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#MotivationMonday (+ Book Recommendation)


Congratulations! You have officially made it to another week. For many of you, this is your first day of school, and I'm so excited to see what the year has in store for you. Whether it's classes that intrigue you, new friends that fill a hole in your life that you didn't realize you had, or a new crush that makes you put a little extra effort into your appearance in the morning, I hope you discover something that makes you want to stop hitting snooze and hop out of bed. If none of those things have happened to you, maybe this #MotivationMonday will do the trick.

"A detour from a larger, more correct journey. The redecoration of her own story."

- Emma Cline, The Girls

Like so many women in my generation, I was drawn to the fascination society put on the book, The Girls. Ultimately, it wasn't absolutely incredible, but it was an interesting read, complete with a few gem quotes, such as this one. The plot line follows Evie Boyd, a teenager who finds herself intrigued with a girl named Suzanne. In hopes of getting to know her, Evie winds up joining her cult, forcing her to face many challenges, both emotional and moral.

As a heads up, it is pretty gruesome and heavy, so this won't be an uplifting, positive read. Additionally, it resembles the Manson cult, so it's considered a historical fiction. If you're into dark and dangerous or semi-historical novels that make you think, this will be a great one for you to pick up.

Now, it's time for why you're all here today: the motivation. Today's quote might not strike you as particularly special right away. For me, it was the second sentence that initially stood out. The redecoration of her own story. I love that line, but to understand it more fully, the first sentence must be included as well. A detour from a larger, more correct journey.

Together, these concepts work beautifully. So often, I find myself disappointed if I stray from the path that I pre-determined was correct from me. For example, I went into college, completely convinced I was going to go to law school. I had decided to pursue an entrepreneurial management major, with a business law minor, so I could open my own law firm someday. Then, I took my first required accounting class, and I fell in love. At first, I was hesitant, unwilling to admit that I wanted to do something other than what I originally intended, slowly, and slightly regretfully, accepting the change.

Upon finding these words, however, I realized what my potential law career really was: a detour from my larger, more correct journey. Finding my true passion was the redecoration of my own story, cleaning out what didn't fit me any more to make room for what really belonged in my life.

This year, as you begin your new school year, whether that be this week, in a month, or anytime in-between, keep these words in your heart. Maybe the path you're on isn't perfect for you, but that's okay. Instead, it's simply a detour from your larger, more correct journey. It means you're on track to redecorate your story. No matter how many detours you find yourself on or how many times you have to hire a new interior designer, I promise that you'll find the correct path for you and the perfect decor for your life. I can't wait to see you get there.

i'm telling you, this is your year.

xoxo madison

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