As I've finally found my feet back under me and have been making future plans, I realized something profound. Okay...maybe not something NEW, but something that I needed to ensure I stayed grounded and on track. 

I needed a PLAN. 

For the past several months, I was operating under the "I just want to survive" mode. I didn't really have a mindset for future plans, other than ensuring I could pay my bills, I had a roof over my head, and food to eat. And that worked...for awhile. 

But then things started to get tight. There started to be more month than money. I couldn't figure out what was happening because everything that needed to be paid was being paid. I legit was confused. 

After a couple months of floundering trying to figure it out (yep, I like to make things interesting), I came across a book on my bookshelf entitled "The 21-Day Financial Fast: Your Path to Financial Peace and Freedom," by Michelle Singletary (learn more here). Pretty sure God led me right to it since I've been praying for financial guidance for awhile now. Let's just say I had an AHA moment! I desperately needed to do something about my financial situation, and it seemed like this book may be able to help! 

So as of today, I am on day 8. And yesterday, day 7, I had to create a budget. Which meant I had to hardcore look at where all my money was going and where I needed it to be going for all my bills. 

I'll just leave how I felt about it in two words....EYE OPENING!! 

Holy goodness. I didn't realize how much money I was spending on ordering food or going out to eat or grabbing that cup of coffee with a friend. And let's not forget my guilty pleasure of monthly pedicures. 

I thought I was doing really well with my money. You know...everything was being paid (and on time) so I should have been golden. Right?! 

Ummmm...nope. 

I mean, I would go grocery shopping or order my food to be picked up (hello, Walmart.com grocery pick-up! You can try it out by clicking here and get $10 off!) and then would promptly order food. Duh. 

So now, having my eyes opened and seeing where my money was going, I have a better understanding of where I can save some of that extra money so things aren't quite so tough at the end of the month. All it takes is a little bit of knowledge and awareness and then using that information to make a solid PLAN. I am no longer floundering around and lying to myself about where my money is going. 

Oh, and I had another amazing idea during the first few days of my financial fast. I was racking my brain trying to figure out what I could do to make a little extra money (if you recall one of my previous posts, I had signed up for Lyft). But let me put it this way about Lyft...I signed up and was approved on April 5th to drive for them. But I have yet to actually make my first trip. So yeah...I don't really think I want to drive with Lyft. Oops. 

So anyways - back to my grand idea! I was meeting with a new friend, talking about the financial fast, and he asked me why I didn't do any online coaching or programming. You know, like my health coaching stuff. And you guys...seriously...he may as well have hit me in the head with a baseball bat! 

Like, seriously...why HAVEN'T I been doing that?! 

Once again, I needed that reminder so that I could put a plan into place. I had a client earlier this year and we worked together online and via text, which worked perfectly for both our schedules. And you guys! I already have another one signed up and ready to go! 

It's amazing how putting a PLAN into place truly helps everything align in your life. 

If you feel like you are floundering about or worried about paying bills every month, I would highly suggest making a PLAN for your life/budget/etc. It truly does pay to take the little extra time to sit down, make a plan, and then follow the plan through to fruition (that's how you reach your goals!). It also helps alleviate a lot of stress and anxiety!! 

If you're looking for a wellness coach or someone to help you out with nutrition, life situations, health concerns, or even want some online workout programming, let's chat! I am back and better than ever, ladies and gents! You can also check out more about me here. I would love to help you get back on track to feeling and looking your best! 

I hope you all have a beautiful week! And are ready to get your plans back on track! 

With love and wellness,
​Whitney

One of the hardest things in life to come to terms with is that not everyone is meant to be in our lives. 

I, self admittedly, am a very emotional person. And this fact is one of the hardest things for me to ever realize. I care too much. I want too much. And I want everyone to be happy...with me. With our friendship. Whatever the case may be. 

This, however, isn't always the case. In fact, it is rarely the case the majority of the time. 

We meet people that are necessary in our lives, for some reason or another. Some people are for life, some people are for seasons, and some people are there simply for the hard lessons we have to learn.

And you know some of those lessons? Well...you continue to go through them until you actually LEARN something from them. 

I know this because I have continued to go through some of the same lessons again and again, because I am stubborn and hard-headed and it took me ENTIRELY TOO LONG to learn what I needed to. 

I say those things...that I am stubborn and hard-headed...as if it is a terrible thing. And it isn't. It simply means that I fight for what I want...but sometimes it's long after I should have let it (whatever "it" is) go. 

For you see, I want to make things right. To make things better. 

But here's where this hard truth comes into play. 

I can't make all things better. And I can't make all things right. 

Not every person will stay in my life. And here's the real truth...not every person SHOULD stay in my life. 

Nor should they stay in yours. 

Not everyone will be your best friend. Not everyone will have your best interest in mind. Not everyone will be out to help you. 

But you know the beautiful thing about this? 

There is also the opposite of this! 

Because there will be people who are your best friends. Who want nothing but the best for you. Who will help you simply because you're friends. 

