StarChiLife

Nokia Lumia 822

A new year is upon us so you might be due for a new phone. Up until this point, you pretty much had two choices: Apple or Android (notice, I did not even mention Blackberry…). However, Microsoft recently is doing everything in their power to add their name to the list with the introduction of [...]

November 2011 Chicago Activities

Baby, it’s cold outside so that can only mean one thing—the holidays are almost here! Although the weather outside is oftentimes frightful, here is a list of events happening in November that I think you will find to be quite delightful: 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th & 29th—Shedd Aquarium* 17th & 25th—Notebaert Nature Museum* 17th—Adler After [...]

EDEN BodyWorks: Treasure Our Tresses

There’s no such thing as information overload in my vocabulary. I’m a sponge when it comes to learning something new. I learned so much this weekend! I took my first sewing class (more on that later) and attended my first natural hair event. As I mentioned in a prior post, I’m on a journey to [...]

Discover the Benefits of Eyebrow Threading

If you’re under the impression that plucking or waxing is the only way to achieve perfectly shaped eyebrows then you are in for a treat. Another method that you can use to get rid of unwanted facial hair is threading. Threading is a technique that consists of taking a piece of thread and twisting it [...]

How do you stay healthy?

Today is the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. It’s the one day in the year that I feel inspired to get in better shape as I cheer the 45K on their 26.2 mile journey around the beautiful city of Chicago. It’s always been a secret dream on mine to run in this marathon, but then [...]

Nokia Lumia 822

December 26th, 2012

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A new year is upon us so you might be due for a new phone. Up until this point, you pretty much had two choices: Apple or Android (notice, I did not even mention Blackberry…). However, Microsoft recently is doing everything in their power to add their name to the list with the introduction of the Windows 8 Nokia Lumia 822 phone. This phone has been popping up in commercials, TV shows, etc. so I wanted to see if the fuss was warranted so I was happy for the opportunity to test this phone out on the Verizon 4G LTE network.

The aesthetics of the phone are not terribly impressive. It’s a 4.3-inch bulky block that is quite slippery. A phone being slippery might not bother some people, but if you are used to texting with one hand you will definitely find the inability to grip the phone somewhat annoying. Once you get past this issue, you will be greeted with a very vibrant and clear display screen with blinking tiles all over the place. If you are a fan of Windows 8, clearly this is the phone for you, but if you are not, I’m sure you will feel like your home screen has a case of information overload. It’s too much information coming at you at once. I like my home screen to be simple and organized. It was a bit confusing to figure out how I wanted to set up my tiles and being the neat freak that I am, I really missed the feel of being able to create folders and storing similar apps within that folder. I feel like the constant “blinking” or animation of the tiles was incredibly distracting.

Perhaps, Microsoft did this in hopes to keep you from realizing how much they need to work on their app store. They have the major apps that you would expect to see (i.e Netflix) but not much else. So if you are an app lover then you will definitely be out of luck. The one thing that I did find surprising was the 8megapixel camera. It isn’t the best camera in the world, but it definitely holds its own when compared to other smartphone cameras. However, my only complaint regarding the camera would be that your editing options are limited. I’m not expecting it to be like Instagram (one of the many popular missing apps in Windows store), but it is a shame to waste this camera’s potential without being able to enhance your photos.

The quality of your phone calls will be great (no surprise there) and you can expect to quickly browse the internet, but other than this the Lumia 822 didn’t leave me with the feeling that they were another alternative to Apple or Android.

Cheers to 30 Years!

July 16th, 2012

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Happy Birthday! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have embraced the fact that time truly does fly. I can hardly believe that on Thursday, July 19th I will be celebrating my 30th birthday. I am in awe as I write this post because I can still recall conversations that I had with my friends in high school. We would discuss where we would be in life when we got that “old.”

