The Term "Recovery"

This year I have set new goals, new perspective change, and just a new way of living. It was time to make some changes in my life. Nothing was crazy or out of the ordinary for my life. Actually relatively stable for me :).

We all have our perspective on the term recovery. I've used it for years within my struggles of my eating disorder and exercise addiction. It has always been "striving" for better recovery. We all have room to grow in our personal lives. But as I have been reading through a book, I am once again reminded that the term "recovery" is keeping ourselves identified to that addiction or issue. We identify ourselves as victims of our past and struggles (Ditch the Baggage). I am guilty of this mentality each day. And it could be why I have continued to stay in the same stagnant places over the years. And not living in the full freedom that God has called me and you too.

But here is where I am reminded of hope and not victim mentality. And you also can be encouraged by this word:

2 Corinthians 5:17
If anyone receives Christ, You are
"a new creation; old things have passed
ways; behold all things have become new."

It clearly states that when we fully surrender our lives to the Lord, we are NEW!! How refreshing is this? We are NEW! Its a new beginning of your life. Its no longer "recovery" but new beginnings, daily surrender, hope, freedom, and HEALING.

This doesn't mean I don't think of my past or my recovery from my struggles. But I am reminded to not stay there and that I am healing from all things each day. I am a NEW CREATION. The past does not have to control us each day. We can make the daily choice to live a life of freedom.

Nancy also gave another verse from Paul that we can all glean and live with.

Philippians 3:13
Paul said he may not be all he should be yet,
but "one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching forward to those
things which are ahead."

Lets not live for "recovery" but for healing, freedom, forgiveness, hope. We are all given a choice each day. Lets choose the right one. Be free once and for all my dear friend!

I am daily learning from a book called "Ditch the baggage, Change Your Life." This is where I was reminded its not about striving for recovery but daily freedom and healing. If you want a copy of this book. Please email me: whitneyrwest@yahoo.com
I plan on ordering multiple books to give as gifts to other people who are wanting to go deeper. To be reminded how simple truths for your freedom. I am on this journey with you and willing to help!!

Keep on Warrior

Dinner for One

Dinner for One

As I sit here today. Recently, many thoughts have gone through my mind. I have been on the line (or for others working as a Flight Attendant) for two months now. Going on my third month. How rewarding this job is. But how hard and lonely it gets. Daily I am able to interact with many passengers and coworkers. I choose how I react to them. My goal is to be humble and loving towards each person, I come in contact with. 

As I sat over dinner recently in Las Vegas. I looked at my dinner and snapped a picture. This is my reality sometimes. You serve all day and work. Which I love. My job has given me more opportunity than I could imagine. But the downside of this job is you sleep in hotels from 2-5 nights a week. You are away from family. Its hard to build community where you live. And you feel lonely a lot of the time. 

Throughout this journey, I have had to rely on God so much more here recently. Which is a good thing. I've needed to be challenged in a way that will grow me. But doesn't mean it comes easy. Its a daily choice and a choice I sometimes have to make many times in the day. 

Getting out of my comfort zone is hard also. But being in South Florida, I am making the best of it. I love my times on the beach and running the beach. I love when I get to see my other Flight Attendant friends from training. Its refreshing. So I do find the good in the craziness.

I wanted to share that this job is rewarding and amazing. I wouldn't trade it for an 8-5 job ever. But its becomes very lonely at time. So when you see the luxurious job and travels. Remember it can be a lonely job also. But the good thing is that this job is teaching me to trust in God more than ever. I am having to lean on Him for my daily strength. 

When you see my fun posts on where I am, enjoy it. But don't be envious of this job. Enjoy where you are. That's what I do each day. Even when its more challenging than other days. 

Live for Today! 

Standing Back Up

It doesn't matter how many times you fall,

what matters is how many times you stand up,

shake it off, and keep moving forward.

