job requirements, magical universe shenanigans, and how I'm probably turning into Phoebe Buffay

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I don't eat my hair or sing songs about malodorous cats, but the older I get, the more I identify with Phoebe Buffay (from Friends? Come on, guys). That is to say that now more than ever, I have a strong belief in putting things out there in the universe. It's more than what you give is what you get (though that's a good start). Instead I've started to notice the value of picturing what you want and making it come to life by just believing that it will.

An example: When the boyfriend and I were looking for a place to live here in DC, I immediately fell in love with the third one I saw: A reasonably priced basement apartment with a backyard, great indoor lighting, and a lot of space. He was afraid we wouldn't get it, but I was so sick of looking at apartments and wanted this one so badly that I just decided it was already ours and I stuck to that story, even when it wasn't looking to be the truth.

Spoiler alert: We live in that apartment now.

When people would ask me, "Oh, are you looking at more places?" I would say we weren't because I "knew" we were moving into this one. I had no effing way of knowing that, but I was trying to put it out there in the universe and see if it worked out.

I'm not trying to say I have magical powers (though that would be cool). It's more that once I decided that this was the apartment, I started treating everything like that. I talked with the landlords like we were already friends, establishing a good rapport with them. Other apartments I saw? I told them that I'd seen a better one that I'd probably move into, and would only consider others if they could give me a better price.

And I think that whenever you really want something, that's an important step to take. You're not just going to be handed whatever you want because you want it. I think we've all learned that by now. But really making decisions about what we want (as opposed to "yeah...I guess I want that..." thoughts) are the first step in a good action plan. Decide you want it. Picture it clearly. Tell other people you want it. All that will help you get to the last step: Make it happen. Talking about it helps you figure out what you need to do next to make it happen. And then all that's left is to do and to have.

I talked the talk, and now I walk the walk. Or, you know, something slightly less gangster sounding. And now that I have the apartment and I'm settled in, I'm talking other talks.

One is that I'm a wedding, portrait, and travel photographer. I mean, I am; I have a photography website, now I sell prints from photos I've taken around the world, and I've taken photos of people for their engagements, for their senior portraits, etc. But I haven't done a wedding *yet.* But I will soon, and I know that because I know it, just like I knew with the apartment. A bride will hire me, soon. And soon, I'll start making enough money through photography to quit my day jobs.

Until that day? I'm going to quickly find a job that can replace my current part time job (which I'll talk about in a whole other post). It will be a job that gives me some flexibility with my hours, and that will incorporate my natural creative talents. It may not be THE BEST JOB EVER, but I won't go home crying or feeling dejected most days I work. I will like the people I work with, and I will feel at least a little useful.

Are you listening, Universe? As Phoebe said, I'm putting good vibes out right now. You do your half, I'll do mine.

What are you guys asking for from the universe? Tell me about it in the comments and we can all put out good vibes for each other, and take that next step toward making it happen. *cue acoustic guitar*