Needless to say, I have since changed my mind on thirty being old (there’s a shocker…). Nonetheless, thirty is a milestone that forces you to evaluate where you are in life. I can honestly say that I am truly blessed because my life turned out better than I imagined.

I say this because, when I was a teenager I was determined to have my life be an exact replica of my mother’s life. I have always admired my mother. She had a rough childhood and had to raise herself. She was successful in making sure that my sister and I would never experience the same horrors she faced during her childhood. We had an awesome childhood and some of my friends and my parents’ coworkers would often call us the Huxtables from the Cosby show.

In any case, I was putting all this unnecessary pressure on myself to pattern my life after my mom’s. Meaning, when my mom was thirty, she was happily married while juggling a career with two kids (she still would be married had my dad not passed away). Being the best mom in the world, she helped me to realize that there is more than one road that can lead to happiness. As she always says, “You can be just as happy single as you can be married. There is more than one path that leads to happiness.” Thanks to my mom wisdom, I can honestly say that I am truly blessed because my life turned out better than I imagined (even though it is not an exact replica of my mom’s). At the moment, I am single and do not have any children.

Due to my own faulty logic, I used to beat myself up because I had not been successful in “cloning” my mom’s life (married at thirty). Mainly because of those who often ask, “Why are you single?” as if I might have some sort of plague. Although I would love to meet Mr. Right, I am in no rush because there is absolutely nothing wrong with being single.

Being single has afforded me the ability to truly focus on getting to know myself which is extremely important because I have no desire to lose myself when I do get into a relationship. There are many perks to being single. My favorite one is being able to go and do as I please which has allowed me to accept opportunities that would have been difficult for me to accomplish with a family.

I can truly say that I am living my life like it is golden. I love being able to devote time to learning new skills while continuing to hone my talents. However, what brings me even greater joy is being able to help other people reach their goals. I have been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by people who add value to my life (you won’t find any bad apples in my bunch) and would like to be the same for others. I have this quest because I have been through some difficult situations in my life, but the way I look at it you only have two choices—give in and be miserable or fight back and be happy. I’ve got plenty of laugh lines to prove that I am a fighter.

As a fighter, I have learned to accept myself as a slightly less quirky African American version of 30 Rock’s Liz Lemon. I’m nowhere near as graceful as I would like to be, but that does not matter because I am nice and funny (so I have been told and yes I’m going to roll with it…). I often will make you laugh even when I am not trying to do so. Even though I am not the best dancer in the world I often find myself drawn to the dance floor. I am not as bad as Elaine on Seinfeld, but let’s just say I will never be asked to participate on ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ I’m always up for a challenge because life is too short to be a wall flower. I’m all about grabbing life by the horns even if I run the risk of poking my eye out, which very well could happen because again I am not exactly coordinated…

I’ve come along way baby! I am proud of who I am, where I’m at, and how I got here. Regardless of whether I am single or Mr. Right decides to find me, I intend to enjoy every moment of my life. Thanks to accepting my mom’s wisdom, I look forward to seeing what else the future has in store for me. Perhaps some dance lessons…

20 Great Android Apps

June 18th, 2012

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The official online color is: #A4C639 . 한국어: 공식 온라인 색은: #A4C639 . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I finally parted ways with my Blackberry (good riddance!) and joined team Android. However, I was unable to get rid of Sprint, my current cell provider. I currently pay for two phone lines (mine and my mother’s). My contract was up and I thought the contract was close to being completed for the other phone as well, but I was wrong. I would have had to pay a hefty early termination fee in order for me to break the contract for the other phone line.

