Discovering My Inner Warrior

Hello, seastars. This post will be a bit different, so brace yourselves. As you know, I'm a mother of a sweet two-year-old girl. I'd been talking with her father about rearranging her room to accommodate her toys for weeks. To be a bit frank I got sick of talking and planning. I decided to act.
Secretly I enjoy deep cleaning and organizing. Especially spring cleaning! There's just something about airing out your home after a long winter. I love it! So I broke out pine-sol, baking soda, and my trusty vacuum. I worked in sections, treating the carpet with baking soda and playing furniture Tetris with a large toddler bed and dresser. My project took me a decent 9 hours and when it was finished I was so proud of myself. I'd done an entire room's worth of work alone. And my daughter loves her "new" room.

You must be asking yourself why I've titled this post with the word "Warrior" if all I did was rearrange a room. Here's the different part of this blog entry. I had to do everything by myself. I measured out the room and the furniture. I drew out a rough diagram. I'd planned and tried to set aside time for weeks to complete this project-which would ultimately benefit the rest of the household. When I got tired of waiting for help, I got it done. And it got me thinking.

What if we all took that initiative in everything in our lives? Certain opportunities are time-sensitive and if we wait for every last detail to fall into place the opportunities will pass. Imagine the world-changing energy we could put into our own lives! Just think, what could you do to take control over your life? Even something small. Personally, I have multiple projects I've been waiting for help to start. Now that I've had a taste of how empowering taking charge can be, I don't think anyone is going to stop me.

In that same vein of thought, it's so easy to allow ourselves to stumble on little things. Or to be overwhelmed when we look at the larger picture. I prefer to work in small sections and take breaks often. Some people like to just plow through their tasks. Whatever the method, checking off items on a list feels great!

And speaking of finishing tasks, I've decided to open Seaspray's Shoal to the public. All interested parties have to do is answer a couple questions when they first request to join the group. You can find Seaspray's Shoal on my Facebook page. If you're interested in the original membership gifts, they are available as part of my Patreon page.

Thank you so much for reading! If you want instant updates when I post you can either hit the follow button or join my blog list.

You are stronger than you think, seastars!

-Seaspray

There is nothing

more beautiful

than

when you prove

to yourself

just how strong

you are -Unkown 

Discovering Anxiety Management

Hello, seastars and happy International Mermaid day! The trick I'll be talking about in today's entry I picked up on Pinterest and at the end, I'll tell you all about the hair lightening mask. Let's dive in!

I struggle with anxiety, especially when I'm expected to carry a conversation. I've struggled more with trying to find a way to manage that anxiety on bad days. The trick I discovered and tested numerously is to breathe. It sounds too simple, right? There is a little more to it. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold that breath for 7 seconds, then exhale for 8 seconds. Repeat once or twice and tada! An automatic nervous system shift from flight or fight to a neutral response. Pretty neat, huh? And as a bonus, it's so easy to remember! Other methods I've tried using include grounding. Grounding is finding 5 objects you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. For me, that's way too much to keep track of in the middle of a mental battle. If you use grounding techniques, tell me about it in the comments!

Alright! Now for that mask. I had a bit of trouble with this one. The first time I tried this fun lightening trick it didn't work because I skipped a step. Mix together honey and olive oil. I added cinnamon and rose oil. The cinnamon seemed to add some warmth to the lightened effect. I also heated the mixture for 10 seconds, which seemed to help combine the honey to the oil. Start with a damp head and coat your hair evenly from root to tip. I had to break up my hair into several sections to cover everything. Then wrap up your coated hair in a plastic shower cap or saran wrap and let it sit for 30 minutes or longer. I'm super extra so I had this mask in my hair for most of the day. Once your time is up, hop in the shower and follow your usual routine. I had to shampoo my scalp twice to get all of the oil out, so be certain you wash everything out. The results are fairly subtle, but this mask does work. If you use this mask more than once, let me know how it works for you!

Thanks for reading, seastars! If you want to see more of my content, find me on Facebook, Holonis, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Have a merrific day!

-Seaspray

"feel everything 

that is beautiful 

and possible in your soul,

and let yourself

become it" -butterflies rising 

Discovering Me

Hey, seastars. Today is going to be a little different. You see, I've been called horrible things since surfacing as a mermaid. I've been called a manatee, I've been called ugly, I've been compared to a whale. I've been told I shouldn't be a mermaid-but who can deny one's very nature? Something occurred to me recently while chatting with someone I'll probably never meet.

