Independence.

Independence is an incredible thing, no? No matter the scale- possessing the freedom to make your own choices and to pursue your dreams is the ultimate luxury. I remember being a young teenager chomping at the bit to get my drivers license. Then, an older teen waiting to hit "adulthood" and leave my childhood home for college. Next, I waited to be able to drink and go out to bars with my friends. After that- all I wanted was to march across the stage in my cap and gown to take my career by the horns. I've grown up on the hunt for more independence and fewer boundaries, yet rarely took the time to ensure that I was ready for all of it.

I've always heard that as you gain independence, you also gain responsibility. This has been all too true. Getting a car comes with the task of maintaining it. Going to college meant learning to do the activities for myself that my mom did for me when I was still at home. Heading out to drink required planning to get home safely. Beginning my career came with a whole new set of responsibilities and well, work. So, how on Earth do you prepare for these things?!

If I somehow had the answer to that question, I probably wouldn't need to be working my full time job anymore. That would be a pretty valuable life hack to discover. I don't have it all figured out, but I do know that a little planning and soul searching beforehand can help make these life changes more enjoyable. You will not be a functioning adult for very long if you neglect the responsibilities that come hand-in-hand with your freedoms. In fact, overlooking certain aspects of these responsibilities can cause you to lose your independence completely!

One of my most impactful life lessons that I've learned in adulthood so far is that the seemingly small things in the short term can have a huge impact in the long term. Simply making a habit of considering what new freedoms will require of you is often enough to avoid those pitfalls. Be educated! Be aware! And relax- you'll be just fine.

What do you do to embrace the independence in your life? How do you handle what life throws at you?

An Open Letter to The Single Girl

 My sweet friend,

I know that things are confusing right now. It seems like everyone else is progressing forward towards their goals, and you are too- just in different areas. You have a great job. Your family isn't perfect, but they love you. Your friends are incredible. Your apartment is gorgeous. You don't like to admit it, but you still feel incomplete.

Please stop and hear this: life isn't defined by your relationship status. I know that you have listened to it before and agree, but that doesn't mean that you remember how spectacular the single you is 24 hours a day. You're especially forgetful as you scroll through your social media feeds and are met with pairs of smiling faces. But their lives aren't all smiles simply because they have a significant other. In fact, many of the people on your Instagram feed posting the very photos that make you feel lonely are just as (or sometimes more so) incomplete as you are. Remember that the couple smiling in the photo on your screen posed for that snapshot. Right before that romantic dinner, they may have gotten into the same huge argument yet again. Or afterwards, when they head home, they might struggle to come up with meaningful conversation to have together. Don't let those shiny moments fool you. They are human, just like you.

I hope you know how outrageously amazing you are. You are smart, beautiful, selfless, funny, giving, thoughtful, and so much more. You don't need to be off the market to feel validated. And I hope you don't wait until then to appreciate all that you have to offer.

Just remember: you can't give your best love to anyone unless you are giving it to yourself first. What I mean by that, is that you can't expect to be in a fulfilling relationship with someone else before you are content with who and how you are alone. You will always be looking to your significant other to fill you up and fix you, when that's not their intended purpose in your life. You need to be able to build yourself up and fill your life with love before you can expect to do those things for someone else. You can't fill an empty cup from an empty pitcher, am I right?

Long story short- I hope you take time right now to recenter and appreciate yourself. You are here on this earth for more than just to be someone's +1. I hope that you focus on finding and fulfilling that purpose soon. The people meant to be in your life always find their way in, so stop worrying about that part of your life and enjoy the rest.


xo.

10 Ways to Relax Right Now

Do you ever feel as though you couldn't squeeze one more tiny thing into your day? My life can get so hectic and fast-paced that it seems like I am always moving, always thinking, and always stressing. This is supremely evident to me when I lay down to sleep at night. I feel as though I can't clear my mind and just relax into sleep. Unfortunately this is not the only time the overwhelming feeling creeps up on me. Sound familiar? Here are 10 ways you can relax right now:

1 Take a deep, cleansing breath.
2 Listen to music.
3 Change your scenery.
4 Work up a sweat or head to a yoga class.
5 Reflect on a happy memory.
6 Write down a list of 5 things you're thankful for.
7 Laugh.
8 Call up a family member or friend who you haven't spoken to in a while.
9 Focus on the end result of a daunting project.
10 Watch a funny or uplifting video.

These are just a few ways that work for me. Although it can seem impossible, there are tons of different ways to clear out the negative or stressful thoughts in your head. I know for me work is a large {and consistent} source of stress in my life. Being able to identify the triggers and do your best to combat them is a great way to keep your mood in check. Hopefully these are helpful for you too!

How to you relax? What stresses you out?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, y'all! I hope that you get everything on your list this year, spend plenty of time with family, eat great food, and find time to relax in between all of that. I always try to take a minute to reflect in the chaos of Christmas day to remember why we celebrate in the first place.

But the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior- yes, the Messiah, the Lord- has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!"

Luke 2:10-11

May each of you find peace and joy this Christmas!

Sonder

Hi there! I wanted to give y'all some insight into my name choice for this blog. As previously stated, the 'peachy' represents the fact that I am from Georgia. We are known for our peaches, and the sweet southern girls from my home state are often referred to as 'Georgia Peaches'. Pretty self explanatory, no? 

As for the rest of my title, the word 'sonder' is relatively new to my vocabulary. By definition:

"sonder n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk."

This is incredibly humbling to me. All too often, we become consumed by our own lives- making everything about my troubles, my agenda, my excitements, my details- that we forget how many other things are going on in the world around us. We are each just one piece of a complex puzzle. I think it's also very freeing to realize that life is so much bigger than what's going on within the parameters of my day-to-day. Keeping that in mind helps me shift the focus from myself to others in my life. I think that our self-centered tendencies are innate and completely human, but that doesn't always result in the healthiest lifestyle or thought process.

I have always been a people watcher. I think it's completely fascinating to have a glimpse into other people's days/lives- even if just for a few seconds as they pass you by. What are they thinking? Where are they going? What made them behave in that way? These are just a few questions that pop into my head. Since learning what sonder means, this word is all too present in my mind every day. It grounds me and prompts me to live with more awareness than ever before.

With that being said, I couldn't think of a better title for my blog to express my feelings about my current journey through life. Something that ties me to my roots, yet challenges my views and reminds me to take note of my surroundings.

Thank you for reading and joining me on my 'peachy sonder'! 

xox. T