The Bull Dog in You

I had a realization this past weekend, and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

My nickname in High School was “Bull Dog.” I was coined this name by a Sergeant in the Army because I organized and fundraised >$5,000 to send care packages to the troops deployed in Afghanistan. It took so much effort to get this money into the right hands, the Sergeant was so impressed that a 16-year-old even knew how to get on base. I remember knocking on his door with a check in my hand, and him wondering who the heck I was!

That entire military fundraising experience was one of the highlights of my teen life. I remember feeling so proud because my brother was on & off deployment and I just wanted to help somehow.

That nickname, Bull Dog, fueled my ambition when I was young. I was determined, focused, confident (so confident!), would never accept 'no' for an answer, and I was incredibly eager to create impact.

Unfortunately, something changed in me after graduating high school.

Somewhere in between the ages of 20 years old and 30ish years old, I lost that Bull Dog in me. I’m not sure what happened to her exactly. Maybe a few things.

I got caught up with imposter syndrome.

I started worrying what everyone thought of me.

My goals and ego somewhat took over my life.

My dad suddenly passed away.

My then boyfriend (now husband) and I were in a long distance relationship, we got married pretty young, we moved away from California and my family to Kentucky, and I started a residency program where I suffered severe depression and anxiety.

All around, my twenties were kind of... mentally rough.

Today my life looks A LOT different than a decade ago, and I’m finally starting to feel like that Bull Dog is (slowly) coming back.

And that has been my primary focus lately.

Consistently coming back to the O.G. Ashlee. Find her Inner Bull Dog. Get back to my intuition instead of allowing my fears own me.

My goal is to constantly return home to myself; just be me, just do me.

I am sharing this personal story with you because I want you to think about what it would be like to come back home to you.

Overall, I believe one of the goals in our life is to always find our way back to our core, to constantly be who you want to be, and be unapologetic about who you desire to be.

It’s okay if you get off track. It’s okay if you fail (been there). It’s okay if you betray yourself and get lost in the craziness of life.

The most important part in all of this is to *always* find your way back home to who you really are.

Keep working at being YOU.... It is worth the discomfort, I promise.

p.s. want a sneak peak of my new book? Check it out here >>> Influential Dad, Empowered Daughter

Always with you!

xx,

Ashlee

Ashlee Klevens Hayes, PharmD, MHA

Executive Career Strategist

e: HELLO@RXASHLEE.COM
(SHE/HER/HERS)