Getting Back to the Basics

Hellllloooooo everyone!! 

Yes I am back to slacking on the blogs.  I apologize as I really do enjoy blogging.  I think I am finally starting to create enough of a routine here in Europe that I should be able to blog more often than not, yea me! :)

Before I get to that a few things:

1.) We need to have a Ustream chat.  It has been way to long.  Look for an announced date and time on the 1 Year 1000 Challenge page within the next week

2.) I really appreciate everyone who took the time to provide me with feedback about my newsletter.  I am always looking for ways to try to provide the best for you all.  I will work at implementing some of the suggested changes.  If you would like to sign up to receive my free monthly newsletter, click here: www.jessebrisendine.com

3.) One more thank you to pass along, thank you everyone who has taken the time to look at my photography page and provide me with feedback and suggestions.  This is a new venture for me so any comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.  Please check out my photography page here: http://www.jessebrisendine.com/photography.php

Well I am officially a Europe resident, specifically London, for the next few months!!  And I got to share with you all, as excited as I am to have the opportunity to be here, it has been a little tough for me to adjust.

My thought process has not been one that has been conducive to helping me adjust either, which wherever my thoughts go, my actions will follow.

I really miss my friends and clients back home.  They have all become such a part of my day to day life that it is really strange not seeing them everyday.

I miss the Ocean.  I was able to go to the countryside this weekend and went as far as the Irish Sea.  I realized as I stood there for an hour taking photos of the sunset, that I have never been away from the Ocean this long.  Being born and raised in California, the Ocean has always been there.  And as much as I talk about how much I love it and how fortunate I am to have it in my backyard, I don't think I ever really truly realized just HOW MUCH I love it and HOW FORTUNATE I really am to have it in my backyard.

I miss the Sun!  See the Ocean above.  I have to be honest, not to brag, but because it is the truth, Santa Barbara is paradise, and I live there.  I have sun and perfect temperature more than 300days of the year. Again I can say until I am blue in the face how fortunate I am to call SB home, but I take a lot of it for granted in my day to day life.   

And I miss the 100's of other everyday conveniences I take for granted: knowing where the store is, having a the ability to do laundry at my house vs. going to a laundry mat, etc...

Wow, I am sounding spoiled aren't I?  The list could go on, and I have allowed it to because I have been choosing to dwell rather than rejoice.  I have been choosing to turn my back on the everyday opportunities that are all over the place

Time for a change! 

So when I finally decided to get over myself a few days ago, things, and most importantly, my Attitude started to change

I started focusing on how fun it will be to learn the layout of a new city.  To make the foreign not feel so foreign.  I began taking daily walks in different directions and enjoying, "getting lost" in the city. 

Since I can't rely on the real Sun to show up, I sought out an artificial one.  And as fate would have it, a tanning salon is literally right around the corner from where I am staying.  8 minutes later and the golden glow had not only returned to my skin, but to my overall attitude.

Rather than dwelling on not having my car so I can run to the grocery store.  I walked to the grocery store and made an adventure out of it.  And it was a blast.  I took my camera, got to see some sights, got to exercise, and most importantly I had a lot of time to think.  And I thought about how fortunate I am to even have a car to begin with.  Then I took it a step further and thought how fortunate I am to have legs to walk to the store and money in my pocket to buy things with. 

From my front door to the store it is less than a 15 minute walk.  And by the time I got to the store I was almost floating after spending 15 minutes focusing on all the haves instead of the have nots.

As I made my less than 15 minute return trip from the store it got me thinking about how important it is to use our resources when we find ourselves in a funk.  We all have resources to call on and there is no greater resource than your own mind.  Your mind has the power to shape your thoughts, and your thoughts will influence your actions.

The positive changes you want to make, the momentum you want to build, the reality you want to create, will never happen if your mind is not thinking thoughts that will support, encourage, and inspire you.

My first two weeks here have served as such a great reminder to get back to the basics.  To stop and smell the roses and enjoy the little things in life.  I may not have the Ocean in my backyard right now, but what I do have is my mind and with that I can see any Ocean, anywhere in the world, at any time I want.  All I have to do is close my eyes and focus my thoughts.  And on that note, I think I am going to go and visit the Caribbean. :)

Enjoy the pics,

Carpe Diem,

Jesse