This Little Light Of Mine

I just remembered how I would constantly be singing this song when I was little... & how I wish I could go back and warn myself of everything that was to come and take my light away... I was once very innocent and naive about people and what they could do to me. I've been put down and pushed around and taken advantage of. I developed depression and anxiety. I became an angry and sad person. I was too afraid to stand up for myself, and was pressured into many things that I really didn't want to do: lying, cheating, smoking, drugs, alcohol, sex... I didn't know who I had become. I would look in the mirror and not know who I was. The horror of feeling so lost in your own skin, always leading to self-destruction, in more ways than one. The constant battle of debates in your head, fighting against your thoughts and what is reality. Trying to find something to give you hope, to keep you wanting to be alive, but only resorting back to the very things that made you feel so helpless in the first place. The cycle is hell. I honestly cannot tell you how I escaped the cycle, however. It seemed like such an impossible thing to do, living in that darkness and desperation. But the truth is.. my light was never taken away. It always remained inside of me. And each second, each minute, each day, each week I was able to stay away from the pressure people put on me, the stronger I became. The darkness lessened and my light shown closer to the surface. I used my light to block out the negative influences, while slowly discovering who the inner-me really was. It was a great struggle and took a long time, but eventually, it was clear who I was supposed to be. I am now able to stand up for myself and do the things I want to do, and refuse the things I don't. I realized that this is MY life and I only have one, so I am going to live it MY way. You can never give up, and you can never give in. You have your own light inside of you. You must keep searching and stay strong, and you too will find yourself. Embrace your light, and let it shine.

Healthy Living Free

Hello again, blogging friends! It has been forever since I posted on here. So much and so many changes have happened in my life, but guess what... I found my dream! These past 4 years I had been searching so hard for something that could help bring me happiness and positive energy and I finally found it!

So it turns out that the college thing is not what I wanted, I was not happy at all, and so miserable being stuck in the same "school-path" for those last 13 years. I decided that it was time for me to do what I needed to do for ME. I didn't care what anybody thought, I knew people would be disappointed and might look down on me, but I couldn't care less. In February, in the 2nd semester of my Freshman year in college, I dropped out. YESSSSSS!!!! OMG I WAS SO HAPPY!!!! For the first time in a long time, I finally felt free! I was doing what I wanted to do and not what everyone else, in my family, my friends, & society, had expected me to do. It felt great!

After I dropped out I had a time period of 2 weeks where I did nothing. I sat around my house, regrouping from college, getting resettled in, and just breathing and relaxing. But in the 2nd week, my parents were getting on my back about getting a job and finally getting my driver's license and doing this and doing that. I could feel the stress coming back and had a bit of a hard time handling it. I started getting negative again and looking at everything that was wrong. However, I stuck to what I wanted and didn't give in to what everybody else was telling me. I had more changes that I needed to make and I was going to focus on taking care of ME.

I had a friend who I would talk to here and there when I was in college. I would really just vent all the time about everything that was going on, but he would listen. Every once in a while he would tell me about his work and what he did. He is a Wellness Coach at a nutrition club in my area and helps anyone with achieving their health goals. I never really paid that close attention to the details of things he told me back then, but it was always in the back of my mind. I saw a post he put on Facebook of a smoothie he made at the nutrition club, with all the nutrition facts and how much protein & vitamins were in it. I then decided that I had to go check out what he had been talking about all these months.

On the Thursday of that week, I attended the weekly Open House that they have at the nutrition club. I learned about what they do there, the products they had, and met more coaches. Everyone was so friendly and positive, I got such good vibes as I was sitting there listening! After the presentation was over, I met with my friend/coach, we sat down, & discussed how I've been wanting to lose weight, but more importantly, how I just wanted to be happy and feel good about myself and my life. I got a free wellness evaluation and he recommended some healthier choices I could make. After that, I talked with another coach, & this is where my "lightbulb" turned on.

This coach asked me what I wanted to do, since I wasn't going to school anymore. I told her that I wasn't really sure, but that I wanted to help people. She mentioned that I could even become a wellness coach, myself, if that area was something I was interested in. Well, because of the the amazing positive atmosphere I had been surrounded in that night, and seeing people with great results, and so many caring and encouraging coaches, I just knew that was what I was going to do.

