What is stopping you?

I get a lot of messages and comments, in which people tell me, they wished they could do/have/be something I do/have/am - and there is always a "but", followed by an explanation about why it is not possible.
Especially the post-but-part is usually either based on a vague (and almost always wrong) assumption about my lifestyle or something that in my opinion does not sound too much of an obstacle - the only thing needed is a change of point of view.

I hate to say it, and I don't want to sound harsh, but if you really want something, you just have to do it. Usually, and this is something I can say from my own experience, the only thing that truly stands in your way is you, yourself.

Now at least half of you reading this will roll their eyes and think "she can easily say that, given that everything works out perfect for her." Wrong.
The reason why I can do the things I do is not because I am rich, full of leisure time or because Austria is a magical place where everything is within reach - it is because I make sacrifices for what I deem important.
Everything I do, is entirely funded by myself: Costumes, conventions, clothing, art and crafts supplies, hobbies, etc. I know it is easy to forget amongst all the fairytale things I post, but yes, I also have a side-job in order to be able to pay for the things that are my priority and that make me happy. I've had times in the past, when I used to be a competitive athlete, where put almost all of my income into my sport, because fencing is expensive and by not using my money for anything else, I was able to just make it, in order to pay for my private lessons, equipment, and so on. It was my dream, and instead of chasing it, I was living it, which also meant living with the consequences and sacrifices that came with it.

Whenever I hear someone dropping a comment like that, I feel sad, because I know myself how it can be, to see somebody else doing something that looks like fun, but you yourself don't know where to start.

 Time to charge.

The most important thing is to realize, that whatever follows after the "but" is an excuse. It is not meant in a harsh way, I am just saying it as it is.
Sure, everyone can come up with a couple of post-but-explanations, that are indeed limiting, but this is where one has to get creative and be flexible. Maybe you cannot do it the way you were imagining, but with effort, willingness to adapt and patience, you can do almost anything you want and I just wished more people would realize that.
Especially nowadays with the internet, online shops, etc., it is so much easier to obtain information and goods that are not available within reach. If you truly want it, you are invincible.

It is so easy to make up an excuse instead of putting your energy, your heart and your soul into it, in order to make it work, but the more often we do that, the more we start to actually believe, that we cannot acchieve something. We blind ourselves to our own strengths, sourroundings and possibilities and we get frustrated, because it feels like our dreams will remain just that. Dreams.

Yes, if you don't live in Austria, your nature looks different, but beauty can be found in about any place, even in the most crowded of cities.
Yes, I have many costumes and pretty clothes, but I built them over time, hunted together the pieces little by little or looked out for cheap options where I could.
Yes, I sometimes create beaufitul artworks, but I don't believe talent is something you are born with, but something you create within yourself through passion and practise.
Yes, I go to conventions, but I have to travel over 12 hours on the train for most.
Yes, I have a pretty face, but so does every single person on this planet. I have never met a physicaly ugly person in all of my life - the only true ugliness is the one that comes from within.

If you want to learn a new skill, pick up a new hobby, change your lifestyle, - go for it, you are the only one, who can truly change that; it is your life, go and make the best out of it!
So please, stop just brushing your ideas off, start asking yourself: "What is truly stopping me and how can I tackle it out of the way?" and you will be surprised what you are able to do.

I wish you a magical and inspiring week and all the best for your personal journey~

Lots of Elflove,
Elverynel.