July Check-In

- Janna

Hey guys!

Today’s blog post is going to be totally different from my others. This blog post is just to check-in with my life so far and update you all. In my high school drama class, we played this “game” called Check-In.  Basically we passed a rose around the circle and whoever had the rose was the person who was speaking. You could talk about what’s been on your mind, how you’ve been lately, any life updates, or whatever you wanted to say. So today I’m checking in.

So this summer I have been home in lovely (haha) Augusta. I’ve been working at Forever21 which I absolutely LOVE. I love helping people pick out outfits, it’s so rewarding honestly. The other day this girl came in and needed help with finding outfits for her senior pictures. She had no idea of what she was looking for and when I asked her what kind of stuff she liked, she just shrugged her shoulders. So I came up with 3 different looks and she loved them all. Then her entire family came in the store and praised me for helping her and bragged about me to my manager. That made me so happy, because you never know if what you think is cute or looks good will look good to someone else. And I’m glad I picked out cute, appropriate things because I had no idea her mom was coming in to approve it all. I wished I asked her for her name so I could see how her pictures turn out.

Last week I was asked to attend this self-esteem workshop with one of my favorite organization leaders in Augusta. She has such a positive and uplifting vibe and I love her spirit.  I was beyond honored and ecstatic to assist her. We talked to 6-8 year olds about self-esteem, but the discussion was very age appropriate and fun. We will be meeting with them every week in the month of July. And this upcoming Tuesday I have the great honor and pleasure of leading the activities and discussion about inner self-esteem (I will make sure to make a separate blog about this experience).

I cut my hair in April and it has been growing. My blonde highlights have basically grown out of my hair (insert sad face), but it’s time to go back to my natural color. I haven’t been wearing foundation and my skin has improved greatly. I finally bought some Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow and OMG it is so amazing. It has my brows looking phenomenal and now I see why everyone loves it.

I saved my favorite update for last. On July 26 I will be going to Disney World (inserts fifty million emojis) !!!!!!!! Y’all I am SO excited, my level of excitement is ridiculous. I’m planning and looking up stuff that I want to do while I am there, not just at Disney but in the surrounding area. So if anyone has any suggestions on places they would recommend traveling to or things to do, I would love to hear from you all. I can not wait to take a billion pictures, especially the famous photo in front of the castle. I’m excited like I’m a little kid lol.

I’m also very ready to be back in Kennesaw with all of my friends. I thought this summer was going to be super long and boring, but it has definitely went by so fast.

Just thought I’d switch things up this week and write a little update on my life. Thanks for reading you guys.

Love,

Janna Alane

Let It Go

- Janna

Hello everyone!

Today’s post is inspired by the famous saying, “let go and let God.” And thus, welcome to “Let it Go Sunday.”

Personally,  I have a really bad problem of lettings things get to me. And by things, I mean situations that I have no control over, that I can not change. For instance, sometimes I dwell on the past and how I wished I would’ve handled a situation differently, or acted differently in order to receive a different outcome. These thoughts sometimes consume me and affect my mood. But I had to understand that no matter how much I worried or stressed about these situations, the past is in the past. I can’t go back and change the past. However, I must use these past situations as a tool moving forward, to not repeat the same mistakes and to act differently.

I think the Serenity Prayer is the BEST prayer to use when trying to let go. It reminds us that we can not control everything, and that’s okay because we’re only human. We have to take a leap of courage in order to take advantage of the situations we can change for the better and let God handle the rest. See, this is where “let go and let God” comes into play.

I am currently obsessed with the Ctrl album by SZA, I listen to it EVERYDAY. And I think she said it best in the song, Normal Girl

“This time next year I’ll be living so good, won’t remember no pain, I swear.”

And boy do these lyrics hold so much truth to them, when I heard them the other night riding home from work I knew I had to include them in this post. Last year around this time, I was in such a sad and terrible emotional state. I didn’t know how I could overcome how bad I felt or if I would ever be happy again. But I did and that was nothing but God. I had to let go of all my hurt, all of my fear, all of my sadness and I gave everything to God. He transformed my life and my mind in such an unimaginable way. Even though my life isn’t perfect, I can truly say I am living so good that I don’t remember the pain of last summer. Thank God!

So whenever you’re feeling down or are second guessing yourself or stressing over things you can’t control,

let it ALL go.

Give everything you have to God, pray the serenity prayer, and keep moving forward, changing the things you can.

And remember, this time next year YOU will be living so good, you won’t remember the pain.

XO,

Janna Alane

Grow Through What You Go Through

- Janna

 

“Grow through what you go through.”

Recently I have seen this picture all over Instagram and I took this as a sign to write a post around this short, powerful sentence. I am sure we can all relate or aspire to relate to these words, I know that I can. And while I have been through a lot of difficult situations, as I reflect on them, I realize that these situations are what influenced me to grow and develop.