I had thought about keeping one phone line on Sprint and going to Verizon for my other line, but it would have been way too expensive. Seeing that I am currently being held hostage by Sprint’s hefty termination fees and not being able to afford two new phones using Verizon’s network; I decided to make lemonade out of my lemons by taking advantage of Sprint’s upgrade promotion by purchasing the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

I was excited about getting an Android (I use a lot of Google products), but even more excited about finally having a decent selection of apps. I put together a list of my favorite apps that some newbie Android lovers might not be aware of but are bound to enjoy (my apologies in advanced for being too lazy to include the links, but just Google the name and you will be fine):

1. Chicago Transit: It’s always nice to know how long you can expect to be waiting for the next train since.

2. Chicago Festival Finder: This app is a must have for festival hopping in Chicago. Quick and easy to use.

3. Asrid Task: A great app to help you keep on top of your to do list

4. Out of Milk: This makes grocery shopping much easier

5. Flixster: If you want to check out what movies are playing by you, be sure to check out this app.

6. GasBuddy: If you are a cheapskate like me, you will be using this app to find out where the cheapest place is to buy gas.

7. Dining Deals: If you’re not in the mood to cook, but don’t want to spend a lot to dine out then this is the app for you. Check out all the

restaurant deals near you and bring up the coupon on your phone.

8. GeoQpons: Similar to the Dining Deals app, but includes products and services.

9. Juice defender: If your phone takes a lot of power than you better make sure to conserve your energy by using this app.

10. Lookout: Protects your phone from viruses and theft.

11. Myfitnesspal: Helps you keep track of what you eat and tracks your fitness goals.

12. Keyring: Keep all your loyalty shopping cards in one place.

13. Mr.Number: I HEART this app so much. It literally enables me to have control over who can call or text me. If I receive a number that I do not know, I can block it and never hear from them again based on how I decide to treat my blocked calls. Goodbye telemarketers who insist on keeping me on their list (illegally). Whoever invented this app is a genius.

14. PortableScanner: The name says it all. Turn your phone into a scanner.

15. Shopkick: Get rewarded for going to your favorite stores. This app encourages you to get offline and go to the store where youcheck in and get kicks. These kicks can then be traded in for gift cards or products to your favorite store.

16. Skyvi: Think Siri for the Android

17. Tripcase: If you want all of your travel information in one location than look no further than this app.

18. Tape-a-Talk: A great app to use if you want to record your ideas or a lecture.

19. MapMyRide: I enjoy bike riding and this is a great app to use to track how far I biked, my routes, timing, calories burned, etc.

20. Poynt: This app informs you about your surroundings. If you are unfamiliar with an area it helps to have someone point you in right direction. I couldn’t resist writing that last sentence… Are you looking for a Health & Wellness event? A restaurant ? A gas station? Then you are in luck because you are bound to find whatever you need when you are on the road using this Poynt.

I have a TON of apps on my phone, but figured I’d show some love to those that I have not seen highlighted as much. In case you are searching for more great websites then be sure to check out this post as well. What are your favorite Android apps?

Custer Street Fair

June 17th, 2012

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Summer is upon us so you know what that means: FESTIVALS! One of my favorite festivals to attend is the Custer Street Fair. This is a fairly large festival which took place this past weekend in Evanston. This festival has lots of unique arts and crafts, clothes, live music (which is actually pretty good because sometimes this is a hit or miss at other festivals) and of course lots of great food (special shout out to Stella’s Market and catering–they were GOOD). The one of many things I love that Custer Street Fair has to offer is that it is affordable.

They have a $1 suggested donation, but unlike other festivals they aren’t pushy about enforcing their “suggestion.” For the record, I don’t have a problem paying, but let’s be honest and call it a fee and not a “suggestion” if you insist on people donating… Anywho, I wanted to share some video of one of my favorite parts of the festival: The Native American Dance Troupe. Enjoy!

here

Bike the Drive

May 28th, 2012

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Yesterday, I was finally able to cross one thing off of my bucket list. I participated in Active Transportation Alliance’s Bike the Drive event. Their goal is to motivate more people to bike and walk as their means of transportation. If you live in the city you know this is the fastest way to get around town. Bike the Drive is one of their biggest events which involve completely shutting down Lake Shore Drive from 5:30am to 9:30am to allow people the opportunity to bike instead of drive.

