Today is a gorgeous day; while I type this in my boyfriend’s office, I can hear the birds chirping outside as I feel the breeze come through the window. We went out for a nice breakfast this morning and have been relaxing at the house since we got back. A couple of our friends are coming over to hang out later and I just wanted to take a minute for myself to write here. I go back and forth between dabbling in astrology- not that I necessarily believe in all of the horoscopes or anything like that, but I do like the idea of checking in and journaling based on the phases of the moon. Today we celebrate a full moon, and based on what I have read this is a time to celebrate our progresses and acknowledge your blocks so that you can work to move past them.

I am extremely proud of the work I have been putting in on my mental health and my overall mindset. I have been getting better at looking at “bad” situations with gratitude and also I am better at letting go and going with the flow. I can feel myself releasing control and finally feeling more present. I cannot lie though, it has been making me sad realizing how little memories I have and how for so many years I was never living in the present moment. Sometimes my friends will be going though photos of us and say something like “aw I remember that day so well” and I will feel so guilty for not really remembering much. I feel like I was always thinking about what was on my to-do list or worrying about so many other aspects of life that were beyond my control. As upsetting as it is, it does make me want to be more intentional with my time and keep focused on being present in each moment.

I do truly enjoy connecting with other people and I enjoy finding similarities in people who live completely different lives than me. That is something I enjoy about my newfound love for podcasts; I have been listening to a lot of Jay Shetty’s podcast “On Purpose,” and it has benefited me in so many ways. Jay is a former monk who has taken his knowledge and works hard to spread the beneficial information to everyone around the glove. He does this in solo episodes, but he also interviews a wide range of people from athletes to doctors to TV celebrities, and he asks them questions that go beyond these people’s professions…he gets down to their souls! Listening to him and all of these famous people who I once judged and criticized has only made me realize that my judgement of others is limiting myself and my potential, and this is also the same when it comes to judging myself. I know that I am also an empathetic person who cares deeply about the people I love, and I also do want everyone to be their best selves, but I do have to acknowledge that judgmental side and work on leaning into compassion and understanding when I find myself being critical.

I have been working on my communication skills and making sure I am speaking my mind in a mindful, but honest way. As I have said before, I used to avoid voicing my opinions or thoughts to avoid confrontation, but also to avoid coming off as rude or judgmental, as that is something I feel shameful about. When I think about it, I think it is because I have always hated how rude and judgmental my father is and I never want to turn out like him. I have gone over this in therapy and the difference is that I do not intend to hurt people, nor do I say anything rude to people! I do listen to others and can empathize with their stories and situations, and I also very much believe that I do not know what is best for anyone else’s life, just as they do not know what is best for mine. Life is a lot easier when we mind our own business and give up the idea of trying to “fix” people, but I also feel that life is better when we can have open, honest conversations with the people we love, and really anyone we come across in life.

As I continue on this journey, I will continue to give myself grace for my faults. I will acknowledge the fact that I am just a human being, just as everyone around me. We all have emotions, we all experience pain and grief, we all have bad days, and we are all just doing our best with the resources we have. I feel very blessed to have access to therapy, but honestly I am also grateful for the books and podcasts that are available to so many people worldwide that can help expand our mindsets and perspectives, and open our eyes to a healthier way of living. Make sure to take some time to pat yourself on the back for the fact that you are here today, and you are continuing to move forward every day. Happy Sunday, and happy full moon!