Best Advice.

“Look at them and know that you are going to beat them.”

“Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks about you.”

“Give me strength, give me speed, let me fly.”

I’ve gotten some great advice in my life, all at the times when I needed them the most. I am so beyond thankful for everyone that was there for me, when I couldn’t find just the right words for that exact moment in time. Your words helped me see my true potential, or the answer to my question. Some of the advice I received was terrible, some wonderful, and some of it was not what I wanted to hear but rather what I needed to hear.

I can remember exactly where I was when I got my most favorite piece of advice. It was 2013 and I was in my room in the worst mood ever. It was most likely a Saturday night and I was laying in my bed watching a movie. I felt like I was the only person in my exact spot in life and I was miserable. Do you know that feeling? You are the only person ever who got a flat tire, you are the only person to ever get dumped, or to have everything in a day go wrong. That was me.

I had recently gotten dumped, and was feeling completely devastated. Contrary to what I had believed when I was younger, I didn’t have life figured out right after college..the complete opposite in fact. My mom must have had her mama bear instincts on high alert because she came walking into the room. She asked me what was wrong and of course I gave her my usual “nothing.”

I don’t remember exactly how the conversation went after that but I do remember word for word what she left me with.

“In order to fall in love with someone Megan you have to fall in love with yourself first.”

I remember her walking out of my room and thinking she was crazy, I clearly loved myself. Ask anyone, I am my biggest fan most of the time.

It wasn’t until the next day when I really thought about what she said. What does it mean to love yourself? How does one truly love themselves? After I love myself will my one true love walk into my life?

I realized that I needed to stop overthinking things for once, just stop obsessing over everything and to stop trying to control everything, which was so incredibly hard for me. It wasn’t easy, putting your worries of the unknown aside and putting your needs first.

I decided to pick up a book one afternoon instead of obsessing over the things I couldn’t control. I honestly don’t have the attention span to read but I decided to pick up a book I had heard some good things about and give it a try. To say it was good would be an understatement, but that’s besides the point. The point is that the book I read made me happy, 313 pages of words made me incredibly happy and thankful to have the things that I did. I never knew a book could do that.

I started reading more by that author. I started listening to more music. I started being present when I was hanging out with my family and really enjoy the small moments. I took moments to myself and really enjoyed being by myself. That was pretty difficult, enjoying the quiet and taking a few moments to myself.

I sang along to the radio more. I got a kitten. I started to really enjoy my relationship with my little brother. I ran more. I signed up for a marathon. I took more selfies and spent less time criticizing my appearance. I volunteered at my old high school and started coaching.

I got up every morning and started to absolutely love the person I saw. Not saying that I didn’t love myself before..I was pretty fond of myself..I just really started to appreciate every little thing that made me who I was. Everything that I enjoyed doing, I really took the time to enjoy it and appreciate every single minute of it.

I had finally realized what my mom was talking about.

Once you truly love and appreciate everything about yourself, you allow others to fall in love with you.

Would it be cheesy if I said I met the love of my life coaching that summer? We ended up getting married and have an amazing son? Because it happened. I honestly do believe that the only reason it happened was because I took the time to love myself. To find out what I was really passionate about, what made me happy, what my favorite things were. What Megan loved.

I guess the whole point of this post was to give thanks to my mom for some pretty amazing advice that she probably doesn’t remember giving. Telling me exactly what I needed to hear exactly when I needed to hear it. And to share the importance of this advice to anyone who wants to hear it.

❤