How to Celebrate the Everyday

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There are 24 days left until I drive back to Wilmington for the summer. I'm trying to make them count without losing sight of the simple, everyday joys. I was reminded last night how life is far more than last minute projects or wishing for the weekend. Celebrating the little moments -- like the anniversary of a great friendship or a successful outcome to a meeting -- are necessary to living a life of happiness. Enjoying these cherished snapshots of life can be challenging, so below are three ways to find joy in the little things. 

1. Write your joys down.

At the end of the day, write down three things you are grateful for or experienced during the day that had you slowing down and enjoying the moment. These can be a kind smile or word, coffee with an old friend, or a picturesque skyline on your drive into work. They don't have to be over the top or exceptionally unique, just lovely snippets of your life. This exercise opens your eyes to the little moments rather than constantly waiting for the next big thing. 

2. Breathe and engage in the moment.  

You can only enjoy the unique moments if you are paying attention. If you are in a situation where you default to staring at your phone, I encourage you to put it down and be present. Take a deep, solid breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. Look around you. What is new? What is different? What is beautiful about your surroundings? Is there someone around you reading a book you love or wearing a pair of shoes you think are wonderful? Tell them, ask them, engage with them. You'd be surprised of the beauty found in green tinted trees just starting to bloom or the quick flash of a smile of a person caught in pure moments of enjoyment. 

3. Always have essentials on hand to celebrate or turn the day around.

While I will freely admit to disengaging with my surroundings or not being as grateful as I could, this is one rule I follow adamantly. I always keep champagne in my fridge to celebrate the little things like promotions and exciting news or to simply turn a frustrating day around. Champagne for me reflects the mood I seek in times of frustration or celebration; it is bubbly, different, and classy. Your simple way to turn a day around doesn't have to be champagne, but something that takes you away from 'the struggle' (i.e. balloons, flowers, a special coffee drink, etc.).

How do you enjoy the everyday moments? 

Tag @yourfriend_em on Twitter or Instagram with your favorite way to enjoy the everyday moment. Share this with people who could use some celebration in their lives. Hashtag #thegreatvibesguide to spread the Great Vibes! Xx

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Dreaming Big(ger) for 2016!

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A few weeks ago, I wrote about setting resolutions for the new year that don't suck. You might want to check it out, and see if the ones you have set for yourself this year are as best as possible. I promise, if you follow those 7 steps, freaking magic will happen. Magic! I've obviously had too much coffee as I'm writing this post, so I'm just going to share with you my top resolutions for this year. Above is my vision board for the first part of 2016. It's what I want out of love, business, blogging, and for myself. What are some of your wants? What are some of your resolutions? What do you hope for in 2016? You've got this! Let's rock it.

Some of the intentions I've set for 2016 ...

1. Be a bad*** in everything I do. Always and forever.

2. Be unapologetic in my business and myself. 

3. Less hoping and waiting and more manifestation and doing.

4. No doubt or fear in pursuing my dreams and accomplishing my goals.

5. Love, love, love. Life is too short not to share love with the world. What do I have to lose?

6. Be honest but not unkind with the delivery of my truth.

7. Empower others to find their passions, and do everything in my power to support them.

9. Stop complaining and start celebrating. Even the little things.

What are your top nine? Let's have the best year of our lives, shall we?

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Weekend Gratitude || 11.3.14

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|| And the Party Never Stops||

My birthday weekend in a word -- awesome. Lying in bed eating chocolate for breakfast, dancing until the clock turns and a bus full of strangers sing you Happy Birthday, gifts wrapped in paper towels, and skyping with my momma -- couldn't have asked for a better birthday weekend to end my teens and start my twenties. Such a shock -- ending my age in a -ty rather than -teen ... I've had the same ending for the last seven years of my life! What ... change is difficult : - ) . I've never felt so relaxed being myself before. Does that make sense? Just not letting others get in the way... it seems easier now, even though it's only been a few days of this new age. It's as if being a teen gives little authority. Anyone else feel that way about a different age? I'll be writing more about this over the course of the week -- I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I'll be working on making up work, holding meetings, staying calm, and loving on my friends because of how supportive they have been lately. And then I'll be graduating this weekend from my yoga teacher training ... wow -- 8 months already! What are you up to this week?
I'd love to hear how you all are doing. How was everyone's weekend?

|| GRATITUDE ||

I am grateful for friends that have become family. I am grateful for bright water bottles that make me excited to drink water. I am grateful for road trips and heated cars. I am grateful for messages of love and hope and inspiration. I am grateful for Gilmore Girls. I am grateful for my own company. I am grateful for life, for aging, for being one hundred percent real. I am grateful for all this and more -- overflowing really -- there isn't enough room.

What are you grateful for?

xxoo

[weekend snapshots by emily friend]