Healthy Chicks

summer on a plate – fresh blueberries, sliced banana, & agave syrup topped waffles

Happy June 21st all, you know the first day of summer – the absolute best season in the world! Not only is it the season of loving, but it’s also the season of fireworks, my birthday (24 in two weeks – eek!), BBQs, the ocean, pretty flowers in your hair, clam bakes and lobster fests, blueberry pickin’, frozen yogurt and freshly squeezed margaritas (on the rocks).

With that unfortunately comes the season of mosquito bites, bad hair days, pit stains and even worse – smelling other people’s sweat while squished in between a random dude’s crotch on the train. Not fun.

However, I choose to think of the delightful things summer has to offer! I guess that’s just the kind of person I am. I always try to see the good in things, and tend to push aside the not-so-good. Call me annoying or “too happy,” but that’s how I am and have always been.

On that note, the other day I had a not-so-pleasant experience I thought it was time to share with you all: I had my first ever anxiety attack out of no where, and let me tell you it was extremely difficult to see the good in that. My throat started closing up, my pace was out of control, and I could barely catch my breath. I was scared. I was confused. And I felt extremely alone. Coming from someone who is happy 90% of the time and didn’t have anything particularly “bad” going on in my life, I didn’t understand where these out-of-the-blue feelings were coming from. And when my roommates tried to help pull me out of it, I felt embarrassed because I didn’t know what exactly was wrong.

Then my best friend pointed out that it’s OK to feel that way, and that it happens to everyone at times. “It’s your subconscious telling you to slow down and focus on one thing at a time.” I can agree with that. Maybe it’s my mind telling me I’ve got too much going on in there. Maybe it’s my body saying it needs a break. Maybe it’s my inner self saying “Hey Rach, you owe yourself some ‘me’ time.” After all, no one can be perfect and happy-go-lucky all of the time.

So yea, I was a little embarrassed, confused and scared to tell you guys what went on in there (my brain) the other day. But now that it’s over, I’m happy to re-center myself and find clarity. Therefore, I’m dedicating this week entirely for me. My boyfriend is gone for the week visiting his grandparents, one of my roommates is in Aruba for the week and I have ZERO plans, so what better week to take a little vacay with myself? So far I’ve organized some paperwork, practiced yoga in my room with the lights off and candles lit with a slight breeze coming through, slept in, took a nap, blogged my butt off, cooked homemade meals for one, researched and applied to some freelance writing gigs, and am thinking of taking myself on a shopping adventure today. I’m doing ME, and I’m perfectly OK with that. So go ahead, celebrate the first day of summer by doing YOU too.

Do you take enough time for yourself? Do you ever feel overwhelmed or develop feelings of anxiety? How do you cope & grow from the not-so-perfect experiences in life?

XoXo,