Like the Christmas Song.. “It’s been said many times.. many ways.” We are reminded many ways that we should enjoy life. I believe I have become a professional at doing just that, enjoying life! I am here to share how I have mastered that.. and it hasn’t at all come from the easy chapters! Enjoying life can come from overcoming hardship, challenges, failures, etc.

I am a survivor of a life threatening car accident, a teen parent (a statistic I didn’t plan to be) and an adoptive and foster parent to three beautiful daughters.. in addition to our three handsome sons, an example of financial hardships, not to mention lots of other traumatic experiences. I am not here to have a “poor me” session!

Instead, I am here to tell you the flip side!

I know I am still here on God’s green earth for a reason, my kids are my most prideful and favorite accomplishment, I am a successful and accomplished entrepreneur. I would consider myself a life coach. I am a business owner/hairdresser, aka hairapist! 😆 I love people and I strive to help others feel and be their best selves every day.. by both enhancing their natural beauty and offering encouragement!

Some advice I would offer to anyone in the world includes:
1. Strive for happiness!
2. Stay humble!
3. Do your best at whatever you do!.. your work has your name all over it!
4. Believe the best is yet to come AND it will!
5 Don’t compare yourself to others! Comparison is the thief of joy!

On Tuesday of this week, I found myself feeling insulted by two of my clients compliments. One of the compliments was that I am such a go-getter.. and probably don’t know how to relax. The other was that I really know how to enjoy life. The realization is that I am in fact a go-getter and I do enjoy life. I even felt insulted for a brief moment when someone complimented my husband’s newest venture as a real estate consultant. Long story short.. we have to have a good grip on what our values are, where we are and where we are headed in life, and don’t assume the worst in others! I realized I was feeling a bit tired and defeated and it made me insecure in that moment.

I am a sensitive person and it was necessary to step back and think about my feelings and then let it go! It is okay to take a break to rest and regroup. What kind of life are we living if we only live to work? We must work to LIVE, find passion and do what speaks to our hearts.. driving us to be the best version of ourselves! 💚

In just starting to read Jay Shetty’s bk., Think Like A Monk I realized my values were derived from lots of things. I grew up in a home where my mom often said she considered herself eccentric and a pretty conservative father. They were young parents and I feel like I turned out to be a really great person. Why? Well.. I think because I didn’t ever assume the worst, I knew they were doing their best, even if it was different than others. I find myself somewhere in the middle.. Or at least very open to differences!

Yes, I am a small town Kansas girl who is very open-minded, free-spirited, and loving. I have no time for people who are judgy, critical, self loathing, and resentful! I have personally experienced all of these things.. I am sure we all have. I can tell you I am just now finding my own voice, after years of caring too much what others think. I believe thinking outside of the box is good for all of us!

I am now in a chapter and season where I am not slowing down on my goals when there are bumps in the road. I am going to keep pursuing as gracefully as I can. I know I will make mistakes, struggle, and have to work hard.

The biggest obstacles for me at this time are, overcoming being technologically challenged 😳😆 and striving to handle my family the way I would a stranger.. (I feel like I can unload on my loved ones because they “get” me).. I now realize that there is no need. If it doesn’t build others up.. it may tear them down. No need to state the obvious. And mostly I realize enjoying life is a gift!

I have spent a few years working with professionals through talk therapy and plan to continue. In doing so, I have realized that I am capable of attracting what I want into my life through concentrated effort and hard work. I have decided that seeing the best in others (even those that have hurt me the most) is okay.. it makes me realize I have a gift to see things through different eyes. I am going to continue to do what I can live with. I am going to regroup when I have a shitty day and know tomorrow is a new day!

When someone says I am a go-getter and I know how to enjoy life.. I am going to do my best to receive and accept it as a compliment!

I want to express one more thought in this entry! I think it’s great to share the good parts of life.. I especially want to remember the good parts! I also am confident that I can share the hard parts of my story in a way that is helpful to others!

*On a funny side note… I have to share that this is a favorite picture from our recent 20 year wedding anniversary photo shoot. You wouldn’t believe the whirlwind of events that took place leading up to this picture. I had asked my in-laws to be in a couple pics, thinking it would be a nice momento. They tried to gently decline.. I didn’t take it very gently. I was an emotional mess and I don’t like anything that feels confrontational, so I was hurt and insulted for a couple of days. I eventually overcame those feelings, realizing their delivery was probably different than they intended. The day of the photo session.. our oldest son, Keith went to pick up our middle son, Landon from barber school because he had recently wrecked the car he was driving and didn’t have transportation. Keith had a belt break on his car when he was just .4 miles from his destination. My husband ended up driving to Wichita to pick them up. We moved the photo session an hour later. On the boys’ way down to the location, we asked them to carry a rustic bench down (our photographer had brought as a prop).❤️ Landon ended up covered in dirt😳 Luckily, he was able to be positioned to where it didn’t show and some editing was able to be done. You can’t even begin to know the JOY this photo brings me!

Go ahead and squeeze every drop of joy out of life! Find your zest and for goodness’ sake, know that the hard parts.. let the best parts shine!🌟

Stay Rosy, Amber