I'm an Adult. I can do Whatever I Want.

Growing up, we had to ask permission for anything that we wanted to do. As adults, many of us have stayed in this same mentality. We think that we need to live to please others and to get their approval.

We think about all the things we would have to do if we could only get time off of work, but we don't ask for the time. We simply assume that our employers won't let us have the time, even if we have PTO saved up. I see a lot of friends stuck in this trap, and it hurts.

A few years back, I decided I was going to take a 2 week vacation to Germany. I was working in a corporate job. I didn't think I would be able to get the time, even though I had 6 weeks of PTO saved up. But I did something out of the norm. I asked. I figured, the worst that would happen was my boss would say no.

But he said yes.

He told me, "Your life is more important than your job."

A pretty unheard of thought, coming from a supervisor. So I did it. I grabbed life by the horns and took my 2 week vacation. And it was glorious.

I have seen the pictures popping up in my feed lately of all the Christmas markets that we went to along the Rhine on that trip. We took a wonderful boat cruise, and took our time meandering through the old towns we visited.

We took my daughter on every carousel at every Christmas market in Germany and into France.

Taking control of your life

When you decide to take control of your life, it starts with changing your thinking. It comes from taking yourself out of the normal way of just plodding along through life and doing what is expected of you.

It is a daily act of freeing your mind from the expectations of society. It is reprogramming your mind to realize that you are free. You don't have to do what other people tell you to do. You are free to do things your own way. You can make choices that are right for you.

I am an adult. I can do whatever I want.

I was sitting on the couch the other day and chilling out with some friends chatting in the middle of a work day. Then this thought went through my mind.

I don't have to be controlled by other people's thinking or other people's expectations of me. I can be the person that I choose. I can follow my passion. I can do whatever I want.

And so can you. You can do whatever you want.

What makes you feel alive? What makes you feel like you are happy beyond belief? That is what you should do more of every day. Those things that make your eyes light up and bring fire to your soul.

Even if other people tell you no. Even if it seems silly. Or unreasonable.

Who ever became extraordinary by being reasonable?

I like being punk rock with my short hair. I don't want to grow it out long (even though my toddler wants me to) just so that I can waste time rolling it into a bun every day to keep it out of my face.

That is just one example of how I have taken back myself and my life.

What can you do today to take back your life? What can you do to be more of yourself? I hope that you find one little way today to be as much of yourself as possible!

Be yourself unapologetically. Take up space. Do things that bring you joy. Your life will be happier for it!