A Fresh Definition of Joy and A Cute Obsession

Tribe Sister! Who Are You? What’s Your Story?

I’m Ashley and I’m in Arlington, Virginia by way of Knoxville, Tennessee! And I’m so in love with my pup…

Word of the Year? Purpose. I kept searching for a more fun and sexy word but I landed on purpose. I knew it was the word I needed for the year. I realized at the end of 2015 my goals for 2016 were the EXACT SAME. I had literally gone an entire year not working on one single goal- so instead of letting the wind blow me in whichever direction, I aim to live this year with PURPOSE!

Let’s do some one word answers. Ready, set, go!
Morning Drink? Chocolate Milk (I am a 5 year old at heart)
Indulgence? Sleeping in past 11am!
Lusting after? Time with my long distance girlfriends
Spirit Animal? Pink Flamingo

Head Space? Calm
Heart Space? Cozy
Bloom of Choice? Lilies
Turn-on? Someone who can really make me laugh
Go-to Gemstone? Don’t have one…I should check that out!
Celebrity Icon? Dave Grohl
Favorite compliment? Funny

What does practicing joy mean to you? Or, Biggest life lesson you’ve learned lately? I feel the need to combine these two questions because of my amazing awesome revelation at summer camp (which is the best thing in the world and you should go). I always thought joy meant being over the moon, happy tears, hit the peak of the happy scale emotion, and having joy in my everyday life is impossible. I am a pretty damn happy person but I am not THAT happy every single day, that’s crazy. Then Molly showed me that joy isn’t the extreme of happy, joy is a way of being. There are moments of joy in every single day. So now, at the end of each day I write down what my moments of joy were for the day. Sometimes they are awesomely happy amazing moments like playing the muddiest game of kickball with some of my closest friends, sometimes it’s that I got to take my sweet puppy Larry on an afternoon walk, and sometimes it’s the fact that I didn’t yell at anyone at work that day. So now, instead of always trying to feel happy, I try to find the joy and it’s been a really fucking cool life lesson/revelation.

What’s your definition of success? My definition of success is leaving no stone unturned. I don’t care so much about making a ton of money (although that would be awesome), or always being happy, or being famous. I want to try everything I am curious about. Which is scary because I am curious about a lot of uncomfortable stuff (like backpacking in the wilderness alone), but I know if I don’t try it I won’t ever truly feel successful because I will always wonder what if…

Name 3 things from your Life List that light you up.

Let’s see…

1. -Some big time travel, like hiking the Camino de Santiago
2. -Having kids (I wouldn’t say that’s a big light like riiiiiiiight now, but like a soft glow that I am excited to turn into a big light…someday.)
3. -Taking a trip with two of my best girlfriends who have lived way too far away for way too long

What do you do when life gets messy? I call my mom, she is a rock star and always knows exactly what to say and we talk it out together.

What are you doing in an alternate universe? Oh man, in an alternate universe I am a bad ass rock climbing, backpacking, sleeping in the woods, world traveling author, who is also a stand-up comedian in her down time. I kinda want my alternate universe to be my real universe, we’re workin’ on it.

How are you going to change the world? I have coached swimming since I was 13 years old and I love it. I just recently got back into coaching and it has been such an awesome addition to my life. Awhile ago a mom pulled me aside and told me her 8 year old daughter had to write a school report on her hero. Her daughter was trying to choose between her wonderful wise Grandmother or 18 year old me, and she choose me. I knew, in that moment, that I was making a difference in people’s lives. So simply by doing what I love, encouraging and being excited about kids swimming, I am making a difference in their lives and making the world a little better for it.

3 songs, 3 books, 3 Instagram accounts? 

Songs (Current Faves):

Congregation by Foo Fighters

First by Cold War Kids

You Are A Tourist by Death Cab For Cutie

Books (All Time Faves):

Eat Pray Love (didn’t read it until recently, LOVE me some Liz Gilbert)

Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman

Almost anything by James Patterson, I fly through his books.

Instagram: I only use Instagram when I feel like I have already overloaded Facebook with my dog pictures.