a little more into blogging, I started knitting, watching new shows, going to the gym – just a little extra something in my day to make me feel alive 🙂
thesundaywardrobe.blogspot.com
Thanks girl! 🙂
Thanks for your thoughts Elmira! There can be so much pressure when people ask us what we’re going to do at a point of transition, because there is usually a lot of uncertainty! I’ve learned to take those questions in stride and use them as opportunities to ask myself whether I am becoming the person I want to be. 🙂
Yup– it’s time for all of us to have some perspective, whether we’re stressing about the holidays or exams or both 😉 And thanks….. I don’t write much about Harvard but it’s a place that is dear to me. 🙂
Thank you so much Chloe! And I love your thoughts on living a story that is alive!! That is such a beautiful way to think about it. Thanks for sharing, girl 🙂
Thanks so much Emily! So glad this resonated with you 🙂
Thanks so much Stacey! I love your thought on intentionality– we don’t have to go through life by accident.
Thank you so much Anna!
Thank you so much Rachel! I always love reading your thoughts here 🙂 And by the way, Are you familiar with Caravan Sonnet (the blog)? You would love her I think!
Thank you Kaeleen!
Yes! It’s that time of year when I feel a bit drained and need some perspective!
Thanks girl!
Thank you so much Anita! So glad you can relate.
Thanks Charlie! 🙂
Aw thank you so much for reading! 🙂
Aw thank you Ivete!! So glad to hear it, and I really appreciate your support. And wonderful that you are finding your passion… better now than never!
Thank you so much Shannon!! So glad this resonated with you– I knew I needed motivation today 🙂
Aw thank you so much for your support Miriam! Wish I could give you a massive hug as well 🙂 Coming alive is such a good way to think about what matters… let me know when you know what that means to you!
Thanks for reading! And I agree– I love to explore and it definitely awakens my curiosity!
Thank you so much Pam. So glad that you’re able to come alive through blogging– it’s such a great space to be creative! Thank you for reading, and for your kind encouragement!!
So glad this resonated with you Joanna! Let’s make it through this holiday season with real joy and peace! 🙂
Thank you so much Kiki! Contentment is a wonderful thing, and you know that you’ve found something that makes you happy when you’re glad to be yourself. So glad to have gotten to know you Kiki!
Yes absolutely!! Those are all wonderful things to experience and be grateful for everyday!
So glad that you found joy in being a stay-at-home mom– you must be a wonderful mom, Shireen! I have so much respect and admiration for good parents, and hope to be one myself someday 🙂
That’s right! Good luck on final exams Nicole! 🙂
Aw thanks dear! 🙂 And haha… I don’t write much about Harvard because I feel like it can be scary! But it’s a place that’s near to my heart.
I hope you’re having a great week Sarah! 🙂
Thanks Charity! And yes, I want to have a family someday, so glad to hear how special it is 🙂
I really love that quote
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
Aw thank you Jeannette! You must be such a wonderful mom!! And yes, when I realize that I should let go of having others’ approval, I remember that I can come alive by doing those things that I love! Thank you so much for reading, my dear friend! 🙂
Thank you Miri! So glad you enjoyed this post, and thanks– I’m looking forward to a good week 🙂
Even though it has been so so many years since I graduated but I clearly remember the frustrating feeling that would come all over me, every time my family and friends( even strangers) would ask me what my plans were now that I was graduated:( but sadly that is not the only time you would get “what next?” from people around you. Regarding coming alive, for me, it is when I do things that I love and am into at that moment.
xo
Elmira
http://www.wellputtogetherstykebyelmira.com
This is such a good reminder for finals season! I’m still figuring out what coming alive means to me… but hopefully I’ll figure it out soon. (Also, way to rock that Harvard crimson!) ;D
Adore this!!! Love your honesty and motivation. Coming alive to me is being present- noticing the blessings of each day. Live intentionally. I’m currently reading a book about how we get to write the story of our lives. I want my story to be alive. I want to write a good story with my life 🙂
I love this! What a great way to think. This was the motivation I needed to start my week off right after coming from vacation. Thanks for sharing!
20somethingfashion.blogspot.com
VERY inspiring post! To me, “coming alive” means to live with intentionality and integrity :] Do every day what makes you passionate and with a smile! xo
Really great post Daisy!!!
Wonderful post, and I love the subject matter! While it’s a different type, I can often feel weighed down by my health. When spending weeks at a time too sick to do anything I start to feel as if I’m losing myself. To come alive again I find it best to accomplish things that are important to me, things I truly care about or am passionate about. I love to help people, but often I’m unable to physically. Something that helps me though is to share about personal experiences on my blog that might help encourage other people and get them through a difficult time.
Thank you for sharing, dear!
Love this!
