Life Coach

“Thank you” she said as she handed me a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card. It was our last night of swimming lessons and the mother of one of the little swimmers in level one decided she needed to thank us for spending some extra time with her scared son. Then she continued on saying that she had asked him if he remembered our names and he had said “well, there’s Miss Jessica. She’s our life coach” we all laughed, he confused a life coach with a lifeguard. But then I stopped because, little did he know how accurate he actually was. I don’t claim to be the go to person to talk to about your problems. I don’t claim to have all the answers. But I do strive to be a good friend and that is almost the same thing. I started thinking about it and realized we are all life coaches in one way or another, or at least we should be, even if we don’t claim the title.

A life coach’s job is to be there to help someone through their problems. This job should be everyone’s job. We were not put on this earth to live alone. Whether you are a grandparent, a parent, a brother or sister, a mentor, or a good friend, you are someone’s life coach. You are the person who is there for them when they need you most. And if you need help, they will be there for you too. It doesn’t always work this way, especially in today’s society where people expect help but don’t want to give any. We need to change that.

Whether you call yourself a “life coach” or not, you should always be there for the people in your life who need you. Everyone has problems and we do have the ability to fix them or help them through them. Whether you give advice, or you are the shoulder to cry on, or the encourager of a much needed laugh, or are the person to talk to, you are acting as a kind of life coach. Whether you sacrifice your time to a late night conversation, simply let someone know you’re thinking of them through a quick text, or give some extra time to a scared swimmer, just being there is the best way to be a good life coach. This life is hard. Everyone has problems. We must all help each other through this difficult life. I suggest you go be someone’s life coach today. Let them know you’re there for them. We weren’t meant to get through this life alone.

Hakuna Matata

"Hakuna Matata" we all know the phrase. "It means no worries, for the rest of your days" But it's not that easy. Is it? It can be. At least that's what everyone keeps telling me.

I was sitting in a field on a warm fall day when Hakuna Matata came on my Pandora station. That got me thinking. Can it be true? Can it be that easy? Can I simply decide to have no worries and be optimistic? Now, sitting here in March, impatiently waiting for the snow to melt already, the thought occurred to me again. Can I just decide to be optimistic? And have it actually work?

Here is what it comes down to. Happiness is a conscious choice. You may think that it is involuntary, it just happens. But it's not. You can choose to be happy or sad. Angry or pleased. It is all how you see the world. How you choose to see the world.

I have to admit, I can be pessimistic at times, see the worst in everything. I admit that I have been just that for most of this winter, along with many others I know. But I also know how to be positive, and it is hard, but possible. It can be done, it just takes a lot of practice and willpower.

There are many ways to force yourself into a positive attitude. For example, when I catch myself being pessimistic, I force myself to think of something positive. Just one positive thing that happened that day. Even on the worst day ever, there is always something good to take from it. It can be really small, but it will be there. And if you can find that one good thing it will make all the difference. Once I find that one thing, before I know it I find more good things. The list begins to grow. Day by day I become more optimistic and less pessimistic.

If this isn’t enough, I also like to do my favorite thing in the world. I write. Whether getting my feelings out on paper, or using my imagination to create a new story, writing always has a way of putting me in a better mood.

Sometimes, I literally force myself to laugh. Watch a funny movie or TV show, start a conversation with someone who always makes me laugh. Whatever it is, as long as it gets me laughing it’s worth it. When they say “laughter is the best medicine” they aren’t kidding.

Finally, I like to listen and/or sing positive music. Such as Hakuna Matata of course! This rarely fails to put me in a better mood.

I have tried all of these things during this winter that seems to be going on forever. It’s a slow process, I admit, but it is working. And I know if I keep at it, it will become easier and easier to stay positive.

Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy. As time goes on it takes less and less work to do so. These are merely a few ways I like to stay positive, what do you do to put yourself into a better mood? Let me know in the comments! Hakuna Matata!

 

 

   

Swimming

"Who goes swimming anyway?" says some random young guy who walks past me in the hallway as I leave work. Finally going home after lifeguarding and teaching swimming lessons.

"I was just swimming earlier" I respond. I had actually found some time to get in the pool and swim. A rare occurrence.

"I don't like water" he says as I walk out the door with a smile on my face, swimming put me in a good mood.

It’s a shame some people don’t enjoy the water like I do. But then I started to wonder, why do I swim? Why on earth do I like to swim? It's such a hassle! I have to change, get in the cold water. Getting out is even worse. Drying off, then going out in the cold with wet hair. So why do I bother? I never want to at first, but then while I’m swimming it is so therapeutic, so refreshing. I feel awesome after I swim. Like it cleared my head of all that was troubling it.

I don't swim nearly as much anymore. I became a lifeguard and a swim instructor and could no longer find the time in my day. I didn’t want to spend more time at the pool than I had to. Then why do I continue to teach swimming lessons and lifeguard if it takes so much time away from my love of swimming? Because it has its own rewards. I have the unique opportunity to show children how swimming can be fun. I can encourage them to do the best they can and more than they ever thought they could. I can praise them when they show improvement. I get excited when they make the jump from hating swimming lessons, or being scared of the water, to loving to swim. Some days are difficult, but some can be incredibly rewarding.

So, “who goes swimming anyway?” I do. And I hope to play a part in helping children want to go swimming too. Maybe that young guy would like to swim if he had a better experience as a child. Maybe I can make the difference between these children loving or hating the water. It’s my place in this world right now, and I take on the challenge proudly.

Valentine's Day

Well, it’s February again! That means Valentine’s Day. The candy hearts have been out since Christmas and the flower shops are getting ready for their big orders. You would think that a fairytale loving girl like myself would love valentine’s day, and I do think it has its good qualities, but in general I can’t stand it. It’s the day where the love birds show their love to each other and the people who haven’t found that special someone yet feel incredibly left out.

The most obvious reason I don’t like Valentine’s Day is that, like many people, I don’t have that love of my life to celebrate the day with yet. It is just a day that reminds me that I still haven’t found my prince charming yet. It is a day that almost forces you to have a boyfriend or girlfriend just so you aren’t the one person who isn’t doing something romantic on Valentine’s Day, which I find to be ridiculous and disgusting. True, I long for the day when my prince charming will get me flowers on Valentine’s Day. But I want to wait for him; I want him to be the right Prince Charming, not someone I picked out just so I didn’t feel left out on some random day in February.

But once someone finds that special someone to show their love to on Valentine’s Day, why does it only have to be on February 14^th? If you really love someone you do not need a specific day to show it. You should show your love for that special someone every day of the year. And who said Valentine’s Day had to be a day to only show love to your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, or wife? Why not show love to your family and friends? Everyone deserves to know that someone is thinking about them on Valentine’s Day, and every other day for that matter.

So, this fairytale loving girl will go another Valentine’s Day without finding her Prince Charming, but that won’t stop me from showing everyone else in my life that I love them this Valentine’s Day, and every other day. I hope that you will do the same. Whether you have found your special someone yet or not, show everyone you love them. Whether it be on February 14^th, June 23^rd, October 5^th, or any other random day, never let a day go by without letting the people you love know that you love them. It is easy to forget sometimes, but it means so much.