After just having celebrated one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving, I started thinking about how there shouldn't be just one day dedicated to the things we are thankful for. Spending time with my family over the past week has been such a blessing. There are so many things that I take for granted, but it is important to remind ourselves on a daily basis of all of those things that we should be thanking God for. Every single person goes through difficult times in their lives, but we cannot dwell on those things. Each circumstance that we experience was introduced to us for a reason and we should ALWAYS be thankful for the lessons that we have the chance to learn. From those lessons, we can change the world.
I was inspired to make a list of all of the things I am thankful for. This list will serve as a daily reminder of all the ways that I have been blessed and all of the ways I should be thanking God and giving him my praise.
I am thankful for....
1) A supportive family that loves me for me.
2) A loving group of friends that is always there for me.
3) A Young Life family that urges me on in my faith.
4) A wonderful God that loves me always.
5) A beautiful home that provides me with shelter.
6) Food that nourishes me whenever I am hungry.
7) A job and an internship that provide me with money and opportunities.
8) A group of Young Life high school girls that I love so much.
9) The strength that I have from the struggles I have faced.
10) A wonderful mother that I will never forget.
11) The world's best dad who is my #1 fan.
12) A faithful guy that I love being around.
13) The ability to laugh and smile on a daily basis.
14) The ability to run.
15) The opportunity of a wonderful college education.
16) Chai tea lattes
17) Christmas lights
18) Books/Journals
19) Flowers
20) Music
21) Flannel shirts and skinny jeans
22) Warm, fuzzy socks
23) Movie nights
24) Colorado mountains
25) The stars so I can stargaze at night
....The list goes on and on.
Keep track of the things you are thankful for and you will soon come to find that the list you can write will go on and on.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Pushing Through the Pain
Thousands of people were crowded around me as I stepped up to the starting line. Music was blaring as I looked on either side of me to see a couple of my best friends jogging in place, attempting to keep warm. The National Anthem played over the loud speakers but I was too distracted to even realize it until "and the home of the brave" followed by a lot of cheering chimed throughout the park. It was finally time to conquer something that I never thought I would be able to do.
The announcer yelled, "GO" and we were off. A few hundred yards down the road, a crowd member held a sign that said "Only 12.9 more to go!" I appreciated her humorous gesture, but I had to take some deep breaths as I realized that I had a long road ahead of me--literally.
Running a half marathon/marathon is one of those things that a lot of people aspire to do at some point in their lifetime. As I was looking over my bucket list this summer, I saw that running a half marathon found itself on the top of my list and I realized that the time was now to challenge myself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. So I started training.
After 12 weeks of running, I decided to set aside my nerves about finishing the race and signed up for the half; now I was locked in. Picking up my race packet and shirt didn't even seem real, because I had been anticipating the Gobbler Grind for so long.
I can without a doubt say that the half marathon was one of the most challenging things I have ever done. I literally felt every emotion as I pushed my body further than I ever thought possible. I hit a wall around mile 8 and I felt like I wouldn't be able to keep going. Through the encouragement from friends, Missy Elliot's music and some prayer, I kept running through the pain. At mile 10 I stopped for the first time and felt like collapsing; my legs were so tight and my knees were throbbing. But as I looked behind me, I saw one of my friends Tami running up and she said, "We are finishing this together". We slowly but surely made our way to the finish and tears were welling up in my eyes as we crossed the line.
I didn't get the time I hoped for and I stopped to walk a few times during those last three miles, but I have never been so proud of myself in my entire life. I challenged myself to a goal that I almost didn't think was possible, but I did it. My experience goes to prove that you can do anything that you set your mind to.
Push yourself. Challenge yourself. Chase after your dreams, because you never know how much you can do until you try.
The announcer yelled, "GO" and we were off. A few hundred yards down the road, a crowd member held a sign that said "Only 12.9 more to go!" I appreciated her humorous gesture, but I had to take some deep breaths as I realized that I had a long road ahead of me--literally.
Running a half marathon/marathon is one of those things that a lot of people aspire to do at some point in their lifetime. As I was looking over my bucket list this summer, I saw that running a half marathon found itself on the top of my list and I realized that the time was now to challenge myself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. So I started training.
After 12 weeks of running, I decided to set aside my nerves about finishing the race and signed up for the half; now I was locked in. Picking up my race packet and shirt didn't even seem real, because I had been anticipating the Gobbler Grind for so long.
I can without a doubt say that the half marathon was one of the most challenging things I have ever done. I literally felt every emotion as I pushed my body further than I ever thought possible. I hit a wall around mile 8 and I felt like I wouldn't be able to keep going. Through the encouragement from friends, Missy Elliot's music and some prayer, I kept running through the pain. At mile 10 I stopped for the first time and felt like collapsing; my legs were so tight and my knees were throbbing. But as I looked behind me, I saw one of my friends Tami running up and she said, "We are finishing this together". We slowly but surely made our way to the finish and tears were welling up in my eyes as we crossed the line.
I didn't get the time I hoped for and I stopped to walk a few times during those last three miles, but I have never been so proud of myself in my entire life. I challenged myself to a goal that I almost didn't think was possible, but I did it. My experience goes to prove that you can do anything that you set your mind to.
Push yourself. Challenge yourself. Chase after your dreams, because you never know how much you can do until you try.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Going through the motions
As I flip through the pages on my planner, I am shocked to see how quickly the past 2.5 months have flown by. The pages are filled with events, assignments, tests and to-do lists, and I can hardly believe that I am now nearing winter break. This semester has been one of the most challenging but life-changing semesters of my life. I started the new school year with a new perspective--a perspective that more closely fits what I believe God is revealing my purpose to be. I have worked harder, studied harder and committed myself to more than ever before, but now as I finally take time to reflect, I am disappointed at the fact that I have been going against my motto and rather have been living my life unsure of where I am supposed to be going and what I am supposed to be doing.
Live in faith.
These 3 beautiful words reflect the way that I want to live my life, but why is that so difficult sometimes? I need to take time to allow God to fill me up again because once again I have allowed myself to take on too much. When will I learn to simplify? I have been at my breaking point for the past month or so, and I need to take a step back and truly see if I am living in line with God's plan...or if I am just continuing to hold on by a thread.
This morning I felt this strong sense that I am supposed to be doing more...a different kind of more than I am already doing. I am going to continue to pray that God reveals to me what he wants me to be doing. I don't want to just keep going through the motions. It is time to find out where I am supposed to be--no more coasting through life.
Live in faith.
These 3 beautiful words reflect the way that I want to live my life, but why is that so difficult sometimes? I need to take time to allow God to fill me up again because once again I have allowed myself to take on too much. When will I learn to simplify? I have been at my breaking point for the past month or so, and I need to take a step back and truly see if I am living in line with God's plan...or if I am just continuing to hold on by a thread.
This morning I felt this strong sense that I am supposed to be doing more...a different kind of more than I am already doing. I am going to continue to pray that God reveals to me what he wants me to be doing. I don't want to just keep going through the motions. It is time to find out where I am supposed to be--no more coasting through life.
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