This Thing Called Life + Berry Peachy Overnight Oats

I feel like writing a little about life today. The title on this post is bizarre but that’s how I’ve been feeling. This thing called life isn’t always pretty. Last week was a yucky, unproductive week.. one of those where nothing seemed to be going right… Depressing, I know. I felt out of place and not myself at all. Ya know what I mean?!

I took on one too many projects and my sanity slowly spun out of control towards the end of last week. On top of that, Marty has a high-stress job with long hours and numerous road blocks on the daily – that guy needs a serious break. I know everyone has their own personal issues they deal with on a daily basis and sometimes I feel strange sharing real life here on the blog because I am a private person.. but sharing is what blogging is all about right?! And maybe you can relate. I tried to get back on track with yoga, a few long walks and lots of superfood goodness like these overnight oats I am sharing today. I also drank too much coffee and a had a few tear-filled breakdowns. Life just wasn’t lining up – my motivation to make recipes and write just wasn’t there. Sometimes you get burnt out and need to find your happy place again.

Marty and I have been living this super-focused life, where we wake up early everyday, work 7 days a week nonstop, and don’t do much of anything else. Many people live life like this, I know it’s nothing new. I know I should be counting my blessings instead.. “Talk about your blessings more than you talk about your burdens” (yess) and I love everything that is happening at the moment.. But can’t I just say its friggin hard?!!! This lifestyle (at the moment) is something Marty and I agreed to take on together and while I realize these are my choices, it doesn’t help that many of my friends are having fun and going out every weekend, but that is life at the moment. It also doesn’t help that I follow too many girls on instagram who are d0ing fabulous things everyday, making me hate life every time they post a picture haha #canyounot – Can I have their life please???! (Not really.. but maybe) I consider it inspiration for where I am heading. 

Marty and I choose to stay in, get work done, listen to motivational videos and lift each other up… because we are not where we want to be… and we won’t stop until we are there. Although most of the time, all I want to do is rebel and quit life and spend all my money on new clothes.

We make it fun in our own way. We blast Avicii or Good Feeling on repeat. We take short breaks and sit outside to reconnect. We remind each other that yes this sucks right now, but we are doing this for our future. I guess it’s not the norm, or maybe nobody likes to talk about it. Either way, I have to remind myself that this is a good kind of stress, things always get better and we are lucky to be here and to be as healthy as we are.

The only person who I can have “real talk” with and who understands what we are doing is Marty. There is something truly special in him. Marty has the ability to inspire anyone and everyone he comes in contact with. He brings out this yearning in me to achieve success, and that I have the power to create the life I want. I don’t have to follow what everyone else is doing. Because of this, I have chosen to embrace a “can do” attitude – it can change everything. I have real goals and things I want to accomplish. I don’t know where Marty finds such strength but I feel lucky to be around this contagious energy that surrounds him. He knows exactly what he is doing, and has a clear path with a concise vision of how he wants our life to be, so we are putting in the work now, with every ounce of effort we can dig up. He makes sacrifices in order to move forward and step out of the rat race. With all the negativity he faces – he is the most positive person I know – I highly respect his attitude and ever-growing momentum he is building for success. It seriously is contagious!

In these moments we encounter, moments that truly test our patience, we must know that:

a. everything happens for a reason
b. change is positive because it allows us to move forward
c. tough moments are only happenings filled with life lessons

If we don’t learn from these lessons, these happenings will keep coming back again and again, until we change our ways and start looking at the good. If I am ever feeling stuck, I do my best to remember those 3 things. I’m not saying it’s easy, especially in the heat of the moment when you just want to pull your hair out!! But it’s the only way to find that balance again. 

Eating right also helps to clear my head. Especially green juices and super foods like chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp hearts
and spirulina. When I’m feeling uninspired and want a power breakfast that requires minimal effort, I turn to overnight oats. I always add chia seeds for those omega-3’s, so important! Overnight oats are a no-cook oatmeal that you prepare overnight in the fridge so you can have it for breakfast when you wake up. Overnight, the oats are slow-cooked by absorbing all the liquid, rather than actually being cooked on the stove or in the microwave. I wish I knew about overnight oats in college. They would have saved me so many times! All you need is rolled oats, almond milk, chia seeds, and your favorite fruits like fresh blueberries and peaches. You can add a sweetener like maple syrup if you like a sweeter oatmeal. This recipe is super simple and I do see more overnight oats recipes in the future! Check out my very popular Maple Pumpkin Spiced Overnight Oats.

 How do you overcome those tough times when you are feeling stuck?

Saw this quote on Pinterest – Love it!