Author: baileykennon

I’m really not one for New Year’s Resolutions- I’m a very goal oriented person, but I’ve never really gotten into the whole idea of making resolutions. I feel resolutions are general- goals are specific. It is easy to fall off our resolution wagon when our resolutions are as simple as “eat healthier” or “save more money”. Instead, I feel it should be more like “lose 10lbs” or “pay off my car”. We have to have a way to measure our goals so we can claim success and hold ourselves accountable.

I’ve been thinking a lot about 2020 and what I want to accomplish this year. I feel like this year is going to be a year to focus on myself and becoming the best version of Bailey that I can. I’m not married nor do I have children so I have the ability to focus on myself and becoming more and more the woman I need to be.

I’ve not shared this much publicly, because who enjoys sharing losses or difficult seasons of life? In addition, up until this point I did not really feel I had enough time to reflect and be able to adequately express how I have grown and how I have learned. A couple years ago, I got engaged to my boyfriend at the time. Unfortunately, about a month after he proposed we called off the engagement. It was very sad and difficult, but ultimately what was best for us both. But, sometimes what is best is the most painful and it was very, very painful.

However, I have had a lot of time to think, reflect, and grow from that experience. I learned much about myself, relationships, but most importantly what I did not have. I allowed myself to become so caught up in being a couple and wanting to be someone’s wife- I stopped being an individual. If I had gotten married when I had planned, I certainly would not be the person I am today, but more importantly, I wouldn’t be a whole person. I would have just been a half of a whole.

After the relationship ended, I did a lot of praying and thinking. Who is Bailey? Who does Bailey want to be? Not what does my husband/parents/friends want, but what do I want? And most importantly- what does God want for me?

I say all this to say I have learned- you have to be a whole person before you can become part of a couple. You cannot lean on others to fulfill your desires and needs because that is not their job. You will never be able to be content with someone else, unless you are first content with yourself.

In pursuit of being content with myself, I have realized that before I get married I need 3 things: 1) spiritual goals, 2) financial goals, 3) fun/adventure goals. Below, I have written out some of mine (more to come)- daily quiet time qualifies as spiritual, pay off schooling is a financial goal, and then the rest fall into “fun” goals. I think it’s very important to have fun goals as much as anything else. You need to find ways to push yourself and keep learning about who you are as an individual. Read books, learn to knit, go camping, climb a mountain, try a new gym class- whatever floats your boat!

I want to kind of chronicle these goals of mine because it’s a journey I’m on and I’m hoping that through sharing my story I can encourage other women to do the same. Create goals, pursue an education/a career, find what gives you peace, learn why God put you on this earth.

You are not a half waiting to be a whole. You are complete just the way you are. However, every one of us has room to grow and learn, take this time to do that.

More to come!

 

Anyone who knows me knows that I come ALIVE in the fall. October through December is the most magical and perfect time to me. I love the change in the air, the myriad of holidays, and everything just seems prettier when it’s decorated.

I don’t know why, but the whole world just seems more beautiful and it feels like a fresh start. Maybe it’s because school begins again and everyone falls back into routine, but for whatever reason- I love the blank slate that is autumn. To me, fall is more than pumpkin spice and fuzzy socks/boots season. It’s the ending of summer, but the beginning of something new.

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about things that I need to improve upon in life- less procrastination, drinking more water, etc. But, this morning it really hit me how I’ve been hanging on to some hard feelings that are doing nothing but weighing me down.

2018 was a very difficult year for me. I lost some friendships, experienced a broken engagement, and saw some longterm goals/dreams not come to fruition. To say the least, it was very draining emotionally and I suppose I felt the only way to combat the frustration of these disappointments was to blame and harbor resentment towards other people.

Obviously, harboring resentment really does not do anyone any good. It did not change any part of my life except for make me feel more miserable and even more drained by holding onto that hurt.

The beautiful thing about fall is that even nature lets things go. I know it’s super cliche and an overdone analogy, but I guess I just never really thought about it and looked at it through the lens of my life. I can’t move on to new seasons without letting go of past disappointments. Trees can’t bloom in the spring if they don’t let go of what they already have hanging on. I can’t move to new seasons if I continually live in the past thinking somehow that will change what has already happened.

So, I did an inventory of my heart and the many feelings I have and realized burning bridges does not get you anywhere. Obviously, you should never shy away from removing toxic people from your life, but that’s not what I’m speaking to. I’m talking about people who have talked behind your back or hurt your feelings with certain actions. You don’t necessarily have to be friends with them, but being angry over something that happened a year ago does not really do any good. It’s only hurts you.

After realizing this, I sent a few texts and tried to make things right. I may never see these people again or have a friendship with them, but I know that I’ve let the resentment go because I want to enjoy this new season that I am in. I know I won’t be able to fully do that until I’ve let go of what happened in an old season.

