What I Wore: Saturday 8/15/15

It’s hard to believe that we’re already over halfway through the year. 2015 (so far) has been a whirlwind year full of transitions, setbacks, harsh AND exciting realizations, and countless lessons. In what seems to be the most growth-filled year so far, I’ve accepted the end of many once seemingly vital things in my life and welcomed the start of exciting and new beginnings.

I’ve found myself thinking lately that- for someone so focused on their future- I do reflect quite frequently on my past. I often wonder why things don’t work out the way that we hope that they do- despite our resilient efforts. Whether it’s a rejection for no valid reason after a job interview for a position that seemed perfect for you, or rejection for no valid reason from a guy that seemed perfect for you, series of let downs make it especially easy to lose hope. At the end of the day, we can chalk it all up to one thing- timing. Timing is everything- and sometimes, it just is flat out not on your side. 

The crazy thing about life though, I have learned, is that what seems like the absolute end of the world is really just a minor bump in the road. Successes wouldn’t feel so great without past disappointments, and for these disappointments, we should be thankful. Without the failed job interview, I would have never been given the chance to land the job I now have- one that I am far more well-suited for. And thanks to the fact that things with prior love interests did not work out how I had hoped, I have learned my worth. To sum this long lesson up, here’s my advice: never settle. The moment you realize that things didn’t work out how you had planned, it’s time to make a new plan. Know your worth. Timing may be a big, massive *B word*, but it’s everything. When things don’t go your way, know that your way may not have necessarily been the right way. It’s easy to mope and feel as if the whole world’s against you, but it’s vital to recognize that there are far better things out there. If it passes by you, it’s not meant for you. Moving forward, vow to do just that- move forward. Never look back- appreciate your past but don’t let it cloud your future. There’s an entire world of opportunity awaiting you in the future, and you’ll never get to revel in that fact and see what’s out there if you continue to live in the past. Here’s to recognizing your worth, moving onward and upward and acknowledging and appreciating that while we may not always have it all under control and well planned out- there is beauty in the unknown.

Tank: H&M, Pants: H&M, Shoes: Windsor Store, Polish: Mint Candy Apple by Essie

Back to Blogging (Again!) and What I Wore: Wednesday 6/10/15

After a series of setbacks that resulted in a long period of complete discouragement, I am finally back to V&V. Inspired by a conversation I had with a friend who has come a long way in reaching success by focusing on turning his passion into a career, I began to think about what it is that I want to be focusing on at this point in my life. At the start of 2014, I was writing for my own blog and focused all of my time on energy on producing content regardless of who was viewing it. To me, this meant that I would write about things that I was passionate about for this blog, even if one person out there was reading it. It was only after I started writing for a company that I began to reevaluate my decision to blog on my own. The content I was writing for this company was receiving page views, but at the end of the day, it was not something that I was passionate about.

I found myself wishing that I could write what I wanted to write- in the way that I wanted to write it. I wished I could show off my inspiration and my thoughts without having a mandatory format to follow and certain restrictions on the content that I was allowed to produce.

Ultimately, no one can choose your path but you. It is our own responsibility to say no to things that don’t matter and yes to things that will help us to grow. The most important reward, I have learned, is not the recognition that you may receive, but rather the happiness that what you are doing brings you. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Find someone who has found success in doing what they love- and learn from them. There is nothing more inspiring than choosing to have the right people in your life- the ones who have been at the bottom but have worked relentlessly towards reaching their goals. Being stagnant and expecting others to hand you what you want will never allow for growth. Success will never come overnight. It may not even come for years, but every second spent working towards your dreams is one second closer to getting where you want to be- and if that isn’t inspiration enough, then I don’t know what is.

Top: Forever 21, Necklace: Brandy Melville, Overalls: Loft, Similar sandals: Zooshoo, Arm cuff: Topshop, Lipstick: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lipgloss in Undressed

Blogging Breaks and What I Wore: Thursday 4/1/15

After yet another blogging hiatus, I’m finally back. Sometimes I find myself wondering if anyone notices whether or not I post on here, and I’m always so happy when people asking me questions about my absence. When I first started my blog a little over a year ago, I posted every single day. Since then, life has become a bit hectic and messy- but my time away from this has shown me that it’s so important to make time for the things you really enjoy doing. Blogging brings me a sense of happiness and relaxation and always makes me feel like I’m on the right track in terms of doing what I love. Four months into 2015, I’m as busy as ever, but that’s no excuse to stop doing the things that make me happy. If you find something you enjoy doing- make time for it no matter what.

After living in another country for four months, my first semester back home has been full of adjustments and realizations. As one of my final semesters comes to a close, I’m finding myself feeling overwhelmed by the idea that maybe I’m not exactly where I had imagined myself being in life at this point. At age twenty, I’ll be starting my last year of college in only a few months. The realization that in one short year I will be ending yet another chapter in life and soon totally out on my own in the real world is terrifying, but I’ve always been one to believe that there’s a plan for each and every one of us. Instead of being disappointed by the things we have not yet fulfilled, we should be excited to know that there is so much for us left to explore and encounter. It’s all about having faith in the right things and believing that you are good enough to achieve whatever it is that you put your mind to. The idea of disappointment is just a fork in the road. We often fail to recognize that we are doing better than we let ourselves believe. We have unknowingly picked our paths and are taking steps towards becoming exactly who we want to be each and every day.

Here’s to reveling in the fact that there is a lifetime worth of opportunity and excitement that awaits us. We are not behind, we’re just slowly (but surely) making our way down our own paths.

-          A

Bodysuit: Missguided, Jeans: PacSun, Sunglasses: Forever 21, Sneakers: Vans