When you register for the event you will have the option to have your T-shirt and rider number information sent you (I highly recommend you do) which will enable riders that live near beginning of the drive (Bryn Mawr) or towards the end (Museum of Science and Industry) to start here instead of Columbus and Jackson, which is the official starting point. Should you decide to bike the entire loop, you will have biked 30 miles.

This was my first time participating in this event, so I started my trek to South loop at 5:30am from Bryn Mawr. There weren’t a whole lot of people at this point nor at this time that started the ride here. I enjoy biking, but I am not an avid biker by any means so it was nice to be able to take advantage of not having a ton of people to ride near me right away. It was extremely peaceful and allowed me the opportunity to truly take in the view of the beautiful Chicago Skyline. I can’t explain this but you get a different perspective of the city when you bike on LSD than on the lakefront trail. You are able to capture shots of the city that you will never be able to capture otherwise, unless you are a huge fan of pictures clearly taken from a moving car…

When you get closer downtown, you obviously encounter more people, but you still feel comfortable and have enough room to bike at your own speed. It’s also nice to have the volunteers cheering you on throughout the ride because there will be certain spots that you may find yourself needing the motivation to keep going (you can stop whenever you want, but keep in mind that frequent rest stops eats into your time). I know I needed their cheers when I was 5 miles away from the Museum of Science and Industry rest stop…

Once you finished your ride, bikers were treated to a post ride festival which consisted of a variety of bike vendors, groups, etc. They had games and we were also treated to some great music entertainment by a group called Groove Destiny. They were great someone needs to sign these ladies… Anyway, my goal was to bike the entire 30 miles, but I only ended up doing 23 miles. Not too shabby for someone who took a ton of pictures along the ride and didn’t train for the event. I will achieve my goal of biking the entire loop for next year’s Bike the Drive. Cue Eye of the Tiger…

here

gdgt Chicago

May 11th, 2012

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If the sound of checking out the latest and greatest technology gadgets and services sounds like music to your ears, then you must check out gdgt Chicago. I had the opportunity to interview gdgt co-founder, Peter Rojas about the event and his thoughts about the industry. This is one event you don’t want to miss!

What can attendees expect when attending gdgt?
gdgt live is one of the few opportunities that regular consumers have to get hands-on with the latest gadgets and services and interact directly with the companies that are making this stuff. It’s a lot of fun, and there is always lots of amazing stuff to see.

What do you consider to be the must-have devices on the market?

One of the tablet side I’d say the new iPad. For phones I’d say the new HTC One X has really raised the bar for phone design — the more I use it the more I like it.

The Apple vs. Android debate continues to take place. What is your advice to consumers in helping them determine whether they should purchase an Apple of Android device?

It comes down to what services you use most. If you use Gmail, Android is a better choice, if you have a large collection of movies and music in iTunes, iPhone might be a better pick.

What do you anticipate will be the next big hit with consumers?

It’s always hard to say for sure, but I think the next-generation of game consoles due out next year are going to be hugely successful. We’ve already seen how well the Xbox 360 and PS3 have done, and it’s been almost seven years since the Xbox 360 debuted and six years since the PS3 arrived, so I think the market is ready for the next wave.

What is your favorite app?

My current favorites are JustReader, Boid, and HBO GO.

Northshore Attractions

April 16th, 2012

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here

It’s been awhile since I have written a post, but that’s because I have been doing my best to master being unplugged. I’ve been having a blast, but I want to make sure that I make time to share my adventures with you as well. I recently had the opportunity to explore some areas in the Northshore that may be of interest to you.

Baha’i Temple and Gardens: On my way back from Wilmette I saw this impressive structure and knew I had to take a closer look. It is just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. You can’t help but feel calm taking in the gorgeous gardens surrounding the temple (they hold weddings here too).

Skokie Bike Path: If you have a desire to walk or ride your bike in peace then you must check out this trail. This trail is the perfect compromise for someone who wants to get away from the city, but is not big on the outdoors so you can’t get lost.

