Stopped Hatin' And Started Doin'

5 years ago, this was me. Hatin' on others enjoying life while I worked mine away. 
This photo depicts my 'dead of winter' look. 
The look that shows on the outside that you are somewhat dead inside.
I am okay admitting that at this time in my life I was filled envy of others somehow able take any amount of time off 'just because.' I had a fixed kind of mindset that leisurely vacas were meant for those who had 'made it.' I hadn't yet earned the right to vacation for the heck of it, just to see the world, or to celebrate life.
Comparing it to my life now, I never related to the Wild West as a place that I could possibly live, but only somewhere I was allowed to visit. It seem so far out of reach that 365 sunshine was something that was actually real or accessible to me.
I would only daydream about 52 week access to sun, sand, and smiles. Therefore, seeing my peeps with sunkissed cheeks in February made me burn with jealousy. While happy for them having figured it out, I would wonder...
'How do they do it??'
'At what cost?' 
'Why not me??'
All this wondering did me no good. 
Dec 2016, I saw that I had it set up in my head that I would only be allowed to enjoy the luxury of a vacation after I had reached a certain net worth or income. This left me always feeling like I was coming up short and had to wait till a certain success point to enjoy life.
It was then that I decided to prove myself wrong. I booked a flight to Hawaii for no good reason and to go all by myself! It had been my dream destination my entire life but I thought I had to take a special someone or have a special reason.
After giving up that old belief system, I went. 
I went, rented a moped, got lost, and found myself. I learned, right then and there, that life can start being fun right now, not when I'm 60 and cash out my retirement funds. From there, I have reconstructed my relationship to 'vacationing' more and more!
I like sharing a quote that inspires me constantly, "Live a life you don't need a vacation from."
I learned more balance and to take healthy mental time off. I have found work that doesn't feel like work. I have found about a gazillion ways to enjoy life for nearly free. I have come to understand that it is not selfish to self appreciate. I realized that I can actually move myself to a sunshine state and enjoy 365 sun kisses!
I love sharing my past because my present is what younger Abigail dreamed about. As I am just now pulling into California from a weekend in Arizona, I am so so present to this transformation of mindset.
Nowadays, I don't wait for sprurts of happiness. I cause them. I chose all the people, places, and experiences that bring my life joy.
I just admit that I'm happy and live it! 
I'm happy with all of my relationships. 
I'm happy with all of my environments. 
I'm happy with my life. 
I'm happy with the love in it!
You can truly have it all. It's already available. You just have to decide that you get to have it and go for it!
If there's something you want, look at what's in the way and start tearing that barrier down! 
Who and how do you want to be 5 years from now?
If you need a hand kicking down the walls in the way of what you want, call me. 
It's my specialty

For daily gratitude, join us in the Growing Gratitude community on Facebook! Thank you for growing with me and as always, live the life you love