I've been compared to many massive things. Those people thought they could hurt me. Truth be told, I was hurt. Deeply. But now I can see the truth. I am not a manatee or a whale. I'm a ship. I am a graceful ship sailing my way down the stream of life. I am a strong, proud ship and though I may sail slowly at times, though a few lines may break- I cannot, will not be stopped by the waters around me. You see ships float in the water because they push it aside and glide through. If the water gets in, the ship sinks. I've been trying to teach myself the art of bailing. Of ridding myself of the toxic waters I've let in. And I am deeply sorry for the long silence, my personal life has been proving difficult for me to juggle. And I've been so hard on myself lately. I flooded my own mind with thoughts of quitting, deleting this blog. I've nearly drowned in thinking I don't deserve to take up your time when I can't stay consistent. Then I chatted with a stranger online and gave her the same advice I'm writing now, never let yourself sink.

You see, we can all be hard on ourselves. I know I've been my own stumbling block countless times. It's nothing to be ashamed of and it's certainly nothing to fear. I let myself become the water that was slowing down all of my progress. After I let all the water from cruel words get to me. Let me tell you, that was not fun sailing with so much. So, I've been reevaluating what I let in. I've been learning the art of bailing. Of throwing overboard every last drop I don't need in my life. I can't say I expect smooth sailing all the time. That would be boring! But I do believe I won't be so close to drowning anymore.

Keep Sailing,

-Seaspray

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you'll come back for more. And there will be more! I'll be starting a hair lightening treatment soon, it'sen a long time since the last DIY idea.
If you want to see more of my content, check out my accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Want access to exclusive sales and behind the scenes action? Check out my Shoal! Feeling generous? Visit my Patreon page, which will receive new and improved tiers in the very near future!

An Update!

So I've opened a Patreon page, I felt it would be more appropriate than my GoFundMe campaign. I will not be closing my campaign just yet if you want to contribute follow this link. And if you want to check out my Patreon, follow this link.

Thank you for all of your support, from reading and following my content to your monetary contributions. 

If you want immediate updates from my blog, leave a message in my inbox here and I will add you to my email list.  

Have a fintastic day,

-Seaspray

Discovering Lessons in Yoga

Hey, seastars! At the end of this entry, I'll tell you about an oil treatment for your nails. I've been using an app called Keep Yoga for less than a week now. I'll be honest with you, I already have skipped a day. That said I've been seeing improvement in the four practices I've been working through. I can move deeper into a movement, I feel stronger during more advanced poses, and I don't feel like I've been put through a taffy pulling machine at Wonka's factory. I've also been struggling with being patient with myself. Back in high school, I would practice both yoga and pilates for a total of an hour and a half before going to swim practice. In working with the app, I recognize many poses. My body just won't contort the way it used to, and it frustrates me. I feel like a failure because I can't move the way I used to. I can feel the potential to push myself further and my own body gets in the way. I must admit, I haven't been kind to myself, I allowed the frustration and all of the negative emotions that came with it to take over my mind. Telling myself I couldn't do it, I'm too fat to do it, I'm weak. All of that became a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. And today I tried something different.

But first, a few quick facts. It can take up to eight weeks to see physical changes in your body when exercising regularly. It is important to properly fuel your body, especially when you are exercising regularly. It is imperative to keep yourself clean after every work out session.

I tried something different today that really made a difference to my routine. I encouraged myself. I sliced through each wave of negativity with positive thoughts. I can do it. I will do it. I am strong and capable. This pose is almost over. I can make it. Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, once said: "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right." Yes, that is super corny. It's also true. I hyped myself up and settled deeper into every pose, lasted through every advanced pose, I could breathe easier.

I feel this practice can be carried into daily life. Instead of settling into a negative attitude and creating a pit of despair, what if we approached hurdles with a positive outlook? What if we told ourselves we can get through anything? Imagine the possibilities!

Before I tell you my nail oil treatment, I challenge you to tackle every problem by leaning into an affirmative mindset. I challenge you to kill every unkind word you tell yourself with kindness.

