It’s been a crazy month, y’all. Between launching my podcast, the day job picking up, side projects and whatever else has come up in my life lately, rest and time to myself had become a rarity. I had to remind myself several times that it’s okay to rest and take a break. But alas, it’s been a hot minute since I did a Weekly Sip post, so it’s time for a new one.
If this is your first Weekly Sip experience, check out my vision for the series, and catch up on my previous Weekly Sip posts here!
A few weeks ago, I visited Easy Bistro, a restaurant in town I don’t go to often enough. It’s on the higher end of my price range and budget, so I reserve visits to this spot for special occasions. And sometimes those “special occasions” are “it’s been a long week and their seasonal dessert looks amazing and I need it in my life.”
On this particular occasion, Easy Bistro hosted a pop-up brunch with a local chef. If you’ve known me for more than 10 minutes, you know I’ll never say no to brunch, so naturally I made plans to check this out. I’d also been slacking on my local food events game and this seemed like a great opportunity to get back to it.
Like any true Southern girl, biscuits are a staple in my breakfast and brunch game. I haven’t always been a huge fan of biscuits & gravy, but when I’m in the mood for it, I want it. However, on that particular day, I had chicken biscuits on the mind, so I opted for one of those instead of the biscuits & gravy.
Y’all, that chicken biscuit did not disappoint. Thick, juicy and perfectly crispy. The breading wasn’t super heavy, and the seasoning was on point. I don’t like my chicken too spicy (or anything too spicy, for that matter), but it had the right touch of flavor without being overpowering. As for the biscuit—golden, buttery deliciousness, and not the least bit dry. Just the way a biscuit should be.
And of course, that Lil’ Marm cocktail was a great addition. I always enjoy a good mimosa with brunch, but I couldn’t pass up pineapple and blood orange flavors. And it was so colorful! Needless to say, that pop-up brunch was a great way to get back into food events in town and get back on my game.
I’ve written a Weekly Sip post before about owning your happiness, that only you are responsible for your happiness in life. This post is kind of an extension or continuation of that theme; it’s something that’s been floating in my head over the last few weeks.
My friend Shelly is a very wise lady. She’s several years older than me and has what seems like a century’s worth of wisdom. She’s the type who’s easy to open up to about your struggles, because she’s a phenomenal listener and knows exactly what to say to help you find your way. That, combined with her Chattanooga roots, and that she’s just a joyous person in general, made her an ideal guest for my podcast.
Side note, go listen to that episode when you’re finished reading this. It’s a gem. It’s also available on iTunes and Stitcher.
One of our topics of conversation was our best pieces of Southern wisdom. Shelly shared one bit that her mother always told her growing up: even on the foulest day, when everything seems to be going wrong, don’t let anyone or anything steal your joy.
It’s so easy to let people, events, drama, things that may or may not be out of your control get under your skin. Between our careers, friends, families, relationships and beyond, we all want to be happy and live our lives the way we want to live them. Sure, there will be bad days or rough weeks here and there, but in the end, all we want for ourselves is happiness.
Never let anyone or anything steal your joy. Click To TweetThe truth is, there will always be something or someone that wants to ruin our happiness. The motives may not always be clear, and to be honest, the motives usually don’t matter.
If there are people in your life making you feel negative, directly or indirectly, then maybe it’s time to reassess those friendships. I’ve been in situations when I found myself acting differently around certain people, or as a result of spending so much time with certain people, and I wasn’t always happy with who I was becoming. While it’s sad to see friendships fall apart, sometimes it’s for the best. And when I look back on some of those, I know now that ending those friendships was the right way to go. Those people aren’t stealing my joy anymore.
If your job is making you miserable, then do something to make it not miserable. We spend 40, 50, sometimes 60+ hours a week at our jobs; that’s way too much time to waste being unhappy. Think about what exactly about your job is making you feel that way. Have a serious talk with your manager or a trusted colleague and try to work toward a solution. If you feel like doing that won’t change anything, or if you’ve tried and it didn’t change anything, then maybe it’s time to think about making a different kind of change.
(Caveat: I haven’t actually experienced that job-misery yet. But the philosophy is the same and applies in other situations I’ve been in.)
If your relationship feels like a continuous struggle that’s getting nowhere, then maybe it’s time to get out. Never stay in a relationship longer than you should. Never let a bad relationship steal your joy. Trust me, y’all. Been there, done that. And getting out was the best thing I could’ve done for myself.
Only you are in control of your happiness. Don't let anyone or anything steal your joy and make you unhappy. Click To TweetIf there is any aspect of your life that isn’t contributing to your overall happiness, this is my challenge to you—stop, take time to think and reflect on it, and make a plan to make it better. Don’t let anything steal your joy.
Admittedly, it all sounds a little bitter or harsh, but I only say and write these things because I’ve been there, too, to varying degrees. Life is short. Don’t waste your time on things or people that don’t make you happy. As I wrote before, you alone are in control of your happiness. Nothing is worth being unhappy. Nothing is worth losing your joy.
If this post resonated with you, or you know someone who needs a little boost today, I encourage you to share it. You never know how much difference a little reminder can make on someone’s day.