-unknown

This quote has been heavy on my heart lately. How many times do we fall? ALOT! Everyday for me, if I was being honest. We all make mistakes, mess up, and fall hard. Its part of our human nature. Each day is our choice in our we react to our failures.

For many years and still at times, I find myself stuck and staying in the midst of my fall. This causes depression, anxiety, pain, addiction, and hopelessness. This is not a fun place to be or stay in. But when we stay stuck in our failures this happens. Most of my life has been staying "stuck" in the same cycle. But there is hope for each of us. 

As we learn that we don't have to stay stuck in our failures, we find much freedom. Freedom that you can actually breathe and live again. We aren't identified by our failures but by how we continue to stand up and move forward. This gives us much hope for our circumstances. It has for me. We feel that we may be stuck, but we have a God that reaches down and grabs our hand to pick us back up. Here's the thing, we have to be willing to have his help to get us back up. We must keep moving forward no matter how deep we may be in our mess. 

Goodness, my controlling, self sabotaging nature keeps me down at times. But as I've come in and out of my own failures, I realize that I am the game changer in this situation. Gods right there, but I have to make the decision to allow him to be my strength. For me to get up, brush off the dirt, and move forward. 

We no longer have to stay down in our mess but we can rise above it and become much stronger than we were before. 

The Life of a FA

Since I recently gave up facebook until the first of the year. Most of you still wanted to hear and see what I'm up too. So I will update as time permits in what I'm doing and where I am.

Life as a Flight Attendant is fun. I have been to many fun places such as: Brazil, Barbados, Jamaica, Dominican, Costa Rica, LA, Dallas, Panama (the country), Nicaragua, and NYC. These are the few that are coming to my mind as a write. I have met many amazing people on my journey. Some stick with you and some don't.

Each layover is unique. Some you have plenty of time to explore the cities, lay by the beach, shop. But other layovers you have time to get in bed, maybe a small workout, and SLEEP. I've learned that sleep is a very important priority as a Flight Attendant. If I don't get sleep, you have a cranky FA. No one wants that.

One of the biggest things I've been learning on the job is that as a FA you can either make someones day or completely be rude and break someones day. My goal each time I board a plane is to be the change in that person's life that needs it the most. I say a simple prayer that I can make a difference and have joy regardless of how tired I am or whats going on in my personal life.

Here is an example of making a difference in one of my passengers life. This isn't me boasting at all but an example. On our way back from Nicaragua a few days ago. You had the cranky FA who was tired. This would be me. So I went to the back of Main Cabin, said a prayer for me to finish this sequence strong and be a light to my coworkers and the passengers. I took a few deep breaths and went back to help with boarding. It didn't solve all things but helped my perspective change. After we did the service my FA 1 called and asked if I would come sit with a UM (unattended minor). My response was I'll be right there! As I sat with this young girl, we played on her Ipad making princesses even more pretty, and playing other games. It was nice and relaxing. I was in my element. After a while I had to go prepare for landing. I told her thank you for letting me play and sit with you. Her response was, I'm glad you sat with me, I wasn't as scared. You are a really nice lady. All I did was sit with this little girl and gave her attention.

After I spent time with the girl, I said a silent prayer of thanks to God. I was more blessed than this little girl. God knows what our hearts need and he provides. I realized that day that as a Flight Attendant I have the ability to make or break someones day. I want to make that conscience effort to be a light to each passengers day. They need to be loved just as much as you and I do.

My Favorite Layover: Barbados

Barbados sunset

Nicaragua airport

Just another day in my world!

Far Away but the Heart is near

My sweet family:

As I lay here in the Dominican tonight, I can't help but remember the memories of the holidays back home. My family is amazing, fun, dysfunctional, weird, loving, and crazy at times. These things are what makes us UNIQUE and FAMILY. I think of all the holiday dinners we had at my grandmas, cousins, and aunts. It was full of stuffing ourselves to the rim. Wait, I'm sure my family did that today :). As kids my cousins and I would play outside, watch the Macey day parade, and be carefree kids. Also a lot of football would be played on the TV down in the den with men surrounding it. We love sports. Well most of us do, minus my mom. We still love her anyways. It was a time we were happy and together. 