Alright! You've earned it! For roughly two weeks I've been taking just enough olive oil to easily submerge my nails and cuticles, adding rose essential oil (for the smell}), and warming it up for ten seconds. Then for five minutes, I give my nails and cuticles a massage, making sure to evenly coat them with oil. My nails are thicker, less brittle, and seem to be growing faster. And at the end of a long day, this oil treatment has been like a mini spa day. After the five minutes is up I've been rinsing the oil off in cool water and following up with lotion.

How do you relax at the end of your day? Tell be all about it in the comments below! And while you're in the comments, tell me if you accepted my challenge and how well it works for you.

Thanks so much for reading, seastars! If you'd like more exclusive content, check out Seaspray's Shoal!

Remember, you're fintastic!

-Seaspray

Discovering Hate

Hey, seastars. If you follow me on any of my other social media accounts, you may have noticed I've been quiet for a few days. I needed a break from social media. Not a big, dramatic delete everything and flee to the Himalayas break; just a pause. Recently I woke up to a hateful message in my personal inbox saying I was ugly inside and out and too fat to be a mermaid. At first, I wanted to punch the sender in the face, then I wanted to cry. After some time I realized my initial reactions were from being reminded of all the times I had been bullied for my weight. Once I calmed down, I felt pity for this person who went out of their way to send me a hateful message and immediately blocked me- all at 9:41 in the morning. Just thinking about all that wasted energy makes me tired! Truth be told this is not the first time someone has made a negative comment about my body in my adult life. So let me walk you through what this beautiful body has done.

I am a mother. This body has and is capable of creating and carrying life. Then taking that life and delivering it into the world. On average it takes a woman's body up to a year to fully recover from the effects of pregnancy and delivery. Mine was not an easy delivery, I am lucky I wasn't sent to the OR and I'm lucky to be alive to write this blog. Before that this body was a competitive swimmer for just under seven years. This body had a back injury in middle school from a cheerleading stunt. This body was a powerhouse in soccer for nearly five years. This body carried me through being teased about my mother's work. My mother's amazing work saved so many lives and affected so many others, I refused to be ashamed then even when I was asked if I ate garbage. And I refuse to be ashamed now, again in the face of ignorant bullying. I'm going to be deeply honest with you, seastars. From middle school, all the way through high school I hated my body. I would skip meals and try to sneak hundreds of sit-ups to try and achieve a flat belly. I have a Swedish build, all wide hips, and powerful shoulders. I learned a totally flat belly in a woman is unhealthy, a woman should always have a small pouch at the bottom of her abdomen because that's where her reproductive organs lay. Every body is amazing, and every body is capable of so much more than you can see in a picture.

To the people who think it is okay to belittle, hurt, tear down, or harass anyone else. Stop it. We see you for who you are, and you need to learn to love yourself. I've been taught to know people see something in me they are envious of and try to attack that something to try and snuff it out of me. To quote one of my favorite movies, "No matter how much the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it." Seastars, you and I are those mountains. And anyone who tries to rip you down is no more than wind. Stand up and shine that light you have deep down inside of you. Shine your light so bright it will banish all the darkness those antagonizers try to bring into your life.

And to the person who thought they could hurt me, I have a song for you. You cannot tear me down. You cannot hurt me. You, feeble wind, will never be able to make this mountain bow. My body is not for anyone else but me. My body is beautiful. My body is powerful. My body will carry me past this one fleeting moment and forget you.

Seastars, please. If you are being oppressed, antagonized, or bullied try to ignore them. Those people are ignorant and hateful. Those people are trying to cover up their own pain. Hurt people hurt people. You can end the cycle of hurt, you are strong enough. You are strong enough to come out of the harassment and rise.

I believe in you,

-Seaspray

Discovering ADHD Hacks

Hello, seastars! Today I must share a secret I've recently discovered to help stay focused. First, I've been working on developing a program to help build reading confidence in children. That means creating policies and procedures and hours upon hours of research. All of which I love doing! However, just because I love doing something doesn't mean it doesn't get hard. I'm fairly certain I have ADHD. Please keep in mind this is a self-diagnosis (yes, ug, I know). I will go get a proper diagnosis as soon as I am able.

I've always loved music, but music has always been a bit of a distraction for me. I have this tendency to turn a cleaning day into a dance party. I have finally found a way to combine music and work! My secret to productivity ( at least in writing documents) is gaming music. I've been listening to ambiance music from the video game Skyrim. I know this hack sounds a bit silly, but gamer music is designed to make the brain pay attention. And it works! I've been able to regularly sit for 30 minutes or more and type without noticing the time passing.
For me, instrumental music works best. I have read that you should avoid music with lyrics in your language because your brain will process the lyrics and won't focus on forming other thoughts.