Often times we feel defeated by what we go through. It’s so easy to get caught up in the pain and troubles that seem to consume us and forget that these terrible moments and situations will not last forever. They are only temporary. And as I have grown and matured over the years, I realize that not only are these situations temporary, but they are also necessary for growth.  Nobody wants to experience pain, but the honest truth is it’s apart of life. Those painful experiences can result in moments of exponential growth. Growth can come in various forms such as finding strength deep within that one was unaware of, strength to move on, strength to fight for what he or she believes in.

 

I know that I personally have been through situations in which I questioned whether or not I would ever be happy or okay again. I felt so lost and heartbroken and never thought I would get over those things. But I did just that. I got over it. I’m not saying it was an easy process and I’m not saying it happened overnight. For me, it took time, prayer, and the loving support and kind words from my friends and family for me to get over these hurtful experiences. And when I reflect on those experiences, it seemed like they happened forever ago. It’s even hard to believe that I ever felt like that. But I did and I truly thank God for growth. If I hadn’t been through anything, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I definitely feel wiser because of the hurt, heartache, and pain I have experienced. Instead of letting these emotions consume me, I used them as my pathway to growth, to changing and embracing God’s plan for my life.

The next time you feel like you can’t endure the pain or your situation, try praying or talking to someone. I guarantee that the pain won’t automatically go away, but talking to someone and knowing that you are not facing your battles alone can help you begin to feel a bit better. It’s okay to experience things that are not so pleasing, because remember these failures, painful situations, and struggles are opportunities for growth.

I hope this post will be relatable to you and maybe encourage you a little as you endure tough times. Grow through what you go through & remember,

“weeping may endure for the night, but joy  comes in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5

Love,

Janna Alane

Hello June.

- Janna

Hello June.

Please be good to me, and everyone else.

Here’s to a month filled with endless possibilities, a month of new experiences, a month of summer fun, and a month of living young and free.

 I love when a new month starts. It’s a fresh start for that month. Who knows what all you will experience during this month? And I also like to reflect on what happened during the month a year ago. Take advantage of this new month, especially since it’s the summertime. Go travel, do something exciting, be daring, bold, creative. Do something you’ve always wanted to but never got to. Splurge on yourself a little. But most importantly, ENJOY yourself and make the most of your month, I know that I will be. I can’t wait to see what this month has in store.

So,

Welcome June.

Love,

Janna Alane

Summer 17 Glo

- Janna

 

My motto this summer is, “Glo all Summer 17.” Urban dictionary defines when one “gl0s” as one’s confidence or demeanor being so heightened that it cannot be changed by negativity.  A picture I saw on instagram also illustrates my mood this summer.

 

This picture and “Glo all Summer 17” describe how I am trying to feel this summer.

I want to fall back in love with myself and everything I enjoy. I’ve been so caught up with school, my organization, and so many other things I’ve definitely lost sight of  the things that matter the most to me. It’s so easy to get distracted and sidetracked when you’re continuously busy. It’s also very easy to focus on the negative when things aren’t going as planned. That’s why I am ecstatic that it is summer. I am finally getting a well needed and well deserved break from EVERYTHING. I’m back in my hometown for the summer, so I am really taking a step away in a sense.

I  always put others and their well being before myself. I like to make sure everyone else is okay and doing well and put myself last. However, this summer I am putting myself first. I am embracing all of my flaws because they are what make me who I am. I’m stressing and worrying less and enjoying life more. I always find myself on the go, so this summer I am laying low and relaxing. And this is actually quite hard for me to do, relaxing and not constantly doing something. I love to be in the hustle and bustle, constantly being busy and always having a move. But I think it’s very important to learn how to be alone and be okay with being alone. Because ultimately, sometimes you just have to take time to yourself. To reflect on your shortcomings and your successes, to reflect on your day or your entire life. It’s nice to find moments of peace and quiet. So this summer is all about me. This summer is the first time in a while that I don’t have anything planned. I don’t have to constantly wake up and do this or that. I wake when I want and make plans as I go. I know that while I am glo’ing this summer, I will continue to volunteer and help others because I have a passion for volunteering and I know that is something I will continue to do for the rest of my life. So don’t think I’m going to be sitting around this summer doing nothing lol. That’s not the case, I am going to be productive while enjoying my summer. But I definitely will not over extend myself like I normally do.

I keep a notebook that contains notes from various sermons. I’m going to be studying these notes this summer. And I have 3 books that I purchased and have been meaning to read, but never found the time to do so. So I’m going to conquer those books this summer as well, I may write a mini review of them. I’ve started one and it’s an amazing read so far so of course I want to share the knowledge so you can purchase the book too, if you’re inclined to do so. I’m going to be spending an endless amount of time with my nieces, travel, volunteer, and hopefully get a summer job. I’m ready for the countless opportunities the summer has to offer and for the process of falling back in love with myself and everything to begin.

And you all get to enjoy the journey of glo’ing all summer 17. Who knows, maybe this post will inspire you to focus on yourself a little more and enjoy your glo as well.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Much Love,

Janna Alane