Flying Above

Crazy! Yes, crazy! Time is flying and I can't seem to catch a break! Now it's Saturday and I still can't figure out how it is that yesterday was Sunday night and today I wake up to Saturday morning. At least it's the weekend, but it is Mother's Day weekend so I guess I'm not completely out of the woods yet. Later today, I expect loads of shopping for the perfect gifts, picking out the right outfits, and who could forget taking a selfie!!! Yes! So I guess I'm not off the hook yet, but I suppose I will take this day with a grain of sand, making the most of my time and breathing in and out when I feel like I'm losing it.


Based on past experiences, when I know I need to get something done I usually procrastinate, but in the end I press on until I get it done. But I know that this is life and something small could happen that could threaten my good moods, sabotage my peace, and bring on the anxiety. So what do I do? Phillipians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything..." And here comes my breathing in and out and counting to 10. So with that verse in mind, get ready to enjoy the day and press on.

Compliments

There's something about compliments that just boosts people up, especially when they're least expected.


Earlier today I was waiting in line at Walmart for my turn. I was minding my own business, lost in my own thoughts, when all of a sudden, I was brought back to the present time by a man's voice. "I like your haircut." he said. "My hair?" I replied in confusion. "Yes, its very cute. I saw you coming over and I thought 'how cute.''' Surprisingly, I felt my spirits lift in a second. That simple compliment really did cheer me up, even though I wasn't upset to begin with.


With that simple, random act of kindness, I was reminded that kindness and compliments go way deeper than perceived. Sometimes that's all people really need, a positive, encouraging word. So from now on I have to make a conscious effort to not only, think that someone looks nice, smells nice, or has an amazing talent, but I will make them know it. Let us be our mutual encouragers.
Let us be the light of the world that we are called to be, and random acts of kindness are just the beginning.

Just Say It

Here I am past midnight, glued to my iPad, trying to ignore the anxiety that won't leave me alone tonight. I have checked emails, crossed off to-do lists, and cleared the much visible track of clutter I leave behind me with every step I take. 

It caught me off guard tonight, this anxiety, out of nowhere, like a thief in the night. And now, I can't sleep. Much to my disadvantage,  my heart is beating at what seems to be a hundred miles per hour, my legs are achy, and I'm hungry. Could it be that my body is reacting to something that I have not made myself aware of yet? Like my nerves for finals? Or perhaps I am too excited about my dreams and goals to even let myself catch a breath! Whatever it may be, I find myself breathing in and out, counting to ten, and trying to reassure myself that this too shall pass. What seems like an eternity with this anxiety is nothing but a moment passing away.

Now, as I find a way to distract myself from the loud beating of my pounding heart, I can honestly say that today was a great day. Nothing out of the ordinary happened; I went to work, made a few people laugh, went to school and survived, made a few Avon deliveries, and bam! I was home. Safe and sound. I had the great privileged of owning a shower and using it, soft pjs to match, and a comfy bed that doesn't creak when I move an inch. Today was great. But now comes the hard part, falling asleep. 

Should I read? Pray? Meditate? Pray seems to be the best answer. I mean, I have a Friend who's always there to listen and I barely take up the offer. What kind of relationship is that? A whack one if you ask me! So as I lay here reminiscing about my day and sharing with you guys, I am reminded that when I am most anxious, most bored, most anything, I have a listening ear on speed dial, even when I can't find words,  He understands. Ah, that did the trick. I am more at ease now, more relaxed. Seems like just being still and knowing that He is God (Psalm 46:10), is enough to calm the seas of  my raging heart. 

As I prepare for bed, I wanna leave you guys with a song, a song about the name Jesus. There is power in it, even when we don't know what to say. Even when the anxieties of life seem to trap us, the name Jesus just calms the storm and brings peace. If you haven't experienced
 it for yourself, just say it, think it, believe it, and He will be there.