Alright, let's get serious. We are all guilty of this, but it is not the best idea to self-diagnose. If you feel you have a certain condition, please talk with a doctor and confirm your suspicions! And please listen to your gut. If you feel you have not received proper care, go find a second opinion! Do not be afraid to advocate and speak up for yourself. It's easy to let the doctor just talk, but you know your body better than anyone else. Be honest, be firm, be involved. The only reason I have not yet seen anyone about my personal suspicions is that I currently cannot afford it. That said I have already taken steps to remedy the issue. Make sure you are well informed about your area's insurance laws and regulations; keep on top of that paperwork folks!

Okay! Let's really get off topic! I have an active GoFundMe campaign designed to allow me to interact with you, seastars. Funds will go to marketing materials, supplies for my one-of-a-kind accessories store I hope to open later this year, fabric for a completely eco-friendly costume, expedite my reading program, and allow me to build my inventory for events and Seaspray's Shoal. A big dent has already been made in my goal of $745. "Vision of a Mermaid" has been live for less than two weeks and I have great plans to utilize donations. If you have questions for me, you can send me a message here.  

Thank you so much for reading! If you want to find more of my content search "Seaspray Mermaid" on Facebook, Holonis, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

Starfish wishes and mermaid kisses!

-Seaspray

Discovering How to Rise Again

Vincent Van Gogh, one of my favorite artists once said: "In spite of everything, I shall rise again." Lately, I've been slacking on my resolutions and wallowing in the guilt. I told myself I was doomed to live in a body I was not happy with, doomed to always feel at arm's length from God, doomed to eat poorly. I really threw myself a pity party! And it's time to throw the guests on their ear. Guilt, shame, doubt. All of them-gone! I read a radical post online recently stating we have the power to change our lives in every decision. Think about it, you can put down your device, walk out the door and join the circus-completely changing your life. I choose to change my life and start over. As far as I'm concerned the New Years ball is about to drop and I'll pick up where I left off. Even though it means I have to completely rearrange my schedule, again. I will live a healthier, happier life.

I've been learning to appreciate the small things in my life. Access to clean water, for starters. That's a luxury far too many people don't have. I'm teaching myself to have a grateful heart, instead of only seeing what is not in my life. Part of having a grateful heart is serving, wherever possible. I have often told my friends to step out of their lives and volunteer somewhere when they couldn't seem to shake their bad mood. I finally can take my own advice by serving in my church. Yes, there are a few circumstances out of my control, but I'm also taking steps to get some control of my life. 

Learning to find every blessing, adjusting my priorities, and setting fresh goals have all really opened my life up for massive changes. I'll be going back to school soon to pursue my dream of studying aquatic biology.  I'll finally have a license and be able to take my daughter on outings. I've been planning better quality meals. I'm taking several steps to grow my business. Once again, everything feels back on track. 

Of course, everything is still a journey. Part of growing my business is my GoFundMe campaign, which is designed to allow me to interact with my fans and followers. One of my goals is to provide higher quality trinkets for my group on Facebook, Seaspray's Shoal. These trinkets will eventually be available in my store as soon as I can open. 

Despite every obstacle, perhaps to spite every obstacle, I will be making a conscious, daily choice to follow Vincent Van Gogh's words. 

I will rise again. 

-Seaspray

Discovering Persistence

Hello, seastars! Today I'm celebrating an officially monetized blog! Great, right? This blog would not be monetized without a lot of patience and persistence. In fact, a lot of things in my life wouldn't exist as they do without persistence. It's a lesson I've learned and re-learned countless times, and I know I'll keep learning it in the future. For now, I'll just enjoy the success.

I'll be the first one to tell you I have a tendency to throw in the towel early, a habit that deeply annoys me. Yes, you read that right. I annoy myself with my own habits. What happens is I get way ahead of myself and plan out something to the very last detail, if my plans are more long-term I get discouraged when I don't see results right away. A perfect example is my active GoFundMe campaign. My campaign, "Vision of a Mermaid", has only been live for a few days and so far I have not had a single donor. And to date, I have been the only one to share my campaign link. I'm happy to broadcast "Vision of a Mermaid", to be completely honest I wasn't sure how the campaign would be received. Ultimately, my plan is to take the funds earned from "Vision of a Mermaid" and invest in supplies to start a Kickstarter campaign. Yes, I have other goals for my GoFundMe account, like a high quality, completely eco-friendly costume. This costume would allow me to perform (hopefully) in tanks.  To read more about "Vision of a Mermaid" check out this link.

