The art and joy of NAILS

For the longest time I've always loved having my nails done but if I'm being completely honest, it's ridiculously expensive to get your nails done in the States! I lived in the states for 21 years and of all those years I got my nails done a whopping FIVE times! And one of those times was a treat from my sister! I like it done a very specific way and very seldom is it ever done the way I like! Now, in china it is much cheaper get decent nails for the most part (at least where I live in China). But, the problem I run into is the cultural difference in style/fashion. Like I said, I have a very specific idea of what I want and the Chinese are none to shy to state their opinions especially when what you want isn't in their parameters of mainstream beauty. 😂 Fair enough, I guess! lol! They never mean it out of malice and they always try to accommodate as best they can to give me what I want which is very kind of them. ❤ They're very patient with the language barrier too which is probably the most important!

Side story: this one time I went looking for a new nails place when mine closed and I went into this really nice spa looking one and showed her the picture of what I wanted. She said something in Chinese that I didn't understand so I told her I didn't understand and she immediately became frustrated and told me to get out and come back with a translator (that part I understood perfectly well! Her facial expression and body language also spoke volumes!) RUDE! Anyways, safe to say I did not go back, nor will I ever! I think when I was walking out the door she realized her shortness with me and tried to be gentler but the damage was already done! oh well! The four other places I visited that day had very lovely, patient, and kind people! 🙏🏽

ANYWAYSSSSS! Long story short, a few things in life recently have spoken to me about a big life lesson that I've really begun to learn and put into practice. What was spoken to me was this, "Only you know exactly what you want and need and how you want or need it. If you want things to get done and are able -- you're the best person for the job!" Easier said than done on some things obviously! But I have been taking a hard look at myself lately and deciding what are the things I want done a certain way and am I actually able to do it? The other message I've been receiving that ties into this quite nicely is, "You are 100% capable -- if only you are willing!" There are so many things I could get done myself honestly! IF ONLY I WAS WILLING! Laziness, lack of knowledge, busyness, excuses are all things I make up for myself in order not to do something. This is only holding me back from the opposites of all those things; finding motivation, learning something new, improving my time management, making an achievable plan! All such great things that I could delight in! If only I was willing!

Now you might wonder what all this has to do with my nails! lol! The simple truth is that not all accomplishments have to be monumental in order to make you feel joy! Something as simple as my nails for instance was something I was too lazy to do myself so I paid other people to do them but most of the time wasn't 100% pleased with the results. I had a good idea of how to do it but told myself I still didn't know enough and I lacked the motivation to learn the rest, it's a time consuming project to maintain I was convinced I didn't have the time for, and I told myself I wasn't a pro therefore I really had no business even trying. ALL LIES! Lies I told myself that kept me limited even on such a simple thing! Which begs the question -- what other lies am I telling myself largescale? Now I'm not going to go into that too much as that's a post for my INNER TRASCENDENCY category, but I'll leave you with that powerful food for thought, and encourage you to give it the time of day.

Here I am now sharing with you the small joys of having nails that make me feel beautiful and spicy and having done them myself! Breaking out of my self induced limitations and making me feel accomplished! Who doesn't want to feel that way? So! I encourage you to pick one thing this week "small" scale or "large" scale, that you would like to grow in and accomplish whether it's: doing your nails (like me), going through your clothes and giving away what you don't wear, reorganizing you pantry, buying yourself something spicy and sexy that you told yourself you weren't enough for, or even just consciously making the decision to go for a walk! It could literally be ANYTHING!

Here are some pictures of the thing that I continuously (the last few months) I have chosen to work on! And for the first time, I'm 100% pleased with the results!

as always, stay spicy, stay wild, be kind and try something you thought you couldn't ❤