                                       

Beauty, Lip Gloss, & Enthusiasm

I have been doing some thinking lately, a lot actually, and I think I have come to the conclusion of what I want to do with my life, or at least what my passion is. I love makeup. I love that one can go so many different ways with it and have many different looks; it's an art! I also love that I can use it to fit my mood. If I'm feeling glum, happy, dramatic, and so on, I can portray that through how I do makeup. Also, helping people feel great about themselves is a great advantage! I am currently in the search of finding a makeup artistry school, and I actually just found a makeup course online! I'm trying to contain my enthusiasm until I have the green light, then, I'll go all out!

Complicated Species

How is it that sometimes we tend to find ourselves so close to a breakdown, so close to the breaking point, so close to the bottom, and yet no one seems to notice a thing? How is it that while we strive to be the best we can be, we also let a piece of ourselves go with the wind, away from here, away from the pain that comes with this world? How is it that our own separate stories, footsteps, whereabouts, and experiences shape us to be who we are today, or perhaps for some who have become successful, who they were long ago? How is it? What dwells inside of us that propels us to strive for a better us, for a better future, or for the moms and dads out there that care, what dwells inside of you that propels you to strive to give your kids a good future, better than you had, one where you won’t let them make the same mistakes you’ve made?

What is our core? Is it our soul? Mind, body, soul, we, humans are comprised of these 3 things in summary, but in reality, we are such a complex species, so much so, that a lot of times, regardless of what the professionals have to say, we don’t understand ourselves or each other. From the invisible, microscopic cells to the bones and flesh, at the end of the day we are like a flower that withers away, but like those flowers, that in their time shine with beauty or reign with rarity, we too should embrace the intricate details of our nature.

Where did we come from, and why? God decided to create us even though He knew we’d end up sinners, so why? Those are the mysteries of this life that only He knows and can choose to keep to Himself if He so pleases.

So how is it? What propels us? Why are we here? There are many things humanity knows, plenty. Thousands. And there are a gazillion others that we will never have the privilege of knowing. To think that science has advanced so much that we can now live without worry of illnesses that were so prevalent 60 years ago, but has stopped short to cure cancer, HIV AIDS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and so on. Believe it or not we are a limited species, but with all that we have accomplished, and what’s to come, I think I’ll celebrate being me. Being us. Even if we can’t answer the whys, and the how is its.

Love Out Loud And Mean It

New Year's resolutions, most of us have them, and are very much committed to them until the excitement of it all is over. I have made a resolution this year, which I intend to keep, and it happens to be about a very important thing we were all commanded to do: Love. Love is a beautiful, amazing, hard, thing to execute. It's obviously very easy to love the people we like, the people who like us back, but what about our haters, our enemies? We are to love them too (Mark 12:31). And so, I am giving my all this year to become more Christ-like, but taking baby steps and starting with the area of love.

I received a very interesting book for Christmas this year titled: Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer, and in this book are short, little devotions for the 365 days of the year that teach us, and help us to love God, love ourselves, and love others.



And to add to that list, I think it would be great if I added Crazy Love by Francis Chan because it talks about the love God has for us and how crazy, and out of this world His love is for us. For anyone whose goal it is to be Christ-like, I think this would be an incredible book; as children immitate their father, so should we immitate our heavenly Father, Christ.



Lastly, I would like to leave you with a song I had known about for some time, but hadn't really paid attention to the lyrics, "Love Out Loud"- Jaci Velázquez

Closing of A Chapter

Tough years, there are many, and at last 2011 is about to end. Every year has its ups and downs,  for some more ups and for others more downs. We can say that we made it, whether it was running across the finish line of this chapter in our lives, dragging ourselves through the pavement, or holding on to someone else for the strength you were lacking. The year may have seem to have gone by incredibly fast, but when I look back now, there was definately a long road we marathoned through to get to 2012. Personally for myself there were a lot of events that played out; graduation, friend's wedding, and car crash included. Many things were learned, many things were let go, and many things added to the person I currently am. 2011 was one of the many chapters in a person's life, and we were all so lucky and blessed to get through another one!