I've been learning to take the big projects that usually end up discouraging me one step at a time. Literally. It is far less intimidating for me to do one productive activity a day related to each of my projects. The difference this approach has made in my life, professional and personal, is truly astounding. I'm far more productive, I feel better about my progress, I'm happier, and my list of projects is shrinking (because they are actually getting done!). If you're like me and find big, long-term projects a daunting hassle, I highly recommend breaking your project up into small steps and making a little bit of progress every day, or as often as you're comfortable. 

Speaking of projects, I recently launched a secret Facebook group through my fan page. Seaspray's Shoal is an exclusive group for all ages to connect to a real-life mermaid, find members-only sales, secret meet & greet days not scheduled anywhere else, enjoy live videos, and see top-secret sneak peeks of all the wonderful things I have planned for this year. To learn more about Seaspray's Shoal, check out this link.  

One last thing before I wrap up today's post, I'm starting to learn every day is a special occasion. What I mean by that is I'm not going to wait for some unknown big event to use my fancy store-bought face mask. I'm going to use my store-bought face mask because today was a good day. Don't wait for some big reason to indulge in something, or you may never have a reason. Life is meant to be lived in the moment, not in anticipation of a moment.

You are amazing, seastars. Never forget that.

-Seaspray

Discovering Courage

Alright, seastars, this one is going to sound a little silly. I've always had an issue with accepting gifts and money, regardless of the reason. And today I launched a GoFundMe campaign to help me build a better business, create quality content, launch a program designed to help children love reading, design a completely eco-friendly costume, and finally have a personalized domain for my website. 

This year is going to be a great year!

If you would like to donate to my campaign, follow this link. And if you have any questions about myself or my business, feel free to contact me here.

Okay, with the business stuff out of the way, I owe you a massive apology. I had said I would be posting every other day and it's been nearly 2 weeks. I am so sorry! My personal life suddenly got a tad dramatic and I had to withdraw and recollect myself. In the future, I will do my best to either schedule posts or warn you of a potential lapse in my blog.

Starfish wishes and mermaid kisses,

Seaspray

Discovering Muscles

Hey, seastars! I recently started two new exercise routines and holy carp! I can really feel my muscles! I added exercise to my routine for a number of reasons, but the main motivator is my old friend- Self-Consciousness.
I've always struggled with my body image. That is to say, I have never truly liked how I looked. I was bullied in school, and out of school surrounded by rail-thin models and a barrage of constant reminders that I would never be good enough. I'm not talking about my direct home environment, of course. I'm referring to magazines, TV, and other forms of advertisement. The images we see in the media are distorted and unhealthy. I felt uncomfortable in my skin when I was swimming constantly, and out in the sun daily. Some of my self-hatred was age-related, sure. But those gorgeous super-models really played a role. How can anyone see themselves as the treasure they are when all they see are examples of things that don't exist. The magazine models are photoshopped and air-brushed into inhuman goddesses, strutting across shiny pages with their thin legs and long waists.

To be entirely honest, I have yet to shake my old friend; that ever-present companion that makes me avoid simple things like clothes shopping.  I am a mother. Motherhood changes everything from hormonal balance to bone structure. On average, it takes a woman at least a year to completely heal from giving birth. The movies lied! Movies make giving birth seem like a beautiful struggle that leaves women glowing, meandering out of the hospital with flat bellies and happy smiles. Now it is beautiful, in a raw emotion way. But I was sorely disappointed to learn I would not snap back into my old body. In fact, getting into shape proved difficult when I was given medical clearance. Exercises proved far more difficult than before baby. I was used to hating my body, but now my body was hating me! I gave up in a week.
Fast forward to this year. I've made a year-long commitment to change myself, and my life for the better. I finally am able to work two routines into my day. This time I went in with realistic expectations and forced myself to slow down. I forced myself to be kind to myself. And I feel great! I absolutely expect down days, I even expect to skip a few days. For now, I choose to bask in the good feeling. I've never really been one to like sitting around, and finally being able to work my muscles is a slice of Heaven.