So embrace everyone that comes in your life. The good and the bad. Because all of these people are in your life for a reason. Just know that not all of them are meant to be in your life permanently. 

​Take the lessons. Yes, even the heartbreaks. Learn from them. Grow from them. Let them strengthen you into exactly who you are meant to be. 

But don't ever let go of the need for people in your life...the good and the bad. Keep an open mind and an open heart. People will surprise you. 

I hope you have an amazing week. And know that it's okay if people don't end up staying in your life. You'll learn something either way. 

With love and wellness, 
​Whitney

What kind of person are you? 

By that, I mean, what kind of person are you when things don't go as planned? When everything is falling apart around you? When something happens that you never dreamed would happen? 

Who do you become? 

I've had a lot of conversations lately about strength...specifically, how strong I have been through everything that has happened. 

Want to know a secret?

I didn't always feel strong. In fact, there were many days I thought I was falling apart. 

Want to know an even bigger secret?

I didn't know how to be any other way. 

When a tragedy occurs, one of two things usually happens. Either a person crumbles and falls apart. Or they continue forward, one step at a time, doing what is necessary. 

I didn't really ever think about this before as I had no reason to. 

But when my life crumbled last summer, I very quickly found out which person I was. Once again, I didn't think anything of it, but just kept doing what was necessary. 

I woke up every morning, continued coaching and working and taking care of things as needed. The easy thing would have been to fall apart. And sometimes I wanted to do just that. But the necessary thing? Well, that was to keep moving forward, one step at a time. 

I'm happy that others view it as strength. And I suppose it is. But to me, it was just what I needed to do. Because it needed to be done. Period. 

Something else that helped me was having those same people continue to tell me how strong I was, especially when I didn't believe it myself. 

I firmly believe that we are what we believe. Or what others believe in us. Because that strength? Well, it came from having others to lean on, others who believed in me, others who helped me believe it in myself. 

So when you're having trouble believing in yourself, in being strong, in continuing forward, find others who will do just that for you. It will keep you moving forward until you believe in yourself. 

I hope you have a beautiful week! And hopefully we'll start having a real spring here soon! 

With love and wellness,
​Whitney

So here's the thing. We all want to control what's going on in our lives. We want to be in control, of all things, at all times. 

I mean, am I wrong? 

I know that I am 100% guilty of this. I don't like not knowing what's going on or when certain things are going to happen. I set goals and I know they're going to happen...but darn it, I want to know WHEN they're going to happen! 

But that's not what this post is about. It isn't about control (or the lack thereof). It's actually about trust. 

Yep - trust. 

Trust in the process. Trust in God. Trust in His timing. Trust in not knowing the HOW or the WHEN, but knowing the WHAT and the WHY and trusting that you'll get exactly what you want...in the right time! 

​I'm a big believer in signs...no, not the ones that are on the side of the roads when you're driving. But the ones that keep popping up in your life, again and again.

And for a long time, I ignored the signs. I just thought they were random and meant absolutely nothing. But when you keep getting hit over the head with said signs, they become difficult to ignore. 

Let me tell you an example of this. 

One of my biggest goals is to pay down my credit card debt (yep, it's getting real up in here). And I didn't really pay attention to the timing of it until a couple weeks ago. By that, I mean I didn't pay attention to how long I had until the zero percent interest expired (because duh, if you have credit card debt, you BETTER have zero percent interest!). 

So I finally sat down and figured out how much I would have to pay a month to pay it off by November 2018 (when the zero percent interest expires). And wouldn't you know...the monthly amount ended being the EXACT amount I had just put aside for something else (and ended up not needing!). So my first month of paying off my credit card is PAID. 

Second sign...I've been contemplating picking up an extra gig as a Lyft or Uber driver in my down time (not to make ends meet, but to help cover those extra unexpected expenses and pay off said credit card debt above. And you know...just to make life a little easier with more breathing room).

Now, I know how it works. You even remotely THINK about an idea and you get emails and Facebook ads popping up on your smart phones. I swear, I think those things are bugged to read our minds!

But anyways...I got an email last week from Lyft to earn an extra $1,000 in the first 60 days...I mean, duh. 

When there are signs upon signs, you HAVE to stop ignoring them. I have been praying for financial success and being able to pay off my credit card. And when you set a goal and things happen to make that goal fall into place...those are signs. And just because it may not be how I would have thought I would get it, this may be what I have to do for now. To get me exactly where I want to be. 

Have you heard the saying, "Do what you have to do now, so you can do what you want to do later?" Well..that's where I am. 

Sacrifices sometimes have to be made. And listening to the signs is something I struggle with. But I'm learning. I'm making things happen. 

And I am trusting the process. I am trusting that God has a plan that far outweighs mine. And I am trusting that I don't have to be in control. 

All difficult things for me, but I am a work in process. As we all are. 

So don't ignore the signs. Don't brush them off as random. And trust that they are all leading you exactly where you're supposed to be. 

I hope you have a beautiful week! And open your eyes to the signs all around you! 

With love and wellness,
​Whitney