Your'e never going to know all the answers.

Hey there Loves, Happy Monday! I hope your weekend was a great one, I know it was for my fellow New Yorkers as our beloved New York Football Giants will be making their way to the Superbowl, how very exciting! Because of the time difference Kyle and I couldn't watch the game, so it was a really nice surprise when we woke up to see that the Giants were victorious, it's the little things like a football team winning a game that can make you feel closer to home and proud to be (for us at least) New Yorkers. 

Photo compliments of my cousin, Sammy Long.

Today is a special day in my life, it's my brother Brendan's birthday. Now if you grew up with Brendan and I you would know one thing, we used to fight like cats and dogs on a daily routine, my poor sister and parents (haha). I felt like he thought I was always his 12 year old little sister and he thought I was always his 12 year old little sister, you could now understand the battle. We annoyed each other, picked on each other and were just plain mean to each other at times, oh sibling love! However, over this past year, my relationship with my brother drastically changed. I think it began when we started commuting into Manhattan together, everyday we learned a little more about each other and who we really were, for example he knew I needed to be off the first one off the ferry in the morning and I knew that pissed him off (haha). 


We both experienced big things over the last year as well, we both moved. He moved across the country to Portland, Oregon and then back to New York, while I moved to Greece, then moved out of my parents house in New York and then to France. I think over that time, our respect for each other grew tremendously. This past summer when we both moved back to New York and found ourselves commuting into Manhattan together again it was very comforting, a routine I believe we both missed, which as I sit here in France I can say I miss terribly and look forward to doing it again in the future. 


I am extremely proud of the man my brother has become, in this last year alone he got a huge position at a company, which was the reason he moved back to New York and he also became a father, an amazing one at that. I can't tell you how many people after seeing Brendan with his son say to me, "He's a great dad, I hope I can be that way when I have kids." That's something he should be extremely proud of, I know I am. 


Maybe it took me 26 years to realize how great a guy my brother is and maybe it took him 32 years to realize that I may be his kid sister but I'm not a baby anymore. No matter how long it took, I'm happy we are at the place we are today, sharing commutes, Sunday Brunches and random weeknight dinners. I'm also so lucky that he chose an amazing woman to be his wife, who I look to as another big sister and feel so lucky and blessed to have in my life. So happy birthday Brendo, have an amazing day and Starbucks is on me when I get home. Love you!

Me, My brother Brendan and My Sister Becky this past Summer in Long Beach Island.

As of late, the manfriend and I have been talking a lot about the future and our plans. This can get a bit challenging because just like myself, my guy has many interests, so when it comes to deciding what to really focus on, it can get a little hazy. We know the life we are living now isn't going to last forever, so it is important that we have a "plan". Part of me believes in plans, while the pessimist inside says, "No matter how many plans you make, you really can't predict the future and what is to come." I do know one thing is for sure, the day our feet are settled on American soil will be a day I will treasure forever. 

Now let me be clear when I say, I do not hate Europe, Kyle and I have had the chance to experience and are still experiencing so many amazing things, to be able to see the world has always been a dream of mine and we are getting the chance to do that. However, at the end of the day Europe isn't home. For two people who are complete homebodies, I have to say I am so proud of us and what we are doing. I know Kyle wants a life in the States as well, so it is a constant conversation we have. Where do you want to settle down, what are our options, what would make you most happy. 

That's where today's quote comes in, I'm telling you there really is a quote for everything you are going through in life. I found this quote while reading Bethenny Frankel's, A Place of Yes, which is an absolute must read. This quote is about life and how it can be a complete mystery but that can't stop you from living it. You are never going to fully know the outcome but you can't be afraid to get in there and try. What's the worst that can happen, you fail, maybe or you might find exactly where you belong. I know Kyle and I have to stop worrying as much as we do about the future and trust our guts and mainly our hearts which have led us on one amazing journey thus far. We need to realize that we are in this together, which makes the scariness fade away knowing that we are never going into something alone. Life can get bumpy but you just have to trust the process. 

Enjoy and have a great Monday!

Life is a mystery sometimes, and not knowing all the answers is exactly why you can stumble right into the life that's meant for you in a way you could never have planned out in a million years.

-Bethenny Frankel, A Place of Yes

Quote of the day.

It's going to be a scorcher here in New York City today, the temperature is supposed to reached 97 degrees, yuck, because along with the heat comes the humidity.At least we are half way through the work week, happy Wednesday! 