Who knows? Maybe by the end of the year, I'll be rid of my toxic enemy, Self-Consciousness.

If you are trying to change any part of yourself or your life, please, please be kind to yourself. Take a breath and remember these things do take time. Actually, it takes around a month to notice a change. So hang in there, and don't be afraid to indulge in that cheesecake once in a while!

We can do this!
Seaspray

P.S. Check out my website and learn how you can become a member of Seaspray's Shoal today!
Mermaid kisses and starfish wishes!

Seaspray's Shoal

Seaspray's Shoal is a secret group on Facebook designed to allow her fans to connect with Seaspray Mermaid on a personal level. For access to the group, interested parties must send the appropriate amount that aligns with their chosen Pier.

Members of Seaspray's Shoal will enjoy access to exclusive Meet & Greet days, member-only sales, educational posts, live videos hosted by Seaspray Mermaid, and a safe community created with younger viewers in mind.

***

This is a project I've been working on for ages! I am so excited to share Seaspray's Shoal with you.

For more information, check out my website.

Discovering Patience Pays Off

Hello, seastars! Personally, I am an impatient person. I want things to happen according to my timing and desires at the moment. It is difficult for me to rest in knowing my needs will be met. It is difficult to keep praying for aspects of my life to come together and not see the results right away. Allow me to reassure you, seastars, the patience pays off. I've been struggling with forming ideas to generate revenue through my mermaid entertainment business. Today I have truly been blessed. I have been gifted a Fujifilm instant camera, through that I will be able to sell photos and further invest in growing Seaspray Mermaid.
I allowed myself to live by faith and trust I will be provided all I need to run my business. And it is truly a major difference in my life. My worries have lifted off my shoulders, my social anxiety has lessened, I am becoming more difficult to anger, I've grown less offended. The world looks brighter.

Now all this change doesn't mean I'll have a bad day and lose sight of the truth. We all have bad days that feel like the world is set against us and that piece of gum on your shoe has a personal vendetta against you. It takes discipline to take a step back out of those darker days and be grateful for the small, happy moments-like waking up alive.
I know it's hard to see the good in the world, especially when we're spoonfed loads of negativity every day through our many screens. Take a break from that screen and really take in your surroundings! There are amazing, beautiful details in this world that hold immeasurable beauty. Rainbows in puddles and puppies galore!

Please, don't be impatient with yourself either. If you're learning anything new and you're not quite "getting it" just yet, keep pushing. That breakthrough is coming, you have to keep practicing, whatever that may mean in your situation. Never settle in the "I'm just bad at this" mentality! You can do it. I believe in you.
So if you're waiting on that promotion or just don't understand that math problem, stay patient and always be excellent. No one can ever argue with your excellence. And learn the power of "yet". Practice, ask for help, ask how you can improve, always, always keep reaching for the next level of excellence.

I've found the quickest cure for a bitter day is a grateful heart. I keep several lists of all the things I am deeply thankful for, this practice has really changed my overall outlook. I even list things that are seen as bad that I'm grateful for, like my dad's death. I miss my dad every day, but without him passing away I would never have met his family. I would never have discovered a message he left me on Facebook on my birthday the year he passed away. I would never have stumbled on his YouTube videos. So many blessings from one sad moment.

Learn patience, discover gratitude, stay kind.
I believe in you.
-Seaspray

Discovering Motivation

Hello, seastars! Today will be about the one thing I struggle with the most, other than routine. Motivation is commonly seen as this constant driving force responsible for all accomplishment. I'm sorry, but the movie montage lied to you. Motivation is important, but it is only the gunshot at the start of your footrace.

Let's consider the footrace. Rather, all that leads up to a race. The first thing is interest, not everyone enjoys running. Then there is training, no racer wakes up race ready. Without conditioning their bodies, racers would hurt themselves trying to compete. Next is the day of the race, everyone is lined up, the air is thick with anticipation and adrenaline. The racers take their mark and a hush falls over the onlookers. The gun goes off and the racers surge to the finish line, all wanting the same goal. Not everyone will place high in this race, maybe not everyone will finish.
When you look at the winners of your favorite sports, what do they all have in common? They trained, hard. They devoted hours of time to practice. Honing their skills.  But why? Michael Phelps, by his own account in his book No Limits, was not always motivated to go to practice and he is the most decorated Olympian athlete. The answer is passion. You find that one thing that just lights a fire in your heart, and that fire stays lit. You pursue that fire, learning all you can about it. In some cases, you may need to condition your body in the pursuit. Finally, you're ready to get serious and compete with other people with that same fire. The competition is fierce and along the way, everyone feels that urge to quit. Some do. Others keep pushing out of discipline and passion. 