The day after thanksgiving we would go back to my grandparents to eat left overs and put up the tree. I loved these memories of putting the tree together. My momma Hattie was always so proud of her tree. Her and my Papaw would drink coffee and stare into the lights. Momma Hattie would also sometimes play Christmas songs on the piano. It was a precious time with family. 

The past few years my mom and I would serve at the local church to serve families. I loved doing this. Because we are blessed with much, we can then bless others. My mom has the biggest servants heart. It always was great to see someone's face light up because they were blessed with a meal on thanksgiving. 

The few memories I share here with you today makes me very thankful for the family I have. I have learned that regardless of where we are in life family is still family. They never change. I maybe out of the country working, I know that they enjoyed today and support my decisions of my new career. 

I am here today living a dream because of my families constant support and encouragement. They may have thought I was CRAZY at times with wanting to be a flight attendant. But they always stood by my side. They have encouraged me, prayed for me, loved me, and been there thru it all. And if you know me or my story, they have put up with a lot :). I may not be home for Thanksgiving but I know they are behind me through it all. I am grateful for them. 

The memories are still strong and always will be there. But now new memories are coming. New days to celebrate when I am around. I cherish time with my family!!!! 

Regardless if you are or not with family, embrace the journey. Love your life right where you are. 

Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful!!! 

New Seasons, New Life

Today I have been sorting through my past few months. I have wanted to blog for sometime but I also wanted to get through Flight Attendant Training before I really went into detail of my life. I kept my close friends and family in the loop of my new life. So today others can fully hear what the past few months have been like.

I'm going to share a little back story first:
A friend of mines mom contacted me about applying for American Airlines because her youngest daughter loved it. I began to pursue it. I became very discouraged this past winter because I had not heard a thing from them. My mom told me to continue pursuing other airlines. But I was set on American or I wasn't going to do it. Me stubborn? NEVER ;). In April American called me to see if I was still interested. Of Course! I told the recruiter. I was beside myself. I didn't tell anyone about it until I knew something. They called for an interview in June. Then my life changed dramatically on June 24, 2014.

                                                         This was the day we were hired!!

On September 20, 2015 my journey to Dallas, Texas began. I was excited, anxious, nervous, happy, but still had a little fear that I wouldn't make it through the training. Its definitely not an easy training. As I explained to my mom, its harder than getting my college degree. We took 16 tests and really unsure about how many drill proficiencies we had. Long days, late nights in class or studying, and early mornings. On the first day of class they said "WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN FAMILY." I didn't know what to really think of this statement until I realized we are REALLY family. Your classmates become family and best friends. Your instructors become family, your biggest cheerleaders, and encourager's on the line. They are like having another mom or dad to look up too. American Airlines is a big family. We go through hell together during training, but its worth every bit of it. And if you've been through American Airlines FA training you get me!

During training I met two girls who would later become my best friends. They are the ones who got me through training with the encouragement, class notes, long walks, exploring Dallas, and just being there on the hard days. I prayed that I would make one good friend during my time. Well it was doubled into two amazing women. We come from different walks of life but that's what makes it work. I am thankful for their friendship. And it worked out that we are all three in Miami also. Thank you for helping me through training and learning things on the line now.

Always a good time. 

You know that sometimes you can have a really bad roommate situation? My roommate ended up being a christian, and a wonderful woman. She was starting her second career. Learning from her wisdom and life experiences was great for me to see. I'm always eager to hear life stories, hear wisdom in how I can become a better person. Stacey was a great example of this. She put up with living me in a small hotel room for a whole 6.5 weeks. She was a saint. Thankful for a God fearing woman who loved me right where I was. She always made sure I was okay.

                                                               Where are your glasses Stacey???

