Sunday, September 21, 2014

Just STOP

I came across this fantastic article on Facebook, and it really made me stop and think.

It was titled "30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself", and I, personally found it fascinating.  Maybe it's just the pain meds, but I saw myself, and quite a few of my friends in some of the points and though. "Man, we really kick our own butts sometimes don't we"?  Which is pretty silly if you think about it.

So, I thought I would share share some of the highlights of this post that really hit home to me.

1.  Stop spending time with the wrong people.  -- This would be #1 on my list, and I was happy to see it as #1 on this list as well.  It is such a problem in our culture, and people need to stop wasting time on the people that aren't worth it.  Some people come into our lives and are meant to be there forever.  But some are just pages, chapters, paragraphs, or sentences.  You should surround yourself with people who respect you, treat you with love, and are happy to be in your presence.  Why live a life being with people who don't respect you?  Losing a friend or partner might mean nights are quieter, or that there is less to do, but you won't feel held down by something that isn't meant to be.

15.  Stop trying to compete against everyone else.  -- Everyone wants to keep up with the Jones', but you know what??  I don't think the Jones' care about use in the least.  Going into debt to have the best house, or car, or clothes is just ridiculous.   It is a hole that is hard to get out of once it has been dug.  So what if all your friends were married before you?  So what if you don't own your own home and have a baby 2 years after marriage?  So what if you spend your money carting your kids around to various touraments, productions, and events instead of a lavish vacation in some island destination?  So what if your house isn't Pinterest worthy?  It doesn't make you any less of a person.  Concentrate on yourself and your own happiness instead of what others are doing or thinking.

22.  Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments.  -- To be honest, I never fully began embracing the small moments until I became a mother.  I enjoyed life and all that it was, but never really took the time to embrace the little thing.  The most mundane moments make my heart so happy now.  I try very hard to grab a small moment of joy whenever it comes along.

28.  Stop worrying so much.  -- Worrying doesn't help the outcome.  EVER!  It just creates more stress; unnecessary stress and unhappiness.  I used to be a bit of a worried, but know I know that most things are out of my hands, and worrying won't do anything but cause me grief.  When you worry about what MIGHT happen, you stop thinking about the here and now and you stop enjoying what you have.  I think  this point is coupled with #29 -- Stop focussing on what you don't want to happen.  Make the choice to believe that what you want to have happen will.  Positive thinking is much more fun, and far healthier for you than worrying.  

30.  Stop being ungrateful.  -- I feel lucky that my mother taught me from a very early age to be grateful for what I have in life, and not to focus on what I don't have.  Even when life drives me nuts, I choose to look at all the blessings I have instead of dwelling on the problem.  Of course, sometimes I need to be reminded that people have it worse of than me, but I do try to remind myself that my "first world problems" are small in comparison to the plight some others have to bear.  I have also become more aware of how I describe my hardships too, because all too often I think we exaggerate our problems to make ourselves feel better.  Counting my blessings also makes me feel a lot better than dwelling on my problems.  Give it a try.  Trust me; it works!











Saturday, September 20, 2014

I walk by faith

I've been thinking a lot about faith lately.  I don't know why, but I have.   I have though about love and about my life.  About my nature and how I've become who I am.  And about who I want to become as well. 

I've never had, nor will I have the faith that Jesus did.  The faith He had in His Father.  The faith that even though He knew He was going to die, He knew it was for a bigger purpose and that His Father would save Him.   Such complete and humbling faith.

I know I don't have the faith that Jesus did.  I know that the scope of my faith may not be what it once was, or ever will be again;  but I hold strong to my faith.  I have faith that God loves me, no matter what, and that no matter how many times I turn away from Him, He will always welcome me back.  I have faith that He will protect those near and dear to me and bless them.



This faith has helped me live my life as an optimist.  I don't 'worry' like many people do.  I mean, yes, I do worry, but usually it is about silly or petty things.  I truly believe I am not as big of a worrier because I have faith that it will work out.  I am not someone that looks for the bad in a situation.  I trust and have faith that the good will come to light.

I have faith in humanity.  Yes, the world is a dark, scary place at times, but it's also made up of beautiful and wonderful people.  I have faith that people won't try to cheat me or ruin my day.  I have faith that no matter how hard things may get, better days are coming, faith that justice will be served to those who need it, faith that even though I have a stressful day, God has granted me blessings that I didn't even take the time to see.

Don't think I kid myself and think that life is all roses, because I know it isn't.  I've suffered my share of hardships, had my own fights with God and lost a bit of my faith at times.  Life has drama and heartache, and they often suck for a long time.  But faith says 'hold on for the better'.  Faith says, 'the sun shines brightest after the rain'.  So have faith, my friends.  Wherever you are in your life, just have a little faith.

Believe in Yourself

Have you ever been in a situation that made you feel like no matter what you did, you were not going to make it out? Or maybe had that one d...