lizziesider

[lizziesider]

My reflection on 2020. Click to read! —>

https://www.facebook.com/lizziesidermusic/posts/3881662915200377

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“To me, the road less traveled is a state of mind. One that we all have the opportunity to reach and to access, if only we choose to do so.” ~ said by me. Check out my Tedx Talk on YouTube for the whole thing! https://youtu.be/2w_aI64zwuI

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Mental Health & Happiness Tip: I have found that literally opening myself up ~ standing taller with better posture, looking upwards, opening my hands, outstretching my arms ~ actually makes me FEEL BETTER! It helps my mood, my outlook, my mental health, and my physical health. A very common response to pain, trauma and depression is the opposite of these things ~ poor posture, slouching, staying tight and clenched, and keeping your gaze downwards. Doesn’t that feel closed off, just thinking about it?

I personally know this, because as a result of my car accident in 2018 ~ that caused the brain injury I am still healing from ~ I adapted a lot of these habits for a while, and it wasn’t until I snapped back into my good habits recently, that I felt better again! 

If you are looking for ways to feel better, try opening yourself up in the ways I suggested. These are small things, but they will make the WORLD of a difference! 

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Hey. If your mental health is struggling right now, that’s okay. You are valid, you are appreciated and loved, and what you feel matters. (Btw— you can always message me, if you want someone to talk to.) ⁠ ⁠ 2020 has been a real weird year. Our norms are not the normal right now. Just remember that as life goes through seasons, we also go through seasons. Some are longer or darker or harder than others. That is also okay. ⁠ ⁠ Don’t give up. As with seasons, after the dark, there is always light again, and the sun always shines again. Remember that. 🙏🏻 ⁠ ⁠ Take each day at a time. Breathe. Allow yourself some space. You don’t have to figure it all out right now. It will all be okay... because you will be okay.

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#flashbackfriday • Lake of the Woods Camp • 8.8.15 (click through to relive!) —>

Were you there? Comment on Instagram or Facebook! 

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I’ve had a lot of people ask me: “How are you so happy?”  Here are a few of my secrets:  

You have to love every minute of your life. Like, really love it. And on the days when it’s not so lovable, recognize that you’re growing and find something to love about it anyway.  

Take life too seriously, but also, don’t.  

Never waste a day. You are capable of awesome things. So get up and do them... now.  

Make a big deal out of little things.  

Keep gratitude in your heart at all times. Being actively thankful and grateful throughout the day just brings on those happy feels!

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✨ feeling blessed, never stressed // got that sunshine on my [Tuesday] best ✨

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*a sincere reflection* ~ I feel as though something in me has broken open. I don’t know if it’s my body beginning to heal, my sparkle coming back, an invitation from God to expand my perspective, or all of the above, but whatever it is, I can feel myself breaking open. And it is invigorating. This week, I found myself at the beach a lot. As I strolled up and down my little section of the shore, I listened to the sounds of the ocean. I watched how the waves danced along the sand. I followed the birds as they glided inches above the water, looking for fish. I looked out to the sky and the clouds and the horizon ~ and somehow, it looked much bigger to me than ever before. I’ve walked this beach many times before, but the expansiveness had never felt so profound. And all at once, I was filled with peace, patience, goodness, purpose, wonder... An assurance of my journey and a rush of faith now felt like a strong river flowing right through my heart. And I became still. And submissive. And trustworthy. I breathed it in, and it sort of felt like something in me had just... released. After feeling so strange and almost flat for so long, once again, my insides filled with wonder. Life began to feel open and wild and full of opportunities again. Living with an open and spiritual heart has always been important to me, and I so check in with myself often to see if I’m where I belong. And for the longest time, I felt different... sort of flat and closed off. But I never stopped praying and visualizing and setting my intentions to become open once more. And now, a door has swung open, and I am walking through it. I feel connected. I feel stronger. I feel light. And it feels so. good. And with this, I say to you: Do not lose hope. Keep setting intentions. Meditate. Pray. Do whatever it is you do to keep your connection...and keep your perspective beyond just your own little world. It’s okay to fall into seasons where we retreat inward, but don’t get stuck there. When we refocus our energy upward and outward, as opposed to downward and inward, that’s where the doors open. That’s where resonance happens. That’s where the magic lies.

