DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT.

"Done is better than perfect."

I heard this quote on a podcast I love and it really resonated with me. I don't automatically consider myself a perfectionist until I realize there are so many projects I haven't yet started because of this overwhelming idea that it has to be perfect the first time around. I have so many things I want to do, but I don't start those projects because something so small holds me back. 

Well folks, done is better than perfect. Starting and creating something even if it's not amazing is so much better than never making the thing at all. The more self-help style podcasts I listen to, the more I realize successful people didn't just have all the answers in the beginning. They didn't wake up one morning and say "I'm going to have a successful clothing company/bakery/blog/etc" and it just magically happened. They tried and failed, they experimented, they walked down the wrong job path until they realized that's not what they were supposed to do. They tried, and they tried, and they tried. Until, eventually, they turned their once small, intimidating idea into something successful and extraordinary.

Even when I take a look at the back pages of my blog right now, I have so many drafts of blog posts that never got published because I didn't think they were finished. But what's the point of writing 92% of a blog post and then never clicking that "publish" button? 

I wanted to start a blog a long time before I actually did, but the dumbest reasons held me back. I didn't know what it would truly be about, I didn't know a good blog title, I didn't have all the ideas right up front so I didn't start for a couple years. How dumb is that?! If I had just started the blog, the ideas would have come, but I thought it was the other way around. 

It's so awesome if you already know your life's calling and you know what you are meant to do, but I feel like for the majority of us, we're all just figuring it out along the way. And I think that's totally okay! Trial and error help us grow everyday, and I personally want to give myself the freedom to try new things and fail at them than not even try at all. 

So that being said, I'm working harder every passing day to remind myself that done is better than perfect. I'm allowed to fail. I'm allowed to make a really crappy macaron the first time around and get better with each batch. If the worst possible outcome for a project or business idea is just that it won't be successful, who's to say you shouldn't try?

You can listen to the "Don't Keep Your Day Job" podcast here: www.dontkeepyourdayjob.com

The podcast is so inspiring and motivating to run after the one thing (or multiple things) in life that call to you, to live your life intentionally, and to live your happiest life. I really recommend it to everyone! 

I hope you, yes you, figure out what would make your heart truly happy if you just weren't scared of failing. And then I hope you take a step towards that goal today, even if just a baby step. We only have this one life, and I think you should live it doing what you truly want to do. 

Happy pursuing! :)

ZUMBA. ZUMBA. ZUMBA.

I went to a Zumba class for the first time last night with Mama and I learned two things:

1. Zumba is actually a lot better of a work out than I thought it was going to be! You're just constantly moving and following along with the instructor for an hour, and boy oh boy was I sweaty at the end!

2. I have no rhythm whatsoever! The whole time I felt like I was constantly two steps behind all the other ladies. In my defense, it seemed like a lot of those ladies were regulars because they already knew the choreography almost simultaneously as the instructor was doing it. I think even if I knew all the moves, I would still be so behind though! I just might not have that intuitive dancing bug in my soul.

It was really fun though! The ladies were all so in it, and danced the whole time, and it was a fun atmosphere. I think we'll have to go again next Thursday evening! 

Perhaps I'll get better. :)

LET'S BE REAL FOR A SEC.

I got kind of chubby. 
I mean, this isn't really news to anyone. It all started right around my first year living in Rexburg. I blame it on moving away from home for the first time with a mix of an amazing cook of a boyfriend at the time who made me dinner every single day. Super delicious, but not so healthy food every single night. Who wouldn't get chubby?!

Anyway, I finally decided I want to get back into shape and to look how I did when I was 18, 19, 20. I was skinny and super in shape from swimming and I just miss those days!

I found a cool Sport Rec Center up by the U that has an indoor and outdoor pool! (Along with a full gym, workout classes, and an ice skating rink!) So last Thursday I bought myself a month membership to try it out and I've been just about every night since! It feels so good to start swimming again!

Without meaning to, I always end up there about 8:00pm to swim for an hour and just in the week I've been I'm starting to see the same regulars every night which is fun. There's a group of 3 older Russian women there every night to swim and then end the night in the sauna, and I just admire their friendship from across the pool and locker room.

My goal is to lose 15 pounds by my 25th birthday. If you're a health nutritionist look away because I already know that's an unhealthy weight loss goal for that time frame but that's what I'm shooting for!

Fun Fact: When I first met Jeremy, I lost 7 pounds in two weeks. My boss teased me that it was Puppy Love because I was never hungry and never felt like eating. I was just too happy to eat, I suppose. Crazy right? haha

For being chubbier, I still fit into my Junior year of highschool swimsuit!

So this is my goal! 

• 15 pounds weightloss by September 12th.
• Swimming or some form of good exercise everyday after work.  
• Eating healthier everyday. 
• Become more aware of those little sneaky calories.
  (I'm looking at you chai's and mochas!)

Starting Weight: 146
Current Weight: 139
Goal Weight:     125

Wish me luck! Losing weight is rough mcguff.