The three are tied together and cannot exist alone. Motivation, passion, and discipline. They work together at various points to keep your fire lit, even if it does not always shine the brightest. That's not the point. The point is to keep your fire burning the longest, always forging your path for the next season. Sometimes seasons take a long time to pass, sometimes seasons are revisited. But you will persevere.

I can't tell you how much time I've wasted waiting on motivation to light me up. The motivation to do my homework, to clean my home, to shovel my drive, to learn a new trick. Honestly, I still struggle with waiting for motivation. I know now that I need to be disciplined in my pursuits, whether those pursuits are personal or professional does not matter. I am passionate about my goals as a mermaid, there have been plenty of times my motivation lined up with my passion. But there have also been times I needed to exercise discipline instead of relying on motivation. Anything worth having or doing in your life deserves and requires hard work. From owning a puppy to pushing for that better lap time in the pool, everything worth pursuing is worth pursuing with discipline.

Whatever it is you are struggling to achieve, you can do it, you are strong and capable. And whatever you are struggling to achieve deserves all the hard work, discipline, and passion you can muster. Create your own motivation.

At the end of a long day creating your own motivation and striving to accomplish your herculean tasks, it's important (and nice) to pamper yourself. Today's mask is not a DIY, but is marketed at a price I feel is more than fair. I use the ELF Bubble Mask every night and the results are phenomenal. My skin is clearer, my makeup holds up longer, the massive breakout I recently developed is less red. All in 10 days. When I apply the mask, the bubbles form instantly and feel like 10,000 tiny feathers are tickling my face. The sensation is not overwhelming, though. I find it easy to remove the mask, and in the morning my skin is soft, hydrated, and glowing.

As always, be kind.
-Seaspray

Rediscovering Routine

Hello, seastars and happy new year! It's the time of year for a fresh start, of new resolutions designed to make us better people. At least, that's the hope. I know I'm guilty of setting a million resolutions for myself and two weeks later quitting. I think we put way too much pressure on ourselves without the added stress of resolutions. If you want to set goals for yourself, please be realistic and work your way into it. Forming new habits is hard! If you slip once or twice, congratulations! You're human, breath, relax, start over. It is okay to make a mistake and it is certainly okay to start over and make new goals. 
It is important for those new goals to be SMART. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timed. Having a long list of goals is great as long as you're not setting yourself up to fail. I like to look at goals as an X on the map of my journey. A destination. To reach that destination, I have to go on a journey of steps and follow the SMART route. My old list of resolutions was always so vague. It would look like this:
Get Healthy
Read the Bible more
Swim Faster
Do Better

Yikes! This list is ok but can be improved. None of these are specific, have a timeline, or work like stepping stones to the destinations this list represents. I'm the type of person that needs to have specific, outlined goals on a visible calendar, with reminders and rewards. I am also the type of person that has dedicated my life to rebelling against such things. I disliked routine until I realized there really is no better way to organize myself, and as a stay at home mother, my kid needs a routine.
Now my list looks more like a book!
Get Healthy. Every day replace one junk food with a healthy alternative, exercise at least once a day, find a doctor and make regular appointments. This item doesn't follow all of the SMART steps because I need to talk with a doctor about what my "healthy" looks like.
Read the Bible. Twice a day, follow my reading plan. Go to service when possible, get involved in the church. This goal is an ongoing journey and doesn't need a deadline, but this particular goal will change and grow as I do.
Swim Better. When training, I will film myself, record my breath hold, observe and count my various tricks, and adjust each technique in order to constantly strive for realism. Build strength and stamina, recording each in a lap lane-measure both with a time clock using a workout plan. Be in marathon shape by the end of 2019. I kept this one shorter, I have a lot of swimming related goals, a lot of which I'm keeping secret.

This list will grow and change as I grow healthier and my needs and desires change. Certain measurements I'll keep to myself, for now, I do intend to include the struggles and rewards of my health journey in this blog.

To read more about SMART goals check out this site.

Tell me about your resolutions in the comments, do you have any tips to stay on track?

Here's to the start of something great!

Seaspray