Unconventional Vision Board

The first snow has fallen, the temperature has dropped below freezing, and as much as I hate to admit this... winter has officially arrived. Winter is by far my least favorite season, and I am one of the many unfortunate souls who is plagued by seasonal depression. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas and everything leading up to it...  decorating, wrapping presents, Christmas music, sappy Hallmark movies, you name it. Just before the first snow fell this year, someone in my life began talking to me about winter and how I could try to appreciate it for what it is. This same person, who knows about my dream of moving out west, then asked me if I had ever created a vision board for the life I so strongly desired to create. Her theory, was that a vision board could help me get through another winter with a more positive, hopeful outlook on what was to come.

As I explained to her, I am no novice to the art of vision boards. Five years ago or so, I lived and breathed Pinterest, and I had created several boards that depicted the most magnificent pictures of what my future life was bound to look like. What I found happened, however, was that I was less inspired by my visions, and more resentful of my present situation. This left me desperately longing for the future. At that time in my life, I still believed that the key to happiness lied in those "perfect" images, and I failed to realize that I had to start working on my present self in order to truly feel happiness. Also, Spoiler Alert! That "perfect" future I had envisioned never stood a chance of becoming a reality. Those vision boards were simply a facade created by my fear and my inability to take control of my present situation and happiness. By creating those boards, I had made an excuse for why I simply couldn't be happy in the moment, and it deflected the responsibly I had for taking control of my life, onto my future self. My future self was NOT impressed. If things had worked out the way that I thought, all of those gorgeous vision boards would have become my reality, but I would have felt just as empty and unfulfilled as I did when I created them.

Though I told my friend that I no longer had room in my life for a vision board or that negative way of thinking, I later realized that I actually had created a vision board. This one, however, was much different from my past experiences, because it had been created organically in my mind, untainted by outside influences. This vision was so authentic to my true self, that I hadn't even realized what it was! Instead of being envious that this vision wasn't my "now," I have remained excited to finally experience it for real. I know that once I finally do, I will make sure to appreciate every tiny detail as much as possible. Since I am trying to allow myself to be more vulnerable, I decided that I would share this vision. With my desire to move out west in mind, I unintentionally planned my "perfect" day in the desert...

Despite not being much of a morning person, my day starts out by waking up before sunrise. This is to allow time for my husband and I to drive out to a scenic hiking trail, with just enough time calculated in to hike to an area that will allow us to capture a breathtaking view of the sunrise. After quietly admiring the beauty of the sun, and being mindful of its importance in bringing forth a new day, we continue our hike. During this time, we make sure to explore a new area that we haven't seen before, and we continue hiking until we find a perfect spot to stop, rest, and enjoy a small picnic breakfast.

After fulfilling our need for nature and exploration, my husband and I head back to our house to rest for a bit. On our way home, however, we stop at a local cafe for a foamy, late morning pick-me-up. The time in which we arrive back home, I have left open for a few options: reading a few chapters out of my current favorite read, catching up on Youtube videos (yes, I'm totally one of those people), relaxing in the backyard, or even tackling something that I have never seemed to master... taking a SHORT nap.

Once early evening starts approaching, I hop in the shower to freshen up for the night. After my shower, I do my hair and makeup, and I put on an outfit that I have been dying to wear. This part may seem silly to some, but beauty and fashion are two of my favorite forms of self-expression, and they truly bring me to life. Once we're both ready for the evening, my husband and I head out to try either a new and unique, or tried and true restaurant. It just so happens that we are both foodies, so I physically cannot imagine a "perfect" day without a delicious meal making an appearance! After enjoying our evening of dinner, drinks, and each other's company, we head home for the night. Once we're back home, we either relax in front of our fireplace, or in our hot tub (we'll see which one manifests into reality!). This is when I take the time to reflect on the day, feeling truly grateful for each and every second.

As I think about this day that I have imagined, I am flooded with an enormous amount of happiness and appreciation. For so long, if someone asked me what my ideal day looked like, I responded like a good chuck of the population: "relaxation, dinner, and a movie." This was so far from my authentic truth, but it felt right because that was "normal" and required minimal self-reflection. Originally, I was so quick to discredit vision boards, but the truth is, they can be extremely therapeutic and motivating. If you find yourself thinking "I'll be happy when...," then maybe you should give it a shot. Make sure, however, that your vision board is authentic to you, and it shouldn't be created to simply showcase your version of "perfect"to anyone. In fact, I would go as far as to say that it is a good indication that your vision is genuine if few people truly relate to and appreciate all of the details you include.

Don't be afraid to dig deep, figure out what it is that you really want in life, and take the steps to make your dreams your reality. I don't know if my vision board will make me love (tolerate) winter any more, but so far, it has helped me remember to be more present and to take one day at a time. With the new year quickly approaching, I hope that you use these last few weeks to appreciate how important you are, and how important your happiness is. Creating a vision board isn't going to work for everyone, but I hope that it will inspire you to figure out what will help you achieve your dreams and to remember your worth.


xoxo