Just say yes.

Have you ever thought about how many opportunities you are missing?

‘To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.’ Benjamin Franklin

How often do you say no?

Are you living your life with a closed heart, are you afraid of change or are you to set in your ways?

As I reflect on the relationships I have in my life, friends, family (& lovers, kidding, this position is currently open), I understand that everyone has a WIIFM (Whats in it for me) mentality. We have become so busy, wrapped up in our own lives, our own ways we need to find benefits and rewards before we step out of our comfort zone or our preorganised time schedule for other people. It can be difficult to look past the ‘whats in it for me’ mentality, and do something purely for whats in it for the person you love? Contemplate that.

I have been prone to experiencing a feeling of loneliness, even though my life is filled with love and happiness, I still felt a sense of being alone. After all, who was there that truly loved me? This was felt after repetitive efforts of catching up with my good girlfriends, yet due to the pressing schedules of both of our lives weren’t able to make long overdue plans. This has happened more than numerous times. A sense of disappointment, loneliness and a seed of weakness in our friendship would develop within me.

‘I’ve been lucky. Opportunities don’t often come along. So, when they do, you have to grab them.’ Audrey Hepburn

Yet, as I reflect (the new year is the perfect time to be working on your strengths and weaknesses) I realise that this was not their issue. This was me, being the perfectionist, scheduled, time efficient woman I am…when I would request or try to organise our girlie/guy dates, I would only offer things to do and activities that worked into MY life. The things that I liked, regardless of them (I must say most of my social circle is health, active living focused so I am lucky I created that, but not all are).

A friendship is about compromise. Acting in this manner wasnt beneficial to either of us.

Start syaing yes. Yes to a coffee date, yes to a skydiving experience, yes to a 6am bootcamp (even though that means an atrocious 5am alarm and multiple grumbles from all participants 😉

Make time for the people you love, and create experiences and memories, doing what THEY love, not just what YOU love.

‘Opportunities multiply as they are seized.’ Sun Tzu

Say yes to an art exhibition, to paintballing, to trying new foods.

The world has so much to offer. Experience it. Breathe it in. Let it in.

Yet so often we are quick to say no. To live in our own bubbles with our blinkers on. Open your eyes, open your heart. And I can promise you you will be more than surprised, not just by who or what comes into your life, but by the true beauty of nature, the opportunity to feel free, to remember FUN.

‘Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.’ Orison Swett Marden

If someone wants to go out for dinner or the movies, but you feel like staying home (this is generally me, a homely girl), just go. This is how we connect, how we feel love. Be with the people who matter to you and who you matter to. I realised that those temporary feelings of loneliness were my own creation. It wasnt due to anyone elses negligence in offering me opportunities, it was my own stubborn/laziness.

After only a week of what feels like I have been living at a retreat (I have a soulsister staying with me for the week from melbourne, the week has been filled with every organic cafe, store, and green smoothie bar, yoga studios, training and every other type of productive activity you can imagine; goal planning, personal strengths & weakness analysis, cleansing, release work, the list goes on), I have had to practice the art of patience having another person in my life, yet have been able to truly  experience the pure delights of true friendship, love and new experiences. I have ben able to let go of my daily schedule, adn just ‘go with the flow’ and my what a journey. Memories of a lifetime are made of these moments.

‘A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.’ Harry S. Truman

I have written before, previous years mantras (focus) have been; respond, don’t react ’12’; Everything in balance ’13’.

This years mantra is to live with an open heart, even at the risk of being hurt. And if that does happen, that isn’t my karma that’s someone else’s, but I will choose to see opportunity and to love with an open heart, to give without expectation and to be open to new opportunities, new possibilities.

Love & light, Charlie x.

{Living with an open heart}

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