This weekend has been all about relaxing. Life has been stressful with training for Raw Nationals and applying for colleges. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, but I do my best to stay positive and look at the bright side of things. I surround myself with friends, family and all the things I love that keep me positive and happy. This weekend, I went Pumpkin Picking at Ashland Berry Farm, took my 4Runner off-roading, and finally went to Carters Mountain to pick some granny smiths. I also spent time with a few friends, including my good friend Logan, who was on break from college. We took it east and just hung outside all night around the bonfire. These are things in my life I do to create balance and to keep me positive during times that I’m stressed out, and maybe you can use some of these examples for your own life.

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Here are some overall tips to establish a positive life.

1. Find Balance

The most important thing to remember is that life is all about balance. Most of our day to days are a complex dance between varying aspects of your life. Some people might be focusing on their business, but neglecting their social life. Others might be too focused on fitness goals and not pay attention to school work.  I recommend writing down your goals and priorities to set a certain amount of time you’ll spend on each during a week or so.  Balance also helps prevent being mentally and emotionally burnt out.

2. Spend Time with Family/Friends

I think too many people don’t appreciate their family and friends enough. Most people take for granted the ability to spend time with loved ones. In my mind, you should treat every day like it’s your last. One of my favorite things to do is hang out with friends and do all sorts of things such as sitting by the fire. On top of that, having a family cookout every weekend brings a sense of normalcy to my family’s hectic life. The best part of spending time with these people is all the positive energy that comes from it. I usually am able to share my thoughts and ideas while getting constructive feedback from them.

3. Make Life an Adventure

The best part of life is going out to experience all it offers! Go enjoy the outdoors. There are tons of beautiful things nature has in store for you. In the fall, go apple picking or pumpkin picking with friends and family. Year around you can visit museums, explore mountain tops, and get a glimpse outside of your daily bubble.  I think the understanding that I need to explore is the coolest part of what I do in my personal life. I love going to do things with my friends on the weekends and really explore new factors of life.

I hope you can use my experiences and ideas to further your journey in life by making it a positive one!

PS- A small clip from off-roading in the 4Runner