The beginning of this year was rough. There was a lot of uncertainty in my life, when all I wanted was stability.
I went through a long and harrowing job search, which was an emotional rollercoaster. I’d land a killer interview and my emotions would soar, only to crash when the opportunity wasn’t as great as it seemed or it fell through.
Through this, the simplest advice and mantras helped most.
I’d done a review of Lorna Jane clothes in the spring and thought they were pretty, albeit a little pricey. I’d read a bit about the brand on their website and how they were committed to active living. At the time, it seemed kind of cool, but also kind of marketing speak. I didn’t feel a connection, other than “ooh, this is pretty.”
And then I went to a press breakfast with Lorna Jane herself, and I fell in love with the brand, and with Lorna herself.
The woman radiates happiness and healthiness, and you can tell how much love goes into her clothes, down to the point of putting little red hearts in each garment to show they put their hearts into it. The heart falls out as you love it, she said.
Lorna Jane has been around for more than 25 years, and LJ herself talked about starting and growing the brand. She was a fitness instructor who didn’t like the clothing she saw, so she cut up her bathing suit and started making clothes out of it. For a time, she was balancing teaching with running her clothing business, but she finally had to believe in herself and make a decision to go forward with LJA. She said it was a big, scary moment, but, if it’s scary, it’s the right decision. Through growing her brand (there are now 120+ LJ stores in Australia, and they are expanding in the U.S.), and living her life, her mantra was this:
NEVER GIVE UP.
So simple, so powerful.
When my buddy Erica asked me to give her my mantra for a feature she was doing for her Inspiration Bracelet line, I was honored (and excited for a pretty bracelet), and immediately told her Never Give Up.
She gave me this gorgeous bracelet at the Runner’s World weekend, and I haven’t taken it off since. I also rarely take off my marathon necklace; I’m basically a walking ad for her.
I began a new job I love a few weeks ago, and I achieved a big, hairy audacious goal this weekend I would have never thought possible just a few years ago.
I never gave up on my dreams.
What’s your mantra?
(P.S. Do you miss the marathon talk…or no?)
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YES to this...all of this. 2013 isn't too shabby, eh? Also - yes, I miss marathon talk...but I force everyone to listen to me talk about it, regardless of whether or not they're interested.
Will you ever address leaving your previous job? I wonder if the story could be useful and helpful to other readers who are dealing with similar circumstances?
@Samantha: It might be helpful to others, but it's something I'm not comfortable talking about the specifics of.
Your play-by-play for the NYC Marathon was just what I needed to find what I was looking for.
I'm a short distance runner.
Not a long distance runner.
So I tell myself .. but the only reason I tell myself that is because of the nerves and anxiety that come along with a big race. I've never run more than a 10-miler.
I now have the ambition to do a half, and hopefully follow it by a full.
If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you.
That's my mantra :)
Lovely post! It's so nice to see you came through the doubts and are on top of so many aspects of your life. Never Give Up indeed! Please visit my blog if you have time =) http://hippotohot.blogspot.com/
I love this! What a beautiful mantra and bracelet. So simple, but SO important to remember :)
I love that bracelet... mine is Press On!!!! Off of the scripture Philippians 3:14 ... Press on to reach the finish line!!!
This is perfect timing for me. I started real world work several months ago and am not in love with the job. I know I need to stick it out for a year until I begin my next job search to gain the experience I need, but it can definitely be hard to hang in there on the day to day. My mantra is "I'm stronger than I think" and as I go through this year of work and begin marathon training again I remind myself of it everyday.
Love, love, love this! I'm so glad that 2013 is looking better for you and that 2014 has good things in store as well! I'm looking forward to saying goodbye to 2013, it was a hard year for me as well. Mantras are helpful to me too, and they are what helped me get through my first 1.5 miles without walking this week (holy guacamole!)As bad as 2013 was for me, I also feel like I took my life back this year as well after getting help for my anxiety, trying to get on track with weight loss and signing up for my first half marathon. I hope to continue all of these things in the next year. 2014 is going to be awesome for us both, I know it! :) P.S. Now I want some of that beautiful Erica Sara jewelry - so yes you are a walking ad ;)
My longest standing personal mantra is "There is no spoon." Yes, from The Matrix.
I LOVE it because once I say the words to myself, I am instantly reminded that so many barriers or obstacles are internalized. They stem from however I am perceiving (or blowing up) the situation, and yet they are not really there. It's just all in my head. And once I see something for what it really is, I can collect myself and move forward.
I definitely need that bracelet, yup.
And cheers to you wrapping up 2013 in style. We all know it's been full of ups and downs for you, but sounds like it is ending on a MAJOR up swing, and you've certainly earned it!