My favorite section of the park is Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park because it allows you the opportunity to take in innovative sculptures while becoming “one with nature”. My battery ran out so I wasn’t able to take as many pictures so you will have to take my word for it or come and see for yourself…

Grosse Point Lighthouse District in Evanston: I finally made the time and energy to explore the area right outside of Downtown Evanston. I’m so glad I did because it enabled me to stumble across this lovely gem. There is a park, an awesome beach and of course a very cool lighthouse. It was closed when I went, but I can’t wait to go back to reward myself with what is sure to be an amazing view.

The best part is that all of the attractions are free, so I am confident that you will feel they are worth the drive or ‘L’ ride.

Why aren’t there more Good Deeds?

February 27th, 2012

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I have never been compelled to see a Tyler Perry movie, but the trailer for Good Deedsintrigued me. The movie is about Wesley Deeds (Tyler Perry), the owner of a successful software company whose life revolves around pleasing other people at the expense of losing himself in the process. That is until he meets Lindsey (Thandie Newton), a single mom who dropped out of nursing school when her husband died and has to work as a janitor in order to make ends meet. Although these two individuals come from different worlds they are able to help each other find happiness.

With the exception of two scenes (you don’t have to be a genius to figure out which ones), their journey is definitely one worth watching. As a movie enthusiast, I enjoy going to the movies because it allows me the opportunity to lose myself. I enjoy watching how the characters develop and attempting to figure out the twists and turns of the plot while longing to be pleasantly surprised by the ending. A part of me always holds out hope that there might be an African American character that I can identify with, but sadly I oftentimes end up leaving with my dreams unfulfilled. Why?

Because many of the mainstream or independent movies do not portray African Americans in a manner that the majority of us can relate to or in an unfavorable light that isn’t worth celebrating. African American actors continue to be delegated to roles playing drug dealers, victims, angry at the world, as the help or the dutiful sidekick always there to provide comedic relief instead of words of wisdom. I understand that some movies call for these roles, but you will NEVER be able to convince me that they all have to be played by African Americans. I’m so sick of seeing African Americans playing these roles because in a way I feel that this inadvertently perpetuates the stereotype that these are the only roles that we can “shine” in and this couldn’t be further from the truth.

We are living in an age where we don’t have to idly stand by and wait for Hollywood to recognize us. There are a variety of ways African Americans can showcase their skills, by taking advantage of the technology that is available to us by using sites such as Kickstarter to fund your projects and then showcase your work on your website or create your own channel on YouTube, Roku, etc. Individuals such as those on Badimitv, ABG and countless others have already embraced alternative methods in displaying their work and I applaud their efforts. These individuals have accepted the challenge to showcase African Americans in a way that some may not have been exposed to before. I know their hard work will eventually pay off and enable more people the opportunity to see African Americans portrayed in other ways that others will relate to and even learn lessons that that they may see fit to apply to their own life.

As I write this post on Oscar night, aka a show that highlights movies the majority of us have not and probably will never see (regardless of what race you are), I know there are more Good Deeds left in this world and I salute any individual(s) who accept the challenge to sow more of them.

Review: Samsung Galaxy Nexus

January 30th, 2012

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As my unhealthy relationship with Sprint and Blackberry comes closer to finally being dissolved (my contract ends in June) due to poor customer service and performance, I’m faced with the overwhelming decision with trying to decide what device I should get as my next phone. Up until this point I had my heart set on the Droid Bionic. However, recently I had the opportunity to test the Samsung Galaxy Nexus using Verizon 4G LTE Network.

The Galaxy Nexus is lightweight and thin with a large 4.65 inch touchscreen HD display. It operates using Google’s Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich software. The Galaxy Nexus has more than 300,000 apps and as you have probably come to expect fully loaded with Google related services. I really like the dedicated Google app button which houses all the various services Google has to offer.