Last night I had a fantastic run, I was really pushing it and when I finished I was wiped out, which means it was a success. Lately, anytime I'm on a run, I visualize what it will look like coming through the finish line of my first Half Ironman, this vision pushes me through to a great workout. 

 

A big thank you to all that watched my first Vlog! I've received some great feedback and I think the Vlog is here to stay. 

I am really looking forward to tonight, I will be joining my Team in Training ladies for an Inspiration Dinner in Manhattan. They are just three days away from running the New York Road Runner's Mini 10k. I can't wait to see everyone tonight and let them all know how proud I am of them, what they are doing for themselves and others is simply amazing. 

Today's quote is from my girl, Bethenny Frankel, from her great book, A Place of Yes. Early in May I did a post on this book here, where I talked about, A Place of Yes, and how it motivated me to be the best Meghan I can be. I included a slew of quotes from her book and today's quote was one of them.  I am learning more and more everyday to just roll with it, life is never going to end up exactly as you planned. But if you work hard, you believe in yourself, and you are truly a good person, life could turn out even better then you've ever imagined.

Enjoy! 

Life is a mystery sometimes, and not knowing all the answers is exactly why you can stumble right into the life that's meant for you in a way you could never have planned out in a million years.
-Bethenny Frankel, A Place of Yes

A Place of YES.

I just finished reading Bethenny Frankel's, A Place of Yes, and it was amazing. I'm not being bias because I love Bethenny, I am serious when I say it was one of the best books I've  read in a long time.

She talks about the 10 rules she has followed to get everything out of life. Bethenny figured since it worked for her she would  share her journey with her fans and readers. I knew I was interested to see how she got to where she is today, so I picked up a copy and I couldn't have been more happy with my purchase.

The rules are pretty simple to follow, she isn't telling us to make drastic unrealistic changes in our lives. She is motivating us (the reader) to go after what we want in life or as she puts it, "going for yours". Whether it's success in a career, gaining confidence in yourself, not being afraid to take risks,  to finding the perfect man or woman to live happily ever after with. Bethenny gives you these rules (tools) to help you get yourself on the right track. Ultimately showing us how to come from a place of "yes", rather then a place of "no" or a place of "I'm afraid". I took so much from this book and I thought her approach towards achieving success in whatever you are going after, is attainable.

I am nowhere where I want to be when it comes to dreams and goals I've set for myself.  I wouldn't call myself a ultimate "Yes Man", but I am learning through her technique how to be less and less of a "No Man". The difference is mind blowing when you begin to look at things in a more positive light. For instance, if I have to make a tough decision, instead of thinking of all the negatives that can come out of making a choice, I'm learning that there are no bad decisions. Every decision you make in life will help you on your personal journey, and once you accept this you'll feel that stressful weight lift off your shoulders.

Her ultimate goal is for the reader to find happiness in whatever it is you do. It may not mean becoming a millionaire, a supermodel, or a high power executive. It could simply mean waking up every morning and having passion for something or someone you love. I really latched on to this concept and  I try to follow through with my passions everyday.

While reading, A Place of Yes, I went highlighter crazy and underlined statements that I thought were so inspiring, motivating and true, at least in my eyes. Below I've included what I've underlined. Take the time to read these great messages, and maybe we can all take a que from Bethenny and come from, A PLACE OF YES!

Quotes

from

A Place of Yes

When you say yes to the good in you, then you become better and better, and you have the potential to go anywhere and do and be anything.

Look yourself straight in the eye. That's the real you. You get to decide what comes next. Stop getting in your own way, and stop telling yourself you can't. Because you can.

Be patient. Your life is the puzzle, and it's fun and challenging to put it together, even if you sometimes spend too much time trying to shove a piece into the wrong space. At some point, you figure out that you're doing it wrong, and you try a different piece.

Intimacy is hard, and vulnerability is scary.

-if you want to be really successful, you have to
 be one of those people who sees yourself as more than a number or a drone or a cog in a machine. You have to see that you are special and believe that you can do it-and you have to surround yourself with people who believe you can do it, too. It doesn't mean you won't have doubts, but you have to keep seeking your truth, and my truth was rooted in my belief that I was destined for something more.

You are on your own journey, and more than anything else, that journey must be about finding your truth. Not finding a husband, a boyfriend, a partner-but finding yourself.