I’m not a recent college grad, but I am definitely run down so I can relate to this post! x
such a cute post! love how you think!
kelseybang.com
I can totally relate as a recent college grad! Such a great perspective. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Always, Anita
This is such a great post! Good thoughts! And yes, we definitely need to be asking ourselves what makes us come alive!
I love this post and so true I feel exhausted! It so important to find your passion and go for it!
http://lachiquitamissi.com
You are wise beyond your years, Daisy! I love this quote and it can be applied to anyone of any age. I am considerably older than you and am just now finding my passion and I’m definitely coming alive. Thanks so much for this inspirational post!
http://www.girlinahotcity.com
Beautiful Daisy! I absolutely love that quote and the thought it requires. I was just thinking about how much I have to do before the end of next week and how overwhelmed I was, how tired I’m going to be, etc, so I’m glad I read this. Pushed my thoughts right out…I definitely need to focus on more stuff like this!
Daisy I just want to give you a massive hug! I too have been feeling run down lately. It’s been a rolercoaster for me, but I always have your posts to look forward to. When I don’t have much time to check out blogs, I make sure that yours is one of the few that I get to read before I go ahead my day. For me , coming alive is …. I am not quite sure yet. My head is still clouded with stress, but when I know, I’ll let you know!
Thank you for this reminder, Daisy! I find myself easily responding with I’m tired and really aren’t we all? I feel alive after spending time exploring…whether on a walk in my neighborhood or out of town.
ashortblonde.com
Beautiful post Daisy! Congratulations on all of your successes. You are so right.. this is the perfect season to come alive and to prepare ourselves for a new and exciting year ahead. Coming alive to me means spending time with my family and doing what I love which is expressing my creativity and love for fashion through my blog. Thanks for sharing your beautiful words.
xx Pam
http://www.thegirlfrompanama.com
I’ve been feeling the same way, Daisy. Run down and exhausted! I adore this post and your whole perspective on this. Coming alive and finding happiness in the little things in everyday life and discovering our true passions are wonderful goals to have.
lovejoanna.com
This is a beautiful post Daisy. More often than not I’m asked if and when I’m going to start what my college path was. What I went to school for and what I studied. Life is so unpredictable and plans and people change. In my heart I think I’m a different person than I was 5 years ago. I know, for now, I’m in a career that makes me happy. Perhaps some day I’ll try something new. For now, I feel like I’ve come alive just by being content with myself and my own life. (:
Being able to wake up each and every day with the man of my dreams, a roof over my head and a job to go makes me come alive. I have to remind myself when I’m feeling sluggish that I do have dreams and that I’m working towards them. It’s so easy to get down but when I think about my dreams, I can’t help but get a pep in my step!
I know that rat race and for the longest time I thought I was on the right track but after a few years, I got extremely tired and honestly questioned ‘there must be more than this’. And as cheesy as it sounds, I think I finally found my place now and surprisingly by being a stay-at-home mum and wife. Getting a recipe right, that silly grin on little one’s face after puking all over me, hubby’s smile…that’s what makes me come alive.
Reflection of Sanity | Smashbox Giveaway
I definitely feel run down due to the holiday rush and college finals. However, we can all totally do it and the holiday season is so fun to be alive in 🙂
xo ClassToCloset
Ugh I feel you! So run down but it is time to come alive. I definitely will keep this in mind in the coming weeks to keep me going 🙂
Also, look at you going to Harvard, smarty pants 😉 you make me so proud! Intelligence is the best accessory, I say 🙂
You can do it, lady! Good luck with all of your exams!
– Sarah 🙂
http://www.thecrownbijoux.blogspot.com
Great post Daisy! Raising our beautiful kids and having a family makes me come alive each and every day. There’s nothing quite like it 😉 Have a wonderful week!
charity
lifeafterbaseball.net
Hello beautiful Daisy! Thanks for sharing such a beautiful and inspiring post. You are so right, feeling Alive has nothing to do with pleasing others and meeting everybody else’s standards, it comes from within and from our hearts. It is about following our passions and dreams without caring what others may say about it. First, I want to congratulate you for everything you have accomplished at such a very young age and for graduating from Harvard. That by itself tells me how driven you are. However, you inner desires, passions and beauty is what truly makes you shine. You are so amazing Daisy:-) For me, doing everything I love makes me alive. Being creative, helping people, fashion… makes me alive…. looking into my daughters eye and watch them grow makes super ALIVE. Have a beautiful day Daisy. XOXO, Jeannette
http://www.msjeannieandhercloset.com
WOW! I love this quote! Styling clothes and writing about it makes me come alive!
Have a great week and I hop you will not have to drag yourself through it.:-)
X
MIRI
http://CURRENTLYWEARING.COM