Go Big or Go Home

I believe in living out loud. Love Deeply. Laugh Loudly. Live out loud! It's a simple concept and one that I sometimes lose sight of in the midst of everyday life. Someone who inspires me and understands where I am right now gave me the advice that equated to no longer being stifled by those who felt "intimidated" by who I am and instead to "Live big, my friend. LIVE BIG!!"  It was just what I needed to hear. Right now, it is time for me to stop living like everyone else does and how everyone else thinks I should. Right now, I need to shut the door on what everyone else does because I am not them. And neither are you. Right now, it is time to LIVE BIG, because right now is all we've got.



Going with the flow and being like everyone else is not what we were made for. We were made unique for a reason. We have a unique purpose in the grand scheme of this universe God has created for us. We may not know what that is today or ever, but know that you were "created for greater things than we can comprehend," according to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. He goes on to say, "But such accomplishments are not achieved by fierce competitiveness, calculated one-up-manship, or cold indifference to others. True greatness will always be predicated upon love, respect, compassion, dignity, prayer, hard work, God." Oh, yeah! It's all about relationships. With God AND with each other. Why would we stifle the beauty, power, brilliance, fortitude or any other gift we've been given because it makes others fearful of who we are? Don't get me wrong. If you're doing something malicious to cause someone to not want to be with you or around you, that's  a problem. Can you temper who you are in order to not make someone uncomfortable? Sure. As long as it doesn't cause you to be less than you were meant to be.


I am tired of being less than I was made for. God has allowed this life to make me strong, independent, opinionated, educated, questioning, and so much more all for a reason that I don't yet fully understand. If I stop allowing myself to be that way because "people" believe that you have to play games and live meekly in order to get what you want in life, then I can't be what "people" want. I won't apologize for that any longer. I am ME. I am the one who likes being the center of attention. I am the one who laughs so loudly that I will draw a crowd because it sounds like we're having too much fun (not that I believe there is EVER too much fun to be had). I am the one that who is always willing to interact, to ask questions, to offer solutions. I was a fixer; I AM a problem solver. I have a mind and use it to think about things. I (usually) think before speaking. I do NOT talk just to hear my voice; I have a point, so listen. I will hear you out even if I don't agree with what you have to say. I believe it is good to disagree and that can always been done with respect for each other. If we all thought about things the same way, what a boring world we'd live in and how much would never have come to be?!


Embrace who you are. I believe that compromise is good, but not when you compromise who you are to make someone else happy while you make yourself miserable. You're not doing anyone any favors compromising the glory of YOU!