Don't wait around until you're absolutely sure that you are doing the right thing. You'll never be absolutely sure. Go with your gut and act in line with your nature, and you'll be on the right course.

Find your truth, act on it.

Acting on it-making real things happen in real life-comes from a place of yes.

No matter what you are doing, always learn-it's all life experience.

Don't let decisions fester. Learn your own risk tolerance so you can feel good about your decisions. And if you screw up anyway? Suck it up, admit it, learn from it, and move on with your life.

If you don't try, if you don't go through that experience, how will you ever know it wasn't right? Better to try and learn and then move on to the next thing than to live a static life of regret and the haunting "what if?" in your head.

-nothing is ever wasted on the fearlessly curious.

-you don't ever want to have to say," I should have..."

Everything's your business-treat everything you choose to do with as much importance as if your career depended on it.

A resume might as well be written on a paper towel, for all it really matters. Let your job performance be your resume, let your passion be your recommendation, and let the quality of your work shine through. You'll get farther than any slacker who only looks good on paper.

-fear is a mindset, and so is the will to succeed. It's all in how you approach it.

When you do say yes, keep going. No matter how difficult it gets, plowing through and taking responsiblity for what you decided tp do can transform you. It builds character, and it helps you to push yourself to accomplish what you never dreamed you could.

Skinnygirl is: She's the girl we all want to be, whether size 2 or size 12, the girl who is comfortable with herself, who feels good in her body and loves her life.

No matter what you do, it reflects on who you are, so do it with integrity and honesty and quality, by investing yourself in your work.

The truth is that most people don't exert very much effort. The ones who do are more likely to get noticed.

Be the cream that rises to the top. Get in there, get dirty get noticed.

Life is a mystery sometimes, and not knowing all the answers is exactly why you can stumble right into the life that's meant for you in a way you could never have planned out in a million years.

I say never be embarrassed if you're working hard and doing what you need to do. Never care what people think, as long as you feel that what you are doing is right.

If you can't do something well, don't do it at all.

-have faith in yourself, your passions, your talents, and go big. Or go home.

It's time to stop wanting and start getting.

Great things take time, and your life is a project.

Every step as wells every leap along the road to your success should change you because you're in a different place than you were one step before. And each step is a decision, and matters for your future.

You are who you are because of you, not because of anyone else.

-but your real friends will love you for who you are, not your ability to mimic them. Being brave enough to be yourself, whether you blend in or not, is the best way to separate the people who matter from the people who won't be important in your life.

The bottom line is, if you want to live your life making other people happy, you're likely to lose touch with what makes you happy.

When you operate just outside your comfort zone-whether it's taking on new responsibility at work, or a whole new job, or saying yes to a date you might not normally have accepted, or signing up for a class you know nothing about-you force yourself to keep firing on all cylinders. You wake and pay more attention to your life. And you grow. Just push the envelope of your own experience until you feel slight discomfort. That's when you separate from the pack. That's when the magic happens.

By owning what you do, you'll always be able to maintain your integrity.

Life isn't usually grandiose. It's just life. If it's sincere and meaningful and you own it, it's interesting enough.

Could I really have it all? Was this amazing man in front of me really going to be my partner in life?

Owning it doesn't mean you always have to be 100 percent sure about everything you do. It just means you have to stand behind your decisions and, when the time comes, trust that you know how to do what is necessary.

-taste the moment, because life whips by so quickly.

To come together successfully with others, you first have to know who you are.

Coming together is the opposite of a codependency. When you seek to come together, what matters is your wholeness. When you become someone in your own right and are no longer dependent on the labels and opinions of others, you can get a grip on the kind of lasting contentment that carries you for a long time. Together, the two wholes become greater than the sum of their parts. You are complete, and so in your partner, and together, you become something even more amazing.

When you come together and work together in a mutual give-and-take way, rather than simply working side by side, then everything changes. You make each other better, you are stronger and when you are really doing it right, you'll discover the true meaning of the word "relationship".

Fill your life with people who are good under pressure, not just during easy times.

-it's about love, in the end, the ultimate message at the end of the journey to yourself.

You choose happiness, you don't wait for it to choose you. You have to choose to celebrate.

This is what it's all about: driving your own life, even when you have to floor it, speeding in the opposite direction from where you started out. You can choose to be successful, you can choose to be great, you can choose to be happy. You can choose love.

It's all up to you. You are in charge. It's your life. Don't hand the wheel over to anybody else. Take responsibility for you, and the rest will fall into place.