After 2 weeks of healthy choices & being on the weightloss shakes, I lost 10 pounds, and then made the decision to become a wellness coach! Those 2 weeks were the happiest weeks that I had in such a long time! I was not only losing weight, but I felt so great, had energy, and was so happy and positive. I decided that I had to share with people how they could do this too, and feel as awesome as I did. That next month I officially became a wellness coach and now I have been helping people ever since! I am also down 47lbs after 4.5 months and am still feeling as great as ever! :)

I feel so awesome to have found my dream "job". I really don't consider it a job, because it is my passion. I love what I do! Everyone is so positive and happy and excited about what they do too, and this is just the greatest thing ever. I could continue to go on and on, but this post is already long enough.

To keep up with my Wellness Coach news, please visit and like my page: Elizabeth Gaunt - Personal Wellness Coach! Feel free to message me about any questions, with my story, what I did, and how you can also get healthy, and even how you can become a wellness coach too! Being able to put a smile on someone else's face is incredible, there is no greater feeling in the world. :)

I hope to come back and post every now and then, so keep your eyes peeled! Peace!

Promote Peace

Just a quick thought I had last week in response to other people's response about the violence and problems in our country...

I'm so sick of everyone hating on the President for everything they think is wrong. He is not the only person who has power to make changes. There are so many people involved in the process, and guess what, you can be too. If you don't like something, don't send out negative hate messages. Promote what you want & love instead, positively & peacefully. If you want the violence to end, saying "I hate Obama" or other people and things only creates more anger & negative energy. What this world needs is love, so start promoting that instead of bashing what you hate.

My New Year's Resolution: Promote Peace, Love, & Happiness :)

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

"Good things come to those who wait."

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"Sometimes what you're looking for comes when you're not looking at all."

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Recently, this has been so true. Every now and then things seem to run on a downward path. Some things don't go right or the way I'd like them to, and I get disappointed. Sometimes I just lose my sense of purpose. But as I start to relax and lose concern about the tiny details, good things start to happen! I might receive a random compliment from someone at school, come across an uplifting article online, or re-discover one of my favorite songs. But most recently, an old friend from highschool contacted me, who I thought I would never talk to or see again. I hadn't talked to him since graduation, almost 6 months ago. It was very surprising. It just made me feel good that I was actually remembered, by someone who I hadn't talked to very much in the first place. Things like this help restore some hope in my life.

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This all makes me realize how important it is to have patience. We all need to learn how to "let go" more, and release some of the control we have on our lives. Sometimes, if you want something, and you try really hard to get it, nothing comes around. Sometimes, waiting is the only thing you can do. Waiting kind of does what sleep does to the brain. It gives time to sort things out. Let's face it, not all of our problems can be solved in one day, can they? You have to have patience. "Sometimes what you're looking for comes when you're not looking at all." This has happened to me. Great people have come into my life, when I least expected it. I wasn't searching for them, but they were waiting there, right under my nose. They appeared at a perfect time, and I am so thankful for them. :)

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Just something to add.. a cover of Jack Johnson's "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing" by The Gaslight Anthem's (one of my favorite bands!) lead singer, Brian Fallon. Enjoy. :)

 

 

Inner Peace - Inspiration

This is another quote, not necessarily just pertaining to Buddhism, but about learning to control your mind, and the great effects it can have. And always remember to just breathe.. :)

"When the mind begins to become still, we then begin to truly see it. When you first try to stabilize and pacify the mind, initially it will become very busy because it's not accustomed to being still. In fact, it doesn't even necessarily want to become still, but it is essential to get a hold of the mind to recognize its nature. This practice is extremely important. ... Eventually you will find yourself in a state where your mind is clear and open all the time. It is just like when the clouds are removed from the sky and the sun can clearly be seen, shining all the time. This is coming close to the state of liberation, liberation from all traces of suffering. ... The truth of this practice is universal. It isn't necessary to call it a religion to practice it. Whether one is a Hindu or a Muslim or a Christian or a Buddhist simply doesn't matter. Anyone can practice this because this is the nature of the mind, the nature of everyone's mind. If you can get a handle on your mind, and pacify it in this way, you will definitely experience these results, and you will see them in your daily life situation. There is no need to put this into any kind of category, any kind of "ism." ~Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche. 

Live A Great Life

I found this inspirational quote and picture on a blog/website that I follow: KindOverMatter.com I love it. In order to have the best day of your life, you need to create it, you need to be in control. Don't let anything or anyone stop you. You have one life to live, so live it! :)

"The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins." ~Bob Moawad