I had incredible instructors. Each of the instructors played a special role in my life. They truly choose the best of the best to teach the new Flight Attendants coming through. Instructors are responsible for "MAKING US GREAT". They put in more hours than we do in many ways. They teach us the skills to go out on the line and be great. I am grateful for each of them. Randy was our lead instructor. He was a hoot. He made me like Halloween for the first time in 29 years. He decorated the room and had an awesome rat as our class mascot. His nick name became Crusty Rusty. Goodness he kept the class together. He was incredible. My sweet, sweet Denise was like a momma to me. She held me as I cried, listened to my frustrations, laughed when I would walk up because of my randomness, always giving a willing hug, there for advice. She was the momma of the class. I want to be like her when I grow up! Rachel became a big sister to me. I knew by the first week that she was the real deal. I first saw a bracelet she wore everyday with the writing "My God is Big Enough." I had actually prayed for a Christian person in the class. And quickly it became evident that my instructor was. She listened to my struggles. She gave hugs when I was a mess and didn't know if I could make it another step. She loved to RUN! This was another instant connection. I was thankful to have Rachel's constant support even after training. Tyra, Oh Trya! Through her example she brought my standard from just average to excellent. Everything she did was "perfect", maybe not perfect but done with excellence. She kept the class together with keeping the standard high. Tyra is a consistent person in her job. She taught us to tie our scarfs, do our hair, reminded us to wear our lips. That was one thing I love about the job. I love my pink and red lips! She always gave a willing hug, especially after a test. She knew that test was a struggle for me.  I knew she would be proud when I would score my tests.

Thank you for making us GREAT! I am so thankful for this opportunity and the people who made it possible to be where I am today. God was walking me through each day and each moment. He gave me the strength to overcome and do my best. I am so thankful.

Rusty Crusty

Momma Denise

Such a big sister Rachel

My Perfect Tyra 

As the Life of a Flight Attendant I will write more about. I'll share the places I go. What God is doing through this journey. And much more.

Our Perspective of Ourselves

Over the last 6 weeks or so I've met many incredible people. But as the time comes to an end and some of us will split ways, but one person stands out to me. I don't believe in coincidences but believe that God brings certain people in our life to teach you something valuable. This has happened in my journey over the past 6 weeks.

I share often about my recovery journey and how its still a struggle at times. Its like any addiction, its there and it knows how to knock you down. There are definite times where it's easy and I'm content. And other times where I am holding on by one thread. During any of these times, I truly have to trust God to bring peace into these areas. Also having constant support from family and friends.

Back to the person who stands out from the past 6 weeks. We have become relatively close over the past month. She's also quiet a bit younger than myself but yet so CONFIDENT!! I had not mentioned any of my struggles to my friend but watched her. She enjoyed food, didn't have crazy anxiety at meals, she even ate DESSERTS...This is almost a NO NO in my life. Marissa is even a VEGETARIAN!!! But healthy. She lives an example of someone I truly want to become.

Watching Marissa has not only been inspiring but intriguing in how comfortable she is in her own skin. She doesn't find her identity in what size her jeans are, or the size of her shirts. Marissa's confidence radiates a mile away. She was eating a cookie today and I made a comment of "I took a bite but had to throw it away." She responds to me with "If it makes you happy, don't worry about the calories or being fat." I was like such truth in that. Why not enjoy a cookie or two or five.

And let me tell you my friend is BEAUTIFUL!!! She's perfect because she is comfortable in her own skin. Marissa is not big at all. She's actually tiny. But she doesn't hold back on what she eats. Her life isn't controlled by what comes next with the meal. She embraces it.

Couldn't we ALL learn from my friend with embracing ourselves and how God made each of us! I will forever be thankful for the influence she has had on my life. Its beautiful knowing that you can live comfortable in your own skin. I know that I am different because of her friendship and example that she lives.

Marissa sent this to me today. It made me smile when I saw this. Let go of the labels and be whoever you want to be!!!! Once we learn to accept ourselves, others will accept us also.