Multitasking is easier to accomplish due to them incorporating a recent apps button. This may seem insignificant to some people, but if you have as many screens open as I do, it’s nice being able to simultaneously see everything. Plus, the 4G LTE network enables you to get everything done fast. I had this phone for about a week and it only dropped to 3G for short periods of time, but I did not see a drop in performance.

Google has enhanced the voice command and turn by turn navigation which is welcomed news to direction challenged individuals like me. I also enjoy the ability to of being able to turn my phone into a mobile hotspot; a feature that is increasingly becoming a standard in most Android phones.

The front and rear facing camera and video is sharper than the Droid Bionic and doesn’t have any lag time. Pictures and videos are incredibly clear. It is also nice to be able to edit your photos and various effects to them. You are able to accomplish a lot with this phone, so I am sure you are probably concerned about the battery life. I know there are reports about the battery life not being good, but I did not experience this problem. I was able to 7 to 8 ½ hours out of my battery. Obviously, the more I used it the quicker my battery got drained.

As impressed as I was by the aforementioned, I was completely blown away by the Galaxy Nexus’ Face Unlock technology which enables users to unlock their phone by recognizing their face. Being the geek that I am, I looked forward to the times my screen needed to be unlocked just so I could test out this cool feature. This feature is pretty accurate. I tested it with other people to see if the phone would unlock for them and it did not. Whenever I was confronted with the issue of the phone not being able to “read” my face, I used my back up pin number (you could also set up a pattern instead of a pin number).

Features and enhancements such as these is why I am looking forward to being a part of the Android family. It is exciting to see how the Android phones continue to evolve. Galaxy Nexus is innovative and raises the bar for what users should come to expect from their phones.

12 Great Google Chrome Extensions

January 16th, 2012

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Image via CrunchBase

I recently got into a discussion with an avid Firefox user seeking other web browser alternatives. Listening to their complaints reminded me of why I stopped using Firefox. I made the switch to Google Chrome a long time ago because it’s faster, more secure and I love the extensions that are available to make your surfing experience much more enjoyable. The following is a list of extensions that I’m confident will be of interest to you:

Bit.ly: This extension enables you to easily shorten urls you wish to share.
Buffer for Chrome: I am a huge Buffer fan (you can find out why here). You can quickly share content you come across with your Twitter and Facebook networks.
TwitterWatch: You are able to receive real time updates for terms that are of interest to you (very similar to Google alerts).
Evernote: Can’t express how lost I would be without Evernote (hence, why it is one of my favorite websites). Installing this extension will allow you to store all of the content you collect on the web in one place.
Awesome Screenshot: Capture & Annotate: You no longer need to bother with the hassle of creating a print screen and cropping your picture to perfection. This extension does all the work for you.
Aviary: This is not your typical photo editor. Edit your photos without ever leaving the page.
Prezi: This is a web based presentation tool that can help you get your message across by helping you to create a memorable presentation by effortlessly incorporating various mediums such as video, images, etc.
Vyew: If you need a way to quickly collaborate with your colleagues, consider using this extension to store your content that can be edited or accessed at any time.
Alexa Traffic Ranking: Acquire Alexa ranking data on the sites you visit.
Tasktimer: Do you ever ask yourself, “Where does the time?” You can get the answer to your question with this extension.
WiseStamp: Great way to easily create a dynamic email signature.
Hipmunk: If you are a bargain hunter like me, you are probably used to searching various websites until you find the cheapest price. This can be extremely painful when you are trying to plan a trip, so save yourself some time and quickly search for your flight and hotel via this extension.

What web browser do you use? If you use Google Chrome, what is your favorite extension?

What is your vision?

