ByzRiz

Be your inner light and embrace who you are. Shine your light upon the world with vigor and care not how others may judge you. Be bright, be yourself.

Two years ago today I got into what many would deem a 'dumb', 'stupid' accident. Or at least, in my view point it was. It's the closest I've been to losing the life I've made for myself.  It's the only time I've blacked out completely out of my control (drinking doesn't count here). It's the only time I've ever experienced people with noticeably worried faces directed at me. And it's the only serious accident I've ever been involved in where I didn't know what to expect. I was very fortunate that day that my helmet saved my life, not so fortunate my sunglasses exploded and destroyed my beautiful face (20+ stitches later). Not the face right?! But, it adds character and the scars I have are a reminder that I got the chance to see another day. What's even better is that a few months later I was mountain biking. No pain, no gain, right? I have reflected a lot since that accident and it made me realize that life truly should be cherished and that you can't and honestly shouldn't hold back from going after what makes you happy. I wondered about how things would have been different had I not worn a helmet, had the accident been more severe, had that been my stopping point. In doing so really put things into perspective for me. It showed me how much impact I've managed to have in several people's lives since then, the emotions I've been able to explore whether good or bad, and some of the amazing adventures I've been able to partake in. We often don't consider our actions to be relevant or don't feel we influence anyone besides ourselves. Take a moment to step back a little and just take note how much your life matters both for others and yourself. We are all allotted at least one shot at everything, the key to remember is that one shot doesn't have to be the only or final shot. And even if you fall down hard, get back up stronger and never stop challenging who you are. Just be mindful that you have to keep an eye out for yourself. So please, think about wearing a helmet when biking people. Your head will thank you when you get in a 'stupid' accident like me.

The things we do to get the shot. Now this is how you workout. #sony #fs7 (at Chelsea, Manhattan)

Taking a moment to pause and take in your surroundings is worth it more times than you think. It's easy to forget that in a fast moving and cluttered society. (at Flatiron Building, NYC)

A city full of buildings that speak on so many levels. #architecture #nyc (at Manhattan, New York)

Sometimes the things you seek in life are just hiding beyond the comfort barriers we create for ourselves. Don't let those barriers keep you from exploring who you are or want to become. It's okay to lift them every once and a while to get a feel. They don't have to be permanent. Perhaps even you move past the need for some of them. Just be yourself and no one else. And don't be afraid to explore new and uncharted territories. To try, is to understand what makes sense to you. #oneperday (at Treffpunkt)

There will be darkness. We all experience it. Just don't lose sight on the things that matter to you. There doesn't have to be true darkness, seek out any and all sources of light (friends, family, passions, hobbies, etc.) in your life. Power through it the best you can and come out stronger. Be free, be yourself. (at New Jersey)

Day SIX: Trust in any relationship is one of the most important things to establish and to maintain over time. Without it, it can be hard to feel truly comfortable and in a good place with someone. Crafting a level of trust within yourself therefore should not be overlooked. It can be one of the hardest things to take on, but learning to accept who you are truly is the first step. It's a matter of coming to terms with the fact that weaknesses are actually what make us stronger. Yes, you heard me right. I've been realizing that if you don't let your weaknesses control you or hold you back and instead use them as a means to challenge and propel yourself forward it becomes much easier to build trust in yourself. It's about accepting your weaknesses for what they are and learning a means to build off of them the best you can. Embracing failure and the chaos life throws at us factors into helping us trust ourselves to do the right thing. There may not exist a one size fits all approach, but that's what makes each of our lives uniquely our own. It's a matter of understanding yourself and how you tick. Sometimes a helping hand can help guide you, whether that be a friend, therapist, teacher, parent, etc. so don't feel like you have to figure it all out on your own. With learning to be honest about your intentions comes a boost in confidence in your actions. Believe in yourself and let others believe in you too. With that comes trust. #7daysofselfreflection (at Tampa, Florida)

The journey truly begins when you tell yourself you can do it. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm. Take action now, rather than later. Don't hold yourself back and learn to trust who you are and what that means.