So, I say all this to say- whatever you are holding on to, it’s time to let go. Make the phone call, send the text, mend what’s broken and move on. God has something new for you and it’s time to let go of the old and make room for the new. Happy Fall ❤

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. I am doing a new thing!” -Isaiah 43:18-19

 

I’ve only seen Gone With The Wind one time and to be honest once was enough. I know my grandmother would probably freak out if she were still here with us because as any southern woman- SHE LOVED THAT MOVIE. However, my attention span is only about as long as it takes to watch Finding Nemo or the amount of episodes of Friends it takes me to fall asleep. So, a four hour movie really isn’t quite realistic for me. AND THE MOVIE IS SAD. I don’t like being sad!

I don’t remember much from the movie except Scarlett’s curtain dress and how mean she was to Rhett Butler. But for whatever reason, I have always (as most people) remembered his famous line: “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn”.

Unless I stub my toe, I try my best not to curse. But, I’ve always loved that line and there have been MANY a times in my life I’ve wanted to say, “the heck with it, I’m gonna do what I want”. However, for whatever reason, I have such a hard time doing that. I’m a people pleaser and I care A LOT about what people think of me.

I think there has to be a healthy balance between not obsessing over people’s perception of us and caring about our reputation. There is nothing wrong with caring about your reputation because at the end of the day, that’s all you’ve got. I want people to know I am trustworthy, thoughtful, and hard-working because I work very hard to be those things.

However, I also easily obsess over people’s view of me. I care what people think and that concern turns to insecurities and constant comparison between myself and others. Life is exhausting when you are continually trying to measure up to people who are not you or have different skills/personalities/gifts/desires than you do.

I work as a Realtor for RE/MAX of Orange Beach. I’m extremely blessed to have a mentor, Miss Donna. Miss Donna is the greatest and she has been huge in helping me grow as an agent and person. A few weeks ago I came to her with a question, and she told me that I just have to go after things with “reckless abandon”. I LOVE that.

It’s been on my mind now for several weeks and I think it totally flows with Rhett’s “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.” In the past, I’ve always been afraid to go after certain things because of fearing failure or fearing what people will think. But when we go after our goals with reckless abandon- we’ve put aside people’s opinions and instead, put ourselves first.

I’m challenging myself to go after things with reckless abandon and I want to challenge you to do the same. Stop caring about what people are going to think or what they will say, and just do what you have to do to make things happen. Worried about cold-calling someone and asking them for business? Call them anyway. Scared to ask that girl out on a date you’ve been seeing at the gym? Ask her anyway- even if she says no or is already dating someone- she’ll be flattered anyway. Afraid to jump out on your own and start a new business or career? If not now, WHEN?

Obviously, seek wise council and use normal precautions. As my father would say, “Don’t do anything stupid.” But, you can start living life without fear and embrace opportunities with open arms.

Live life with reckless abandon.

Happy Easter Sunday friends!

I hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend with friends and family. I have been reflecting a lot lately on the word “new” and I felt this weekend would be the perfect time to write about it.

Easter is about redemption and resurrection. Things you thought were dead or gone have come back to life in a big way. Jesus was buried and then He rose to make us all new in Him. #praise

Looking back, 2018 was probably one of the most challenging years for me. The latter half of the year proved to be one of the hardest seasons I’ve walked through in my life. There was about a 6 month period where I just felt stuck. Like I couldn’t move forward or couldn’t progress, I was just spinning my wheels. I wanted so badly to feel like I was moving into a new season of life, but sometimes it just takes time. However, in that in-between time, it is easy to feel hopeless.

I would imagine this is how the disciples felt when Jesus was hung on the cross. They felt hopeless and like there was no way they would be able to come back from something so awful (thank the Lord that wasn’t the case). Those 3 days Jesus was in the tomb probably felt like an eternity and the disciples probably felt a lot like they were stuck and lost- what do we do now that Jesus is gone?

Not to say that what I’ve gone through in any way can compare to what the disciples and those around Jesus felt when He was crucified. However, I do think Jesus cares about my problems regardless of how big or small.

Back at the beginning of the new year, I felt the Lord put on my heart the word “new”. It was constantly on my mind and one day I was scrolling through Instagram when I came across this verse:

After seeing this, I decided this was going to be my verse for the year. I felt the most peace I have had in a long time. Even though things seemed bleak and I wasn’t totally sure how God was going to make something good or new out of my situation, I trusted that He would. It may not have been in the way I saw things, but I’m thankful for that. He always knows better than I.

I can only imagine the disciples felt the same way- how in the world could something good come of Jesus being crucified? Why did God allow that to happen? Why did He let Jesus suffer?

As awful as it is, sometimes, suffering is necessary. Difficult seasons are necessary. Hard times are necessary. But, no matter how hopeless something may seem, redemption is always possible. Even through death, Jesus showed us there can be life.

The second half of 2018, I didn’t see how Jesus could make things new for me. Even coming into 2019, I didn’t see how Jesus could make everything better and revive things in my life, but He did. Four months into this year and I’ve seen Him grow, challenge, change, and transform who I am. He has made my life- spiritual, personal, and professional- new. He’s been faithful and stuck to His promise that He won’t leave me and even if I wander, He’s there when I come back.

As awful as those 3 days were, Sunday morning came and Jesus came back. In our lives, “Sunday” will always come. It may take more than 3 days, but it will come. I want to encourage you on this Easter Sunday to have a heart filled with hope. Regardless of where you are at in life or what you’re going through, Christ died so He could make you new— trust His plan and open your heart to what He has for you.

