Happiness is Waiting.

Give in to happiness

Happiness is just waiting for when your ready.

That statement flashed across my brain tonight as I was driving home from work in rush hour traffic. I was listening to What a Wonderful World, trying to get in a positive state of mind before walking into the house to greet my babies. Trying to brush off the day. Wipe my mind clean, so as not to let the stress and tension ruin our night.

I closed my eyes. Let the music give me goosebumps. Let it move me. I inch forward in traffic and look at the blue sky reflecting on Lake Washington.  A site so rare, I can count the days on two hands, when the sun has shone and the sky has been bright.  I let the music lift me, and the sun warm my hair through the open sunroof. This is what I do when I can’t, or don’t want to lift myself. I let the music do it for me.

I had to, because I’d listened to Somebody That I Used To Know fourteen times in a row the past thirty minutes.  Driving down the highway with my middle-finger-up to the indivisible somebody. But that’s a step-up from last weeks song choice; All Back by Chris Brown, which I played on average twenty times a day. At least I’m making progress. I have a love/hate relationship with music, this is becoming clear to me.

Lyrics always move me, like little else does. Maybe because with my crazy life I don’t have much time to read, watch TV or anything else, so music is what speaks the language of my soul.  It’s like a friend who listens, doesn’t judge and knows exactly what your going through.  It almost always brings about Epiphanies. Like it did today.

There’s a line in Somebody That I Used To Know, that says “you can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness.”  I realized that’s exactly what I had allowed myself to do. The past three months I’ve been willingly addicted to that sadness. I was terrified to let it go. It comforted me in some sick way. The relationship was gone, but the sadness kept me warm at night, and from eating in the light of day. I wanted to keep it. To feel it. To miss it, as long as possible. Knowing that when those feelings of loss and sadness are gone, so is the love. Which is what, of course, I really wasn’t ready to release. The sadness was a choice.

dance
 Dance.

Happiness is just waiting for when your ready, Sarah. When your ready, happiness is here. It’s been chillin on your front porch.  Waiting for you to stop dancing with sadness, and open the door to allow happiness to take over from here. It’s just waiting.Waiting for you, to want it more than you want sadness.

Happiness is a choice.

I think I’m finally ready.

Thanks for your patience happiness, mighty kind of you. Let’s dance.

 

 

 

Sarah Centrella is the author of the book Hustle Believe Receive which teaches you how to apply the #HBRMethod to change your life and live your dream.

Follow on social media: Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat | Pinterest | YouTube |Periscope @sarahcentrella

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Addiction Gets A Bad Wrap.

yoga images
Um yeah I was supposed to do this is class

Not all addiction is evil. Well let me back track one tiny step and say, mild addiction. Because full-blown addiction is just plain annoying no matter the subject of obsession.

So assuming we are talking about mild addiction, the kid that involves me sweating like a sumo-wrestler in an over crowded steam bath; I’m gonna say it’s a positive thing. Maybe it’s my ADD talking but finding anything that becomes a habit long-term has always been a challenge. So when I do finally cross the line from going to Hot Yoga with a FML attitude, to going with a this isn’t soooo horrid attitude, I typically congratulate myself. And feverishly pray it becomes and addiction.

I did this instead.

I think I’m on the right track here. Today was my third class in a personal pact to practice as often as possible for the next six weeks leading up to my birthday (read post), in a desperate attempt to create a first-class addiction. I wanna be addicted to the sweat, the smelly room, the burn in every part of my body. The smell of my skin burning in the ridiculous heat. That moment when the instructor opens the door just a crack, and what feels like the first bit of oxygen in sixty minutes, floats over me. I want to be addicted to how I feel on that final savasana. It’s called “corpse pose” for a reason, at that point your basically dead.

Then eventually I wanna get hooked on how my body is changing, and how I feel. I wanna be able to go and not throw mental darts at the hot, yoga-asses in front of me, belonging to 45 or 19 year-old women (from this view it’s hard to tell who’s who), with giant diamonds on their finger and Range Rovers in the parking lot. I want to go one day and not even notice them. My mind will be clean and I will be there for me. Looking at my own hot yoga-ass.

hot yoga
I was supposed to do this…

I wanna be addicted to the endorphins that come about two hours later, and the energy it gives me to play with the kids when I get home from work. I want to breathe and meditate, and clear my cluttered mind. I want to find focus and general well-being.

So yes, my goal is to find my addiction. And then like any good addict, seek it out like a drug, or sex or whatever people get addicted to. Please yoga yogi let me become addicted to you!

 meditation pose
…I did this.   Hey, it’s progress.

 

Sarah Centrella is the author of the book Hustle Believe Receive which teaches you how to apply the #HBRMethod to change your life and live your dream.

Follow on social media: Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat | Pinterest | YouTube |Periscope @sarahcentrella

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I’m Playin’

I played with my kids tonight.

I know, congratulations to me right? But I ask you this, when’s the last time you played Freeze Tag or Hide-n-Seek with your kids for an hour in your house? Exactly. See I thought props where due.