Don't limit yourself to one place. The world is your sandbox. Sure you may build a sand castle you call home, but the rest of the sand in the box is there for you to craft limitless possibilities. There's just so much out there to discover for yourself. Get out and explore a little. You'll be surprised what you find and experience along the way. #roadtrip #travel (at Ohio River)

"Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets." #travel #roadtrip #sunrise #floridabound

Day FIVE: Motivation. Passion. Commitment. These are just a few qualities of our daily lives that are rather difficult to pull off effortlessly day in and day out. We all have our own dreams and ambitions, whether big or small. Easy or hard. The world is a big place and what can be done is almost endless. There's not one person out there that can do anything or even remotely scratched the surface of what can be done, and with good reason too. Some people are good talkers and some are good listeners. We are all different in our own ways and that's what makes us each individually special. If one person could do it all, why would they invest in others? We each have our own set of passions and that's what gives us a sense of purpose. We all have struggled or are struggling to seek them out and that's part of discovering what you want to accomplish in life. I myself am still trying to wrap my head around what I'm passionate about. Caring for others and being a supporting arm is certainly one of my passions. The important thing is to focus in on what makes you feel alive and fulfilled. It takes time, no matter how old you are, so don't beat yourself up if you are still searching. Set goals, but consider not trying to think too far ahead. Keep an open mind and learn that going with the flow at times isn't necessarily a bad thing. Find an approach that makes sense with you and really go to town.  We all struggle with self motivation. Whether it be getting up at the crack of dawn in the morning to work out every day, going out with some friends who invited you to come out, getting out of a job you don't mesh well with...the list could go on and on. I personally over the years struggle to get the motivation to invest my time and energy into the things I personal want to do or like to think I do. This in turn means me half assing a lot of what I do or me feeling as if I am. What's important is not to get wrapped up in the idea that you aren't doing enough. Take things at a pace you are comfortable with and don't feel like everything you do for yourself has to be fully self driven. Stay strong and just remember that you are not alone out there. #7daysofselfreflection

Day FOUR: There will be moments in life where you have to accept that someone may not follow along the same path as you. Whether this be for a moment in time or forever. Sometimes not having the whole picture or understanding why things work out the way they do isn't such a bad thing. There's really no right way to dig for answers. Accept that you have to think for yourself and don't try to force someone into being in sync with you. Relationships with others should come naturally. Sometimes that does indeed involve being a little persistent, but open-mindedness and patience is key. Don't be afraid to let someone know that you care deeply about them and certainly allow others to care for you. However, always remember to be ready to recast your bait if the fish aren't biting. The world is a big place, don't feel like you have to limit yourself. To let go and move on can be the hardest part. Whether that be willingly allowing a friendship to cease or trying to forgo feelings of love for someone. One can not really prepare for these types of scenarios as life has many moving parts. It's a matter of coming to terms with your feelings and understanding that there's so much more to be had out there. Yes, loneliness is a bitch. Simply put. I know that first hand even now and we all have experienced it in our own ways. At the end of the day we all want to feel loved, appreciated, noticed, you name it. Some can deal with it better than others. There's nothing wrong with being alone, in fact taking time for yourself can be quite enlightening and refreshing. It puts things into perspective and can remind you that your well-being is a worthwhile investment. Work towards accepting yourself for who you are and what you want to be. You'll be surprised how much easier it becomes for you to approach others and to build relationships following. Don't let the past control your future or hold you back from the present. #7daysofselfreflection

Nothing like spending a Sunday afternoon shredding some trails with my buddy Orange Kid (Aka Bobby). #shred #mtb #cycling (at Creve Coeur Bootlegger Trail)

Day TWO: Life is one big ass mess. One electrifying, beautiful mess at that. It's a whirlwind of emotions that can be very challenging to grasp on any given day. What we do: our actions, our accomplishments, our faults, our struggles, our passions, and so much more are what others may judge you on and what makes us human. But, at the end of the day, it's you who defines you. It's you who gets to choose how you live your life. It's you who must own up to your mishaps and grow from them. You are what you make of yourself. Don't let what society and others try to thrust on you control how you should live out your life. Fight for your right to be unique. Fight for your right to be seen for who you really are. Nothing is perfect, nor should it be. That includes you. Not all you do goes as planned, but that's how you learn and grow as a person. Don't hold back on what's calling you and don't settle for less than your worth. Now get out there and get a little messy. #7daysofselfreflection

We all deserve to feel and experience love in all its different ways. Don't be afraid of what it can bring with it or think that you don't deserve it. The beauty of love is it doesn't have to be singular as you can love multiple people completely, at varying levels, and in different ways. Whether it be love for a brother, a sister, a parent, a friend, or a significant other. Hold on to that which supports you for who you are and that you can do the same for without 2nd guessing yourself. Embrace platonic love when you come upon it as those are the ride or die friendships that will get you through anything and if romantic love presents itself be willing to take a chance even if you fear what comes next. Ultimately, care for those who matter to you and don't shy away from telling them that they matter in your life.

Never a dull moment with this guy. But a selfie in front of an Instagramers wet dream? (Paul Smith's Pink Wall) Like really?! Fine, I'll do it. #friendship #pink #selfie (at Paul Smith Melrose)