10 Tips to be Awesome

Here are my 10 tips for being Awesome!

My definition of being awesome is being comfortable in your own skin and just being present in this one life you lead. I'm sorry, people we're going to get a little deep with this post. Warning: you may feel a warm fuzzing sensation in your heart region and that is just cause your "Grinch" heart is growing a few sizes. Don't get me wrong, I know that the world in which we live in is a little bit Cray Cray. But, if we just had more stand out awesome people I think we will be just fine.

1. Pray for a stranger.
Every time I am passing a car that is stranded on the side of the road I always say a prayer for them. I pray that they get home safely, that this will not ruin their night or week and that they are able to afford the repair. We've all been that person, and there's nothing scarier than being stranded on the road by yourself. Whenever I see a screaming child or a parent that has had enough, I just say a small prayer to give the parent patience and for the child that is having a hard time to be able to calm down a bit. I learned this from my mom. Whenever we were acting out she would say "Lord Jesus!" and I would say "are you swearing?" She would say "I am just saying a prayer." Sure mom, sure. Love you Mom!

2. Be kind to a stranger.
Open a door, pick up something they've dropped. It doesn't have to be big, maybe just a smile. I love to talk to the people that seem to be having a hard day when I'm out running errands. My goal is to get a smile and if I get a chuckle then I win. I make it a fun game to myself that only I can win. And believe me I love to win.

Chalk wall in Charlottesville VA I wrote "Love is Love" Well cause it is.

3. Say something you genuinely like about a person.
Maybe it's what they're wearing or how fun you think they are. Keep it genuine and not fake. That's the important part here because when something is real it feels different to the parties involved. So go ahead, speak up and make that person's week, month or year.

4. Take time to look up at the sky.
I'm sorry but no matter the weather or time of day, the sky is freaking beautiful! So many colors. There is a reason people spend their lives studying, painting, and taking pictures of it. My favorite pass time was when my bro and I would lay on a hill in our backyard and argue about what the clouds looked like. Not everything is a dinosaur Andrew! Ah memories.

My Dog Miss Mollie on her 10th Birthday. 

5. Talk to or just pet an animal.
I'm serious!  There are studies out there that I can bore you with that explains all about how pets lower your blood pressure and stress. When you see me liking and following puppies on instagram, it's for my health people! I take my health and puppy medicine very seriously. I really think there should be a script for the winter blues that require one to be kissed by 20 puppies!

My amazing son Jax

6. Play with a kid.
Please please make sure it's a kid you know and have permission to hang with. Please don't end up on the news. Your own, your friends, your grandkid, your neighbors. There is just something so magical in just letting go and acting a fool. I'm telling you before I had a kid I totally got caught up in my "adulting" that I forgot how much fun it is to build a sandcastle, knock over a block tower and just make silly faces and fart noises. We spend most of our kid years just wanting to grow up and our adult years wishing we were young. I know, deep right? I warned you.

6. Belt out a song in the car.
 Jerry Maguire knew what was up. Whether you are happy, sad, angry, excited, no matter the emotion, there's a song that hits all the right notes. Music is a great escape. So let it out and get the car next to you to look at you funny.  Not to brag, but I have also mastered the art of car dancing. Self taught I might add. No lessons.

7. Dance when no one is around. 
This can also be done in the car if you have mastered the art of car dancing but I recommend just rocking out at your house. I like "clean dancing" because the swifter makes an excellent dance partner and always lets me lead. Plus, it never wrecks your house after a serious dance off.

8. Meditate.
I know people think this is just for hippies, but it really is a great way to have some "me" time. Just sit and be still. It helps decompress, reduce stress and strengthen the brain. My favorite place to do this is outside on my front porch. I just close my eyes and listen to the sounds around me and let my mind drift. One of my favorite "mind" places I go is at the beach, on a hammock, listening to the waves roll in while my son is giggling and running around in the sand. Yeah, meditating is just like day dreaming.  I know, I just blew your mind. Don't worry I have just the thing for that."ommmmm"

9. Be grateful for the things you do have.
It's easy to get caught up with all these images we see on social media and think that we need to become that or need that. Thank God every night for the day, your family, the bed you sleep in and the roof over your head. Then go back to #1 and pray that someone that really needs the things you have gets it.  I always ask God that everyone has a safe place to lay their heads at night.

10. Give yourself a complement. 
Tell yourself something that you like and admire about yourself. We're always the hardest on ourselves. I could have done this or I should have done that. I'm so stupid, why did I spend so much money or forget to pay that bill? Or I wish I was skinnier but I can't put the fork down! No wonder he didn't call cause you were so boring! While you're reading this, you're probably thinking I'm going to mess this person up for saying these horrible things. But it's you saying them. So now take the time and think of something right now that you like about yourself. For me, it's my wit. I love how quick I am at a joke or phrase and giving someone a laugh or making them smile. This is something I'm very good at. I'm also great at reading people and can tell when someone just needs a win. So I make a point to #3 them.

I hope that you had a few laughs but also take this blog to heart because even if you do only one or two of these things, you will not only be more awesome but also inspire others and the world to be more awesome as well. #getyourchictogether