Don't Settle - CHOOSE your Life

Choose. Don't Settle.

Hello dear.

I read a quote on Instagram the other day that sparked a fire in me and I hope it does the same for you as it did for me. See below.

“Ten years from now, make sure you can say that you chose your life, you didn’t settle for it.”

Doesn't it just smack you in the face and make you say to yourself, "C'mon [insert your name], we have to get it together"?! For me, this quote reminds and fuels me to live out my best life, the life I desire.

I can say personally, after reflecting over the past 10 years, I have "CHOSE" my life; I didn't settle for it.

Unfortunately, most people succumb to their circumstances, allowing their limitations to determine the outcome of their life. In other words, they settle for a life below their potential. Personally, it's unfortunate and makes me want to scream (I know, just being downright extra right?) at them that they don't have to settle for the life they're living because there's too much GREATNESS inside of them! And because I don't know all of the women that are settling and if you're settling, I want to SCREAM at YOU since you are reading this at the sound (well, text) of my voice, to NOT SETTLE, THERE'S TOO MUCH GREATNESS IN YOU!

There's greatness inside of YOU. Yes, YOU!

YOU make YOUR life. Don't let others or "life" make YOUR life. No, we are not in control of some things; life happens; unforeseen events have and will occur. But, it's YOUR response that makes the difference. Your response is YOUR choice!

Being a woman who's hearing impaired, I could easily allow my physical challenge determine my course in life, but I have REFUSED to do so. For example, growing up, the school districts attempted to place me in special education classes because of my hearing impairment, even though my hearing impairment did NOT correlate with a learning challenge (I was always at the top of my class, ALWAYS). Yet, I still CHOSE to be a stellar student. My family didn't have much money growing up, but I still CHOSE and managed to attend a top university for college which cost THOUSANDS of dollars! I also have always loved music and didn't care if I couldn't hear many things or not, yet I CHOSE to pursue a degree in music and EARNED my B.A. in Music! Ta Da!

I say this to all of you because you don't have to live in a box. If you grew up poor and have always struggled, you don't have to struggle for the remainder of your life. If you've always wanted to be a singer or designer (for example), you don't have to settle working as a clerk at Walmart (though it's nothing wrong with it). And if you've gotten off to a rough start in life, it doesn't have to be that same predicament for the rest of your life.

You can live better. You deserve to live the life you desire. And you don't have to settle for a life below your potential. The choice is YOURS. Make up your mind now. There's greatness in you. Keep pushing. Don't settle.

XOXOXO

• Top: Long Tall Sally
• Shorts: Banana Republic
• Shoes: ASOS
• Sunglasses: Liz Claiborne