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I just got silly and played and laughed for that long with them. With no distractions. No laptop. No phone. No texting. No Twitter. No Facebook. It’s fun you should try it. I chased them around the house and listened to their giggles, and
laughed so hard at myself when I tried to jump over the couch but missed
it entirely (don’t ask).

Sarah Centrella's daughter Izzy
Izzy making herself a crack sandwich

Afterwords when we were all exhausted and recovering with Nutella (crack) sandwiches, Kanen says to me; “Mama that was the best night of my life.”  Wow OK. Crazy. I’ve been working my butt off to give him all these crazy cool experiences for the last two-years, and this, this is what wins the prize? Boy don’t I feel like an asshole. But hey, I can happily live with that.

When I tucked him in bed tonight he said “Mama can every night be like tonight?” To which I replied, “absolutely!”  And to which I thought; what does that say about all the other nights?

 

Sarah Centrella is the author of the book Hustle Believe Receive which teaches you how to apply the #HBRMethod to change your life and live your dream.

Follow on social media: Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat | Pinterest | YouTube |Periscope @sarahcentrella

Books! Books! Books!

The last five months my head has been so deep inside my memoir, that every spare second was dedicated to striking while the writing iron was hot. I’d had such a hard time transitioning from blog, or short story writing to the format of a book that it took me almost a year to get the feel, and rhythm going. Then when it started coming together, it just fell out of me.  Like an over-stuffed-pinata, hit by a sugar crazed mob of six-year-old’s.

It was an emotionally draining process. I had to dig so deep for much of it. As luck would have it, fresh heartbreak proved to be an excellent motivator and source of inspiration in digging up the past. That’s not to say it’s all dark and twisted, it’s definitely not. But to get it as real and raw as possible I had to dig deep and spend many a night crying my effing eyes out.

My book mark…. Big dreams baby! Big dreams.

So now that all of that’s behind me, I’m so goddamn bored! I actually picked up a book and started reading someone else’s memoir for the first time in years. It felt nice to get outside my own twisted and jumbled brain and into another writers. I’m beginning to understand why writers are such a breed all to themselves. It takes a lot out of you, damn. I’m exhausted. But exhilarated at the same time.

But I miss it… my little literary baby. I feel like I’m suffering from empty nest syndrome.  Like I put a message in a bottle and sent it out to sea, and now I want it back! I have a feeling when my memoir is sold I’m gonna feel like I’m suffering from naked in front of the entire world syndrome. Not sure what that’s gonna feel like, or how I’ll deal with it. Guess time will tell. Maybe I’ll take a trip to the North Pole when it comes out.  Come back a few months after it’s released, so as not to be around when the clothes come off.  Why do I have the feeling my agent and publisher wouldn’t appreciate a non-book-tour in the North Pole? Oh well, real and raw is all I know. I’ll face the storm head on; in pink stilettos.

Love…

It’s time to read.

I’m a little idiotic when it comes to the reasons I purchase books at
the book store. I pretty much solely buy them for the cover. Yeah I
know… don’t judge a book by it’s cover... blah blah blah. I do.
I almost NEVER read the back “pitch”, or the sleeves, or anything other
than the subtitle. If the cover looks interesting, and if it’s
positioned in the “top pics” or “best sellers” section,
I’m all in. I like to dive into a book knowing nothing about it. That
might however explain the stacks and stacks of books with amazing covers
lying around my house half read. Especially now that Oprah is no longer telling me what to read. (sigh).  It makes this all very difficult and confusing. Trusting my book-cover-radar is what has been getting me by now that I’m Oprah-book-club-less.

The inscription at the top… goal #5.

So… here’s two books I’m currently reading, to keep my mind from turning to mush while I wait for mine to be sold…

 

laura munson book review
Reading in bed… cool cover right??

This is Not The Story You Think It Is ... a Memoir
by Laura Munson
Follow Laura on Twitter

(she follows me!!)
So far I’m really digging this book. I love her writing style. It’s casual, and she swears way more than I do, which makes me feel semi-normal. I love that. Sometimes she takes what feels like an ADD tangent road, that I’m left questioning  why I’m on, but I’m here, enjoying the ride. I like interesting writing. This is that. It’s smart and witty and real. I like not being able to guess what’s about to happen. I love writing the reads like someones actually thoughts.Her story is similar to mine in some ways. Dealing with a marriage that is on the rocks, then deciding you can change an outcome with the power of your thoughts. The conscious decision to expect a desired outcome. Impressive stuff. Her background couldn’t be more different than mine and at times that makes me feel isolated from the story, like it’s a world I cant relate too. But the parts I can, are moving and pull me in.

And this is why I love Twitter! (after reading this blog post)

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (a mostly true memoir)
by Jenny Lawson 
Follow The Bloggess on Twitter

 

I’m crazy excited about this book! I snagged the last copy of it at Target tonight. It’s written by my favorite blogger The Bloggess. I’m basically her groupie, no lie. She’s freakin amazing! This is her first book, a memoir. She is my idle. Fucking hilarious. She’s real and brilliant, and I pee my pants half the time reading her posts. I’m watching her journey closely from blogger to published author, and know this book will hit the New York Times Best Seller List. I’m delighted for her success. She is blazing the trail and I love her for it. I’m sure the book will have me laughing out loud (not just lol-ing!). And I’m super proud to say she follows me on Twitter 🙂The Bloggess on her book:
” You should probably go buy it right now, because it’s filled with
awesomeness.  And cocaine.  But only if you hollow it out and fill it
with your own cocaine.  I’m not buying you cocaine.  Because I love you.