January 9th, 2012

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Source: pier1.com via LaTosha on Pinterest

We’re into the second week of a new year and I’m sure you are doing your best to stay on track to achieving your goal(s). Last year, I learned a lot of lessons that I am on the quest to master. In addition to these lessons, I decided to do something different this year by creating a vision board of my goals on Pinterest. This is one of my favorite websites and I feel like this will motivate me even more to achieve them because like “seeing” your goals in one place can serve as a great motivator. What do you hope to achieve this year and how do you plan to keep yourself motivated?

11 Lessons to Master in 2012

December 29th, 2011

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Unbelievable. This is the word that best represents my experience in 2011. I spent some time this weekend reading through my gratitude journal and reminiscing over all the incredible things that have happened to me this year. I won’t bore you with the details; but, all I can say is God has truly blessed me! It has been a year with more ups than downs because I truly took time to learn and embrace the following eleven lessons. Yes, there are some obvious ones; but, those can often time prove to be the most difficult:
1. Things happen for a reason. I have been in some situations that I wanted to work out so badly and I was extremely disappointed when they did not. However, after some time had passed, I realized that these were the best things I never had.
2. The things you fear could be a blessing in disguise. I’m big on making plans. I’m so bad that I even have back up plans for my contingency plans! Some of the things I feared did happen. Guess what? I didn’t drown. My world didn’t come crashing down. In fact, having my fears manifest themselves demonstrated that I am a lot tougher than what I thought. I am able to handle whatever life throws at me.
3. Control your reaction (I am still struggling with this one…). Let’s face it; life is full of people that are clearly a couple fries short of a Happy Meal. Life is too short. I refuse to allow anyone or anything to steal my joy.
4. Stay positive! Regardless of the situation, do not allow your circumstances to dictate your response. Yes, I realize there will be times when this will be easier said than done, but focus on the fact that it can be done. You have to see yourself as a success before it can manifest.
5. Create your own opportunities. If you don’t invest in yourself you can’t expect others to do so. There are many times in my life where this was my only option. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s a price worth paying.
6. Get rid of the baggage. One of my favorite quotes is, “You can’t take everyone with you on your journey to success.” In other words, you must wisely choose those who you wish to accompany you on your journey. One of the best ways to determine who to take on your journey is to spend some time alone. Being by yourself can provide you with the clarity you need to get rid of people who have proven to be distractions. No one said this is going to be easy, but if you continue to allow people who are a waste of space in your life you’re not going to have room for those who are supposed to be there.
7. Be flexible. Again, I love to plan; but, life can sometimes get in the way. Some of the best things that have happened to me were complete surprises.
8. Know when to say ‘no’. People (mainly, the incomplete Happy Meals) will try to coerce you into doing things that you have no desire to do. It’s up to you to acknowledge your limitations. Are there times when this is a good thing? Of course! However, if it is causing you unnecessary stress or serious discomfort, then don’t bother. Don’t let people coerce or guilt you into doing something that often times they would not do.
9. Be consistent. Anything worth having in life is going to require a commitment.
10. Talk is cheap! Nothing annoys me more than encountering people (think about our incomplete Happy Meals) who go out of their way to say that they aren’t trying to do XYZ, but their demeanor proves otherwise. I am an actions speak louder than words kind of girl. The best way to persuade me is to demonstrate that you practice what you preach. If you are everything to everyone than you risk being no one. Even if I don’t agree with you, I want to know where you stand because I don’t have room for hypocrites on my journey to success.
11. Unplug. We live in a 24/7 society. As a millennial, especially one who works in marketing, I find myself constantly online. If I’m not researching information for work, then I’m often online reading blogs or blogging myself, or chatting with friends. You can only keep up with this schedule for so long before you completely burn out. Therefore, I have been making more of a conscientious effort to truly live in the moment which has proven to be a much more enjoyable alternative to tweeting or updating my status.
Every single lesson that I have discussed has played an integral part in my why 2011 was a good year for me. I plan on continuing my pursuit to master these lessons so 2012 will be even more extraordinary. What lessons have you learned this year? What do you intend to do differently in 2012?