Sweet Success

Success to me is...

...achieving a goal you set for yourself.

...understanding it looks different from person to person.
...understanding it looks different in different stages of life.   

 ...personal!  


These were my initial thoughts and then I became curious as to what others thought about success so born was this post...  

A favorite movie quote

Society seems to have a very rigid definition of success and if one doesn't fall within those boundaries or meet the expectations then they aren't seen as successful.  Success is often times defined by how much money we make or what our job title is, but can't we follow our passion and be successful?  A stay-at-home parent can be just as successful as a CEO. Employees of all skill levels contribute to successful companies but who is recognized? The one or two at the top.  How often do we recognize housekeeping or the employees working in the "background"? Are they not making a contribution to keeping things running smoothly for those at the top?  These people may never be the face of the company and may not want to be, but does that mean they can't be successful?   Sometimes there is so much pressure to be like "someone else" when truly we should just want to be better than the person we were yesterday.  Don't compare yourself to others, but instead let them be your inspiration.  Be inspired by those that encourage you to be the best-version-of-yourself!    

Love yourself. Celebrate your journey.  Embrace your story. 

Let's learn to be happy and satisfied with our own accomplishments. Let's celebrate all successes from passing a big exam to a job promotion.  All experiences are important and often time teach us lessons that we don't always understand until later.  These experiences are part of our personal story and what makes us who we are today.  Everyone has failures. Everyone gets knocked down from time to time, but without the failures we wouldn't be able to recognize the successes.  Let your successes be the star of the show, but remember your failures are just as much part of the story, they were the stepping stones that helped you reach your goals.  Also, don't let one success be your only defining moment. Don't quit once you reach a goal, but continue to strive to better yourself.  Your life is a journey and your journey in your story! 

This.

Sometimes we define our success day by day and other times the timeline is much longer. That is okay! We are all writing our own unique story.  Our stories shouldn't be compared to someone else's because we don't know their every detail, and we sure don't know if it is their beginning, middle or end.  We are only a small part of their story but the star of our own, so let's move our focus back to writing and inspiring our own audience!    

I love children for many reasons but I especially love toddlers because they have no filters, don't understand the pressures of society, and are always honest and the truest versions of themselves.  This is who I want you and I to be.  Let's be raw, honest and open with each other.  Let's trudge through hard times, celebrate the good, and embrace our boring day to day routines, because we are writing our story and have readers we haven't even met that are inspired by what we are doing.  Let's do life together!

I asked my Facebook community, "what does success look like for you?" and you answered! Everyone gave me a different and very personal answer to only validate my own thoughts {and my original inspiration for this post} that success shouldn't be defined by one person or one event.  Success should be on going and can look different at different stages of life.  Everyone is successful on their own terms and has the right to fully experience success, so let's congratulate and celebrate with them and let their adventures inspire our own.   

"Success for me is seeing success through others eyes. A text from a client saying that their booty looks better in some pants and their husband keeps complimenting. Someone working hard to compete in something new, and doing it. Someone gaining better body image confidence just by learning how to look at food in a healthy way. Someone just thanking me for being in their corner. The days when I hear those stories are my best days." 

"I have recently started in a direct sales business and just getting out of my comfort zone and every small step I take has been a success to me. Whether it's a small sale, a big sale, or just talking to someone about the product!Getting someone who won't smile to smile." 

" To make a difference in someone's life each & every day. It doesn't have to be big, but knowing I did something to help someone else is success to me." 

"Being a mom has vastly changed my attitude of success. I used to think degrees, making money, and helping people were what made me successful. Now, raising little people who are kind, loving, helpful, and God followers is what I'd consider to be success in my life. Although, in complete honesty, my short term success goals include losing baby weight, helping my daughter through her potty training regression, and completing everyday tasks with two under two such as cleaning, cooking healthy meals, and getting the bills paid."

My thoughts remain the same from when I was first inspired to write this.  I nor you should be compared to anyone but ourselves to measure success.  We should always have a goal we are working towards, because that is how we grow and become a better version of ourselves.  Success is much sweeter when we have a friend or two that understands the struggles we endured, cheers us on every step of the way, and throws a themed party for us at the finish line! {OK, ok...that last part may just be me, but you get the point!} Success is sweeter when it can be shared!

What is your proudest, personal success story at this moment? 
Share with me in the comments! 

Thank you to everyone that contributed and made this post possible.

An Open Letter to all Wedding Guests

Photo Credit: Shelby Chari Photography

Friends,

There is a time in everyone's life where they feel like they are attending a wedding every weekend.  Ladies go shopping for a new fun dress, the perfect shoes, and all the accessories.  The guys may even pull a tie out from the back of their closet to wear.  Getting dressed up can be fun!  

Friends and family from near and far travel to share their love and support for the couple and wish them many years of health and happiness.  Everyone enjoys dinner, drinks and maybe even some dancing.  We catch up with friends we haven't seen in awhile and make some new by the end of the night.  Weddings bring people together and good times are had by all.

As a guest remember the couple has spent lots of time and money making decisions about every detail to make this their perfect day.  You may or may  not have made the same decisions and that is okay because today isn't about you.  Be respectful to the couple and the other guests around you.  Sign the guest book, give marriage advice, take a photo in the photo booth, interact as the couple has intended and have fun.  

I realize we live in the 21st century where we all have a cell phone and enjoy the luxury of being able to snap a photo and share it instantly with the world, but I ask, no beg, that you "unplug" yourself for one evening and truly be present and experience this day with the couple and the guests around you.  You won't get these moments back.  There aren't do-overs.  The only time is now to truly experience this moment.  In 10 years, when you are reminiscing and sharing stories you will be glad that you can recall the sounds, sights, and how you felt from the moment because you will be able to paint a much more vivid picture for your listeners than to just show them your iPhone photo, that may or may not even turn out.    

The couple has paid a pretty penny {or two} to have a professional photographer and maybe even a videographer to capture their day. The couple has paid for these professionals so you can enjoy the day with them and not worry who is going to take the pictures and videos.  When you are trying to get your perfect shot the photographer and/or videographer has to work around you maybe making their job harder.  Plus, when the couple gets their professional photos back do you think they want to see a bunch of guests distracted by their cell phones?  Also, when the doors open for the big reveal of the bride, I am pretty sure she doesn't want to see a bunch of cell phones pointed in her direction.  One more... What about when the couple is announced at the end as the newlyweds? They want to see your smiles and hear your claps, not your phone!  Not to mention, the raising up and down of cell phones and moving around can be very distracting for the guests around you. 

For one night, put your phone away.  I promise you will survive and be happier knowing that you fully embraced the experience.  From the smell of the bouquets, the taste of the food, the sound of laughter and cheers, to seeing and appreciating all the details put into making this day all about the couple up front, make yourself fully present because there is truly so much to experience and when you come out from behind that phone you will be amazed by what you have been missing out on. 

Your fellow iPhone lover,

Stephanie

P.S. I am positive the couple will be more than happy to share their professional photos with you in a few weeks.  Patience.