Staying Grounded

If there's one thing I learned while being in California for the past six weeks, it's that being away from home is the best way to find who you are. That sounds so cliche, but I can wholeheartedly say it's the truth. I've spent the last 24 hours thinking about my trip and the person I was when I was away from everything I know. It's like you have all this free time to think about everything that happens to you and how you reacted and you decide what type of person you are comfortable being. It's a crazy thing to think about and I'm just coming to these conclusions after being home 6 hours.
I felt that I got to choose what made me happy instead of what I was being pulled to do. I got to decide what entertains me and the type of people I want to surround myself with. I'm not saying I now know the type of person that I am, but It'd like to think that I've made a few discoveries.
I've realized that dance brings me a lot of joy and fulfillment. I am whole when I am dancing and it's a way for me to express myself. I think I would implode if I couldn't dance.
I've realized that humans are meant to be active beings and I'm happier when I exercise more regularly.
I've realized I'm comfortable around people who are themselves and have a different perspective on life. I like being with people who challenge my thinking and are witty. They make life exciting and fresh.
I've realized that the majority of Utah is a bubble. I hate to say it, but outside of Utah there are different life goals and expectations.
I've realized that I am who I am and I'd rather be "hated for who I am instead of loved for who I'm not." It's hard to follow that concept, but the best feeling in the world is loving yourself for who you, why be anything different?
I've realized that I should never settle. I can always be a better person and work harder than I did the day before.
Even though I feel like I've learned so many new things, the one thing that's stuck with me is the importance of staying grounded.
 The night before we left California, my Aunt said, "Every person you guys worked with commented on how grounded you were." I really didn't understand what she meant until I got home.
The way I interpreted grounded is that we stay true to who we are. We had a strong sense of what was important to us and we stuck with it. We do our best to work hard, never complain and treat others with respect.
I think that we stayed grounded in California because we didn't have very many distractions. We were there to work and that's it. We weren't distracted by friends, school, or other family members. I think it's very important to find a place that can bring you back to your roots and help you stay grounded. Otherwise, we get lost in the confusion of life and are never happy.
My advice would be to find who, what and where keeps you grounded. Find that something that reminds you of what makes you happy and the type of person you were born to be.

XOXO annikakae

Be Unique

It's now been a week since I ended my internship in LA and I can't stop thinking about how different it is going from one place to another. I learned a lot during my stay in California whether it was about life or about business. There's one thing, though, that I can't get off my mind. As I watched and learned from people around me in West Hollywood, I began to understand that being different isn't something to be ashamed of, it's something to be celebrated. Every single person in that office was unique, yet they were and are incredibly successful because of it. No matter what their background consisted of, they contributed their best to the company and made a difference in others lives.

I think it's important, especially for the transition I'm experiencing in life, to remember that uniqueness isn't a flaw. Being who you are for the reasons you want, make you attractive to the world, especially when you are confident in that identity. I always struggle, like Kate said with comparing myself to others, but really, what's there to compare? Every individual was made differently so why would you try to mold yourself into something you're not? I know it's a lot easier said than done, but constantly thinking about cherishing your uniqueness is at least a step in a positive direction.
I also learned that judgement blurs your interpretation of a human being. Judging others based on first impressions is a poor way to understand what a person is about. Keeping an open mind throughout our lives allows us to gain knowledge about people and experiences we otherwise wouldn't have learned from. Not to mention it makes life easier and more enjoyable. ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING. I write these words mostly for myself so that I can soak them up and better apply them to my life. However, I challenge everyone to appreciate who they are and live judgment free more often. I promise, you'll learn from it.

"A mind that is stretched by an experience can never go back to its old dimensions."- Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

-Annika