The Value of YOU

The Value of YOU

It’s been a loooong while since I’ve written here. My intention when I started this blog was to write regularly about life and all of its experiences. Well I took a long break to LIVE life, but I’m ready to start writing again, and express the beauty and chaos of it all. Let the journey begin….

Its Friday morning, I’m watching the sun rise and reflecting on my life since being in California. Boy has it been a journey, almost 8 years now, wow! I’ve experiences so much in this time and the lessons I’ve learned have taught me so much about myself. Over the years I’ve struggled with relationships, career choices, and just being happy with who and where I am in life. In my growth the most important thing I’ve learned is that I have to value myself before anyone else will. Whether it be a job, romance, friendship, it is so vital that we understand our value.

At times I’ve been so giving of myself to others to the point where I almost forget about myself, making sure other people are content and happy in their journey. However, God has a way of revealing profound messages to us, if we stop and listen. I think I’ve had select hearing over the year’s lol, but recently I’ve had some experiences that have awakened my sense of self-awareness and value.

The level of importance I place on my own well-being and happiness should far surpass the energy I put forth to others. It has always been my nature to put others first, but I’m now realizing I have to take care of ME first and then everyone else. Its time for me to listen again, fully, and be receptive of life lessons that I may be receiving, following my gut when I feel something is wrong, being still and allowing situations to move at their own pace even when I wish they would hurry up and be where I want them to be. Patience, understanding, and having a strong sense of what is real versus what I would like to be real. I know that I am constantly growing and evolving into the Monique I am destined to be, but its time for me to be more aware of my value. Today I am declaring that I take responsibility for my own well being first and never discount my own worth, pursuing MY passion and fulfilling true happiness in its purest sense. Realizing that I’m worth more than what others may be able to give at times, and at times I may have to decide that what others may be offering is not good enough for me.

We all have to honor ourselves before anyone else will. You are incomparable, you are the prize, you are the gift that should be cherished and celebrated. Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. Revel in your own being. YOU are priceless.

LIVE fully today and honor yourself by excelling beyond your own limitations, YOU are the only barricade between making your dreams reality.

- I'm ready for today, and each day that follows…here comes the sun ;)

xoxo Monique*

You Tube Displays of Stupidity

So today I was watching 'The View' and one of the guests was Nadin Khoury, the 13 year old boy who was jumped recently in Philadelphia. The video is absolutely appalling.

A group of 7 boys jumped Nadin - they beat him up, taunted him, and then hung him on a fence by his backpack. Is this really the world we live in? Its amazing to me that he felt confident enough to come on national television and talk about what has been displayed all over the world.

How is it that people feel it is ok to treat someone that way? What kind of homes are these kids being raised in? Nadin said he was terrified that something worse might have happened to him if a woman passing by hadn't stopped what was going on. What is also disturbing is that Nadin and his parents reported the issue he was having with bullies to his school and they didn't do anything about it. Why did it have to come to this? And to top it off and take the cake, what amazes me in all of this is the audacity these boys had to post this video on YouTube, which ultimately led to their arrests. Technology and the social communication we have via the internet today is scary. People feel so comfortable displaying all types of things for the world to see, but there is no discretion and no reprimand, wow.

I cant imagine what it must feel like as a parent to deal with this, to have something like this happen to your child. My heart goes out to Nadin and his family, but the blessing is that he survived. Hopefully other people will see this and refrain from treating their peers this way.

The Sweet Escape

Most of you know that I’m a gym rat, so this post is dedicated to my love of fitness  ;)

Its Tuesday morning, I’ve just returned from a 45 min run, and it was awesome. As most of you can probably relate, life can get pretty crazy – work, family, friends, bills, it can all wear you down and stress you out.

Back in high school I started running track, and I’ve tried to carry on that fitness lifestyle with me. However, school and work put that on hold for a while. When I moved to Los Angeles some 7 years ago (has it really been that long), I noticed that fitness was definitely the craze.  Everywhere I went people looked so fit and healthy. I’m sure it was mostly the ‘Hollywood’ image that people were trying to maintain, but it actually inspired me to workout again with the dedication I used to have. And as work got hectic I realized I needed some balance, something to get my mind off of the everyday grind.

It’s interesting because our health and well-being are the foundation to everything we do. If you don’t have your health, well you know the rest. But for me, fitness has been my escape when I need one. Regardless of what’s going on in my life I know I can always put on my tennis shoes and go for a run or head to the gym for an hour. And while there are days when I’d rather lay in bed and watch Grease, Lifetime movies, and re-runs of Law & Order SVU, my workouts will always give me a break from reality (and allows me to maintain my figure ha-ha). 

So shout out to my Runyan Canyon accomplices, who journey with me up that hike and sweat it out (Shawn, Dee, Teri, Aunt J, MJ) my spinning classes that burn my buns, yoga poses that stretch me out, and the weight room where guys always give me the side eye like I don’t belong there. Thank you fitness for being there for me when I need you; I’ll see you tomorrow. Smooches ;)

New ‘Life’ Resolution…

What would you differently if you had no fear of failing?

My Auntie Della asked me that question years ago; she always had a way of challenging me to think outside of the norm.

It’s interesting how life experiences can alter the way you perceive yourself and your future. As a child I remember being so full of life and ambitious, excited to try new things without hesitation, I was fearless. However, over the years that ambition has subsided and surfaced from time to time. Various things have become more important - school, work, bills. Unfortunately for most of us these things take precedence over ambitions and our desire to take risks.  Life becomes a routine of balancing responsibilities and making sure you’re able to take care of yourself – food, clothes, shelter, etc. Ultimately we end up complacent and content with where we are, but not exactly where we’d like to be.

I’m currently reading a book called ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway,’ by Susan Jeffers. It’s giving me great insight about how I perceive myself, and the way that I live my life.  I see how easy it is to move through life living in fear of the unknown; not wanting to step outside of your comfort zone because wherever you are at the moment feels safe. In the midst of reading this book I couldn’t help but remember the question my Auntie Della asked me. It made me think - What am I afraid of, and why? Is it fear of failure, of success, or ultimately not being able to handle whatever comes my way? But if I knew that I could handle anything, what would I possibly have to fear? The answer is nothing.  

We each have our own ambitions and fears in life - careers, relationships, whatever. Today I challenge you to ask yourself ‘what would I do differently if I had no fear of failing?’ But really think about the answer. And whatever it is that you would do differently, why not go for it? In the past few years I’ve realized more than anything, that life is to be lived, so live today. Enjoy every day, every moment, and every thing.

What are you going to do differently?