Happy Easter y’all!

 

Hello Lovely Lady,

As summer comes to an end and you begin a new school year,  I want to send you off with lots of encouragement. In addition, I want you to know how loved and valued you are because as the next few years unfold you will go through many different seasons of life. Some good, some bad, some exciting, and some terrifying. And that’s ok, it’s all apart of life. However, I’m going to share with you some things people shared with me when I was younger as well as things I wish people had shared with me. Here we go…

1. Middle school and high school don’t last forever!

In the moment, some things seem so important. Who you go to prom with, what you wear the first day of school, whether or not your crush texts you back- but in retrospect, none of that really matters. Don’t get caught up on the little things, keep your eyes focused on your future and your goals!

2. The friends you have in 7th grade may not still be your friends when you graduate. 

Its sounds sad, but honestly, it’s just life. During your middle/high school years, you are going to grow and change and the people around you will as well. Some friends will stick around, and others will move on to other things. It can be sad in the moment to lose a friend, but know that you will meet new people wherever you are and in whatever season of life. God is going to put the right people in your path in the right time.

3. Being in a relationship is not a requirement.

You are not weird or a freak if you are single. There is nothing wrong with taking time to focus on yourself and give the guys around you time to mature and grow into the men they need to be to be husband material. You don’t need a boyfriend to have value or worth. Don’t let anyone tell you differently!

4. A Kylie Jenner Lip Kit will not make you like yourself more or help the things you are self-conscious about.

Something I have never liked about myself is my lips. I know that sounds dumb, but every time I would look in the mirror, I would look at them and think they are too small. What I would give for lips like Angelina Jolie- I mean geez! This sounds ridiculous, but I always told myself when I got older I would get some type of filler to make my lips bigger. I told myself that because it made me feel better thinking there was a fix to the thing that I didn’t like about myself. However, there came a point when I had to realize that I’m not Angeline Jolie or Kylie Jenner- I’m Bailey Kennon. “Fixing” or “covering up” something was not going to deal with the real issue at hand- which was my heart. Not saying there is anything wrong with lip kits (I like lip liners as much as the next person)- simply that before you attempt to “fix” yourself on the outside, you have to examine your heart on the inside. Then, real progress and transformation can take place.

5. You don’t have to make mistakes, but it’s okay if you do. 

The beautiful thing about having parents, older siblings, and mentors is that you can learn from their mistakes. You don’t have to make the same mistakes they do- you can take their advice and hopefully avoid many obstacles. However, it’s okay if you do make mistakes. That’s how you learn and that’s how you grow. Understand that one wrong turn does not mean you have derailed your entire life- every day is a new day and a new opportunity to make it better than the day before.

6. You are not who you have been, you are who you choose to be. Choose to be someone good.

Change and transformation is normal. You’re going to go through many seasons of life. Sometimes you may not understand your purpose, you many not understand why God has put you on a certain path. But regardless of where you are, be something good. Learn to shine wherever you are. One of my favorite quotes is- “Grow where you are planted”- learn to live by that.

7.  You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.

In regards to this, I’m not talking about your parents or other authority figures- I’m talking peers and boyfriends. Just because someone asks you to do something does not mean you have to. Whether that be going to a party, going further physically in a relationship than you want to, underage drinking, smoking, etc. You have to know what you want and what your boundaries are and then not let anyone pressure you beyond where you have drawn a line. Just for the record, it is possible to get through middle school and high school without drinking, partying, or smoking. You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. Do what you know is right and let the chips fall where they may. Be strong and stand up for yourself.

8. Pray for your future spouse.

This is so important. Regardless of whether or not you meet the man you’ll marry in high school- he is going through the same things you are. He will have seasons of loneliness, happiness, frustration, and worry. Pray for his heart and for his relationship with the Lord. Ask God to give him the strength to stay strong in his faith and to put the people in his life that he will need to mentor him.

9. Word carry weight.

My primary love language is words of affirmation. My whole week can be made by a tiny compliment- as well as an insult can tear me to pieces. I’ve had to learn to toughen up, but I’ve learned that words carry a lot of weight. Use your words to build people up- not discourage or tear them down. In this age of social media, once you put something out there, you cannot take it back. Know the power of your words and your keyboard. Before posting something, remember that it will always be there and try to think of who it will affect.

10. Give grace.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in life is that we’re all going to mess up. Today it might be me, tomorrow it might be you. Regardless, give grace. I’m not saying to not defend or take up for yourself if someone is treating you poorly. I am telling you when a friend hurts you- remember a time that you hurt someone and how you would have loved to have been given grace in a time when you said the wrong thing or made the wrong decision. Learn to live a life of love- not a life of drama.

Above all, center yourself in the Lord. Remember that decisions and doing the right thing become easier when you are following the path God has set before you. It won’t always be easy, but it will be fulfilling.

Happy school year ladies- make it a good one!

“Her clothes are strength and honor. She is full of joy about the future. She opens her mouth with wisdom. The teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” -Proverbs 31:25-26 (NLV)