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Hey, you! Just popping into your feed today to tell you that you are amazing and strong and resilient. ✨ Wherever you’re trying to get to, just know that you CAN (and will) get there. Even if it takes a few extra steps. Every step has a reason. ✨ Keep going, and keep your faith, in your journey and in yourself. You are doing a GREAT job. 👏

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#ChallengeAccepted! Thank you @triciazuskind 💋 As women, we have the INCREDIBLE capacity to lift each other up and carry each other through. Let’s encourage each other, speak life into each other, speak up for each other, and make each other feel beautiful, celebrated, safe, empowered, and supported, ALWAYS. 🖤 To every woman reading this: You are valuable and treasured, strong and resilient. We are all in this together, and I believe everyone should be included. This campaign is for all of us, so I officially nominate YOU to join in on Instagram! 

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One of the hardest things about this brain injury recovery has been not being able to turn to music and singing for peace and solace. Right now, complex music can be hard for my brain to process, songwriting is taxing and confusing, singing brings on pain, and the timing and flow of my fingers for playing the piano and guitar is still far from perfect. The strange thing is... I find that I have to remind myself that I am a musician. That I am a performer. That I am a dancer. That I flip my hair and jump up and down and put it all out there for thousands of amazing kids in auditoriums, several times a week. YES, I actually do these things and YES, they are the things that make me come alive. And to be totally honest, I feel like I’m missing a big piece of me and within me there is this void. But there’s a funny thing about voids. They make you feel empty, but at the same time, they provide an opportunity for you to expand. In some pretty amazing ways, in the midst of being empty, I have actually expanded. I have expanded in hope. I have expanded in gratitude. I have expanded in patience. Maybe I can’t sing or play music how my soul wants to right now. Maybe I can’t write new shows or plan big motivational talks right now. Maybe it’s even hard for me to feel my 100% normal self because of strange happenings in my brain right now. But I CAN savor the expansion I have been given, and make a vow to myself that when do I get fully back up on my feet, I will never, ever take anything for granted again. Voids are uncomfortable. But expansions are good. And it’s all a part of the growth and the journey and part of being a total work in progress. 

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WATCH NOW: "In Color" - Lizzie Sider live at City Winery Nashville

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{hope} As things come and go, as life weaves in and out, as faith dwindles and rises, as light shines and fades, through it all, the one thing that we must always hold on to is Hope. No matter what, Hope must always illuminate our paths. It’s really easy to forget about it. Or to lose it completely. Sometimes, the unknown or the hard or the painful or the long or the scary can do that. But if we hold on to Hope, if we keep it above the water, if we protect it from the storms, if we treat it with fragility, even when it feels impossible to do so, then, even when it feels like all is lost, or different, or unsteady... We will still have Hope.  And Hope is what will bring us upward, and outward, and onward. Don’t forget about Hope. Keep it at your heart center and never, ever let it go. 

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I am thankful and honored to have had Charlie Daniels speak out against bullying and show support for my anti-bullying program and the work I do through Nobody Has The Power To Ruin Your Day. Thank you Charlie, and thank you for sharing your great life and influence with all of us!

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Happy birthday, feliz cumple, RUDY! 🎉 You are so wonderful. Xoxo😘 @rudyperezmusic

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Honored to be featured in this playlist along with Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Taylor Swift, Colbie Caillat, and many more! 

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Sing to me forever long our summer love song.

Summer Loved Song lyrics. Lizzie Sider. On Spotify. https://spoti.fi/3c9462Q