And that’s why you should buy my book.  Because I’m saving you from yourself.  And from cocaine.
YOU’RE WELCOME.”

And that, is why I love The Bloggess!

Happy reading!

 

 

Sarah Centrella is the author of the book Hustle Believe Receive which teaches you how to apply the #HBRMethod to change your life and live your dream.

Follow on social media: Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat | Pinterest | YouTube |Periscope @sarahcentrella

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Six Weeks to a Better Me.

I’ve noticed the past few years that as my birthday approaches I become more and more apprehensive. Growing up, birthdays where never a big deal. We didn’t celebrate them.  I looked forward to them like anyone does but was always disappointed when they arrived, because it was a day like all the rest. I’ve still never really celebrated them, even as an adult. Never was one of those people who got all their friends together to have a big dinner and go out, or go on a trip.  I guess in a way it seemed selfish to try and do that, it would feel awkward getting people together for me.

sarah centrella no make-up
36, no make-up.

But the last two or three years I’ve begun getting anxious about them for a different reason… aging. It’s starting to freak me out. I mean, I never had a single wrinkle before last year. My eyes weren’t fuzzy. My body bounced back after missing the gym for a while. I was flexible with, or without yoga. I didn’t have age spots! But now; my back hurts, my eyes hurt, my skin needs more than once a day moisturizer. It’s all bad.

I find myself dreading June 20th. This awkwardness and apprehension about aging is totally new for me. I’ve always looked young for my age (so I’ve been told, all my life).  Always felt young (and still do for the most part). I’ve somehow felt I relate to the younger generations better than my own. I’ve felt that I look and feel good for my age. So this is weird, and I don’t like it.

So I’ve decided to knock-it-off! I’m challenging myself to a dual. It’s me against me. Fight to the death. I’m gonna kick this negative attitude in the ass and reclaim my youth! Here’s my plan; from now until June 20th, I’m going to find a way to do the following at least five days a week. Hold me to this people!

Six weeks to a better me…

Best thing for even skin-tone
  • Go to Hot Yoga.
  • Run, lift, hit the gym for an hour.
  • Make a “green drink” every morning. (blend any type of greens with water, 1/2 an apple, ginger, any other vegies like beets, carrots or cucumber, add ice and blend well).
  • Drink my protein shakes.
  • Take my vitamins
  • Drink lots of water.
  • Take extra amazing care of my skin. (*For skin brightening mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and fresh lemon juice, apply to face morning and night. *To lock in moisture use a fresh avocado or yogurt mask three times a week)
  • Meditation in the morning, to clear my mind.
  • Listen to positive music (no depressing shit!)
  • Read.

Wish me luck! My goal is to physically and mentally feel better by my birthday then before. I want to start this next year off in a good, positive and healthy way.  I know that all three components, body, mind and spirit must be on the same page to give me the results I need. So here we go!

 

Yes it will be a Happy Birthday! #37

 

 

Sarah Centrella is the author of the book Hustle Believe Receive which teaches you how to apply the #HBRMethod to change your life and live your dream.

Follow on social media: Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat | Pinterest | YouTube |Periscope @sarahcentrella

Project Relentless Pursuit #2

Update on my quest to get my first book published…

~Written by: Sarah Centrella for Thoughts.Stories.Life
*This is an interactive blog please leave your comments and thoughts, I will respond 🙂

What’s Your Word?

Chose a word.
One word, and carry it with you like a shield through the
rest of your life.
Strap it on like armor.
Let it defend your thoughts
and, in itself be strong enough to ward off darkness.
What is your word?
Mine is BELIEVE.  For me this word is powerful enough to replace the bad
with good in my life. To replace doubt and hopelessness with faith and
light.
What is your word?
believe
Believe.

 

Sarah Centrella is the author of the book Hustle Believe Receive which teaches you how to apply the #HBRMethod to change your life and live your dream.

Follow on social media: Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat | Pinterest | YouTube |Periscope @sarahcentrella

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Tomorrow Is Not Promised.

Life is such a fragile precious gift. It’s something we take for granted every day. It’s so easy to assume that tomorrow is our right and not a privilege.  But the reality is that it’s a gift and it can be taken in a flash. It should be cherished, not just in the moments that bring us happiness but the ones which also break us. Because all of them are a gift. All are better than the alternative.

A few days ago my father who is a slim “healthy” 56, had a sudden heart attack. He’s been a vegetarian since he was 19 years old, and a vegan for many years. He’s never smoked and doesn’t drink. He works in a physically active job outside and has always been the picture of heath. We are fortunate that he was given good medical care quickly, stints placed in his heart and looks to be making a full recovery. But it goes to show that you can do all the right things, and still have life come kick you in the ass out of the blue. Every day is a blessing. Don’t take tomorrow for granted.

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