Lift the Oars (and Happy New Year!) – Video

Relaxing has certainly been one my biggest challenges when tackling my own personal goals. It's great advice and a life-long battle that obviously makes a big difference if you master it. Great advice Jenny and best of luck to you and your goals for 2010.

Thanks Jeff! I read a great tip recently about scheduling time for renewal -
it's not to say we shouldn't push hard toward our goals, but we should
remember how important it is to build in time to slow down too. Best of luck
to you in 2010 as well!

Always enlightening Jenny. It's good to sit back sometimes and enjoy the ride. We cannot control everything in our lives, but most of the time we unsuccessfully try, and it wastes time, effort and puts us in a bad state of mind.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Thanks Ryan! I absolutely love that quote/passage - if we could all stick to
that every day, we'd be so much more relaxed (or at least I know I would
be!). So true that unsuccessfully trying to control things that are not
actually within our control is the fastest way to anxiety and a bad mood -
and that spirals and creates a whole secondary set of problems. So cheers to
optimism, faith that things will work out as they should, and the power to
change the things we can :D

Gahhh! Great message. Even greater video. I love you to death, OBVIOUSLY. Thanks for the inspiration. :D

Awww, thanks AT! Love you to death TOO!! Can't believe we are living in the
same time zone again. Too good to be true! Can't wait to see you again this
weekend!!

Hi Jenny
I've discovered your blog for the first time and I wanted to write to congratulate you on an amazing blog - I love it. It's very uplifting and invigorating and just what I really needed today. Thank you.
Helen

Thank you so much Helen! That really means a lot to me. I'm so glad you
stumbled upon Life After College and have found it uplifting so far. I look
forward to keeping in touch!

I just got off the phone with a friend and was telling him the exact same message you had in your video. Its true that we always forget to enjoy the adventure and the small things along the way to our big, hairy goals! Happy new year and keep the great wisdom coming:)

Thanks Kelly! Funny that you were saying the same thing to a friend - it
really is universal wisdom that we are all tapping into - just nice to have
different reminders here and there. Happy new year to you too - here's to
enjoying our adventures :D

Thanks for showing your dog, as there's no better way to get refreshed and recharge your batteries on a regular basis than with ones dog!

Kyle - I couldn't agree more! As far as I'm concerned, dogs are walking
happiness machines. Thanks for stopping by - hope your new year is off to a
great start!

The Moleskine, Disney Princess hair, and good old Patches all make an appearance. I love that Patches is all like "don’t talk to me, don’t film me, I don’t know you, you’re embarrassing me with your nerdy vlogging." I’m kidding. Actually, no I’m not. I’m just repeating what Patches told Diesel. Sorry if that hurts your feelings, but dogs talk...especially in Disney movies.

I like lift the oars and relax into your life motto. I think that is especially true when it comes to relationships. So many people push for things to happen or rush the next step when perhaps they should just let nature take its course. Things have a way of falling into place naturally and beautifully when we don’t force them. So why not lift the oars and sail a little? Of course you may need to start paddling if you hit a rough patch, but I think every good boater knows that.

PS (My basketball number was 10, but my favorite number has always been 8 - upright infinity. That's your David Fun Fact for the day.)

Disney Princess hair - you crack me up. Patches is such a tease - she comes rustling around just enough to be distracting, but won't actually look at the camera for a cameo. To think I had her so well trained eons ago! You're right though - I think she was just embarrassed by my nerdy vlogging. She's all, "keep those highlighter hands to yourself - I'm smelling leaves." But tell Diesel she sends her best. Or did she already tell him because they are mind-readers like that?

I completely agree that "lift the oars" applies especially well to relationships. I was thinking the same thing. I find relationships simultaneously exciting and scary, because they are one of the things in my life I don't have direct control over (like I do in terms of when I eat, exercise, sleep, work, etc) - not to sound like a control freak, or anything. :)

A relationship really does have a mind of it's own, and it gets angry when you try to dictate some fixed idea of how it should be or rush things, like you said. Plus - there are two people involved! What's to say either person knows what's best? It's really true that things fall into place naturally and beautifully when we let them - oftentimes in ways we couldn't have planned for or predicted. Plus, how much more fun is a relationship (and life) when you can just close your eyes, kick back in the boat and "sail a little?"

With you and Matt posting your dogs in videos I guess Rusty needs to make an appearance!
Great job on this. I think you can teach me a thing or two about vlogging!

Look forward to making my way out to SF at some point this year to visit with you and Nicole!

San Fran? I'm in! :)

Yes! Rusty needs to make an appearance ASAP! Video blogging is fun - it's a great way to get to know each other better.

As for SF? We host great tweet-ups - all bloggers/tweeters welcome at any time!

Great post Jenny. We all have to remember to 'lift the oars' more often. We always feel so rushed and crazy when really we create that feeling. I told my sister at Christmas, Life is pretty simple, only we can make it complicated. I have an email coming your way about the ebook and videos like this are why I can't wait for you to join in on it!

Thanks so much Shane! This is a saying that has really helped me during difficult moments - along with the phrase "don't push the river." You are so right that we often make our lives more complicated than they need to be.

Thanks for the ebook email - I'd be honored to contribute!

I think we are seeing a common trend of bringing our dogs into our video blogs :) You are absolutely right with your message here Jenny - 2009 was a year of change, transition, trying new things, taking risks, and overcoming obstacles. While I still have high aspirations for myself this year - as I have no doubt you do as well - I also hope that 2010 is a year in which I can spend a lot more time relaxing. Getting married, spending more time with my soon-to-be wife, my friends, and family. It doesn't mean not making time for myself as well, I want more of that too - but I am hoping 2010 is a little more about settling in, "lifting the oars" and relaxing into my lifestyle.

Wishing you all the best and reminding you that we need to chat soon!

Yes - dogs are the latest greatest addition to vlogs for sure! I loved your Christmas video - so fun. I love what you said about relaxing into this year more - I think that is a huge accomplishment in itself. That's why I'm not stressing about New Years Resolutions - I have been striving and accomplishing things for 26 years - I'm ready to relax a little bit and focus on bringing a little more love and laughter into my life. Heck - maybe I'll even find someone to watch Monday Night Football with.

Cheers to lifting the oars, and yes - we will definitely catch up soon! Work is a bit crazy this week - but we will make it happen. Looking forward to everything ahead in 2010 - you've been so supportive - it really means a lot to me.

To get to the point where you CAN relax is a huge accomplishment for sure. And how you don't already have someone to watch MNF with is beyond me Jenny - gents out your way don't know what they're missing out on. The support and enthusiasm you've given me over the past year is something I'll always be grateful for - coming by and telling you how awesome you are from time to time is the very least I could do :)

Aw, thanks Matt - you're too sweet. :D One of these days! I'll DM soon about
setting up a time to chat - until then, have a GREAT week!