Fight Song

Press play NOW!

I discovered this song the other day and I cannot get enough of it.

It's my song for the period of life I feel like I am right now.

I think we are always fighting for ourselves for different reasons.

Sometimes its for a job we've been seeking, sometimes its for health, and other times its to get the best deal possible. 

Right now I've just been fighting to be a better me. 

That means I've been trying to eat better.

I've been recording the food I eat, recording my workouts, weighing in every week, and making smart food choices. 

I am fighting for a healthier me.

I've also been fighting for my voice.

School has taught me that I am often afraid to let myself be heard whether that's my thoughts, feelings or ideas. 

I'm fighting for myself to be able to trust that what I have to say is important and meaningful.

I'm fighting for my relationship.

Nothing is wrong with Brad and I, but I am fighting to be a better fiance everyday.

I'm trying to be more conscious with my words asking myself if I am being encouraging, if I am listening, and if I am building him up rather than tearing him down. 

I could keep going on with the things I am fighting for, but it's not necessary.

I hope this song encourages you like it did me.

What are you fighting for?

Pin It

The Journey to Becoming a Psychologist

Oh, dear Lord, if you would have told me two years ago that the amount of personal work that comes with pursuing a masters in counseling degree I would have questioned you. And that's exactly what I did two years ago. I thought I had done all the work. I went to college and matured, right?

I have wanted to scream this so many times. It is a lie that you mature, find your identity, and any other cliche line they feed you when deciding to pursue a career, a degree, or anything after high school. Maturity comes when you do self-work and for me maturity is coming with pursuing my masters. I totally thought I knew myself through and through. I was going into this work to help others discover themselves, not me. 

Oh Rachel, you were so wrong. 

My masters program requires 40 hours of personal counseling.

I am on the last 4 hours of my 40 required and I am in this odd place.

On the one hand I am so excited to being almost done. I have been dying for the day when I can stop spending around $200 a month to work on myself.

Then there is the other part of me who, as much as it is hard to admit, does not want to end because there is still so much work to do.

And now I have thrown myself in to group counseling on top of individual counseling and I am wondering what in the world I was thinking. Yes, I am learning a lot, but my goodness it is hard. For any of you that do not believe in counseling, go to one group therapy session and you'll see how difficult the work people are doing is. It is good work, but it is so hard to do.

I am not really sure where I was going with this post other then to share part of my life at the moment and this journey I am on to begin my dream career. Be kind to those that pursue to better themselves, to those that go to counseling, leave counseling, or even consider counseling. The journey is not an easy one, but it is a brave one.

Pin It

Swagbucks

About a month ago, I took some pinterest advice and re-introduced myself to Swagbucks

I used to do this in college, but I really didn't have the time to spend on it.

Now I sometimes still do not have the time, but I often find myself doing something on the computer which creates time for me. I am a huge multi-tasker so I am that girl with multiple browsers open at one time. 

Swagbucks is basically a website that allows you to earn their "swagbucks" which can then be exchanged for gift cards. The gift cards can be to Starbucks, Target, Amazon, restaurants, and many more places. I love Starbucks, shop frequently at Target, and do most of my Christmas and school shopping through Amazon. It was a no brainer for me to start using Swagbucks. 

It's hard to explain the site without seeing it for yourself, but I will talk about the ways you can earn bucks.

1.) Just going to the website each day earns you just one swagbuck. Do that once a day and you've almost earned a $5 gift card. It may not be much, but you're on the computer anyways so why not visit and earn yourself a gift card.

These are just a few of the gift cards you could earn. 

2.) Surveys: This is where you earn the most bucks. Some surveys take five minutes others can take 50 minutes, but on average they are 20 minutes. The surveys can be frustrating at times because you do not always qualify for them or you're taking a survey and it decides you are not qualified halfway through. Good news is that you typically in at least 1 swagbuck for attempting the survey. While these surveys may not be as much fun as the Family Feud surveys, they are still worth your time if you have some. Plus these are perfect for binge watching Netflix Saturday's.

3.) Watching video's: Watch 10 swagbuck video's in a row and you can earn 3 swagbucks. I do this everyday when I am at my computer. I open a browser for the video and click on a new video about every minute. It's easier to click next while reading emails, doing school assignments, etc.

4.) Shopping: Are you a shopaholic? If you love buying the clothes, why not reward yourself at the same time to get a gift card to buy more clothes later? GENIUS! 

You can earn bucks for what you buy online. Recently, I bought a plane ticket through Expedia and earned Swagbucks through my purchase. 

There are many other ways to earn Swagbucks but these would be where I would direct you to. 

Check out the website for yourself and give it a try. Worst case scenario is that you hate it and you move on. 

Click here to try it out for yourself!

Pin It

Some New Favorite Things

It is so important to remember the good things in life and celebrate some of the new things!

1. This guy right here is always my new favorite thing. 

I love that he has to look, as he would say, "hard" in his photos.

2. The picture above and below would be a game called goldfish racing.

You and a competitor name a gold fish and race to see which one will win.

My two fish, Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson, won in the first rounds but never made it to the finish.

3. Salad. Oh goodness I have had this meal five days in a row now. There's just something about a chopped salad that is so fulfilling. 

4. I have been trying to find ways to make my hair grow. 

Naturally, my hair grows pretty long but it seems to stop right under my shoulders +/- a few inches. With the idea of having long hair for my wedding, I research ways to let my hair grow more. I have been using Not Your Mother's product above for about a month now and I love it. I did not think to take before and after pictures, but I can definitely tell its growing and it makes my hair feel more natural. I just bought their dry shampoo and some curling mouse. 

Curling mouse is awesome and does not feel like I have product in my hair which is very important to me. I will have to let you know about the dry shampoo!

What's some of your new favorite things?

Pin It

Dear my 16 year old self

Last week I fly back to Indiana to help out with some family situations.

While I was there I finished packing up the rest of my belongings and shipped them back to Seattle. Along the way I found some pretty awesome gems from the past.

This one in particular had everyone laughing.

Dear Rachel,

Today is our 16th Birthday. Also the day you really got your heart broken.

-side comment: I have no idea who broke my heart-

So now I'm writing a note to tell you all I've learned in these last 16 years,

1. Find your true friends-at the current moment they are Shannon, Lizzie, Tessa, Libby and Sarah.

-Only two of the people on this list made the cut-

2. Never let a boy be your life-do you really think he's the one?

-Because at 16 you should only date the boy you're going to marry-

3. God is always first-He's the one who always picks you up after you fall.

4. Mom and Dad are usually right-they have been so far.

-Oh the guts it took to admit this at age 16; I still do not like to admit they are right-

5. Never give up-Promise me you'll always remember you're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

6. Believe in yourself-you can do the impossible.

7. Give it your all-you can do amazing things.

8. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8- is your all time verse; it will get you through a lot.

9. You are the champion-you win in everything you do.

Oh thank you to the boy who broke my heart for you lead me to write very inspirational things and very humorous as well.

Rachel, we win in everything we do. Keep being the champion I know you are!

Pin It